New MkVI GTI - Build quality

[Skiziks]

Took delivery of my new wheels a few weeks ago. Candy white 4 door with DSG, Leather, 18" Detroits and sunroof.

I have noticed three body-related quality issues:

1. The small rectangular plug in the front bumper doesn't fit very snug or square. It even casts a shadow if the light is right. I've noticed a similar condition is some web photos. A common problem?

2. The rear hatch doesn't align well on the left side, perfect on the right. Is there adjustment possible? (I've also noticed this same alignment issue in several web photos.)

3. I have a small paint flaw in the front passenger door. In the lower third there is a small, almost a pinpoint-sized, raised black "bump" in the finish. The dealer's body shop wants to break into the factory paint with "macro-sized" tools and repaint the entire front side of the car. NOT what I would prefer or consider appropriate (nothing beats factory finish). Any suggestions?

Thanks for the great site and I look forward to contributing. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

[SteveP]

The black spots could be "rail dust" from being transported, have you tried some detailing clay on these?

Also the tailgate seams to be a common issue for alignment, I have seen three Mk6's all with similar poor alignment. It is adjustable but you will need to move the bolts on the top of the tailgate which will break the paint on the bolts.

[Skiziks]

Steve,

I wish it were so simple. It is unfortunately "under the paint". 

[SteveP]

That's not good, but still a good bodyshop should be able to get very very near the factory finish.

Still I know I would also rather not have any part of my car repainted. 

[gaptag]

Also the tailgate seams to be a common issue for alignment, I have seen three Mk6's all with similar poor alignment.

Funny, I've looked at my tailgate a few times and wondered if it was closed right on the left side I think. As I predominantly open and enter the boot from one side or the other though, I'd put it down to my imagination as I'd never compared both sides!

It pales into incomparison with the list of build faults I've found over the first six months though, the best being the front bumper expanding and popping out of its retaining clips on one side in the heat of the sun within 3 days of taking possession of the car!

I too have a raised pin-point bump in the paint, though mine is actually the same colour as the paint but is more noticeable as it's on the driver's side A pillar. I too took the advice to just leave be. It's hardly noticeable in reality and repairing it would likely just lead to something more noticeable!

[SteveP]

From bitter experience on my Mk5 having the third brake light replaced which ended up with a near full rear quarter respray, I agree with the idea of best leaving somethings alone 

[am1w]

Every Mk6 Golf that I have seen has a misaligned bonnet. Most of them sit higher wrt to the wing on one side than the other. The worst case is when the gaps between the wings and the bonnet are unequal + the slightly tilted bonnet!

[gaptag]

I'm realistic enough to appreciate that not every build will be perfect, but it's pretty shoddy when such a high number of cars have the same build quality faults when they roll off the line. And it's not like we particularly pay cheap for these cars! 

[Snoopy]

I have a small paint lump on mine in the lacure on the rear drivers side quarter about a cm in from the bumper its about 2mm round.

But thats nothing compared to other paint issues i have now seen on many golfs including my own on the back of the front wings and on the edges of the frontwings/a-pillar.
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=150136.0

My grill/bonnet do not line up very well.

My rear hath is a little high.