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Help removing BlueGT side skirts
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polo_enjoyer
- New
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2023 6:37 pm
- Drives: 2017 BlueGT
- Location: North Yorkshire
Help removing BlueGT side skirts
Hi all, I've just got this BlueGT and don't love the extended side skirts that this model has. I'm trying to remove them but am having some problems with the fixings holding the skirts on underneath. I have taken out the three torx screws which has loosened the skirt somewhat although there are still two or three of these other type of fixing that look like pins of some sort (see pics attached). I've tried prying them out with a knife but have had no luck and would appreciate any tips for getting them out. Thanks in advance!
Last edited by polo_enjoyer on Sat Mar 04, 2023 3:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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SRGTD
- Bling Bling Diamond Member
- Posts: 3821
- Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:40 pm
- Drives: 2020 AW Polo GTI+, Pure White.
- Location: UK
Re: Help removing BlueGT side skirts
Before you remove the side skirts, it would be worth doing some research to find out precisely how the skirts are attached along the length of the sills as there are likely to be some hidden fixings on the reverse of the side skirts.
Many VW sill side skirts have a number of self tapping bolts screwed directly into the metal sills along it’s entire length and the side skirts slot onto these bolts (the 6c Polo GTI side skirts are attached that way). You can see the method of attaching the side skirts on a mk7 Golf GTI in the pictures below - the 6c Polo GTI side skirts are attached in the same way. If this is the method of attaching the BlueGT side skirts, then removing them and the hidden fixing bolts will leave many exposed screw holes in the sills. IMHO that wouldn’t be a good look, the exposed screw holes in the sills will be susceptible to corrosion, and you may be invalidating your car’s anti corrosion warranty.
The R Line / Blue GT / Bluemotion side skirts at the link below aren’t genuine VW items but they’re described as ‘plug and play’. You can see a fixing strip in the pictures, so I’m assuming the fixing strip is attached to the sills with self tapping bolts and the side skirt then either clips or slides onto the concealed fixing strip. Assuming this to be the installation method, removal would leave exposed holes in the sills as described above.
https://www.toliasedition.com/vw-volksw ... ype-r-line
Many VW sill side skirts have a number of self tapping bolts screwed directly into the metal sills along it’s entire length and the side skirts slot onto these bolts (the 6c Polo GTI side skirts are attached that way). You can see the method of attaching the side skirts on a mk7 Golf GTI in the pictures below - the 6c Polo GTI side skirts are attached in the same way. If this is the method of attaching the BlueGT side skirts, then removing them and the hidden fixing bolts will leave many exposed screw holes in the sills. IMHO that wouldn’t be a good look, the exposed screw holes in the sills will be susceptible to corrosion, and you may be invalidating your car’s anti corrosion warranty.
The R Line / Blue GT / Bluemotion side skirts at the link below aren’t genuine VW items but they’re described as ‘plug and play’. You can see a fixing strip in the pictures, so I’m assuming the fixing strip is attached to the sills with self tapping bolts and the side skirt then either clips or slides onto the concealed fixing strip. Assuming this to be the installation method, removal would leave exposed holes in the sills as described above.
https://www.toliasedition.com/vw-volksw ... ype-r-line
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