Anyone fitted mudflaps to a 6C?

[veteran]

Has anyone here fitted any VW mudflaps to their 6C (or had them fitted by a workshop)? I'm contemplating buying a set from my local VW dealer, fitting them myself. Usually, it's a fairly simple job but I'm wondering if, with the latest mudflaps for the 6C 2014-2017 vehicles, you still have to drill pilot holes in the metalwork of the rim of the wheelarch. I've fitted mudflaps on previous cars of mine, including VWs, and have never understood why it should ever have been necessary to do that, but to fix the mudflaps to the wheelarch liner instead. Making holes in the actual wheelarch rim simply invites corrosion, and doesn't look too elegant either.

Incidentally, with these VW mudflaps, it's my understanding that there are slight variations in design, depending on whether the vehicle shape is 6C, 6R or whatever, and that there are now also long and short pairs available. For the 6C, I gather that the front pair are profiled so that they fit particularly snugly, right around the cill end, and partly showing on the outboard side of the cill.

[SRGTD]

I don’t have them on my current car but have had genuine VW mud flaps on previous VW’s (all Golfs; mk4, 5 and 6) and there was no drilling of pilot holes in the metal wheel arch flange involved; they were fixed to the plastic wheel arch liner - I think they used some of the existing fixing points that are used to hold the wheel arch liner in place, and maybe some additional holes drilled into the plastic liner. I would be surprised if the method of attachment would be any different on the Polo. Note; mud flaps aren’t available for all 6c Polos, because of the different profile of the sills/side skirts and rear bumper on some models - Bluemotion, Blue GT, R-Line and GTI. They should fit all other models though.

They’re available at the link below with a 10% discount;

http://www.vwmotorparts.com/index.php?m ... &x=12&y=18

I think I’d avoid longer versions, because of the risk of catching kerbstones and other low level hazards while reversing and performing other low speed manoeuvres.

[veteran]

Many thanks for your reply, SRGTD, and especially the link.

..... there was no drilling of pilot holes in the metal wheel arch flange involved; they were fixed to the plastic wheel arch liner ....

I'm pleased to hear (or rather, read) that. Makes more sense, obviously.

Annoyingly, VW themselves only now seem, on their websites, to show the rear pair. And that's true too of vwmotorparts. It's mainly on the front set where differences in the required profile lie.

.... because of the different profile of the sills/side skirts and rear bumper on some models - Bluemotion, Blue GT, R-Line and GTI.

I presume that, by 'Bluemotion', what's meant is specifically the 1.0 litre TSI 90 PS 3-cyl Polo (though the description 'Bluemotion Technology' is a general description and badging that's been applied to several other Polos in the 2014-2017 range)? Mine's not that one, mine's the Match Edition 1.2 litre TSI 90 PS 4-cyl 5-dr (yr 2017). Mine's not a Beats, incidentally, although it does have the words 'Bluemotion Technology' written on the tailgate. So, does that mean that the front pair in that link will fit my Polo, or not? There's nothing I can find that convinces me either way, 100%.

[SRGTD]

No, no drilling into the flange edge of the wheel arch required to fit them to a mk4, 5 or 6 Golf.

Yes, Bluemotion referred to the ‘green’ economy focused Bluemotion model and not other models that wear a ‘Bluemotion Technology’ badge. I’d be pretty certain the fronts will fit your car.

[veteran]

That's reassuring. However, I'm wondering about part nos., because in VW's current accessories catalogue, they give the nos. as 6R0 075 101B (rear pair) and 6R0 075 116 (front pair), and they're the same nos. that vwmotorparts are quoting. Yet, in the pdf I kept last autumn of the 2017 accessories catalogue, they're given as 6R0 075 106 (rear pair) and 6R0 075 116 (front pair). Could it just be that, between last year and now, VW has altered the part no. of the rear pair?

[SRGTD]

Based on the part no’s on vwmotorparts web site 6R0 075 106 are the rear mud flaps for the Polo 2009-2014, so the 6R model. The information in the 2017 accessories brochure looks to be incorrect. It won’t be the first time VW product literature contains errors and it certainly won’t be the last.

[veteran]

Ah, I see what you mean. Perhaps I should e-mail vwmotorparts before I order any, just to see what they say?

BTW, is vwmotorparts an independent VW spares firm, or are they just VW in another guise? I notice that the website shows someone wearing a jersey with the VW logo on it, rather suggesting that the site belongs to and is run by VW.

[RUM4MO]

If you checked on "about us" you will see that they are actually a Lancaster based VW dealership.

Some main dealer's parts department operating online do give some discount, I've forgotten which one I've used but they gave enough discount to stop me needing to bother with dealing with my local dealer if time was not important.

There is also a multi franchise dealership that operates its VW Group spares from one of its SEAT dealerships.

