MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Boothy on May 02, 2009, 04:06:46 pm

Title: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Boothy on May 02, 2009, 04:06:46 pm
Been to look at 06 plate GTI today with leather and travelled 98 miles each way to view it!

There were two problems really:

- the leather on the drivers seat was knackered, worn, cracked and had got to the stage where little flakes rub off and the cloth underneath can be seen. Now I considered leather because its supposed to be hard wearing but the car had only covered 29,000 miles? Is this normal or has the guy been rubbing it so hard he's worn it out!

- Noticed some uneven tire wear on the fronts and the rears. The fronts look like they've been driven under inflated for most of there life but the rears had worn on the inner edge. My Type-R used to munch tires like crazy because of the negative camber set up. Is the Golf set up similar to this and can I expect the rears to to need replacing just because they ride on the inner edge?

Shame really cause the car was tidy on the outside.

Cheers. :surprised:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Boothy on May 02, 2009, 05:35:56 pm
Tumble weeds.................. :rolleye:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: SteveP on May 02, 2009, 05:55:55 pm
On my first GTI with leather I found it wore really easily unless it was well looked after and cleaner/conditioned at least every other week  :chicken:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 02, 2009, 06:06:50 pm
....

I can't comment about leather because I have cloth, but it doesn't sound like normal wear.

It's certainly not normal to see uneven tyre wear unless the owner is doing something wrong or has the suspension set up that way.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Harm on May 02, 2009, 06:16:08 pm
I have to agree the leather isn't fantastic in the golfs....as my friend just bought a 56 plate with 39k on the clock and his badly worn, but then again mine has done 79k on a 54 plate and looks no where near as bad as his! Depends on care of the leather and how people get in and out of the car too IMO.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: stealthwolf on May 02, 2009, 06:17:52 pm
I reckon my leather will look like that at that milage. Have an edition 30 so its only the side boosters but they're getting knackered pretty fast. May have to find a mashed up ED30 and get the front seats out of it.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Boothy on May 02, 2009, 10:41:24 pm
Cloth it is then!
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Norbreck21a on May 02, 2009, 11:27:58 pm
Have leather in my 43k GT TDi (4 years old), looks almost good as new ?

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.mediafire.com%2Fimgbnc.php%2F26292d02a33eaa55148e275c221725c65g.jpg&hash=d95630e729c8fcf207c3a6ef14ca4938c08c349d) (http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=syggkj3z9mv&thumb=4)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.mediafire.com%2Fimgbnc.php%2F68c8efc1dbe9aec943bd0e618a8c17e55g.jpg&hash=e1ece0f0fec2907c43f9c6c8c83c5f05a40a22e8) (http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=y1midyay3js&thumb=4)
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: icenutter on May 03, 2009, 01:13:44 pm
The side bolster is worn on my 05, with 34k miles.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 03, 2009, 03:03:39 pm
Hi,

My dad owns a company called G Wilson (Fibres) LTD and we supply textiles into Germany that go into the Automotive trade. Nylon, polyprop., polyester, acylic etc... ( atm automotive trade is bust so we aint selling a lot  :sad: )

They get needled ( non woven ) to make headliners, mats bla bla

I had a visit to their plant - they supply all the car factorys with the interior including leather ( we dont supply that )

The bloke showing us around said that the leather they supply to car factorys are different and he said the leather in the VW's is cheapest - its a soft leather which wears very easily

There are 3 types of leather

Aniline leather is the most natural looking, with natural surface visible, but is less resistant to soiling

Semi-aniline leather is somewhere in-between on both counts, having a light surface coating

Pigmented (protected) leather is the most durable but is less natural in appearance, having a polymer coating


Leathers are made from the skins of many animals but mainly cattle, goat, sheep and pigskins.

So Volkswagen leather might look just the same, but being soft it wears very easily.



Hope this is of help :smiley: ?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: cmdrfire on May 03, 2009, 03:17:16 pm
I dunno what those guys are doing with their cars but in my 54-plate GTI with 84k miles the leather still looks new, and I don't treat it every other week either - once every other month if that. There's a little bit of cracking starting to appear but nothing serious and next time I treat it (weather's nice, I might do it today in fact) it should take care of it nicely.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: 182_blue on May 03, 2009, 07:05:53 pm
Hi,

My dad owns a company called G Wilson (Fibres) LTD and we supply textiles into Germany that go into the Automotive trade. Nylon, polyprop., polyester, acylic etc... ( atm automotive trade is bust so we aint selling a lot  :sad: )

They get needled ( non woven ) to make headliners, mats bla bla

I had a visit to their plant - they supply all the car factorys with the interior including leather ( we dont supply that )

The bloke showing us around said that the leather they supply to car factorys are different and he said the leather in the VW's is cheapest - its a soft leather which wears very easily

There are 3 types of leather

Aniline leather is the most natural looking, with natural surface visible, but is less resistant to soiling

Semi-aniline leather is somewhere in-between on both counts, having a light surface coating

Pigmented (protected) leather is the most durable but is less natural in appearance, having a polymer coating


Leathers are made from the skins of many animals but mainly cattle, goat, sheep and pigskins.

