VW part reduction cost ?

[Le_Combattant]

Hello all !

At the begening of 2025 I had to buy new "A" pillar trim because of broken clips support.
Those pillar were original from factory and the plastic was quite brittle and broke very easely.

So I went to my dealership and bought two new A pillar part. Quite expensive one.

And today, during cleaning I decided to check the part, I noticed one thing: the foam

On the new parts: there is no foam.

PXL_20250810_202316812.jpg (2.84 MiB) Viewed 1137 times

Part number of the original part of my car are:
-6C6867233B Y20
and
-6C6867234B Y20

and the new one are:
-6C6867233H Y20
and
-6C6867234H Y20

So a revision yes, speeker is bigger and with lower internal resistance (4Ohms vs 8Ohms).
New part looks good but the assy that maintain the speaker is rattling (bad plastic solder I suppose).

What's wrong with this brand ?

Also, what's I don't unterstand is that, Parthaus is also selling those part, same part number as me (H revision) and those parts have the foam installed.

[2226]

Well over a 15 years ago I worked for a small software company that did the part procurement/tender process for VW. Tenders would go out to several companies looking for the cheapest production cost. I actually saw the result of this process when buying 2 rear frame rails for a mk1/citi golf. The difference in quality between the 2 parts shows how VW cheaps out on the parts as the cars age and how some manufacturing partners really do a rubbish job once they get the contract.

If VW has to stock parts for discontinued models you know they're going to stock the cheapest part they can get.

Those are probably from 2 different suppliers and one of them didn't bother to fit or include the foam.
Can you even remove that foam without damaging it and transfer to the new part?
Otherwise you should just be able to buy similar foam sheet and cut to size/shape.

Epoxy or hot glue will fix the loose plastic. Still an unacceptable thing to be doing to a new part though, but is what it is.

Interesting about the speaker though. I wonder why those were changed for 4ohm. Almost like the tweeter is swapped for a small mid-range which also looks to be mounted lower. Could make a big difference to the sound. How deep/tall is that new speaker compared to the old one?

[Le_Combattant]

Well over a 15 years ago I worked for a small software company that did the part procurement/tender process for VW. Tenders would go out to several companies looking for the cheapest production cost. I actually saw the result of this process when buying 2 rear frame rails for a mk1/citi golf. The difference in quality between the 2 parts shows how VW cheaps out on the parts as the cars age and how some manufacturing partners really do a rubbish job once they get the contract.

If VW has to stock parts for discontinued models you know they're going to stock the cheapest part they can get.

Those are probably from 2 different suppliers and one of them didn't bother to fit or include the foam.
Can you even remove that foam without damaging it and transfer to the new part?
Otherwise you should just be able to buy similar foam sheet and cut to size/shape.

Epoxy or hot glue will fix the loose plastic. Still an unacceptable thing to be doing to a new part though, but is what it is.

Interesting about the speaker though. I wonder why those were changed for 4ohm. Almost like the tweeter is swapped for a small mid-range which also looks to be mounted lower. Could make a big difference to the sound. How deep/tall is that new speaker compared to the old one?

Thanks you for your very interesting feedback. This world is driving me crazy.

From what I know, those part are coming from the same supplier.
The same brand is quoted on the plastic mould.

The only think I noted is this:

6C6 for the original one
6R6 for the new one "H' revision

EDIT: I tried with iso alchool: it's a mess.
The chemical reaction dissovls the foam in a total mess.

Man, those two part cost 150 euros.....And if there is foam is not for nothing.
And unfortnutallery, it's impossible to remove like that. Maybe I should try with isopropylic alchool to remove the glue.

Or try to buy new one on Part Haus (I will be sure there is foam, according to their pictures) or my dealership but there, I will be not 100% guarenteed to receive part with foam.

[RUM4MO]

I'd think that the "danger" of buying new ones from Partshaus based on their picture showing the foam still being fitted, could be down to Partshaus not understanding that VW's supplier is now not fitting that foam, and so they, Partshaus are still using their original picture - just a thought to try to save you from that possibility, and so getting very very angry!

[Le_Combattant]

I'd think that the "danger" of buying new ones from Partshaus based on their picture showing the foam still being fitted, could be down to Partshaus not understanding that VW's supplier is now not fitting that foam, and so they, Partshaus are still using their original picture - just a thought to try to save you from that possibility, and so getting very very angry!

I bought many part from PartHaus and I never been disapointed to be fair.

I went to my dealership to bought some itemp and spoke about my issue with the trim.

Because PartHaus A trim pillar are the same as the one I bough few months ago, so they are the latest revision "H".

I show the issue to the dealer and for him it's not normal. In front of me he sent an email to the factory's supplier to have more information about my issue and see if a refund/exchange is possible with goods parts with the foam.

