T6 Beach tailgate brake light accident !!!

Berlin Nick · Jul 10, 2021

Hi everyone and greetings from Corsica.. been having a great trip until this morning when let’s say a communications breakdown lead me to reverse into a low tree branch.. damage to the tailgate lens and metal as you can see on the photo..
guessing due to the need to get the seal on the brake light tight i’ll be looking at a new tailgate under insurance? or what’s your opinion?
i have all the pieces so can tape it up and should stay dry until i return to germany early august. light still works.

Borris · Jul 10, 2021

Don't worry Nick,

It's annoying but not the end of the world.

From your photos it looks like it might be a fairly easy candidate for a minor paint less dent repair. There are plenty of companies that specialise in this sort of less expensive minor repair work so you may not need to bother the insurance company either. Some will even do the work outside your home.

With the high level rear brake lamp removed there would be good access to the inside of that panel. A new lamp isn't expensive and is a straight forward push fit. You'll have to break the present one to remove it but since it's broken already that's no problem. I know as I've done it. Stick some gaffer tape over the lamp and hole to keep moisture out and carry on enjoying your hols.

Here's the access available when the lamp is removed. :thumb

Berlin Nick · Jul 23, 2021

Hi Borris, belated thanks for your message. Appreciate the reassurance that this might be more straight forward than i feared. We found a good bodywork place in Ile Rousse which put a single plastic waterproof coating on it which should suffice until we’re back in Berlin in around 2 weeks. cheers

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Alan Andrews · Jul 23, 2021

Borris said:
Don't worry Nick,

It's annoying but not the end of the world.

From your photos it looks like it might be a fairly easy candidate for a minor paint less dent repair. There are plenty of companies that specialise in this sort of less expensive minor repair work so you may not need to bother the insurance company either. Some will even do the work outside your home.

With the high level rear brake lamp removed there would be good access to the inside of that panel. A new lamp isn't expensive and is a straight forward push fit. You'll have to break the present one to remove it but since it's broken already that's no problem. I know as I've done it. Stick some gaffer tape over the lamp and hole to keep moisture out and carry on enjoying your hols.

View attachment 81342
Here's the access available when the lamp is removed.

I agree that a paintless repair might dramatically improve the appearance. The issue might be that that section is pressed with tight folds. But these guys can work wonders.

I had a new rear tailgate lens fitted recently by vw at the time of MOT (the number of failed leds had reduced the effective light by more that 50%). It cost around £45.

To go the insurance route will likely impact on your insurance premiums, because you are legally obliged to inform them that you have made a claim in past 3 years.

I would go paintless repair as suggested and if you are still concerned then you could always add a tailgate spoiler - although this precludes the fitting of a vw tailgate bike rack.

Going the insurance w

Berlin Nick · Aug 3, 2021

Back in Berlin and talked to some workshops today. Sadly the smart repair guys said no way - the dent into the upper fold is to big to push back out. Quoted roughly 500 to do it properly including respray. OUCH

For info - complete new tailgate would be more like 850

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blondebier · Aug 3, 2021

Berlin Nick said:
Back in Berlin and talked to some workshops today. Sadly the smart repair guys said no way - the dent into the upper fold is to big to push back out. Quoted roughly 500 to do it properly including respray. OUCH
For info - complete new tailgate would be more like 850

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Ouch indeed. We had one recently where two PDR companies said "no way". Double skin, can't get behind it, it's near a crease etc, etc.

I persisted and found a company that pulled it instead of pushed it. He attached some glue pads to the dent and sucked it out with some new esoteric tools. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Truly remarkable and it was an invisible repair.

Don't just go to the guys who have paintless dent removal rods. It would appear that things have moved on.

I'd recommend this company, but I suspect you wouldn't want to travel that far.

Good luck.