If a body shop tells you that a non-OE part or unapproved repair process is acceptable to recondition your wheels, refer to Volkswagen’s position statement on the subject.
Volkswagen’s position statement on this topic is short and clear. “A reconditioned wheel or any wheel not approved by Volkswagen may cause unsafe vehicle operation, including loss of control which may result in injury or death of the vehicle occupants or other drivers. Volkswagen approves only wheel repairs which are limited to surface sanding and cosmetic refinishing processes that remove and replace only paint coatings. Any wheel near the area of collision damage should be thoroughly examined to ensure that the wheel meets the original safety specifications. ”
Use a Preferred Process to Guarantee a Safe and Quality Repair
Wheel conditioning is a repair procedure by which a damaged wheel surface is repaired to eliminate collision damage. It may include heating, filling, straightening, welding, and removing wheel substance, as well as reshaping, or re-plating.
Also known as “remanufactured” or “refurbished,” reconditioned wheels have likely been subjected to one or more of the following—re-machining, re-plating, welding, heating, bending, straightening, reforming, material removal or the addition of new material—in an attempt to repair the wheel.
What This Means to You
If your VW reconditioned wheels do not adhere to the exacting specifications of Genuine Volkswagen Wheels, they are not an acceptable method of repair on any Volkswagen vehicle.
A reconditioned wheel or any wheel that is not completely approved by Volkswagen “may cause unsafe vehicle operation, including loss of control, which may result in injury or death of the vehicle occupants or other drivers. Volkswagen approves only wheel repairs that are limited to surface sanding and cosmetic refinishing processes that remove and replace only paint coatings. Any wheel near the area of collision damage should be meticulously examined to ensure that the wheel meets the original safety specifications determined by VW, according to the carmaker.
It’s Also the Law
The Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of Transportation, contains section 570.10 regarding Wheel Assemblies. Based on section (a) Wheel integrity, state governments that have mandatory vehicle safety inspections require that vehicle wheels do not have any indication of repair by welding.
Failure to follow these instructions may adversely affect structural integrity and crash safety performance, which could result in serious personal injury to vehicle occupants in a crash.
VW OE Parts are Only Approved
Recycled, salvaged, re-manufactured, aftermarket, and reconditioned parts (including body parts, wheels, and safety restraint components) are not authorized by VW of America. VW parts are designed specifically for your vehicle and using anything else can leave you unprotected and without a warranty if you choose to use sub-par parts manufactured by a third-party. In almost every case, your reconditioned wheels will
If your wheels get damaged and you allow a shop to use non-OE parts, it involves a lot more than cost and quality, and that’s why we only use OE factory parts. It includes the safety of you are your passengers and ultimately, other people out on the road. Volkswagen wheels are designed to specifically for your VW, so cutting corners or compromising parts and/or collision repair processes can easily become a safety issue. In addition, it can void your warranty and your insurance company will likely opt to not cover the reconditioning repair.
