Notices
Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

VW R32 meltdown

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:08 PM
  #1  
RA40's Avatar
RA40
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,895
Likes: 490
From: California
Default VW R32 meltdown

Thread here:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3497858&page=1

Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:21 PM
  #2  
mmarshall's Avatar
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,434
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Default

Looks like an electrical fire that started under the left side of the dash...maybe in the computer diagnostic port, or in some wires bunched up under the dash. Electrical problems, particularly with connectors, seem to be the bane of German cars.

I just posted a review of a new R32 a couple of weeks ago....Glad that didn't happen to the one I was driving. The hardware and material quality in the new R32 is superb.....it's a shame the electronics have to be so lousy.

That car, even though new or almost new, is probably totalled. Repairs to it will probably cost more than it is worth....my guess is that insurance will write it off and the owner will have to get a new one (if he's willing to take a chance on another VW product). And R32's are a limited-production car....you can't always just walk into a VW shop and find one in stock.

Perhaps the factory, though, under warranty, would build him a brand-new one right off the assembly line. He would probably be within his rights to ask for it.

Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 25, 2007 at 12:24 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:41 PM
  #3  
Koma's Avatar
Koma
Moderator
CL Folding 25,000
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Default



I really like these cars and if I was in the market for one this is what would keep me from buying one. It's so sad.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:44 PM
  #4  
JessePS's Avatar
JessePS
Lexus Test Driver
CL Folding 25,000
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,349
Likes: 0
From: QC/FRANCE
Default

What is wrong with the workers in Deutschland? They used to be one of the best for engineering and stuff.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 12:56 PM
  #5  
spwolf's Avatar
spwolf
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,238
Likes: 274
Default

Originally Posted by JessePS
What is wrong with the workers in Deutschland? They used to be one of the best for engineering and stuff.
no they were not...

VW has a lot of issues with electric switches and computers, and water leakage into electronics... I saw it happen more than once...
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 02:17 PM
  #6  
bmgs400's Avatar
bmgs400
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 0
From: St. Petersburg, Florida
Default

Yikes...I'll stay away from any German car.

Check the Clubhouse for a thead on Audi R8 that burned up after filling with gas. Seems a little over spill can reach the manifold(or some hot spot) and ignite. Happed after leaving station though...good thing or the station could have gone up too.

Thread here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=314624
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 09:21 PM
  #7  
juniorEXE's Avatar
juniorEXE
Lead Lap
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 723
Likes: 8
From: CA
Default

quote of the month???

Originally Posted by xomgtix
Yep it was just sitting in the parking lot at work and caught on fire.
lmao. ......................too soon?
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2007 | 02:18 PM
  #8  
Habious's Avatar
Habious
Pole Position
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 45
From: NC
Default

I have a friend who had a 3-series BMW that caught fire and burned to the ground...in his driveway...while he was out of the country. Car hadn't been driven in DAYS before it just went up.

He replaced it with a Passat; we'll see how that goes!
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 11:59 AM
  #9  
nthach's Avatar
nthach
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 6
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Looks like an electrical fire that started under the left side of the dash...maybe in the computer diagnostic port, or in some wires bunched up under the dash. Electrical problems, particularly with connectors, seem to be the bane of German cars.
Mercedes had problems with the wiring harnesses on the 1990-1995 W124 E320/300Es since the insulation on the wires broke down.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 12:12 PM
  #10  
mmarshall's Avatar
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,434
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Default

Originally Posted by nthach
Mercedes had problems with the wiring harnesses on the 1990-1995 W124 E320/300Es since the insulation on the wires broke down.
Fine, but worn-out harness insulation on a 15-year-old car is one thing. On a brand-new R32, it is quite another matter.......like on BMW's with defective engine cooling fans that were allowing almost brand-new vehicles to catch fire and be totalled. When the factory has to start coughing up and replacing totalled $50,000-$60,000 cars under warranty (and even that's assuming the occupants get out in time, and don't suffer burn injuries as well), you can bet they aren't going to allow that to go on very long.

And even R32s are not exactly chump change...new ones run in the low-mid 30's.

Last edited by mmarshall; Oct 27, 2007 at 12:40 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 10:09 PM
  #11  
nthach's Avatar
nthach
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 6
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Fine, but worn-out harness insulation on a 15-year-old car is one thing. On a brand-new R32, it is quite another matter.......like on BMW's with defective engine cooling fans that were allowing almost brand-new vehicles to catch fire and be totalled. When the factory has to start coughing up and replacing totalled $50,000-$60,000 cars under warranty (and even that's assuming the occupants get out in time, and don't suffer burn injuries as well), you can bet they aren't going to allow that to go on very long.

And even R32s are not exactly chump change...new ones run in the low-mid 30's.
And the Germans have been struggling to improve their reliability as well, this is a kick in the face.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mmarshall
Car Chat
34
May 12, 2019 06:28 PM
mmarshall
Car Chat
45
Aug 8, 2014 09:12 AM
LexFather
Car Chat
2
Oct 12, 2009 04:00 PM
RolxuSC400
Car Chat
31
May 25, 2009 09:17 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:05 AM.