My Polo Gti 6R story

**exacto** · 22-06-2016, 01:09 PM

Hi all,

I just wanted to share my story with you guys and hopefully get some advise while I'm at it.

Here we go:

I have a Polo Gti MY12 with approx. 35,000 Ks. I've only had it for around 1.5 years and I bought it with 8,000 Ks as the original owner didn't drive it much. I recently rear ended someone and they had a tow bar so it cause a bit of damage but it was still drivable. I was driving it for around 2 weeks after the accident while I was waiting for NRMA/panel beater to sort their **** out. One day I noticed puddles of gear box oil in the engine bay and under the car so I towed it to the panel beater. They couldn't work out what was wrong so they had it towed to VW Rockdale. They inspected the vehicle and informed me that the mechatronics unit was faulty and that it was definitely caused by the accident. I have this in writing. Great so far.

NRMA sent an assessor out to confirm this and he found that the mechatronics issue was NOT cause by the accident. I called VW Rockdale and they assured me they would be sticking to their original assessment. The assessor said he required VW to send a report to NRMA proving it was caused by the accident. I get an email from VW 3 days later stating that it was misdiagnosed and I'm now up for $3100 to replace it. FML

I have called VW Customer Service and they said they will look into it but I'm not hopeful. The car has only 35k on it and I really don't want to be paying $3k+ for a new mechatronics unit. If anyone has any advise for me as to what I can try I'd be grateful.

Thanks.

**Sydneykid** · 22-06-2016, 01:20 PM

My 20 cents;
Take pictures that show the physical damage to the transaxle that was caused in the accident
Go to VW Rockdale and talk face to face with the person who originally told you that the gearbox issue was caused by the accident
Get his views/reasons in writing
Take the above information to whoever at VW sent the report to the NRMA (you have the right to know) and ask for the details of their contrary opinion
Take all of the above to VW Customer Service and ask for them to intervene on you behalf with the NRMA

If all of the above fails to convince the NRMA, then talk to Consumer Affairs, they will advocate on you behalf (don't do this until you have all of the above in writing, emails are OK).

Report back here on your progress

Cheers
Gary

**exacto** · 22-06-2016, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Sydneykid

My 20 cents;
Take pictures that show the physical damage to the transaxle that was caused in the accident
Go to VW Rockdale and talk face to face with the person who originally told you that the gearbox issue was caused by the accident
Get his views/reasons in writing
Take the above information to whoever at VW sent the report to the NRMA (you have the right to know) and ask for the details of their contrary opinion
Take all of the above to VW Customer Service and ask for them to intervene on you behalf with the NRMA

If all of the above fails to convince the NRMA, then talk to Consumer Affairs, they will advocate on you behalf (don't do this until you have all of the above in writing, emails are OK).

Report back here on your progress

Cheers
Gary

Thanks Gary, that's really helpful. I'll go and speak to both mechanics and get a detailed description as to their findings. Then I will definitely take this further, I'm not paying $3k+ without a fight.

As far as taking photos I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to mechanics so I might take it to a third party mechanic for this.

An update since my original post: VW Rockdale said they would apply for goodwill to VW Aus for the replacement of the mechatronics unit. Then they found that the car had been chip tuned so goodwill wouldn't be possible. I had it tuned when I first got it which in hindsight was stupid but it's done now.

Thanks again, I'll let you know how I go.

**exacto** · 24-06-2016, 11:46 AM

Man this has been one hell of an experience. I have not stopeed hassling VW and NRMA about this and now the VW Service Manager is saying this: "To me the only way would have been if the impact to the whole vehicle caused a jarring internally in the Mechatronics unit that has caused a valve to fail thus causing over pressurisation which leads to the oil leak."

It seems as though they are clutching at straws but at least they're trying. The NRMA ASSessor is being a total prick and just refuses to even consider covering the gear box under the insurance claim. He keeps saying there is "no proof". Just because something can't be proven doesn't mean it didn't happen. I'm guessing there is an incentive for him not to cover it. I am now dealing with the NRMA internal complaints department, The Department of Fair Trading and the Insurance Ombudsman. This is getting ugly but I will not stop.