Yeti plastic wheel arch extensions.

[oriki]

Sounds like a very good deal, and if anything did fall off it would be the dealers problem also :-)

Found these instructions:

http://milotec.de/media/content/pdf/Yeti/Kotfl%C3%BCgel-Verbreiterung.pdf?XTCsid=9e6182e76d947aba91b75b8a7daf800e

[jeep]

Found these instructions:

http://milotec.de/me...1b75b8a7daf800e

Yes thank you, I did eventually track it down, but they are asking over €600.00, so I think not. Although their instruction pdf would be useful guidance for fitting any other kit.

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

My Yeti 4x4 Elegance 2 Litre TDi 103KW (140BHP) Manual Transmission vehicle is 4.5 years old now. So far it is going strong. 

 

I ve changed the original battery around 9 months ago. I ve changed the OEM  Goodyear Excellence Tyres which were 215/60/16 size, to one size up - I ve got Falken Wildpeak HT01 Tyres on now and the size is 215/65/16. This results in a 5mm difference in sidewall height which help us, especially with our bad roads here.

 

Additionally, I ve added in a set of 4 Rogerab suspension dampers, to help further with the ride quality so that the vehicle feels much more comfortable over pot holes and speed breaker bumps. 

 

In India owing to crazy traffic, the propensity to suffer dings and scratches on the wheel arches is very high. So far, I ve been relatively safe except for minor ones.

 

I ve seen these Wider Fender Arch extensions on SuperSkoda and 179 Euro + 40 Euro shipping to India. This equals around 15-16000 Rupees (our currency)

 

I went to my local Skoda Service Centre last week and asked them too. Apparently they have these available (Original Skoda ones) and are happy to fit them for me.

 

The cost differential is not too much, Around 20% more when compared to SuperSkoda, including fitting, and I think this is well worth the investment, especially if they are Skoda Original parts and if they can be fitted by the proper Skoda Service Centre.

 

Ive ordered these fender arch extensions and am looking forward to getting them onto my Yeti.

[gumdrop]

A slight tangent but may be of interest;

I fitted this type of wheel arch extention and window draught deflectors,

to my brothers X-Trail

Both were held on by sticky pads and some natural tension in the plastic,

and have been on for almost a year now.

[manxskoda]

Just out of interest, for any member wishing to fit wheel arch covers. Look at the thread in Yeti Projects titled " Happy Hetty the Fen Yeti" by  Dr Pinball. This contains a wealth of knowledge as to the fitting of said item. Just note that this is for the Pre facelift Yeti as Skoda have never done the wheel arch kit for the F/L Yeti.

Tony

[137699]

No but one of the aftermarket companies DOES do them for the facelift.

[manxskoda]

Correct 137699, those are from Skodadop and are the Milotec version.

Tony

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

So what Ive now done additionally is have these Wheel Arch Extenders installed.

 

These are an OEM Skoda Product. Ordered with Vinayak Skoda here in Bangalore, India, who in turn ordered them from Skoda India HQ in Aurangabad, who then brought them in from Skoda Czechoslovakia and had them sent in to my dealer along with the special glue as well.

 

While I was travelling the whole of last week, the vehicle was picked up from home and these were fitted nicely on the arches.

 

The total cost, including the product, the fitment, pick and drop service etc came to the equivalent of 18500 Rupees which is about 185 Pounds. Not bad at all, considering!

 

They do look good, seem nice and solid and I do sincerely hope that they last and give me good service against minor dings and scratches etc!

Edited 23 April, 2016 by Silver LittleBigFoot

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

Ha Ha! So I counted my blighted chickens too soon. Today, almost exactly a week/ten days since these were fitted, while I was driving around town somewhere, one of the pieces has fallen off. I have no idea where.
So I have of course raised it with the dealership, with whom I have a good relationship and I am awaiting resolution.
Frankly the Glue that is supplied with these fender extenders isn't of that great quality - especially given the harsh, hot and dusty conditions of India.
Anyway, it is up to the dealership to figure out a solution - and happily I haven't yet paid for the part nor the installation either, so in some sense, I am safe until they create a solution for me, as one of their "valued customers"!

