Rusty front arches

winko

Guest
I recently took mine to Seat as I have bad bubbling on the drivers side and its just starting to show on the passenger side (54 TDI). Typical Seat response - Its come from the outside in and I don't have a full Seat service history so no paint checks have been done. What a load of BS, you just dont want to pay out! [:@]. Strange that VW or Audi do not require this.

The dealer gave me a number for Seat UK customer care, 0500 222222 if anyone's interested. Going to mention this thread and threaten to post all over this forum how useless Seat UK are, although that's quite clear from browsing this forum.
 

Chino_UK

Team Creatine
Jul 19, 2009
1,587
5
Cheadle, Cheshire
A friend who has a TDi hasn't had any problems at all (04 plate) but talking to someone at work today about it and a friend of his has a petrol FR and his rear arches are in a bad way, fronts are ok though.

I've got a 55 reg, nothing o far and I inspect and clean arches fairly regularly, keeping my eyes peeled though.
 

daytona246

Active Member
May 28, 2012
149
3
This is my rust cant believe an 04 plate can do this. everyone who i tell is shocked at how bad it is. Funny thing is i purchased the car in may 2012 and both wings were fine. since then I have replaced the passenger wing and soon to be drivers side.

yourphotos


yourphotos
 

winko

Guest
This is my rust cant believe an 04 plate can do this. everyone who i tell is shocked at how bad it is. Funny thing is i purchased the car in may 2012 and both wings were fine. since then I have replaced the passenger wing and soon to be drivers side.

yourphotos


yourphotos

Same as me, wasn't there when I bought it last year! How much did it set you back for the wings? Did you try going to seat?
 

daytona246

Active Member
May 28, 2012
149
3
Same as me, wasn't there when I bought it last year! How much did it set you back for the wings? Did you try going to seat?

It was £38 with delivery, then I would say about £40 all in with primer, 2x CORRECT paint, and lacquer/wet and dry.

http://www.starautomotive.co.uk/new-car-parts/wings/seat/ibiza-2002-2008.htm

However, Paintstores ltd was expensive for the primer (£13) and lacquer (£9.50). I would say both wings can be done for £70 each providing you DIY and get the primer and lacquer cheaper than what I did. I only spent slightly more but still cheaper than a body-shop.

In response to visiting SEAT I doubt i would get anywhere with the car being out of warranty and 9 years old plus nearest SEAT is 20 miles away from me
 

Cuffy

Active Member
Jul 25, 2010
21
0
Went to another body shop today, the guy there recommended a whole new wing, the monetary difference between the repair and the replacement will be negligible.

How long does it take to get the existing arch liners out and remove the foam/sponge? thinking of doing this to the passenger side just to put my mind rest.
 

daytona246

Active Member
May 28, 2012
149
3
Not too long, just a case of taking the wheel off and unscrewing all the bolts. You can just rip the foam out without damaging the wing.
 

Cuffy

Active Member
Jul 25, 2010
21
0
Cheers,

Will do it just for peace of mind.

Quoted £480 for a new wing sprayed/fitted. On the back burner for a little while.
 

tdi sport

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
68
0
just noticed both my wings are doing the same bubbling over both arches. is there anything that can be done at this stage to prevent any further damage other than replacing the wings??
 

rivigo

Active Member
Jan 1, 2014
199
1
UK
just noticed both my wings are doing the same bubbling over both arches. is there anything that can be done at this stage to prevent any further damage other than replacing the wings??

There's a guide on here somewhere showing how to take out the foam padding in the arch that generally soaks up water and causes the rusting. Just bad design really and quality.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 

abbotsmike

Active Member
Dec 17, 2011
418
1
Uxbridge
Remove the sponges from my wings the other day when I had it up in the air. The passenger side one was folded over at the top and in really wonky, so it looks like a lot of care goes in to the installation of them!

No rusting in there though, happily. There was a build up of crud at the bottom of the wing though, so cleared that all out!
 

iain1970

I ♥ TDI
Apr 19, 2005
484
0
The Wrong side of the Pennines
It's odd SEAT bail when VW and Audi don't. However I've found the fixed priced servicing at SEAT dealers isn't uncompetitive compared to a non-franchised garage (round me anyway). As such, SEAT are replacing the front wing and doing some sill repairs under the anti-perforation warranty on our 9 year old Ibiza FR. The delays have been the dealer not applying for the warranty claim correctly and us dragging our feet getting it booked in. Made the call today to get it into their nominated bodyshop.
 

bebo_raahman

Active Member
Mar 8, 2014
1
0
Ive seen a lot of them on ebay and gumtree for sale with bubbling arches.. Commin problem apparently.

ANYONE SELLING A BEEZA CUPRA TDI by any chance? Really interested in buying one
 

evobaz

Active Member
Mar 10, 2014
79
0
Hi guys,

This is not only a Seat issue. It's a VAG issue. As mentioned before there are many Golfs and Passats suffering exactly the same and the reply from VW is also exactly the same. They just don't want to know. I recently traded in my 2008 Passat Tdi which was showing signs of rusting on the front arches.

There is a website set up dedicated to this issue!

www dot rustingvolkswagen dot co dot UK

I believe the owner of the site is currently taking VW to court regarding the rust on his Passat. He has a large sticker on the rear window of his Passat telling anyone who reads it about the VW rust problem. I had a 40 min telephone conversation with the guy and he is very well clued up and will not roll over and let VW shaft him. I will point this thread out to him.

Watch this space!
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
You would think that VAG would do the "right thing" to save their image. Mercedes has problems with water based paint effecting wheel arches on pretty much all their models 10-15 years back. They pretty much repaired them all if you took them back.

In 5 years time there are going to be a lot of scabby looking Ibiza's and Polo's driving around with the front wings rotten out.

Its not going to be good for the brand. :(
 
Feb 25, 2009
957
0
Rotherham/Leeds
You would think that VAG would do the "right thing" to save their image. Mercedes has problems with water based paint effecting wheel arches on pretty much all their models 10-15 years back. They pretty much repaired them all if you took them back.



In 5 years time there are going to be a lot of scabby looking Ibiza's and Polo's driving around with the front wings rotten out.



Its not going to be good for the brand. :(


Quite, and it will have the effect of affecting (that's a mouthful!) new sales. You see cars often that obviously haven't been cared for and are starting to rust, and put that down to treatment of the paintwork, but when you've got cars such as mine that are cleaned meticulously and frequently and are starting to rust (albeit not the arches, inner door under B pillar) then you start to question the quality.
 

Spooky211

Active Member
Dec 13, 2010
124
0
Glasgow
Ive seen a lot of them on ebay and gumtree for sale with bubbling arches.. Commin problem apparently.

ANYONE SELLING A BEEZA CUPRA TDI by any chance? Really interested in buying one

Hey mate, I'm looking at selling mine. Platinum grey, 90000miles, completely standard...just had new discs/pads front and rear, will have 2 new front tyres. All good apart from bubbling arches!
 
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