Edit:- ah, just noticed the "10% discount comment" so maybe close to what other on line main dealerships are offering.

[SRGTD]

Ah, I see what you mean. Perhaps I should e-mail vwmotorparts before I order any, just to see what they say?

BTW, is vwmotorparts an independent VW spares firm, or are they just VW in another guise? I notice that the website shows someone wearing a jersey with the VW logo on it, rather suggesting that the site belongs to and is run by VW.

I bought my VW Motorsport alloy wheels from them and found they were very good in terms of responding to queries and prompt delivery of goods.

They are part of the Lancaster VW group, and at the foot of the website, it shows the name and address.

[Andy1273]

Has anyone got a decent picture of these fitted? The short type preferably. Contemplating on having a set fitted myself but unsure on how they look once fitted?

[SRGTD]

Has anyone got a decent picture of these fitted? The short type preferably. Contemplating on having a set fitted myself but unsure on how they look once fitted?

Always worth looking through the used cars section on VW’s website - here’s one (click on the pictures at the link to enlarge them). They look as if they may be the long mud flaps though;

https://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/en/us ... dr-gjbnbyh

[PoloBlueGT]

I think the long mudflaps look quite well on Polos. I was hoping I could have got some for mine but they don’t fit on BGT

[SRGTD]

I think the long mudflaps look quite well on Polos. I was hoping I could have got some for mine but they don’t fit on BGT

VW don’t make mud flaps to fit my car (6c Polo GTI) either. I have always been very pro-mud flaps, and with the exception of my current car, I’ve had them fitted to all previous cars I’ve owned since 1980. However, I have to say in all honesty, I’ve not noticed any difference in terms of stone chip or dirt accumulation on my current car without mud flaps compared to previous cars that had them fitted.

With the shape of VW hatchback cars, rear mud flaps do nothing to help keep the rear screen clear as the airflow when the car is travelling forward creates a vacuum behind the car that sucks dirt onto the hatch and rear screen. This will happen whether mud flaps are fitted or not. The fronts may help reduce the number of tar spots on the side of the car, although comparing my current car without mud flaps to my mk6 Golf which had them, in my experience the difference in tar spot accumulation has been is negligible. The only stone chips I have are on the front of the car, and these would’ve happened whether I had mud flaps fitted or not.

Mud flaps would probably be quite useful for someone who regularly drives on muddy rural roads as they would reduce the amount of mud splatter up the sides of the car. However, for anyone whose driving is predominantly on A roads, motorways and in town, based on my experience mud flaps don’t really provide that much of a benefit and IMO, a car looks better without them fitted.

Just my opinion though, and for anyone who wants to fit them, if VW make them for your car, or you can find a decent universal set, go ahead and fit them .

[Andy1273]

I think the long mudflaps look quite well on Polos. I was hoping I could have got some for mine but they don’t fit on BGT

VW don’t make mud flaps to fit my car (6c Polo GTI) either. I have always been very pro-mud flaps, and with the exception of my current car, I’ve had them fitted to all previous cars I’ve owned since 1980. However, I have to say in all honesty, I’ve not noticed any difference in terms of stone chip or dirt accumulation on my current car without mud flaps compared to previous cars that had them fitted.

With the shape of VW hatchback cars, rear mud flaps do nothing to help keep the rear screen clear as the airflow when the car is travelling forward creates a vacuum behind the car that sucks dirt onto the hatch and rear screen. This will happen whether mud flaps are fitted or not. The fronts may help reduce the number of tar spots on the side of the car, although comparing my current car without mud flaps to my mk6 Golf which had them, in my experience the difference in tar spot accumulation has been is negligible. The only stone chips I have are on the front of the car, and these would’ve happened whether I had mud flaps fitted or not.

Mud flaps would probably be quite useful for someone who regularly drives on muddy rural roads as they would reduce the amount of mud splatter up the sides of the car. However, for anyone whose driving is predominantly on A roads, motorways and in town, based on my experience mud flaps don’t really provide that much of a benefit and IMO, a car looks better without them fitted.

Just my opinion though, and for anyone who wants to fit them, if VW make them for your car, or you can find a decent universal set, go ahead and fit them .

I tend to agree, it's mainly a cosmetic preference I think. I was contemplating fitting them but the shorter versions but not too keen on how bulky they look overlapping the side panels? Only other option would be to get them colour matched to the car so they blend in better and not look such a stand out addition ?

[RUM4MO]

I last fitted mud flaps to a new car back in 2002, I agree that they do reduce "road waste" being thrown up along the sides of the car, but at what price to increasing the risk of corrosion in the area where they get mounted. I did buy mud flaps for my 2000 Passat 4Motion - but they just sat in my garage until I sold that car.

Tar spots are very annoying though!