Bumper conversion questions

[Palooza]

Hi I'm wanting to convert my bumper to the face lift/GTI bumper and I've got a quote for spraying ect but hes told me to find a few things out first.

 

Do I need different mounts for the fog lights?

Will my rubber thing at the bottom of my standard bumper fit this one (The splitter/valance thing)

It's a body shop that's buying it for me and his supplied says its a GT TDI bumper but looks like the GTI so I presume no cutting is required? (I know you probs won't be able to answer that one)

Other than them, all I will need is the bumper, rub strips, fog light grills, centre grill and bottom grill and it will be a straight swap correct? Or will I need to buy anything from the above? no guides I've seen have been in good detail

Cheers Joe

 

[xjay1337]

The plastic valance does not fit between pre facelift and post facelift.
Neither are you able to change the splitter on the replica bumpers (the ones that look "the same") as they are all one-piece.

The replica ones do not need fitting but never fit as good as genuine.
A genuine bumper with all the grills can be had for around £300 (this is a GT one so a little pricier) or you can buy a decent condition bumper skin for £70 or so and trim it like wot I did and what my mate Stu did.

There are loads of guides over on uk-mkivs as me and about 20 other people have done it over the years 

[Palooza]

Had a quick search over there but couldn't find ones that answered what I needed :( Been searching for the past 2 months every day for new bumpers listed on eBay but can never find one in silver! I think I'll be paying around £270 for all this as a replica one with £120 for spraying the bumper.

Do you know anybody with one for sale? In silver

[xjay1337]

http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/437694/2994033.aspx

http://uk-mkvs.net/forums/p/405458/3126461.aspx

What  part exactly doesn't that answer? As for the colour, respray? I think I paid in total around £320 for my genuine Jetta front end, including paint and GT grills, which are 3x more expensive than GTI ones.

[Palooza]

I never said there wasn't one, I said I didn't see a guide that does >.< and erm, a stupid question if you can answer it, as the body shops bumper says GT TDI, will these grills that say gti bumper only on eBay fit it? As I imagine they mean its the R32 bumper that it doesn't fit

[xjay1337]

If you have a face-lift bumper (NOT R32)
All of the grills are interchangeable.

If you have a Jetta  bumper the center grills are interchangeable, the fog light ones are specific to the Jetta. You can fit the "Sport" grills on the Jetta which cover up the little indent anyway but require again trimming on one of the tabs.

I'm a little confused by your question, but APPARENTLY (I've never tried so can't confirm) the replica bumpers will take genuine grills however as I said, replica bumpers are stupid and you shouldn't get one. 

[petemcd]

I've just done this and got the car back tonight. Check this thread for the details



All the advice I got was to hold out for a genuine one, and I'm glad I did. It cost me a little extra to get fitted, but it fits perfectly.

The bumper I found was £290 on ebay and it included the splitter, grills, fogs, washer jets and badges and it was in excellent condition — all the clips were good and there were no cracks. I had been watching ebay for several months and it's rare for a complete and undamaged bumper to come up for sale, but clearly they do now and again.

The threads that xjay has posted were really helpful when I was figuring it all out. This one on ukmkvs.net was also really helpful and lists all of the part numbers (he does it the proper way including changing the front member) http://uk-mkvs.net/forums/t/157484.aspx

[skard]

I had genuine grilles on a replica (Xparts) bumper, fit ok. I eventually got a genuine bumper in replacement. As above, GT facelift and GTI skeletons are the same - all grilles are swappable between them. As are the Jetta centre grilles.
R32 is different altogether.

The difference with your fogs is that the light unit has different mounts between the bumpers. I got a GT/GTI/Jetta set of fogs from China, split them & my originals and swapped them over, that way the mounts all lined up, glass was angled correctly for the grille and plug fitted the loom still.

With the likes of Xparts, their fog grilles are 'GTI look' but standard fitment designed to take your original lights.

Like I have said to everyone doing this, please buy genuine. A replica will never make you 100% happy.