dasha Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Hello all, Im new to the forum so go easy on me guys. I recently bought an R32(private purchase). After browsing this and other forums, i decided to ask the question but im dreading the answers. I suspect my R has been in a smash! WHY?.. For a start the drivers door doesnt shut as easy as the passenger side. Then i noticed that the rear r32 badge is on the oposite side to normal ie: the right instead of the left. Also the front badge is in the centre of the left hand side of the grill, instead of offset to left. But most disturbing of all, on the drivers side around the curve edge of the wheel arch, the paintwork has started to kinda rust/bubble. You can barely notice this, but it's a two yr old car & shouldnt be rusting. Now i know this may sound a little sad! but now i have this Bee in my bonnet i'm looking for flaws,and i just need some answers.....cringe! Any help/reassurance would be appreciated. Saff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Welcome to the madhouse!! There are databases where you can check if your car has been in an accident, but I'm not sure where to look. No doubt later on someone will post up with the details! The drivers door thing may just need a bit of time adjusting etc. even if it has had a bump, it might just need setting correctly on the striker plate? I agree with you on the rust issue though. Although Vdubs do have problems with paint issues. As for the badges, possibly suspicious, but the front one is loose anyway and the rear one? who knows. Might of been debadged and then replaced in the wrong place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazr32 Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 first of all welcome to tsn with regards to your car and your fears, did you pay the market value for the car or did you get it much cheaper than the going rate, A= you could have got a good deal and B= your fears are starting to show themselves,also does the car drive and brake in a straight line,do you know anyone else with an r you can compare it too. as for the door as hotdog said there could be a viable explanation for this such as the wind caught it when it was opened and it has swung back hard on the hinges and so needs reseting. the last thing is what was the previous owner like that you bought the car off, i dont want to stereo type here, but i have been there years ago when i was single in my early twentys and had a gti the car was for driving which is exactly what i did if you know what i mean,i would not dream of hammering my r32 like i did back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin09 Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Could be dodgy, the way to know if it's been in a crash big enough for an insurance company to get involved, is by using 'Experian' or 'HPI car data' check. These are what the motor trade use to check part exchange vehicles and im sure you'll be able to find them online or ring direct enquiries. Hope its all OK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decked Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Don't worry about the door, if it's a 3 door they are heavy and do tent to fall over time as it's being used more often than the passenger door, unless it was used for a taxi in it's previous life....... (VW have the correct tools to reset this and they've never charged me) Did you do an HPI check on the car before you bought it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 If the insurance company haven't paid out for the car as a write off, it won't be recorded. It only goes on 'the register' if the car is a total loss for the insurance company - i.e. they take over ownership of the car, and sell it on as scrap or damaged repairable. I don't suppose that's much help to you really, I'm just saying that if a car isn't recorded with HPI/Experian etc, it doesn't mean that it hasn't been in an accident, then fixed at the insurer's expense. Just that it wasn't deemed a write off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 MKIVs were bad for having ill fitting doors! They can be adjusted by the dealer to fit better! If you think its been crashed and put back together go get an RAC or AA inspection done. They should be able to spot the tell-tale signs or respray and such like. If you want to have a look yourself look inside the seams, cracks and underneath the doors, boot, etc for over spary, unpolished paint, runs, or mis-matching paint work. Also, using a finger check all the shut lines to see if they are straight, level, same size on either side of the car etc. Bruv was an RAC vehicle inspector for 5 years so he taught me a thing or two......... but a well repaired car is hard to spot!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazr32 Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 that said there is nothing wrong with buying a damage repaired car if you know it has been repaired properely and you get it for the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 take your car to VW and show them the rusting/poor paint area (as rust/paint will still be under warrenty) they will be able to quite quickly confirm if the car has been repainted in that particualr area, and thus had a poor/cheap repair which is why rust is appearing or is it just genuinely a rust issue.... most dealers now have a tool that can 'read' how much depth there is on a painted area to identify if it is factory original or been painted not to same quality at a later stage try that initially to try and put your mind at ease max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted October 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Thanks for the input guys! I've checked the door & panel lines all seem fine. Regarding the bubble/rust above the wheel arch. On the rim of the wheel arch the paint job seems to finish just after it curves under, whereas the other side there's about 10mm of paint, hence the rust i guess!(oh and my Dad moved the R32 badge....how sad am I?). I'll check with VW, like Max pointed out they'll tell me if the work can be done under warranty or the panel had a re-spray. The car is fully HPI clear & drives like a dream! if it has had panel damage then the repairs were decsent enough. Once i get the door levelled an paint repaired i'll be a happy bunny. My mind is at rest since reading your posts..Thanks! Appologise my 1st thread was such a ridiculous one. Saff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Glad you're feeling that your mind has been put at rest. Thats the power of Tyresmoke! Just enjoy the car now!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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