Crack in sunroof bezel/roof trim?

[claymoore73]

If you go off of what VW says i don't believe the windshield needs to come out but i just skimmed it fast. Dropbox link is from this site

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/f99kqqmv...=0&lst=&preview=D4B8040D5CD-Body_Exterior.pdf

That manual is much appreciated. I planned to dry fit the panel first. If the windshield does need to come out it has a chip anyways. I'm sure I can get class pulled out and come back to have new one put in next day or something. I have a car hauler so not planning to drive with no windshield. I don't see why it would need to come out. I actually think it could be more issues if out with getting new windshiled back in. With the adhesive and cutting those beads I found some oscillating scraper blades for caulk adhesive that should work fine. The special VW tool is similar and made to remove glass to reuse.

 

[amsr]

The shop I use says there is a small chance the windshield could be damaged when removing the old panel. But it usually isn’t.

 

[amsr]

So I had mine replaced in July for the second time since I got the car new in 2017. The new one is already cracking again. Does anyone know if there is an updated part or procedure for installing? I'm assuming since it's been two months its covered by the VW 1yr/12,000mile parts warranty.

This is getting ridiculous.

This will be the 3rd time I've had someone replace this panel, and the 4th panel that's been on this car in 6 years.

 

[mayday_soc]

@amsr There are no revisions to this part #. I’m in the same situation. Paid out of pocket $2200 for a replacement. Waited three months for the part. After that the dealer would not install it. Another dealer recommended their glass guy. Paid him $800 to install it. I reinstalled the interior on my own (pain in the ass) and PPF’d the black plastic to help fight against cracking ($400). A few months later I moved to a different state. I started getting helicopter wind noise pretty bad. Went to the local dealer here. They said the adhesive didn’t take and the entire sunroof frame was coming off the body structure. They would not cover the work. They tried reinstalling the sunroof for $1800 but failed saying they couldn’t fit the glass in the frame and insisted my car had structural damage. I read the manual in this thread and informed them the glass must be installed into the frame BEFORE it’s installed in the vehicle. They still made me order a new frame but with an additional part number which should be included in the frame. The markup on the parts were ridiculous. They told me there was no backorder but the parts were delayed causing me to rent a vehicle for over a month. They finished installing the new parts yesterday costing over 5k. It appears to be installed correctly. a couple of scratches around the sunroof paint but whatever. But now I have two decent gouges in my brand new passenger Recaro Sportster seat which I’m not happy about. I’m guessing the tech must have had a tool in his back pocket when putting back in the interior and the grab handles are not installed correctly which I’m going to have to fix on my own.

Absolute nightmare. And none of the second install is covered under the sunroof reimbursement settlement because the work was just completed.

It’s a 2015 tdi with quite a bit of work done to it with 30k miles. If that weren't the case I would not have done any of this. I would have bought a new car even given the current terrible car market and it would NOT have been a VW. If there’s enough people we should do our own class action.

Rant over.

 

[Stanislao]

@amsr There are no revisions to this part #. I’m in the same situation. Paid out of pocket $2200 for a replacement. Waited three months for the part. After that the dealer would not install it. Another dealer recommended their glass guy. Paid him $800 to install it. I reinstalled the interior on my own (pain in the ass) and PPF’d the black plastic to help fight against cracking ($400). A few months later I moved to a different state. I started getting helicopter wind noise pretty bad. Went to the local dealer here. They said the adhesive didn’t take and the entire sunroof frame was coming off the body structure. They would not cover the work. They tried reinstalling the sunroof for $1800 but failed saying they couldn’t fit the glass in the frame and insisted my car had structural damage. I read the manual in this thread and informed them the glass must be installed into the frame BEFORE it’s installed in the vehicle. They still made me order a new frame but with an additional part number which should be included in the frame. The markup on the parts were ridiculous. They told me there was no backorder but the parts were delayed causing me to rent a vehicle for over a month. They finished installing the new parts yesterday costing over 5k. It appears to be installed correctly. a couple of scratches around the sunroof paint but whatever. But now I have two decent gouges in my brand new passenger Recaro Sportster seat which I’m not happy about. I’m guessing the tech must have had a tool in his back pocket when putting back in the interior and the grab handles are not installed correctly which I’m going to have to fix on my own.

Absolute nightmare. And none of the second install is covered under the sunroof reimbursement settlement because the work was just completed.

It’s a 2015 tdi with quite a bit of work done to it with 30k miles. If that weren't the case I would not have done any of this. I would have bought a new car even given the current terrible car market and it would NOT have been a VW. If there’s enough people we should do our own class action.

Rant over.

You got a crack on the sunroof frame or just the bezel? If it's the bezel is not worth repairing, it's cosmetic and probably crack again a cheap way to repair it is sanding it plastic welding it sanding filler and then wrap it with ppf black film that have no orange peel.

Im in the process of making a carbon fiber cap to mine.

 

[mayday_soc]

@Stanislao My bezels have been fine but they peal so I ppf them. My cracks have come from the frame causing water leakage, soaked carpets and fogged up windows.

 

[YamR1rider]

You got a crack on the sunroof frame or just the bezel? If it's the bezel is not worth repairing, it's cosmetic and probably crack again a cheap way to repair it is sanding it plastic welding it sanding filler and then wrap it with ppf black film that have no orange peel.

Im in the process of making a carbon fiber cap to mine.

Agreed, I'm going to do the same on the trim bezel on my daughter's car and have a go at wrapping it.

