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Volkswagen Beetle Body Work Problems

436 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 8:33 PM

You are in the Volkswagen Beetle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen New Beetle, Exterior, Auto Body, Paint, Convertible

    

Messages Page 40 of 44

#387 of 436 Re: bug window falling out [bugdude] by gcgrits

Sep 24, 2008 (6:45 pm)

Replying to: bugdude (Jun 11, 2008 2:58 pm)
It's nice to know that I don't have the only 2004 lemon. Everyone in my dealership knows who I am by name. Just discovered the window falling out the top. I am being told by a top shop that it has to be replaced because the pocket isn't deep enough to reglue and the shrinkage makes it impossible. Of course it is out of warranty. This just 'tops' the list of issues with this car. Every time something breaks I have to bring it back 3 to 4 times before they get it right. I have been through 3 head lights including wiring harness (but get told I don't have electrical problems even though the wiring harness' are burnt out), 3 batteries, 3 driver side door window regulators, the rods and clips in the top have broken multiple times (including the first week I had it). Then the icing on the cake, the last recall for the air bag sensors, I have to put in a claim to be paid back, because I already had to replace those. I love the idea of my bug and I do love to drive it, but I will not by another VW, I was just saying today, if this is German Engineering, they can keep it. I would rather have my 1981 Chevette back!

#388 of 436 Replacing the top by smcclarty

Sep 25, 2008 (9:46 am)

The VW dealership in Jackson, MS told me it would cost $4,000 to replace the top and $8,000 if the mechanism also had to be replaced. As it turned out, both had to be replaced, being just out of warranty, so I found a local person recommended to me by a VW buff who restores bugs. He replaced the top at his home garage and the mechanism for under $2,000. I would recommend to anyone facing this problem to find a local person who specializes in VWs or maybe foreign cars to recommend someone to replace the top.
 
I just got rid of a 2002 VW Turbo Diesel which I can honestly say was a true lemon and should have been turned in as such. I took a beating on it financially and would have paid someone to take it off my hands. I won't be buying anymore VW products; I won't even buy a German made product. I have owned numerous VWs and an Audi and I will never own another.

#389 of 436 First top problem by marconiusrex24

Oct 20, 2008 (8:09 pm)

I have had my beetle convertible since spring of 2004 and have not had too many problems (knock on Wood) I have enjoyed the car and have only recently began to experience some problems now that is out of warranty. I had to pay 600 to fix a problem with the cylinders and the turbo charge unit. I had to fix another problem with the dive train that, thankfully , was still under warranty.
 
I put my top down last weekend and heard the loud "crack" and got out to see that the plastic cover plate on the driver side did not "get out of the way" and it cracked it completely off!
 
Thanks to all of you I preemptively called VW to tell them that they need to pay for what I would consider a design flaw or a "design failure"
 
They did not make any promises...but I will push it.
 
Do any of you know if there have been enough problems with this or other top/window issues to prompt a class action suit???
 
I would be interested to know.
 
Thanks much.

#390 of 436 Re: First top problem [marconiusrex24] by marconiusrex24

Oct 23, 2008 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: marconiusrex24 (Oct 20, 2008 8:09 pm)
UPDATE! I took my car into the dealership today just to have them take a look at it and...LOW AND BEHOLD...THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY $8,000 FOR A NEW TOP! (Aside from the $265 for the cover plate replacement) I tried to get the guy to explain to me why on earth it would need a new frame. I just don't get it. I am going to push VW to pay for this as I consider it a catastrophic failure of one of the most important design features on the car 4 months out of warranty. I am wishing I had bought the extended warranty now.
 
Wish me luck!

#391 of 436 Re: stupid car. [bofig] by marconiusrex24

Oct 23, 2008 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: bofig (Apr 21, 2008 2:55 pm)
My back window is not falling out...(yet..knock on wood) but the dealer today said they have a repair kit for this now...rather than having to replace the top. Not sure what the cost is though.

#392 of 436 Re: Replacing the top [smcclarty] by marconiusrex24

Oct 23, 2008 (5:30 pm)

Replying to: smcclarty (Sep 25, 2008 9:46 am)
I had the same problem with my '04 conv. I opened the top last weekend and heard a loud crack. The cover plate cracked completely off. Then I noticed the the fabric of the top had pulled back from the body a little bit. The dealership is saying the whole frame has to be replaced at with an $8,000 price tag!!!!! I am pushing VW to pay for what I consider a major design defect.
 
Wish me luck. If they don't I may be looking for someone else to replace it for less cost like you did. Are you happy with this less expensive top?
 
Thanks
Mark

#393 of 436 Re: rear flap assemby-04beetleconv [tobysmom] by 04beetletaf

Jun 24, 2009 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: tobysmom (Aug 20, 2008 11:31 am)
I have an 04 Beetle convertible with 19K miles and the right rear flap assembly also broke off. Who or where did you call to convince VW to pay for the repair?

#394 of 436 04 convertible whats up with the buzzer by dfraher

Jun 27, 2009 (8:19 am)

I hope someone can help me. I purchased my convertible bug online and had it shipped to the house. I was out of the country when I bought it. I figured out how to put the top down but the indicator light and buzzer sounds like the top isnt all the way down. The warning ping is the same as when you dont have your seat belt fastened. And it pings when you put the car in gear. Did I miss a step in putting the top down?
 
I didnt get an owners manual so I have no idea if I am missing a step, is there a lock for the top or something?

#395 of 436 Re: Replacing the top [smcclarty] by imbatgirl

Jul 12, 2009 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: smcclarty (Sep 25, 2008 9:46 am)
Hey. I am in Jackson, MS and need help with my beetle top. Do you still have the name of the repair person you used? Thanks.

#396 of 436 Re: 04 convertible whats up with the buzzer [dfraher] by belaircarguy

Jul 18, 2009 (3:41 am)

Replying to: dfraher (Jun 27, 2009 8:19 am)
If you have a power top, when you lower the top it reaches a point where it sounds like it is making a slight "grinding" noise. Continue to hold the button and in a second or two that noise will stop. This is the top being locked into the down position. If you don't lock the top down, you get that buzzer sound as soon as you begin to drive or put the car into gear.
 
If you have a manual top, I would believe you have to push the top down into the locked position, but I don't know for sure, as my car has the automatic top.
 
Hope this helps.

Messages Page 40 of 44

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