I think, the chemical engineer, who designed the mix for the plastic, has
made it for early disintegration, as planned obsolescense.  Certain plastics
are designed to fall apart and crumble after a certain time lapsed.  They
did not think, that these cars will be held onto forever.  So, now we are in
need of new aftermarket parts with the same color.  The black is not much
better, I bet.  Its time is coming the same way, I think.  And sun damage is
speeding up the process.

Yesterday I had to repair an istrument cluster housing, where the threaded
corners were broken.  Took me five hours to make it new again.
Zoltan

----- Original Message -----
From: "VW Doka" <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: failing brown plastic parts in early vanagons was: Re: pick n
pull

> Chris,
>
> You ain't kidding!  The brown stuff is crap.
>
> I actually have one brown mirror in perfect condition and I just can't
> bring
> myself to sell it.  For some unknown reason I treat it like a collectors
> item...
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of JordanVw@AOL.COM
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 10:56 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: failing brown plastic parts in early vanagons was: Re: pick n
> pull
>
>
> In a message dated 4/2/08 2:59:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> paullist08@GUZYK.COM writes:
>
>
>> sun visor clips, rear view mirror if not rotted away
>>
>>
>
>
> hey paul, even out here on the east coast the brown plastic turns to dust
> too
> LOL !!
>
>
> whenever i see a brown rearview mirror i do the "thumb test"
> i push on the back of the brown plastic with my thumb..  it usually just
> caves right in..
> for some reason the brown plastic VW used does NOT hold up to the UV
> rays..
> black plastic does fine..brown plastic turns to chalky dust..
>
>
> good luck finding a good brown mirror!!!  or brown grabhandles..or brown
> window crank knobs... they all turn to chalky crumbly dust..
>
> chris
>
>
> **************
> Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel
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>
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>
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>