VW Up - VW Up repair question

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Sun 26 Jan 2014 11:59
VW Up - VW Up repair question - Leif

I have a VW UP and one week ago had a low speed collision with a log in a nature reserve car park which I did not see. This damaged the undertray, a plastic panel beneath the front bumper that clips to the base of the radiator support. The undertray later fell off. It was examined at a local garage, and the undertray is missing, the arm that sits below the radiator is damaged, and the washer pump/bottle is damaged. They can get parts in 3 days or so, but they have no loan car for 4 weeks.

So my question is how long can I reasonably drive the car in this state assuming a daily 24 mile commute each way? Is it likely to be safe to wait 4 weeks, or should I take holiday and get it done ASAP?

I will phone another garage, too see if they have a loan car available.

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Sun 26 Jan 2014 17:06
VW Up - VW Up repair question - Collos25

Technically speaking there is no reason why you should not drive the car ,the plastic tray is there mainly to keep the noise down and the debris from the engine bay many cars do not even have these fitted.The washer bottle damage will probably mean it is uservicable so no windscreen washing wether it is an offence in the UK to drive with such a fault I would not know. Having received the parts there cannot be more than couple hours work at most.

Edited by Collos25 on 26/01/2014 at 17:08

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Sun 26 Jan 2014 18:27
VW Up - VW Up repair question - Leif

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the washer does not work. And as you say there is less protection underneath from debris.

I was wondering if the radiator might wobble back and forth, causing possible stress damage somewhere.

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Sat 1 Feb 2014 14:06
VW Up - VW Up repair question - Bedhead

Having non-working windscreen washers is an offence, you'd need to get a very anal copper to book you, but it has been known.

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Sun 2 Feb 2014 17:34
VW Up - VW Up repair question - bazza

You're a worrier! Goodness, so long as it's driveable, drive the thing! Shove a bottle of water in the back and a towel to clean the screen if it gets mucky, it wouldn't even occur to me not to drive it!

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Sun 2 Feb 2014 18:29
VW Up - VW Up repair question - Robin Reliant

You're a worrier! Goodness, so long as it's driveable, drive the thing! Shove a bottle of water in the back and a towel to clean the screen if it gets mucky, it wouldn't even occur to me not to drive it!

Same here.

When I had my Mondeo diesel more than one mechanic commented that it was unusual to find anything more than five years old with the undertray still present. Most get junked when ther start to break up on removal and/or the zillions of little retaining screws gradually get lost.

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Sun 2 Feb 2014 20:17
VW Up - VW Up repair question - gordonbennet

And right to be concerned.

Whilst we would manage perfectly well with a squeezy/spray bottle of clean water in the drivers door pocket...and i still use that method in extreme cold conditions when the washer pump might get damaged when the car is still cold...the fact the mounting under the rad has taken a clout means i'd want to have a good poke nose underneath before i risked driving the car, the rad dropping out or getting punctured could make this repair a whole lot more expensive.

I'd have thought the body shop bloke would have given a nod to being OK to drive or not, washers being neither here nor there as easily got round.

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