I have had a couple issues with the window trim on my 66-reg Sportline. These were fixed by the dealer under warranty. While doing 85 mph in France last week, the trim on the near side back door lifted and was completely ripped off. On the drive to the Chunnel, we had fierce wind and rain. The back seat remained dry.

So, my question is: is the window trim purely cosmetic? The car is out of warranty and I haven't taken it to the dealer for service since. I doubt they would do a good will repair. Any idea of cost, or if a breaker might have such a thing? Thanks.

I had the same problem on my 66 plate L&K and the leading edge of the trim on the rear windows would occasionally ping out when a front door was opened, but I pushed them back into place when it happened and never took it back to the dealer to be fixed under warranty.

I lost the same door trim in Calais, France on the A16 3 or 4 years ago on the way to Lithuania. We were on our way to our first night's stay of our journey after I'd spent time to get the car looking at its best, so it had to stay like that for the rest of our holiday. I think it's purely cosmetic, as we drove over 3,000 miles through various weather conditions and there were no leaks. It was due for a service after we returned and I asked the dealer to replace it.

I think I failed to spot that it'd come lose and push it back in as it happened after we got in the car on the ferry. The lighting on the car deck isn't very bright and it's also noisy, so I wouldn't have heard it coming off.

I'm not sure of the cost. I've probably got the invoice somewhere, but we're moving house next week, so it's packed away somewhere if I've still got it. I think it was somewhere between £30 to £40? I don't know how often the French clean the motorway verges, but mine may still be on the side of the A16 if you want a free one or maybe you can find yours if you know where it came off! Only kidding, of course, as the fine for stopping and searching for it would be far more than the cost of a new one.

I'm taking the car in for its M.O.T. tomorrow. I'll see if the mechanic can fix it or if I have to go to the dealer.

At 74 I do very little maintenance on the car now, but I can remove and/or replace the window trims easily, so any mechanic should be able to do it, provided they can get the part. The Skoda dealer in Swansea obtained the trim from TPS Swansea, so your mechanic may be able to get one from TPS London.

I was packing boxes ready for our move this afternoon and I've found the invoice for suppling and fitting a new chrome strip and it was a bit more than I though at £71.56 including VAT.

My local mechanic has ordered the part. Says it will be about £60-70.