Seat Belt Rubbing On Inner "B" Pillar Trim. [Archive]

Blitzen

24-08-2008, 04:53 PM

Hey guys...

I was chatting to a fellow Polo GTI owner yesterday(Yay, finally, another one, and I did tell him about the site!!), and he pointed out that his inside B Pillar trim had rubbed away from the seat belt. I had never looked at this, so when I had a look, lo and behold, it has rubbed away too...I am pretty disappointed at this(to say the least).:brutal:
Just thought I'd see if any of you guys had seen/noticed this? I am going to pursue this under warranty, and see how I go...

o0liam0o

24-08-2008, 04:59 PM

yes i have the same problem took me a while to notice aswell, you wouldnt be able to get the pillar section replaced?

MACCAA

24-08-2008, 04:59 PM

Yep noticed this the other day.Put a bit of race tape over it....
Cheers
Len

Blitzen

24-08-2008, 05:05 PM

Yep noticed this the other day.Put a bit of race tape over it....
Cheers
Len

yeah, I was going to do that once I get it repaired.

VW GTI

24-08-2008, 05:35 PM

Yeah mine does that too. Warranty?

Blitzen

24-08-2008, 05:40 PM

Yeah mine does that too. Warranty?

Yeah, I'm going to see about it tomorrow. I can't see they claiming it at normal wear and tear if the car is only 9 months old. Mind you, the VW dealer up here has trouble identifying what a car is most of the time, so they may try and screw me around.:duh:

PeterHBne

24-08-2008, 06:31 PM

There is an old thread on here about this - haven't bothered wth mine through laziness.

Bubu

25-08-2008, 03:01 AM

Yeah, I'm going to see about it tomorrow. I can't see they claiming it at normal wear and tear if the car is only 9 months old. Mind you, the VW dealer up here has trouble identifying what a car is most of the time, so they may try and screw me around.:duh:

Let me know how it goes I was thinking of trying to go through warranty to get the same problem fixed.

insanekiwi

25-08-2008, 08:39 AM

5 door models have plastics around that area, so no problems there!
:drinkbeer:

bec

25-08-2008, 01:52 PM

what's an "Inside B pillar trim"??

VW GTI

25-08-2008, 02:05 PM

The bit where the seatbelt goes into the 'wall' of the car.

Blitzen

25-08-2008, 05:57 PM

I was talking to VW(Sapphire Motor in Darwin) today, and they were saying it is a warrantable item. I am going to get it booked in once I get to Townsville. After my last dealings with this lot, I don't want to have to wait 4 months to get my car fixed under warranty, as I am moving in 3 weeks.

Whubbsie

25-08-2008, 07:26 PM

looks for this when I got in the car to drive home... already happening on mine and it's all of 17 days old.

PogoAmy

25-08-2008, 07:44 PM

5 door models have plastics around that area, so no problems there!
:drinkbeer:

Does anybody know if these plastics would fit the Pogo?

I noticed mine wearing a few weeks ago (six month old car) - I can't believe such a dumb design flaw got past VW!

Cheers!
PogoAmy.

poloplayer

25-08-2008, 10:06 PM

I've got it too :frown: Only on driver side though, anyone else?

RhysQ

25-08-2008, 10:12 PM

yeah i noticed mine just after i bought the car. doesn't really phase me though, i don't think someone buying the car off you will even notice it (hopefully). if it is definitely warrantable though i will be heading in to get that replaced and the gearbox oil at the same time.

Bukefal

26-08-2008, 12:14 AM

dammit. i'm getting that as well. and what about the passenger one? it's fine now but over time that will wear out too. so the options are:

1. get it replaced and put tape over it (although my dealership will fix it and f*** up something else while they're at it.)

2. just to learn to live with it.

i see that as a lose-lose situation - who wants tape over their trim? :frown:

Whubbsie

26-08-2008, 08:43 AM

I as thinking getting it fixed then making some small polished aluminum plates that bend over the area.

higuma

26-08-2008, 03:03 PM

Bukefal

26-08-2008, 07:50 PM

I raised this problem a while ago. It's definitely a durability issue.

A strip of paint protection film (clear vinyl sticker) will do the job nicely - the driver's side had nearly worn through by the time I noticed mine :duh:

Recommend having this done sooner than later.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showpost.php?p=78283&postcount=58

thanks higuma. will definitely try to minimise the damage.

so do we know for sure if the trim is replaceable under warranty? anyone?

PeterHBne

27-08-2008, 01:24 PM

I raised this problem a while ago. It's definitely a durability issue.

