Hi Lee,

    Your not missing anything behind your bumper. We have had two in our
shop lately.
Both with minor parking lot dings that got into the rear door also. There
was no support on either. We repaired the fiberglass "bumper" and rear door,
repainted both with good results.
    Page two of this story is that the last customer told me later on, that
he had seen some insurance report about the rear damage caused by little or
no protection by the bumper on Volkswagen vans. After contacting a VoA
service rep, Volkswagen reimbursed him. I know when I worked for Volkswagen,
the service managers and reps had a goodwill fund for such things, so its
most likely up to them. I think it would be worth a try to give the 800
numnber a call and see what happens.
    Good luck!

Tommy
Volkswagen Restorations USA
www.freeyellow.com/members7/volksfix1/