VW Golf MK4 Wheel Arch Rusting - Rust on Front Wings - Corrosion Warranty

Rust Through Paint on VW Golf Front Wings

Although the VW Golf MK4 is a very reliable car one common area that is prone to rust are the front wheel arches. Due to the construction and use of padding behind the arch liner water can collect which rusts the wheel arch from the inside as the foam rubs. If you are looking to buy a VW Golf MK4 then this check for rust is a good way to negotiate on price if the front wing is rusting.

Rust corrosion VW Golf Front wings

Corrosion warranty claim for VW Golf Front wings rusting

The VW Golf has a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty so some of the later cars are still covered. However unlike the claim I had with my VW Passat for rust on the tailgate VW rufused to accept the claim for the Golf wheel arch, saying that it wasn't a manufacturing defect as it was mechanical fault - the fact the fault was caused by VW poor design didn't seem to cut any ice.

This can show as bubbles of rust on the surface of the wheel arch which has come from the inside. It is possible to remove the rust and repair the section but it will invariably come back so I found the best option was to replace the wheel arch & wing completely. The cost was also very favourable as it only came to £250 for a brand new wing including spraying.



VW Golf MK4 Wheel Arch Rusting

Removing & Replacing VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet/Hood

How to remove & replace the bonnet on a VW Golf Mk4

More photos to follow shortly.

Requirements:

Tools required 13mm spanner/socket, point tool to unclip bonnet support

Second person to help lift bonnet off car and support during hinge removal

Steps:

Remove sound deadening material - remove clips around edge
Unclip and remove washer jets
Unhook bonnet support strut
Remove hinges holding bonnet to car (2 person job)
Lift off bonnet from car
Lift new bonnet into place and secure hinges (2 person job)

Removing & Replacing VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet

VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet Rust - Corrosion in Seams

When I bought my super high mileage VW Golf MK4 one item that needed attention was the bonnet that was rusting in several places. A couple of the rust patches were on the front as a result of stone chips not being treated and developing into more serious corrosion. Of more concern was rust visible in the rear seam of the bonnet facing the driver. As this was rusting from the seam outwards with no visible external damage it would be far more difficult to resolve.

VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet Rust

Shortly afterwards I treated the rust and applied some touch up paint to the stone chip corrosion but knew it wasn't a long term solution so I kept an eye out for a replacement bonnet on Ebay and VW Golf forums. I had a successful corrosion warranty repair on my VW Passat to remove the rust on the tailgate but unfortunately was unable to get the same on the Golf as the rust/corrosion had come from stone chops left untreated.



VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet Rust - Corrosion in seams

Once I found a suitable bonnet along with a selection of other parts thrown in for total of £30 I needed to find a suitable bodyshop to prepare it. Unfortunately the bonnet was about as far from an easy colour to paint as could be possible - both from the colour and the fact that the previous owner had not prepared it prior to painting themselves so the paint was peeling - so needed to be stripped back to bare metal ready for painting correctly.

A local bodyshop Hitech Panel repairs carried out the respray for me and have then refitted the bonnet to the car to avoid any damage in transit.
Photos to follow of the new bonnet shining on the car - the only problem will be the rest of the bodywork being less than perfect!


VW Golf Mk4 Bonnet Rust - replacement bonnet