A strip of paint protection film (clear vinyl sticker) will do the job nicely - the driver's side had nearly worn through by the time I noticed mine :duh:

Recommend having this done sooner than later.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showpost.php?p=78283&postcount=58

Yeah - thats the post I was refering to.

Doubt warranty will cover it - would warranty cover the scuffed carpet on the transmission tunnel to the left of your foot rest?

DaveMack

27-08-2008, 01:26 PM

Yeah - thats the post I was refering to.

Doubt warranty will cover it - would warranty cover the scuffed carpet on the transmission tunnel to the left of your foot rest?

Think that comes under the heading of "Normal wear & tear" Pete ... doubt if they'll cover it.

Dave

PeterHBne

27-08-2008, 01:35 PM

Yeah, thats what I mean - the seat belt thing could well be considered wear and tear. No doubt it is a poor design decision on someones behalf but nothing has fundamentally failed.

Blitzen

27-08-2008, 06:05 PM

Yeah, thats what I mean - the seat belt thing could well be considered wear and tear. No doubt it is a poor design decision on someones behalf but nothing has fundamentally failed.

When I saw the dealer, I was told it was warrantable as the car was so new. Only reason I am not getting it done here in Darwin is cos I run the risk of waiting for weeks to get parts, and I am moving to Townsville in 2 weeks, so I will get it done when I get there.

brumue

27-08-2008, 07:24 PM

Hmm mine doesn't have this problem at all. How do you guys put on your belts?

jasn78

27-08-2008, 07:27 PM

im with brumue had car for 2 years and still ok

MACCAA

27-08-2008, 08:03 PM

Hmm mine doesn't have this problem at all. How do you guys put on your belts?
It's not how you put on your belt.More to do with seat position and height,and belt height.
Some cars will not have the problem,others will.
Cheers
Len

Whubbsie

27-08-2008, 08:39 PM

Hmm mine doesn't have this problem at all. How do you guys put on your belts?

The taller you are and the further back you sit the less likely it is to happen

Bukefal

27-08-2008, 09:00 PM

i'm upset about this whole thing. maybe if i can trick myself into thinking 'it's just a crazy quirk of german design', when it's clearly a bad design. so you see, doublethinking has its benefits :)

PeterHBne

28-08-2008, 08:14 AM

so you see, doublethinking has its benefits :)

Just ask George Orwell.

PeterHBne

28-08-2008, 08:15 AM

The taller you are and the further back you sit the less likely it is to happen

Good observation - never thought of that - I sit well forward (though I am 6'3") and my trim is pretty tatty.

jasn78

28-08-2008, 09:11 AM

In otherwords all u shorties out there get some shoes with huge soles :) rofl

Bukefal

28-08-2008, 03:54 PM

i went to ask about whether the trim wearing out is under warranty. the guy had a look at it and said he'll follow up on. they (VW osborne park) have indeed replaced badly worn trim in the past but he couldn't promise anything. at least there is some hope. stay tuned.

RhysQ

28-08-2008, 04:07 PM

The taller you are and the further back you sit the less likely it is to happen

oooh i dunno about this. i am 6'1" and drive in a bit of a boy racer position :driver: with my seat really far back (i did it when i was younger for pure "coolness" :duh: and now its what i feel comfortable with) and my pillar trim is a mess. maybe it was like this from the guy before me...hmmm.

Timbo

28-08-2008, 04:48 PM

I don't seem to have this problem at all :nana:

572

28-08-2008, 05:45 PM

Same, spotless here. Then again, I have my seat all the way back and down.

Blitzen

28-08-2008, 05:56 PM

I'm only a short arse(5'7), but the guy that showed me originally was pretty tall(to me anyway!!).

Whubbsie

28-08-2008, 06:31 PM

Just checked, if I sit forward (as I do) the seatbelt is pulled forward too and rubs, but when I put the seat back it's more level(not pulled forward) and doesn't touch the trim but the belt position has to be high.... can't fully press the pedals from all the way back there though.

Blitzen

30-08-2008, 11:35 AM

I went in to VW this morning, and showed them the inner B pillar. Parts are ordered and car is booked in for the warranty work to get done.

PeterHBne

31-08-2008, 01:54 PM

I went in to VW this morning, and showed them the inner B pillar. Parts ar ordered and car is booked in for the warranty work to get done.

Interesting...... when a get a new gearbox :frown: I might mention this problem with my B pillar.

Bukefal

01-09-2008, 08:14 PM

okay, i got the call from my dealer and they said the trim will be replaced under warranty. i'm trying to work out how to protect the trim once it's replaced. i don't want to use glue/sticker in case it messes up the trim. hmmmm. i'd advise everyone with this problem to get it sorted sooner than later.