Stone chips on a GTI....is it normal?

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:45 pm

Im still looking at buying a shiny red GTI...however there are quite a few small stone chips up the front of the car and at the bottom of the bonnet.....is the GTI renowned for picking up chips?

All of the chips appear to have gone through to a whiteish coloured layer...is this normal?

How much do people usualy part with to have chips filled and polished out?

And...

If you look at this picture (not the car im buying)..

There is a vertical panel join just below each rear light... Has anyone else got a slight crack/split on this join or has my example split because of a rear end insident of some kind?...

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:05 am

Can't say I've noticed the rear panel join, I must have closer look on mine.

Stone chips are pretty normal, of course it all depends on the roads your car drives along. I've been doing a lot more motorway driving lately and noticed a fair increase in stone chips.

When a stone does chip the paint, it will leave a white mark underneath - this is oxidisation of the galvanised steel that the 6N2 is made from. The good news is the 6N2 doesn't suffer from rust in the normal sense of the word, so if you do get a stonechip you have plenty of time to deal with it.

Biddle · Post by **Biddle** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:47 am

I dont know how common it is mate but the cracking you talk about has happened on my polo6n.

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:35 am

Mine are pretty bad all round the car. A few are down to the metal

As for the cracks, they are normal and common on Mk4 Golfs too apparently. Something to do with a laquer being too tight for the paint causing it to crack - that could be rubbish though

Scott F · Post by **Scott F** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:05 am

mine has got quite a few chips around the car too, as well as, the dreaded cracked paint at the rear panel join!

Minx · Post by **Minx** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:22 pm

The cracks on the back are normal.. its not a dodgy welding joint

As for stone chips.. every car has them thats used daily, drive on the motorway/ in countryside you get them.. it cant be helped, hence the use of a bonnet bra by some people.

Dee-vub · Post by **Dee-vub** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:32 pm

garnier wrote:Can't say I've noticed the rear panel join, I must have closer look on mine.

Stone chips are pretty normal, of course it all depends on the roads your car drives along. I've been doing a lot more motorway driving lately and noticed a fair increase in stone chips.

When a stone does chip the paint, it will leave a white mark underneath - this is oxidisation of the galvanised steel that the 6N2 is made from. The good news is the 6N2 doesn't suffer from rust in the normal sense of the word, so if you do get a stonechip you have plenty of time to deal with it.

Not true with regards to the front bumper cos its made of plastic as im sure you know

But in all fairness, all cars suffer stone chips....just part and parcel tbh