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Mk4 GTi factory fitted side skirts - removal


IR8Matt
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Hi all,

New to this and I'm looking for some advice...

Recently the missus chipped the side skirts of my GTi in a multi-story car park and I'm trying to do a respray job. Given the weather I was hoping to remove them and do them inside but I came to remove them today and apart from finding the sole screw in the front wheel arch I can't seem to figure out how they are attached.

Can anyone tell me how I can remove the side skirts without damage to the rest of the car or to the skirts themselves? Do they just clip in and require just a bit of gentle persuasion?

If I can't remove them it looks like I'll be waiting until the summer to respray on the car.

Thanks

Matt

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[ QUOTE ]

Thanks Riz,

I guess its not going to be easy then...Any tips on how i could go about it?

[/ QUOTE ]I doubt that it will be a easy task, might be worth asking a dealers bodyshop for advice... you can heat the glue but that would surely mess up the plastic skirts.....

Riz smirk.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

Anyone know any different?

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

The method in the manual [for the R32] is to remove the screw(s) in the front wheel arch ...then cut the mastic/glue with a 'cheese cutter' tool.

The tool shown is a short length of wire with grab handles on each end.

...you feed the wire between the skirt & the body and pull it thro' the mastic...which cuts it clear.

...there are warnings to mask the adjacent bodywork prior to starting to prevent damage to paintwork.

on the R32 the skirt is glued the full length of the sill [at the top] and at three points {pads} underneath onto the floor of the shell.

I've got to do one of mine (when the winter goes away)...not looking forward to it crazy.gif

good luck 169144-ok.gif

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