VW Bus T5

Starting point

A VW Bus T5 that is in use every day cannot be spared for long. Vehicles like this easily fall into a vicious circle: stone chips on the front, roof leading edge, wheel arch edges, A-pillars and doors lead to rust, the touch-up pen covers it only briefly, and in the end there is an expensive repaint with long downtime. Chafe marks on the door entries and on door and loading edges are also among the paint zones that repeatedly become a rust problem. To prevent loss of value and downtime from arising in the first place, the decision was made for a stone chip protection film.

Work

The wrapping followed the known weak points of the T5. Bonnet and front bumper were wrapped completely, with the film tucked into the fold wherever possible. Below the chrome trim strip, the stone chip protection film ran along the entire length of the sides, and all wheel arches were protected up to the arch edge. The mirror housings received film against scratches and paint chips when manoeuvring in narrow streets, and the loading sill of the painted rear bumper against deep scratches when loading and unloading. The A-pillars left and right and the roof surface above the windscreen, typical rust spots on all VW Buses, were wrapped as well.

Result

The paint is protected at all exposed points against stone chips, dirt, road salt and insect residue. A repaint with downtime should thus never become necessary. When the vehicle is sold years later, the film is peeled off and the undamaged original paint lies beneath. A VW Bus in original paint without stone chips or rust sells faster and at a better price even with high mileage. That is why the film pays off above all when buying a new vehicle or after an extensive repaint. According to the report at the time, stone chip protection film and the LZ 730 brilliance sealant were recognised by the insurers after an accident; the other party’s insurer reimbursed both after the repair.

Workshop archive, original report. Product details reflect the state at the time.