Hi all, I'm planning on fitting a full size spare tyre - currently my car has the tyre fix goo kit and larger moulding for the wheel well. I picked up a second-hand 18" wheel/tyre on ebay - it is slightly scuffed and the tyre isn't a keeper, but it matches my rims. I also have the wheel change kit / moulded insert ordered. I found this post by JR RS really helpful, but it doesn't mention how to remove the boot lip panel that needs trimming. I guess it must be easy enough, but would appreciate some pointers. I have some trim removal tools but don't want to break anything!

I

This is the panel I'm asking about

Pretty sure it’s held in with a couple of torx screws then some clips.

i had to remove mine and modify it to fit my full sized 19” in there as per the above photo too

@E30Mark

cut can be made invisible, here is lost just bottom part of L trim

 

damaged regular, +1.5% oversized, 225/55r17 on 7.5J alloy

 

as spare i took 205/60r17, but currently it is mounted on same 7.5J alloy and it pushes up floor for ~20mm

later will replace disc to 6.5J ?metal? with same tire

 

Ok thanks for the info. I like the stealth cut, nice idea!

My panel is actually different to the ones I've seen on here

@E30Mark - there is a single Torx screw in the middle, which u can see the hole in the pic u shared.  The rest is clips.

U need to grab hold the bottom edge, and use short, forceful upward direction to separate the trim piece.

 

However looking at ur last pic, ur trim piece looks completely different.

Do u have facelift Superb?

U also don't have room a tyre given all those other fittings in there.

3 hours ago, JR RS said:

facelift Superb?

my picture is from MY23 Mk3.FL, another guess will be Mk3.FL PHEV

Hm as far as I know its pre face-lift, 68 plate but maybe they had already started producing/fitting some of the face-lift parts?

 

There is no torx bolt in the centre of my panel - I guess The other clips will be similar tho so thanks for the detailed info.

 

I'm pretty sure the wheel well itself is the same as the others ive seen on here - the foam insert you can see in the pic will be coming out

Edited 1 July, 20241 yr by E30Mark

Looked again and see what you mean JR RS - my panel has an extra step out of about 15-20mm. This runs into the side panels as well. It's an estate / combi so maybe that is the difference - not a facelift or phev. No idea why its different though. I'll see if I can get it off anyway and see what's behind - hopefully I can still fit the wheel by cutting more of it away.

So in case anyone is interested and has the same kind of trim panel as mine, it isn't a problem - a full size spare will still fit. This style panel doesn't have a torx bolt, just a series of metal clips under the metal plate and it came out easily enough with an upward yank just as @JR RS described above. The second pic is a bit fuzzy but shows where I trimmed it. The only issue is the warning triangle is a little more difficult to remove from its recess.

 

I used 25mm thick insulation foam under the carpet, which is quite dense but a little squishy. I have the variable loading floor and it still works, although it takes a bit of extra effort as it is working against the foam to reach the lowered position. I also found the boot partitioning feature no longer works as the catches are now flush with the under-floor instead of being raised - last pic. Small price to pay but I will see if I can 3D print some extended hooks to solve this.

 

Overall I'm really happy with the result  so thanks everyone for the advice