Thanks for the suggestion but I simply can't be arsed to do a job like that especially when, as it is this morning at my place, very wet on the ground and near freezing. That's why I wondered whether VW had actually raised any issues with these covers during service work but I would happily pay an extra £20 (or whatever) if it came to it. As to them not knowing whether the cover was fitted from new or not, I suspect the lack of VW original part number might give it away.
You just need some flange head bolts of the correct thread size and length. Think they are M8 from memory but remove one of the others and measure up. The originals are galvanised but stainless steel versions should do the trick as its not a critical position; e.g. Flanged Hexagon Head Bolts M5 M6 M8 M10 Flange Hex Screws A2 Stainless DIN 6921 | eBay
Hi there , did you have any success with the sound deadening? . Thinking of doing mine .
@Rob2500 - I bought 1 from Vw earlier this year and its made from really heavy duty plastic.
They may well do. The quality was good and the fitment and moulding looked very similar to the OEM one.
VW have their own version on some vans. 
