MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => How to Guides / Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Jaywoo-GTI on March 17, 2009, 09:24:10 am
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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?
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(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRepair_Manuals%2F3rd_Brake_Light%2F3rdbrakelight.jpg&hash=dee5410c1953dd2dab4ae5a83364243ddadfdb5c)
:happy2:
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Is the high level spioler bolted or bonded on?
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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!
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This is gonna be a really horible job to do myself then?
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i would leave it myself (that includes not letting a dealer near it)
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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
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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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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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bet its cheaper to buy a whole second hand tail gate, in your colour in mint condition. (maybe)
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The water's stayin in mine! :scared:
Not letting those fookin butchers near my car! :fighting:
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What happens if you drill a small drainage hole - Will it all still work?
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^^^ 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.
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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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£400! :chicken:
here's hoping on the goodwill gesture!
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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.
Just under £400 was what I was quoted as well to get this done. It looks like my unit has suffered some water ingress as well, but that doesn't make much sense as the whole point of bonding the spoiler on is that the light unit is fully enclosed and watertight.
Anyway, I was looking at perhaps replacing my OEM spoiler with the Caractere spoiler but Awesome tell me that it will not fit :( to pass MOT as I recall you need the third brakelight which means I'll have to swap it sooner or later (and it's bothering me as well every time I brake ><).
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i thought you only had to have a working third brakelight if its present, if you delete it there's nothing to test?
in anycase, you can always fit an internal 3rd brake light if you wanted to get round it if not the case
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FYI I got 50% goodwill from VW for doing the work which is better than nothing.
All things considered though I think I'm inclined to leave well alone for now. I have a suspicion that the light was in the state its in when it passed the MOT so as long as I keep using that garage....
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hello folks, have just spotted this problem with mine but the car still has a few months of cover left so will get it done ASAP!
what a pain in the ass!
Iain
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a total fail in design that's for sure :chicken:
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Looks like someone has had a go at mine before i got it cus the one side of mine has come lose, gonna look for a brake light the same length and in clear before i prize this one off.
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Thats interesting... I'm reasonably sure that if you were to have a go at it with a dremel and some gentle persuasion you could get the old one out. Getting the new one in might mean some soldering depending how the wires terminate in the light unit...
Hmm do I feel brave... :scared:
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From memory I believe the cable run through the spoiler and connects inside the top of the tail gate :happy2:
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my brakelight looks more like a fishbowl, I have warranty left but feel the same as greenouse
The water's stayin in mine! :scared:
Not letting those fookin butchers near my car! :fighting:
:signLOL: :innocent:
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Well a quick mess around with mine last night and it fell out, Looks like both captive bolts where i thold onto the spioler have cracked and come lose, So the light is now just trim taped back in until i get a new on, Good part is no need for the spioler to come off. :smiley:
Anyone got a part number just for the brake light unit?
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Mine has dried out with the turn in the weather/Spring thankfully.
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I don't have the part number but according to my estimate the part is 30.14 + VAT
Repair details :-
Repair/Replace
R + R Additional Brake Lamp
(Tailgate Trim And Rear Spoiler Removed)
R + R Rear Spoiler
R + R Lower Tailgate Trim
R + R Upper Tailgate Trim
(Lower Part Removed)
Prepare And Paint
Rear Spoiler New Part Paint K1R
Labour Value £91.00
Paint and Materials £55.18
New Parts :- £180.97
122.2Rear Spoiler 5
Rear Spoiler Glue 10.18
Primer 6.35
Hi-Level Brakelamp 30.14
Epa 5.00
Car Care Kit 3.50
Sundries 3.55
End of New Parts
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Sub-Total £327.15
VAT @ 15.00% £49.08
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Estimate Total £376.23
Would you mind taking copious pics of the 'hole' where it sits and of the new brake light itself when you pick it up?
Although I have the goodwill I really don't want to open a can of worms by having the old spoiler removed etc. I would like to see whats in there to decide whether its possible for me to do a bit of surgery or not....
Thanks.
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carrs of indian queens told me it would be 96 notes to replace my high level brake light
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Just ordered my brake light from the dealer.
Part number is 1K6 945 097F (changed from revision E to F now) @ £34.79.
