Little black plastic strip on the back wheel arches?

[sssstew]

So whats the point of the little black plastic strip which pokes out from the side of the back half of the rear wheel arches? Im thinking its something to do with QLD regs?

Anyone know?

[Stuwey]

It's effectively a wheelarch extension, so that your GTI-spec wide wheels and tyres are covered.

Mercs have the same when you spec-up the AMG pack.

In fact, old VN Senators and ED Falcon XR8 Sprints had them on the front, when they went to an 8 inch wide wheel package.

[sssstew]

thanks for the confirmation stuwey, hmmmm im wondering if i can take them off...... just unscrew.....

[Catfish]

im wondering if i can take them off...... just unscrew.....

I threw mine away the day I got the car..................................

[sssstew]

yeah think i might do the same, take off and chuck in the garage. Guess i might need them for roadworthy cert if i sell later.

[jesum]

this strip is wider in the cup edition. :)

[insanekiwi]

Only available in 2007+ cars. My car did not come with it. Maybe due to offsets? 2007 offsets were lower than previous production models.

[flat6]

do they serve any purpose? honestly never noticed they were detachable until this thread

[noone]

I keep forgetting to look, but what are you talking about? I'm not aware of this trim...

[sssstew]

think the only purpose they serve is to get roadworthy certificate, otherwise they are pointless and look a bit naff.

Noone - look around your rear wheel arch, on the back half of it you will see a small black plastic bit of trip poking out from the arch by about 5mm, fixed to under the wheel arch by two screws.

[JK8]

Those are lil bitty mud flaps...
Not sure why you would want to throw them away...

[sssstew]

hmmm dont think they are mudflaps.....

[noone]

Oh, those... Surely mini mud flaps. Don't think there would be a legal reason for them...

[DeanB]

I always thought it was to limit the amount of stone chips and road grime you would get on the bumper without them given the tyre size on the GTI .... sort of like tiny little mini stone shields for the back bumper !

[flat6]

I think your right dean, had a look at them, appears to be in the spot stones get deflected, after rubbing my finger down it, was covered in tar and road grime.

Porsche use to do a similar thing to its wide body
http://www.clean-image.co.uk/assets/porsche-invincashield.jpg

[sssstew]

Stupid little black plastic things removed from rear arches now, the sun had got to them and they had faded to grey so didn't look good, removed for a nice clean line round the rear wheel arch.