possible skid plate?

[laylow]

well my girlfriend pulled into a friends drive way and knocked a 4 inch hole in the back passenger side corner of the oil pan so now that i got it towed home anyone ever seen or know of a skid plate? i know its not a baja or an off road machine but we have crappy roads in oregon and theres always something hitting the bottom of my motor

[savethebluths.org]

What your probably going to look for is a Slam guard, their a brand that makes skid plates, I think they fit most oil tanks, if you want a full bottom cover like the audi, ive seen them as cheap as 40$ but I dont know how much protection that will offer you. Might look into a steel custom one.

[Oyveychris]

Check this site out, many orgers swear by it:http://www.dieselgeek.com/

[Breez]

I bought my beetle used, without the belly plate, I've checked out the links, and the upgraded ones look nice... but is the dealership going to charge me more if they have to remove the skid plate...for maintainance or do the have to remove it with the VW plastic one anyways?

To replace it with the plastic vw skid plate, the total was about $200.00.

I have a GLS 2001 2.0L, so with the aftermarket ones, it seems they would have to remove it.

Thanks for anyones help upfront.

[laylow]

thanks ill try those places, and see what i come up with, im sure depending on what the have to do they have to take the plastic cover off but if there charging you more for that i would go some where else, i work at a GM dealership and alot of the new cars have full plastic belly pan that we have to take off just to change the oil and we dont charge extra

[Bugmonkey]

If they have to remove the plate it doesn't matter if its factory or aftermarket, they cover the same things. My DieselGeek skid plate attaches with fewer bolts that the factory plate. The differance is they are real heavy duty bolts not cheap sheet metal screws like the factory uses.
I think anytime you have a excuse to change out the factory plastic splash shield for a real skid plate it is a good idea. These cars are so low even pulling into a driveway can take out an oil pan. In most cases the DieselGeek pan is cheaper than the factory pan. So why not give your bug some armor.
My photo thread has a couple of pics of a DieselGeek pan on a NB.
Bugmonkey ~ 2005 Platinum Grey TDI

[Bugmonkey]

If there is anyone left who questions the value of a skid plate. Check out this pic. This has only been on my car about six months. I'm a supper careful type. The sort of dude you hate to get behind because I nearly come to a complete stop an then drive over speed bumps at an angle to keep from scrapping. That one scrape on the left side is deep. I don't remember what I hit but it rattled my teeth.