So Volkswagen leather might look just the same, but being soft it wears very easily.



Hope this is of help :smiley: ?

the leather in my edition 30 is far from soft
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: ub7rm on May 04, 2009, 09:16:04 am
That amount of wear at 29k is a bit much IMO but I'd echo that the VW leather doesn't seem to be very high quality.  At 38k miles my bolsters are looking pretty worn.  I'm being pretty carefull not to slide over them as I get in and out so can hopefully stop them getting any worse but yeah I can see this being an issue on high mileage / not well looked after cars.

With regards to the tyres, what brand were they?  Dunlop sport maxxes were one of the brands fitted from the factory and I can vouch for the fact that they wear a lot quicker on the inside.  Apparantly a common complaint of this tyre...
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 04, 2009, 10:21:36 am
Blue,

I don't really know the full story of it.

I'm just going by what i was told from Jack Stiennemen ( the man who showed me round )


You wouldnt believe the sheer size of the building, it was like a 2x football pitches. There were hundreds of machines needling headliners and mats and trimming incredibly fast.

He said the basic mats they sell to VW and Porsche are sold at £4.50 a set  ( set of  4 ) :surprised:  :surprised:


Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 04, 2009, 11:35:02 am
....

Borrow (steal) some of wifey's anti-aging beauty products?

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fz67%2Fdesignscene%2FSarahPrematureAging.jpg&hash=ca49470a95cd399e081063126d16ac5ac92e68d8)

Or you could choose the organic option and use snail snot : -

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bioskinsolutions.com%2Fmy_images%2Fanti_aging_cream.jpg&hash=4235ab7e51d269a30080662c2612be29bc2e90ae)

:evilgrin: :evilgrin:

But joking apart, I'm surprised if the 'leather' VW are using doesn't age well. Do Audi use the same leathers?

Obviously I'm glad I chose cloth, but that was because I find leather too slippy and also uncomfortable dependent on weather temperature.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 04, 2009, 11:48:40 am
 :signLOL:


I can't honestly say about Audi leather.

However,

The good news is.

Porsche now have i think 51% shares in VW which makes them have control in what goes on - i'm assuming the leather in Porsche will be same as VW now  :happy2:

I know this for sure, the DSG transmission in the MK6 is the same as in a porsche ( triptronic ) - the gear change is phenomenal.


Does anyone know of the spray or smelly stuff VW put in the car when you buy the car new or 2nd hand... It makes the car smell new, really nice smell.

Where can i get this stuff from ?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 04, 2009, 12:45:22 pm

Porsche now have i think 51% shares in VW which makes them have control in what goes on - i'm assuming the leather in Porsche will be same as VW now  :happy2:


....I don't think so! The different individual brands within the whole corporate group are autonomous to a significant degree.


I know this for sure, the DSG transmission in the MK6 is the same as in a porsche ( triptronic ) - the gear change is phenomenal.


....Er!? The gear shift may indeed be phenomenal but Porsche's Tiptronic transmission has now been replaced by what they call PDK (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) and whereas PDK follows the same principles of operation as DSG it is not identical to the DSG/S-tronic as you appear to suggest/state.


Does anyone know of the spray or smelly stuff VW put in the car when you buy the car new or 2nd hand... It makes the car smell new, really nice smell.

Where can i get this stuff from ?


....Sounds like you're hooked on sniffing this stuff! :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 04, 2009, 07:35:06 pm
RedRobin ...  :signLOL: :signLOL: :signLOL: at the last bit.


Yerrr smellls gorrrgusss  :grin: :grin: :grin:


Well, Porsche do have control over VW   ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7693219.stm )

Quote from there "In its announcement on Sunday, Porsche reiterated its intention to increase its stake in VW above 50% by the end of the year. "

The VW Dealer Manager was telling me how they are using the triptronic in the Mk6 or something alike ( he did say it was porsche technology in a VW )

Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 04, 2009, 08:01:28 pm
^^^^
Yes, I'm not disputing Porsche's stake or control in VW but only that such factors don't mean that VW's will have identical Porsche gearboxes.

I'd take what any VW salesman says with a pinch of salt, including a good mate of mine who is one!
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 04, 2009, 08:12:09 pm
Ha, i like that expression  :happy2:


He also said, when the Golf mk5 came out, no one liked it and there was hardly any sales.

Until.... the GTi came out.. People came to see the flagship.. had a test drive... loved it... but said, can't afford it but i'll have a standard car mk5 being part of the family. :smiley: :happy2:


I can see the Golf mk6 sales booming... i'm already seeing a lot on the road ( not keen on the rear  :scared: )

Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: deccae on May 04, 2009, 08:32:16 pm
Porsche need 75% of vw to start controlling things.  This is due to some weird german law that they are trying
to get overturned.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 04, 2009, 08:41:24 pm

Porsche need 75% of vw to start controlling things.  This is due to some weird german law that they are trying
to get overturned.