I posted on a other thread that for the frame, after trying all manner of taping nonsense, what finally worked for me was to take the glass off and give the entire frame several serious coats of Gorilla's version of Flexseal. Problem 100 percent finally solved, even when the car sat out. side as Hurricane Idalia went by.

 

[Stanislao]

I have a 2015 GTI MK7 and bought it new. The sunroof bezel cracked the first time in 2019 and now again in 2023. In 2019 the dealer wouldn't even look at it. Then it went to a repair facility that said they could do it and three weeks later after tearing out the headliner had us come to pick it up with pieces everywhere. They said they couldn't figure it out. Finally had to take it to some luxury car collision center that works on lambos and Bentleys. They fixed it and was fine for another 4 years. They told us they had to take out the sunroof, the seats, the headliner, and the windshield. I think someone has posted the VW repair guide on this and I'm calling BS on all this disassembly of the car for a plastic panel that is glued in. I found another repair guide that has the exact adhesive and primer you need. After you get the plastic panel out and clean up the old adhesive you have to use this activater then lay down the new adhesive. The tricky part is you have 10 mins of working time to fit the panel in place and line it up with the sunroof glass. It does say in the repair guide to have the sunroof closed so the glass is there to line up with it. Now in the repair guide what has me baffled is the wire cutters they want you to use. That just seems insane. I could see if this was glass and you are reusing it. It's cheap plastic and garbage. So I plan to cut down each side carefully and slowly with a Dremel to get the plastic out around the adhesive bead and then figure out a way to cut the bead of adhesive out. Then attempt to dry-fit the panel and see how it goes. I have found all the adhesives, primer, and activater online. Yes looks like a pain to do and will take some time. I'm not paying another $4k for this shop to replace this plastic. I think they are full of crap and know they are the only place that will actually do it. I have taken this thing everywhere. All I hear is no we won't fix that. Even the dealer won't even look at it. It is just insane. I do like this car besides this stupid plastic panel. It runs like a scalded rat. It is my wife's car. Worse case I see happening is I get the panel in and it flies off the car (I don't think that will happen if I follow the steps). If it flies off I'll buy one more panel and halfway glue it in. Then drive to the dealer slowly and buy her the MK8 Golf R she wants with no sunroof. Trade this in with the nice new shiny plastic panel installed.

I don't plan on doing this repair for a few months. Too hot in Florida right now to do this. I'll have to post some more photos when I get around to it. It's crazy that some other insane person like myself hasn't posted a video on this. Here are some photos of what the panel looks like. Cheap plastic. I had originally thought it was glass. Stupid me!

Here is the guide I found that is a little different with the exact part numbers for the chemicals/adhesive needed:

https://www.seatia.com/secon-881.html





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did you end up replacing the bezel?

 

[amsr]

I ordered a replacement under warranty warranty the bezel I had replaced this past summer that is already cracking again. But they are now on back order with no ETA. Here's hoping they revise the part... fingers crossed for a crack-less experience. 3rd time's a charm?

 

[mopar22]

Has anyone looked into if strengthening the chassis with the braces available helps at all?

 

[YamR1rider]

I ordered a replacement under warranty warranty the bezel I had replaced this past summer that is already cracking again. But they are now on back order with no ETA. Here's hoping they revise the part... fingers crossed for a crack-less experience. 3rd time's a charm?

Good luck! Although I think the chance of them revising the part is effectively zero....they didn't do it while the Mk7/7.5 were the current gen and now the 8 is out they will have no little incentive. Fingers crossed third time will be a charm however!!

 

[YamR1rider]

Has anyone looked into if strengthening the chassis with the braces available helps at all?

That would be an excessive amount of effort just for a sunroof with known design flaws. People would maybe do that to help if making a trackday/racecar special to improve handling but in honestly I think a stiffened chassis could go either way in terms of impact on the roof (extra vibes versus less flex)...or more likely, make no real difference at all. The quality of the plastic used on both frame and cosmetic bezel is just lacking.

 

[mopar22]

That would be an excessive amount of effort just for a sunroof with known design flaws. People would maybe do that to help if making a trackday/racecar special to improve handling but in honestly I think a stiffened chassis could go either way in terms of impact on the roof (extra vibes versus less flex)...or more likely, make no real difference at all. The quality of the plastic used on both frame and cosmetic bezel is just lacking.

Well, some people are having repeated failures, days/weeks after getting it fixed. It sounds more like their daily use than the quality of plastic at this rate tbh. If it was the quality of plastic we would be seeing it more than we are now. It seems to be more of a body tension issue tbh

 

[Stanislao]

Has anyone looked into if strengthening the chassis with the braces available helps at all?

The bezel trim is glued to the sunroof frame.
It's supposed to be flexible without any problems.
The problem comes when there is to much sun and cold exposure making the plasti weak and brittle.

A good solution would be a ppf film on the trim or if it's new a carbon layer before install.

The best solution would be doing a carbon fiber or fiber glass part.

The sunroof frame crack is due tu torsion

 

[YamR1rider]

Well, some people are having repeated failures, days/weeks after getting it fixed. It sounds more like their daily use than the quality of plastic at this rate tbh. If it was the quality of plastic we would be seeing it more than we are now. It seems to be more of a body tension issue tbh

Not seeing much of it? I'd argue that the class action lawsuit and complaints of the leaking frame issue make it already one of the most common faults on not only golfs but other MQB cars which use the same....as much as I love my Golfs, this is flawed design.

Agree with the poster above that the seperate bezel issue is primarily due to weather effects (and thus inappropriate plastic for the job). Most of the ones I see here in Florida past a few years old have the cracked sunroof trim.