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Mine has this too, got told to turn my washer jet to the '2 o clock' position rather than straight up! which I have.
this helped anyone? or is it just a vast amount of condensation that builds it up?
Also wanting to replace the rear window with the darkened OEM window, I think TT did this!... again, same situation with the spoiler, has to ripped off! :scared:
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^^^ I have had my rear screen replaced three times and the spoiler didn't have to come off :confused:
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Mine has this too, got told to turn my washer jet to the '2 o clock' position rather than straight up! which I have.
this helped anyone? or is it just a vast amount of condensation that builds it up?
Also wanting to replace the rear window with the darkened OEM window, I think TT did this!... again, same situation with the spoiler, has to ripped off! :scared:
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Bloody madness !
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^^^ I have had my rear screen replaced three times and the spoiler didn't have to come off :confused:
How come you have had 3 rear screens !?
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ah ha, cheers Stevie, just had a closer inspection of the window, I thought it runs up the entire length of the tailgate!
just got sum sticky pads at both ends that threw me off! :signIWS:
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^^^ I have had my rear screen replaced three times and the spoiler didn't have to come off :confused:
How come you have had 3 rear screens !?
Original PDI issues where the tinted rear screen had a scratch, it took 2 screens and three attempts to get it right :embarrassed:
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bugger, scrathed on delivery!, Wanting to order the tinted OEM window soon, hope it comes mint, unlike every thing I've ordered from the dealer, always a defect!
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See my other how to post. :happy2:
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Mine has this too, got told to turn my washer jet to the '2 o clock' position rather than straight up! which I have.
this helped anyone? or is it just a vast amount of condensation that builds it up?
Also wanting to replace the rear window with the darkened OEM window, I think TT did this!... again, same situation with the spoiler, has to ripped off! :scared:
Make sure your rear pi$$er is squirting in the 2'o clock position - this is what the Elsa manual says. And the simple proof that it IS the pisser, take a look at the Mk6 - it now sqirts down from the 3rd brake light, not up from the wiper spindle!
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I haven't used my rear end pi$$er for over a year and I still get condensation from time to time. I decided to live with it rather than get the dealers to knacker things further.
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I haven't used my rear end pi$$er for over a year and I still get condensation from time to time. I decided to live with it rather than get the dealers to knacker things further.
Same here, apart from the odd accidental squirt I've never 'used' mine and have had condensation from very early on. Im convinced the water gets in under the spoiler where it joins the tailgate.
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i thinks its purely the heat generated from the roof/spoiler that in a sealed enviroment, the condensation has nowhere to go except collect in the pastic housing. Same as what happens with the xenon headlamps do, steam up after the heat generated and cooling down,causes the lamp housings to sweat, same as the rear spoiler imo.
I dont see the direction of a washer jet nozzle is going to cause the break light housing leak theory.
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My car has just failed its MOT because the roof spoiler brake light isn't working. My VW dealer has an affiliated accident repair centre whom I know very well and they've said they'd fit a new one for £80 plus the LED unit cost. They've done them before.
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Yeah, I'm gonna have to do the break original/squeeze in replacement at unit cost thing soon as I cba to pay £loads for a replacement spoiler with all the paint match issues that will undoubtedly ensue.
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http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=121067.0
20 minutes and around £35 should see you right :happy2:
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I just got home after my VW dealer's affiliated bodyshop changed the high level brake light using the 'non-VW recommended' method. They quoted me £80 but charged me £50. The last one they did on a Mk5 GTI they charged just over £300 for by doing it the approved VW way.
They replaced my horn fuse and re-angled the rear washer jet, all for zero charge. I bought some new tyres off them though and also contributed to their RNLI raft race they're doing on Thursday evening - The mechanics have built their own raft. Although they no longer do my servicing, the relationship is as good as ever. That's the advantage of living in a country community - Everyone knows each other and become good mates.
So I've passed the MOT :happy2:
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http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=121067.0
20 minutes and around £35 should see you right :happy2:
Chyars, reckon I'll have a go at this next week.
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My turn to bash mine :ashamed:.................................................... :laugh:. Water inside it. :fighting:
Half my LED's arent working, so drill and chisel is coming out monday morning :scared:
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Oh, I meant to say I did this, was easy enough, reckon it only took about half an hour.
