Boot swap - anything I need to know?

[breeze]

Can I double check the basics of a boot swap? I will try and get a complete boot to make it a bit easier.

- My understanding is that 3 and 5 door boots are the same. Is that correct?
- Did MK5 boots change over the years in any way?
- Are there any differences that I need to be aware of - different glass tints / hidden aerials in some but not others / anything that might cause incompatibility etc?
- Is there anything that might be worth doing at the same time? Aware that wiring often fails in the boot-body joint

On the face of it, it looks straightforward-ish...

[LC5F]

Are you asking about the hatch?

If so - overall 3 & 5 door are the same and will fit - I replaced my rusty 3 door Gti with a 5 door Tdi one.

The only real difference is the upper part of the Gti hatch panel has a different molding/openings to mount the inner spoiler support - I'm happy to live without my spoiler

There are aerials mounted within the hatch - iirc the DAB/AM (if you have them) live here - better to retain you current loom/parts.

Oh - don't let the hatch close until the loom is attached and working...the lock will latch.

[breeze]

Are you asking about the hatch?

If so - overall 3 & 5 door are the same and will fit - I replaced my rusty 3 door Gti with a 5 door Tdi one.

The only real difference is the upper part of the Gti hatch panel has a different molding/openings to mount the inner spoiler support - I'm happy to live without my spoiler

There are aerials mounted within the hatch - iirc the DAB/AM (if you have them) live here - better to retain you current loom/parts.

Oh - don't let the hatch close until the loom is attached and working...the lock will latch.

Thanks for this. Yes, sorry, the hatch. I guess the spoiler is the big thing. Imagine the GTs also got one? Will check.

[mjmallia]

Also consider:

the earlier GTI's had blue tinted glass and then the green version was used........to cut costs
the earlier Golfs also had the radio aerial in the back screen before it moved to the roof........to cut costs
the spoiler of the GTI needs to be transferred to a non GTI lid......GT's did not get one

[breeze]

Also consider:

the earlier GTI's had blue tinted glass and then the green version was used........to cut costs
the earlier Golfs also had the radio aerial in the back screen before it moved to the roof........to cut costs
the spoiler of the GTI needs to be transferred to a non GTI lid......GT's did not get one

Interesting! Do we know when the glass and aerial change happened? Mine is a BWA 06 car that is usually the later of the serial number ranges when looking up parts.

Also, can the spoiler be transferred easily from one to another?

[mjmallia]

It happened around the 06 plate.

The blue glass is an easy spot.

I cannot comment on the spoiler removal....maybe a bodyshop can help there.

[FJB]

I changed my rear hatch, I bought one that was on an R32. I swapped everything over from my original hatch to the new one. The R32 had a different loom and a dual aerial in the rear screen. The R32 spoiler was identical to the GTI. I took the spoiler off of my original hatch and sold it. The spoiler is attached to the hatch with 2 big dobs of sealant at each end. I used a bike brake inner cable slid under the spoiler and I cut through the sealant with a sawing motion. The spoiler is then clipped to a plastic bracket that runs the length of the hatch, I used a plastic trim tool to lever it off. I was unable to get the plastic bracket off without breaking it. The guy who bought it bonded the spoiler onto a non GTI rear hatch, without the plastic bracket, with windscreen bonding sealant.   

[LC5F]

Also, can the spoiler be transferred easily from one to another?

The spoiler has an internal support, that the spoiler clips onto - and - as mention previously, the spoiler hatches have cut outs in the metal for this support to clip into, non-spoiler hatches don't have these cut outs.

Some people have managed to remove the outer spoiler without damage to the support - but the majority break the support and if really unlucky they have even broken the spoiler too.