....And even when/if Porsche do gain that control, it does not mean that gearboxes etc will be common to the various very different brands which constitute VW and the VAG group.

Just as leathers used won't be common to all. Aren't Bentley part of VAG? And do Bentley cars have these premature aging problems?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 04, 2009, 10:26:55 pm
I assume Bentley cars wont get used as much hence the less wear ?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Norbreck21a on May 05, 2009, 08:01:19 am
Just for information, I work for a German engineering company, and one of my colleagues family lives in a small village in Bavaria. There are 2 special farms there that supply cow skins to both the VW Group (for Bentleys) and BMW (for Rolls Royce). These farms are very tightly controlled. NO barbed wire is allowed anywhere on the farms (as this might mark the hides), and the cows are kept in special fields without hedges or trees to rub up against. It seems that the inspectors (yes they are inspected 3 times a year) are very keen on making sure that the hides are perfect.

AFAIK, both VW, BMW and Aston Martin use a similar set or farms over Germany, Scandinavia and Austria.

Somehow, I can't see this level of quality control going into a 23K car, no matters who makes it !
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Ifti on May 05, 2009, 07:19:19 pm
So whats the best stuff to use to keep the leather nice and fresh?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Toast on May 05, 2009, 07:24:49 pm
My drivers seat in the Ed30 had to be replaced at 2months old due to the bolster's wearing and lasted well until a month ago and it has started again :jumping: :fighting:  This is a car that gets used only at weekend and regulary treated to Autoglym leather cleaner and fed aswell!!
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: stealthwolf on May 05, 2009, 07:26:41 pm
^^^Yeah mine was starting pretty quick.

How short are you toast?
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Toast on May 05, 2009, 07:32:23 pm
I'm 6ft 2ins  or there abouts  :laugh:  Why do ask? :confused:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: illyun on May 05, 2009, 09:54:20 pm
I'm 6ft 2ins  or there abouts  :laugh:  Why do ask? :confused:

He gets aroused by the answers  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Toast on May 05, 2009, 10:02:26 pm
 :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :signLOL:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Rich on May 05, 2009, 10:22:49 pm
6ft +


shikes - im 5'8  :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: lol  - im still lucky to have a GT  :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 05, 2009, 10:49:31 pm

I'm 6ft 2ins  or there abouts  :laugh:  Why do ask? :confused:


He gets aroused by the answers  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:


....Never accept sweets from strange men! :evilgrin:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FMeets%2FSantaPod_Stealth.jpg&hash=b36c3113072e7cd82d6fa4bac6371f7910257b3d)
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: illyun on May 05, 2009, 11:11:40 pm

I'm 6ft 2ins  or there abouts  :laugh:  Why do ask? :confused:


He gets aroused by the answers  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:


....Never accept sweets from strange men! :evilgrin:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FMeets%2FSantaPod_Stealth.jpg&hash=b36c3113072e7cd82d6fa4bac6371f7910257b3d)


From the look on his face, he isn't just offering sweets.  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

So Robin, what happenned next?  Or is it too embarassing to share?  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 06, 2009, 12:13:44 am

From the look on his face, he isn't just offering sweets.  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

So Robin, what happenned next?  Or is it too embarassing to share?  :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:


....I naturally didn't hang around to find out!! Would you? :grin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: illyun on May 06, 2009, 02:32:27 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: stealthwolf on May 06, 2009, 08:52:00 am
Oi!

Reason I was asking is because I'm a short-arse so I have to lean on the booster to get out. Obviously if you're taller, you shouldn't have to put any pressure on the booster, so should wear a lot less.
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: RedRobin on May 06, 2009, 09:39:20 am

Reason I was asking is because I'm a short-arse so I have to lean on the booster to get out. Obviously if you're taller, you shouldn't have to put any pressure on the booster, so should wear a lot less.


....I didn't know until now that they made booster seats for more than just kiddies :-

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbagonoff.com%2Fbooster_seat_and_adjuster_on_driver.jpg&hash=42eb8b84afd79b876e4aaddc6609f194b2e5ca13)

:evilgrin: :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: Ifti on May 06, 2009, 10:45:22 am
Oi!

Reason I was asking is because I'm a short-arse so I have to lean on the booster to get out. Obviously if you're taller, you shouldn't have to put any pressure on the booster, so should wear a lot less.


Ha, you think you're short - try 5'4" mate.
Yup, Im shorter  :surprised:
Title: Re: Premature Ageing!
Post by: illyun on May 06, 2009, 11:10:11 am
Oi!

Reason I was asking is because I'm a short-arse so I have to lean on the booster to get out. Obviously if you're taller, you shouldn't have to put any pressure on the booster, so should wear a lot less.


Ha, you think you're short - try 5'4" mate.
Yup, Im shorter  :surprised:


I think we need to start a contest....  :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: