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My one is badly cracked, doubt the dealers in NZ will have much sympathy.
Theres a few selling on Ebay and Amazon, anybody here dealt with either?
It is extremely frustrating trying to get anywhere with this. It has been reported around the world, VW know it is an issue by the sheer numbers they sell.
If it has been hit (which I know is NOT the case), what vehicle is doing this?
Your damage clearly shows it has not been hit.
VW have redesigned their rear spoilers with an LED strip built into it. The thing is that it is unknown id the new spoiler will fit the existing vehicles.
As to what will get the attention of VW, it will be a large fleet buyer who will not accept a sweetener to accept the fix but take it no further.
I got mine from an Ebay seller in Turkey. It was not OEM but looked exactly the same except it had a different seal arrangement.[ATTACH=CONFIG]15494[/ATTACH]
That is different.
What you want to do is clip the barbs off the two end pegs on both sides. Then do it up just finger tight only. Tape over the screws to stop them undoing.
I am down in Bendigo and there hsa been a RACV advertisement running showing a RACV patrol van which is a yellow Caddy Van.
Let the RACV know if you have had a brake light crack. Do not assume anyone else will do it. The more they know about it, the better.
I have suggested they check their Caddys and then report the matter to VW. This places them in an awkward position. On one hand, VW cah do a "fix" for them and ask them to keep it quiet as they are a fleet operator. On the other hand, they are also an organisation looking out for their members, and so have to act in their interests as well.
I have contacted the RACV, however as I am from north of the border, they might not take it too seriously. I have given them a link to this thread, so hopefully, something will come of it.
In this case, it really is up to Victorian RACV members.
I am flabbergasted that VW would put a taillight right behind the main rear door hinge. After 10+ open and shuts it is going to start to crack. I have removed my cracked lens and plastic filled, primed then colour matched painted the lens as there is no way I am going to replace a lens that is destined to crack.
My MY13 HLBL is badly cracked and has partially missing edges. Pity about the price. Today I have also released litres of water out of side door sills and panels, by removing some plugs that don't drain and four drain plugs that were blocked. Another thing to check mates. Can't wait to check the footwells.
Just buy a cheap Chinese replacement lens cover off eBay. They are around $15 including delivery. I have one and have had no issues with it. Hell for the price of the genuine ones you could buy 5.
I have bought an OEM replacement and fitted it. However that now gives me two sets of OEM innards. I am planning to buy cheap Chinese versions from ebay from now on, swap the lens cover onto my OEM innards (the ebay photos sort of indicate that the Chinese ones also include cheap Chinese innards).
I just fitted my Chinese HLBL. Well, I tell a lie. I took the lens cover off the Chinese replacement and used the original innards (including the seal. The replacement seal was that thick the two original screws wouldn't reach the retainers on the light).
Now I have four spare components.
BTW I cannot find anywhere on eBay, where you can just buy the red cover. I hate the way the world wastes plastic and components.
Feenix74 - who's to say the OEM aren't from China, South America, yada yada yada.....
Now, in this thread I mentioned I used silicone sealant to mount the light. When VW Australia got wind of it, I was accused of spreading information designed to make these lights crack and was used as a basis for refusing to provide one under warranty.
Well, I can say that after 18 months, I have gone through 2 winters with freezing temperatures at times, and I have only had one crack up top in the vicinity of the lip. This is not an issue as the piece is attached to the silicone bead and it does not allow any water in. Nothing more and it does not need replacing, so it clearly IS the method of mounting that puts stress on the lens and causes it to crack.
I am seriously thinking of buying one more, paying a 3D scanning outfit to scan one for me and then get them to print one out using a much more flexible, translucent plastic and then sharing that around.
See, it's not some phantom driver in a ute with scaffolding planks causing it as VW Australia claimed!
Buy a cheap one from ebay and replace. I found that the original one was screwed in very tightly (and I believe this may have contributed to failure of the plastic), so I have tried not to overtighten the replacement one.
I have kept the LED strip from the original one (made in Germany by Hella) as a spare in case the LEDs fail in the replacement one at some stage in the future.
Well, after effectively "bonding" the unit to the tailgate, I have now gone for something like 4 years without the lens cracking. Shortly after installing it I did end up with a tiny crack in the surround, but because I first fixed the gasket to the lens and then the whole lot to the tail gate, There was no leak and the crack cannot be dislodged.
So, even though I was accused of causing it to crack, it has actually prevented cracking. But the saga does not end there.
I have been through 4 "pink slip" inspections but it was the most recent one where the dealer (who had done the previous 3 and had no problem) decided that their metrics require the generation of work and so decided that the crack that is effectively glued back was no longer acceptable. The inspector said (and I quote) "Because the brake light was no longer as it left the factory, it was unacceptable"! Basically, this meant that if they wanted, they could fail the inspection for ANYTHING where something other than a VW original item was fitted. So, a head unit, or aftermarket headlights, or aftermarket tail lights could be defected.
Naturally, I complained, and was then told that I must consider the high level brake light on the Caddy as "a consumable item like tyres, and brakes. Yes, they crack on new cars, but that is the way that VW had designed the light and it has to be that way."!
The dealer was even reluctant to let me have the car back (but I insisted), I was expecting the light to be smashed in with a hammer. When they did bring the car back, surprise, surprise, another inspector saw it and passed it!
Oh, the cost for doing this? Around $300 to supply and fit when you can buy them online for as low as $12.50, and they are OEM parts.
That's the last time I go there for anything.
What I have discovered is that the LEDs actually give off red light, so you can even have a clear lens. I am in the process of preparing the drawings for a replacement unit and all the bits to glue together something more durable UV stabilised plastic. I am also trying to work out a simple jig to glue it consistently. I will then apply for and get it formally approved.
The saga of the high level brake light is a joke, and none of the authorities are prepared to do anything about. Even organisations like City of Sydney and RACV have the Caddy in their fleet, but they do not want to do anything about it because they probably get theirs replaced at no cost.
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