[2226]

IPA with mess that foam up. That foam should be for noise isolation. Doubt that'll be there for rattle or vibration prevention since the foam probably weighs nothing. I'd just buy some open-cell foam and cut to shape and glue that in. Open cell foam better at noise blocking and that area shouldn't have any fluids going through it so closed-cell foam not needed.

Most car audio places or hardware should have some decent open cell foam.

But at those prices, if they can get a replacement then even better.
Nothing more annoying than spending hard-earned money only to not receive the item you wanted. I had this issue with the ECS intake elbow for the 1.4TSI. $100+ and the casting was bad, I have to grind out the inner diameter to line up with the turbo. Contacted ECS, showed the issue, they couldn't be bothered.

[amer6R]

audi a3 had aditional sound isolation in door trims, new ones dont.

[2226]

shrinkflation.

[Le_Combattant]

audi a3 had aditional sound isolation in door trims, new ones dont.

Welcome in the world were you are bying car over 40K-50K euros and it's feels cheap as f**k.

[Le_Combattant]

IPA with mess that foam up. That foam should be for noise isolation. Doubt that'll be there for rattle or vibration prevention since the foam probably weighs nothing. I'd just buy some open-cell foam and cut to shape and glue that in. Open cell foam better at noise blocking and that area shouldn't have any fluids going through it so closed-cell foam not needed.

Most car audio places or hardware should have some decent open cell foam.

But at those prices, if they can get a replacement then even better.
Nothing more annoying than spending hard-earned money only to not receive the item you wanted. I had this issue with the ECS intake elbow for the 1.4TSI. $100+ and the casting was bad, I have to grind out the inner diameter to line up with the turbo. Contacted ECS, showed the issue, they couldn't be bothered.

It's over 150 euros for both part...so Yeah, I'm hopping for replacement.
Yeah foam on this area is for noise isolation, maybe wind as it's installed on A pillar.

"Contacted ECS, showed the issue, they couldn't be bothered."
In this situation I would be crazy. This complete lack of respect for the customer.
I'm against the quote "Customer is the king" but, a minimum of respect is required.

I'm buying a product (quite expensive), there is a defect: the stric minimum should be a feedback and a solution.
It is not the customer's responsibility to finish machining their part.

[amer6R]

audi a3 had aditional sound isolation in door trims, new ones dont.

Welcome in the world were you are bying car over 40K-50K euros and it's feels cheap as f**k.

Thats Eu politics fault.
For every part they have to calculate carbon footprint (emissions) and s**t.
The worst part is the buyers market, people dont care. You sell s**t product, no problem i buy s**t product and be happy.
Like cmon belts in oil, ford, psa, vw, honda etc. crap

[iichel]

233B

4X1 Side airbag in front
6NW Unsplit molded headliner
4X0 Without side airbag
6NA Unsplit molded headliner
0A2 4 doors

233H

8RA Without speakers
A8G Sports comfort equipment
L0R Right-hand drive
8RL 6 speakers (passive)
8RE 4 speakers (passive)

Perhaps the one with foam is for airbags in the a pillar?

[2226]

"Contacted ECS, showed the issue, they couldn't be bothered."
In this situation I would be crazy. This complete lack of respect for the customer.
I'm against the quote "Customer is the king" but, a minimum of respect is required.

I'm buying a product (quite expensive), there is a defect: the stric minimum should be a feedback and a solution.
It is not the customer's responsibility to finish machining their part.

Pity I'm in Africa and they're in USA and I got family member to purchase it. It's the risks I take. Would cost a fortune to send back.
But modifying a modified part is par for the course, really. Factory part, not so much.

[2226]

233B

4X1 Side airbag in front
6NW Unsplit molded headliner
4X0 Without side airbag
6NA Unsplit molded headliner
0A2 4 doors

233H

8RA Without speakers
A8G Sports comfort equipment
L0R Right-hand drive
8RL 6 speakers (passive)
8RE 4 speakers (passive)

Perhaps the one with foam is for airbags in the a pillar?

Interesting. I have 4X1, 8RL and L0R. I could pull the pillar trim to confirm... but it's a lazy Monday.

[Le_Combattant]

233B

4X1 Side airbag in front
6NW Unsplit molded headliner
4X0 Without side airbag
6NA Unsplit molded headliner
0A2 4 doors

233H

8RA Without speakers
A8G Sports comfort equipment
L0R Right-hand drive
8RL 6 speakers (passive)
8RE 4 speakers (passive)

Perhaps the one with foam is for airbags in the a pillar?

Interesting. I have 4X1, 8RL and L0R. I could pull the pillar trim to confirm... but it's a lazy Monday.

The A pillar I removed are from factory (date match with the car production) and nop, she is not equiped with airbag in the A pillar as you can see:

PXL_20250810_114752545.jpg (4.24 MiB) Viewed 1021 times