[ernieb]

Like most glues it can be as much to do with the surface preparation and how the adhesive was applied, often too thickly. If the surface was not cleaned of all the polish etc. it was likely to happen. I think whatever solution your dealer comes up with should be applied to the other wheel arches.

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

Yes. I'll take your point.

 

I ve already raised it with the dealer and am expecting resolution soon.

 

Saying that, it is a fact that these glues which work perfectly well in the relatively temperate climatic conditions of Europe, sometimes fail here in India owing to excessively harsh heat, sunlight and dusty conditions.

 

Lets see what the dealer does. Will keep the forum posted.

[Yety]

Skoda parts come with a urethane bonding kit. I put mine on in early 2012 and they have had a hard life and they are still there.

 

I think urethane "glue" works with atmospheric moisture to set, certainly "glueing" body panels is becoming more common in car production. Aircraft have used this technology for years.

 

As said, preparation is key in the process.

[ernieb]

Hi Yeti, agree about the powers of urethane adhesives and looking at the images of the failed bond it seems to have stuck to the car well. I would guess that they did not adequately clean and prepare the plastic trim. As many of these trims are injection mounded they can often have a coating of release agent on the surface or just the curing film.

[manxskoda]

My thoughts regarding Wheel-arch covers

I went through this project about 18 months ago and touch wood it was a successful project.

You really need the correct adhesive and primer, the OME Skoda kits are made out of Polypropylene and as such the glue and may I say the bits of kit supplied are not fit for the job ( my opinion).I used Masterspeed Speedbond from Wayside Adhesives. This is a MS Polymer adhesive and I also used a Polyolefin primer as an agent to get a better bond onto the metalwork. The hardest part of the kit are the one piece front wheel-arch covers to fit, you really do need some suction clamps for these, and plenty and I mean plenty of 3m adhesive tape.As I keep going on about the Dr Pinball thread on Yeti Projects regarding said subject, it is well worth a read. Plus you do need a couple of dry days and an outside temperature of 15 to 20 degrees.HTH

Tony

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

So the second "weak" section of the fender extender fell off somewhere on my 6 kilometre commute to office this morning.

 

As I said, my dealer is making arrangements for a replacement of these parts and I have not yet paid the bill anyway.

 

I will give them your feedback about properly prepping the surface etc so as to ensure the urethane bonding works.

 

Lets hope Round 2 is more successful than Round 1 and lets also hope the parts come soon from Skoda.

 

[Llanigraham]

Couple of comments about that picture:

1/ They didn't use enough adhesive.

2/ There should be a band of adhesive along the centre of the trim.

3/ It suggests they didn't prime the surface of the plastic.

4/ The instructions also suggest roughening the surface of the plastic, which obviously wasn't done.

 

Perhaps they need to read the instructions in full next time!

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

Thank you so much

The inputs are really helpful.

 

I m going to create a ruckus until I receive the service that my Yeti deserves.

And yes, Im not going to pay anything to the dealer for this until I am 100% satisfied that the arch extensions don't fall off again!

[Silver LittleBigFoot]

So after all that rigmarole I got the dealer to pick up my Yeti and re-procure these Fender Extenders and re-affix them.

I was travelling much of May and a part of June so all this got done while I was away.

 

When I got back, to my irritation I still found that there was a minor gap in the installation!

As you can imagine I was livid and blasted the living daylights out of my Dealer Workshop chaps.

 

They apologised most profusely, came running, drove the Yeti away again and finally returned it after 2 days with the fender extenders re-fitted yet again.

Now, finally, it looks like a proper job done.

 

They know very well that if these fall off again, they are the ones that will be liable, because while Im always fair in giving them plenty of time and a long rope, I am equally demanding as their customer and they know that they can't get away with a laissez faire attitude, with me.

 

Anyway Im now hoping for long service from these fender extenders!

 

So here are the pics of the defective second fitment which was done between Mid-May and early June when I was away on work.

 

And the final re-fitment which happened only the day before yesterday.