MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Neil 54 on July 04, 2016, 06:38:54 pm

Title: open fog light grills
Post by: Neil 54 on July 04, 2016, 06:38:54 pm

Hi just wondering if anyone has had a negative effect from water or stones after fitting the open fog light grills from ebay or any other negatives as I like the look of the open grill and am considering buying them

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: Adam0604 on July 04, 2016, 06:41:55 pm

No problems here.

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: ReflexRob on July 04, 2016, 10:19:43 pm

Me neither

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: dronners on July 05, 2016, 02:12:01 pm

does having to clean my nice silicon hoses count ?  :grin:

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: Stupots on July 05, 2016, 03:19:48 pm

I'm assuming this is just for looks?

I was curious as to if they offered any advantage and found plenty of debate, but the final word appears to be along the lines of "they used to be open grills, but VW changed them to closed for a reason". Not that anyone can find out what that reason may have been.

I'm happy to be educated though if it's more than just looks :)

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: flashp on July 05, 2016, 05:45:12 pm

They are for hot climates where additional radiators are fitted. Probably oil coolers for transmission and engine I imagine.
For us with them they provide an indirect route for air to pass through the hole in the wheel arch liner which may have some benefit for brake cooling. Probably only useful (if at all) on track days.

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: MateyGuv on July 05, 2016, 08:29:31 pm

There are two types of open grills available - I think. The genuine OEM ones have ducting behind the passenger (uk cars) side that forces air over the gearbox but the drivers side, although open, has a blanking panel behind them so the air doesn't actually go through the grills. These grills were standard on hot climate cars as said above to cool DSG gearbox and oil cooler and were never on UK cars. The other open grills are aftermarket and replicate the appearance of the OEM ones but don't have anything behind them

Title: Re: open fog light grills
Post by: OEM+ DUB on July 06, 2016, 01:25:18 pm

Correct - I've got the full genuine open fog grilles with a cover behind the offside and a duct for air to the DSG gearbox on the nearside.