Should a new polo gti look like this?

[mjackson1993]

Hi all new to the forum picked up a new polo gti in March this year. Just noticed underneath my car it looks like it has been damaged and repaired and something has been leaking. First time I have checked underneath I have only drove about 900 miles since I got the car 2 months ago. Appreciate if anyone could let me know if this is normal bearing in mind it was a brand new car. I'm not to sure how to upload/attach a photo.

Thanks

[Willni]

upload a photo to photobucket and then copy the img link beside the photo on photobucket

[SRGTD]

Hi mjackson1993; welcome to the forum.

It's difficult to comment on whether what you think might be damage actually is damage without seeing a picture, so it's only possible to speculate until you post some pictures. I use Photobucket to post pictures, but there are also other photo hosting sites you can use. If you use Photobucket, once pictures are uploaded to Photobucket, you can copy the IMG link of the picture you want to post and paste it into the message your posting on the forum.

What is leading you to suspect your car's been damaged and repaired - what exactly is damaged and where is the area of damage? What is leaking; is it oil? coolant? condensation from the air conditioning system? Is there an odour or colour to the liquid and what does it feel like if you rub it between your finger and thumb? Have the oil and coolant levels dropped since you took delivery of your car? If you've been using your air con, bear in mind that it's normal for condensation to drip from air conditioning components, which may form a small pool of water under the front of the car and it's nothing to worry about.

Has anyone else driven your car apart from you and if so, is it possible they may have damaged it and attempted to repair it? Has it been back to the dealer since you took delivery? It's not unknown for cars to become damaged while they're at the dealers for warranty/servicing/repair work.

If you can post some pictures and provide some more details regarding the leak, then forum members can give your their opinions.

[mjackson1993]

Hi thanks for the reply,

It was just after cleaning my car I looked under this for the first time and noticed it looked like the car has been repaired. I'm not to sure if something has been leaking but as per the photos there are a few orange colour droplets formed which are solid and a large section underneath which looks welded/repaired. I am the only one who has access to the car. Around 6 weeks after collection of the car it had to go in for repair as when I collected the car the dealership who prepared the polo damaged this by melting the plactic/paint on the bumper when cleaning this prior to collection. The car went in to be resprayed at a approved vw paintwork/body shop I actually took the mileage when I dropped this off and a week later it had done 0.4 miles which suggests they had only moved the car around the compound.

[mjackson1993]

Tried to upload 2 photos not sure why this hasn't worked. Copied the link from the image hosting between the image codes. I will try this again to see if it works. There are quite a few codes which I'm not sure which one.








<img src="https://image.ibb.co/gpMN5v/IMG_2109.jpg" alt="IMG_2109" border="0">
<img src="https://image.ibb.co/mFyPJF/IMG_2111.jpg" alt="IMG_2111" border="0">

[SRGTD]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I can see now that this is the rear end of your car, so no leaks from the engine compartment.

Looking at your pictures, I don't think your car's been damaged. The rough textured area looks like the stone chip protective coating that's applied at the factory to areas that are vulnerable to flying stones. If you look at the lower part of your sills, below the black plastic moulded still extension strip, you'll see a similar textured surface - painted the same colour as your car as the sills are visible from outside.

The drips look like overspray from the wax protection that's injected into the hollow cavities (e.g. the sills) in the factory to protect against corrosion. This probably feels quite solid when you touch it, but it's soft enough to deform if you push a finger nail into it.

So I think you can stop worrying about your car having been damaged, and go out and drive it and enjoy it

[mjackson1993]

Hi SRGTD

Thank you for the reply, I'm really not car technical and as for the car being new I just expected all parts to be smooth and neatly put together ha, that's why I was a little worried. Totally understand now after your previous comments. Thank you I will do, summer is coming and it's certainly time to enjoy the car.

[RUM4MO]

Just to back up what has been said, all that is okay and as it should be after leaving factory, some of that wax is actually sprayed on the outer surfaces so that is why you can see some drips having formed as it dried off.

[mjackson1993]

Ok thank you

[derkie54]

Although it's not a Polo GTI mine looks like that.
If it's coated in extra wax/sealant then it's good news, if it's not coated and rusty then that's when you have to worry.

[Willni]

The rough patches are cavity wax they're there to help protect the car and prevent rust forming, you should add some more and rust protection spray (acf-50) to the exposed metal parts as well, I also paint the exhaust to keep it nice and smooth.

[SRGTD]

Out of curiosity, I had a look at the underside of my GTI in the same area as the OP's photos and mine is just the same. Here's mine;