MK6 Wear and Tear

[slipshot]

For me, only done 8,000 in 8 months, but drivers side bolster taking a pounding, and yes, I do need to get better and extracting myself - although I think it's probably more getting in that is worse.

Clicking noise from drivers door - only when car is running, but moving or not, it's intermittent but electrical.

Then the small things like the centre console air vents were not fitted properly at factory, and the steering wheel is not straight when on a flat road which bugs the heck out of me. Not much, but enough...

And scratches on those once-pristine Detroits that are what happens a) when I'm an idiot and b) when you lend someone your car...

[SuperHans]

For me, only done 8,000 in 8 months, but drivers side bolster taking a pounding, and yes, I do need to get better and extracting myself - although I think it's probably more getting in that is worse.

Clicking noise from drivers door - only when car is running, but moving or not, it's intermittent but electrical.

Then the small things like the centre console air vents were not fitted properly at factory, and the steering wheel is not straight when on a flat road which bugs the heck out of me. Not much, but enough...

And scratches on those once-pristine Detroits that are what happens a) when I'm an idiot and b) when you lend someone your car...

wouldn't the warranty look after most of that stuff? apart from the scratches

[slipshot]

Yes, but still elements of wear and tear in that, other than the 'small things', these are things manifesting themselves as the car ages. Not sure the warranty will do anything about the seat wearing though...

[coastie]

Mine is coming up to two year old and 45000 kms. Other than the recalls for the supercharger clutch squeak, the drivers side B pillar noise which seems to occur when that side of the vehicle heats up in the morning drive north. Paint flaking off the rear guard/bumper which I have been told is as a result of a stone chip, but I can't see how in the location that a stone could chip it. It has been great. All the vehicles I have owned have had issues that you either put up with or fix yourself or pay to get fixed either way.

[AdamD]

...the steering wheel is not straight when on a flat road which bugs the heck out of me.

Nothing a good wheel alignment can't fix. If your wheel is off, your alignment may be off now, leading to premature tyre wear.

[AusBob]

I am a little disappointed in my seat quality as on the right side bolster of my drivers seat the fabric is starting to fray and lift off the seat.

Has anybody got any recommendations for seat covers? Or are these a bad idea? I just realised that I need to get ones which allow for airbags - ty Mk5 forum! Will the backing of the seat covers simply rub and ruin the seats underneath anyway? My current cars driver seat is starting to thin and thread where I slide in everyday in jeans. Hmmm... maybe I can simply wear shiny slippery lycra pants instead!? Appreciate your thoughts!

[Leon]

Yes, but still elements of wear and tear in that, other than the 'small things', these are things manifesting themselves as the car ages. Not sure the warranty will do anything about the seat wearing though...

They will cover things like wear and tear under warranty. A mate owns an r36 passat and they were known to wear horribly quickly on the seat bolsters. His were quite worn by 20,000km and the dealer got this sorted without fuss.

[Corey_R]

They will cover things like wear and tear under warranty. A mate owns an r36 passat and they were known to wear horribly quickly on the seat bolsters. His were quite worn by 20,000km and the dealer got this sorted without fuss.

Um no. They will not cover things like wear and tear. Specifically, "normal wear and tear" is excluded from warranty on every car I'm aware of in Australia from every manufacturer.

The right side bolsters on the R36 have faulty foam underneath the surface which deteriorates and crumbles. The bolster fails, but the surface is fine. They replace that under warranty because it's a fault - not because it's "normal wear and tear".

[Leon]

They replace that under warranty because it's a fault - not because it's "normal wear and tear".

My mistake then -- I wasn't aware there was actually an issue with the seats in the R36. James (the mate who owns the car) was never told that by VW to my understanding, they just said "Yeah, we'll fix it under warranty" which is why I made that assumption.

I guess it was VW being maybe a little sneaky, not wanting him to know it was a model-wide issue and just made it out they were doing a warranty job.

[REXman]

They will cover things like wear and tear under warranty. A mate owns an r36 passat and they were known to wear horribly quickly on the seat bolsters. His were quite worn by 20,000km and the dealer got this sorted without fuss.

Just quietly, the other night I was In neutral bay and heard this car coming (it was about 1am so it was quite out) and It was one of the best things I have ever heard.
At first i thought it was some kinky expensive German, M3 or AMG or something like that.. and what flew past? A friggin R36 wagon - man it must have had an exhaust, it was the best thing I have heard in a long time.

I am now a believer. Amazing car.

[m3103]

Just on that point Leon. My sister took her polo in a couple days ago for a few issues. Whilst they admitted to a faulty fuel level sensor they maintained that the air con was working perfectly. We just thought meh we'll see how it goes. Works perfectly now. I don't know what they did but they claim it was nothing......bit sneaky if you ask me.

[aVex]

Not even a month and my seat driver side bolster is now starting to show signs of very mild fraying. The fabric isn't as smooth as when new, it's mildly furry.