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Author Topic: How to remove the high level brake light?  (Read 42933 times)

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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How to remove the high level brake light?
« on: March 17, 2009, 09:24:10 am »
My high level brake light seem to have got water in it which has mad one side of the light corrode and light up very faintly.
Does anyone know how to remove it so i can clean it up and get it working properly again?

Offline VC

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2009, 09:44:16 am »


 :happy2:

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2009, 01:17:40 pm »
Is the high level spioler bolted or bonded on?

Offline Greeners

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2009, 01:46:16 pm »
Is the high level spioler bolted or bonded on?

Bonded, and VW usaully wreck the spolier when they take it off and it has to be replaced  :confused: Don't ask SteveP about this!

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2009, 02:30:14 pm »
This is gonna be a really horible job to do myself then?

Offline 182_blue

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2009, 04:59:51 pm »
i would leave it myself (that includes not letting a dealer near it)

Offline VC

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2009, 05:12:26 pm »
i can't vouch for the mk5 but when i had my mk4 spoiler removed it came off in many bits as it was well bonded, i think if it's off it's binned and then you have to let someone fit a new one..........and rear spoiler fitting has many tales of woe from dealerships

Offline v2brett

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2009, 05:32:46 pm »
yep the spoiler definetly has to come off to get at the brake light, i had mine replaced last year and they also fitted a new spoiler.  id rather have 2 screws showing from the outside and be able to take the light out that way,  but vw decided not  :signLOL:
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Offline RedRobin

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2009, 06:22:36 pm »
....

Was having a general chat the other day with my VW dealer and he said they were a real pain to remove and they didn't know how they could do the job successfully without it unfairly costing the customer far more than it should. They think it's a bad design.

They don't like doing this particular job because it's always difficult trying to justify to the customer why it's going to cost so much.


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Offline billyboy

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2009, 07:14:25 pm »
bet its cheaper to buy a whole second hand tail gate, in your colour in mint condition. (maybe)

Offline Greeners

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2009, 08:14:20 pm »
The water's stayin in mine!  :scared:

Not letting those fookin butchers near my car!  :fighting:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2009, 08:22:28 pm »
....

What happens if you drill a small drainage hole - Will it all still work?


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Offline SteveP

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2009, 11:44:12 pm »
^^^ That might work  :confused:

As Greenouse mentioned I had some fun and games with my dealer which resulted in a few spoilers being broken/fitted and part of the tail gate having to be repsrayed, so in hindsight I would just leave it as is  :sad:

The bonding on these spoilers is actually very small (two round bulbs on each end), most of the fitting is clips down the centre section.

Offline ub7rm

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2009, 10:54:38 am »
FYI The cost of getting my high level brake light replaced at a VW bodyshop is just shy of £400  :sad:

I am pursuing VW UK for goodwill (supported by the dealer) as I feel this is a stupid price to pay for changing a jumped up light bulb.  The dealer agreed it was a stupid design and should have been a couple of screws from underneath but hey ho.

Mine doesn't seem to have any water in it but half the LED's are shot anyway.  Maybe its so full of water I cant see it!

Will let you know how I get on.
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Offline VC

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2009, 10:57:27 am »
£400!  :chicken:

here's hoping on the goodwill gesture!