There was like a layer of algae/slime inside mine :sick:
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It's simple if you have the bottle to break the old one... :signLOL:
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II'm gutted. Need to replace mine but only as the plastic is cracked. No damaged LEDs or anything, njust one annoying little crack ...
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II'm gutted. Need to replace mine but only as the plastic is cracked. No damaged LEDs or anything, njust one annoying little crack ...
....Some baddies shooting at ya? :evilgrin: Or perhaps the police as you made your getaway :wink:
It must have been a stone flicked up somehow :sad1:
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My turn to bash mine :ashamed:.................................................... :laugh:. Water inside it. :fighting:
Half my LED's arent working, so drill and chisel is coming out monday morning :scared:
Did a replacement on a friend's R32, with this problem. Mask off the spoiler, dremel the lens to break it, remove old light, fit new one, remove tape. The wires are easily accesible once the old light is broken & hanging out. It just feels a bit brutal to butcher it :grin:
For the love of pete, don't let the dealer remove the spoiler as they normally 'cheese wire' it off. Naturally this means a repaint.
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Just out of curiosty, does the new brake light have anything different to prevent water ingress?
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Just out of curiosty, does the new brake light have anything different to prevent water ingress?
Not from what I saw :rolleye:
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Just the same as the old one as far as I could see as well. Though to be honest it was difficult to see how the water could have gotten in anyway. The seal around the lens and the rest of the body cant be very good.
Over a year and a half and no issues with the bodge job so far though :happy2:
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¨How do you fix the new one??? Glue? :confused: if so to what parts of the brake light???
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¨How do you fix the new one??? Glue? :confused: if so to what parts of the brake light???
It just clips in. Mine snapped out of my hand while I lined it up. Very easy.
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¨How do you fix the new one??? Glue? :confused: if so to what parts of the brake light???
It just clips in. Mine snapped out of my hand while I lined it up. Very easy.
So after removing the brakelight itself, the screws and the counterpart from old brakelight are losened and screws fitted to new brakelight counterparts you just push it in?? :confused: :drinking:
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¨How do you fix the new one??? Glue? :confused: if so to what parts of the brake light???
It just clips in. Mine snapped out of my hand while I lined it up. Very easy.
So after removing the brakelight itself, the screws and the counterpart from old brakelight are losened and screws fitted to new brakelight counterparts you just push it in?? :confused: :drinking:
Can't remember 100% but I think the screws remain on the car and just fit into the holes on the new light. In effect it's not screwed on once replaced but it clips in place in such a way that it won't be falling out.
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^^ When you rip the old light out, you leave in place the screws and the metal 'tube' (great technical description :grin:) that they screwed into in the old light. The screws can then be lifted out of the groove they sit in and can be discarded. Its difficult to explain but its pretty obvious when you do it.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fdd328%2Fub7rm%2FDSCN1093.jpg&hash=a1353912cd09912326f274aa6775f6dca7002ba9)
In this photo you can see the metal tube that the screw goes into and used to be embedded in the old light and the groove that you lift it out from.
The replacement light snaps in very securely.
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Well mine is done, twas abit scary, but being careful, and not going at it like a Bull in a china shop, pays dividends ..
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2F684ebdd2.jpg&hash=5d31ee2ea19ec92e0b1e4957f5f5a69dccfeeb6a)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2Ff229937f.jpg&hash=aaccb244bc84143510977ebd3ed53a335b0e1b8b)
And new as like has been said, just clips in, without requiring 2 outer edge screws.
No damage to spoiler
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2F4cd519d4.jpg&hash=67f4ffe4b1d768d682f3da5fdf6e3275b8034631)
:drinking:
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i think i may look into this for mine!
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After reading this http://www.my-gti.com/1331/volkswagen-extended-warranty-for-center-high-mounted-stoplight-on-gti-and-r32 (http://www.my-gti.com/1331/volkswagen-extended-warranty-for-center-high-mounted-stoplight-on-gti-and-r32) and this http://www.my-gti.com/wp-content/uploads/volkswagen_warranty_extension_eye_level_brake_light_1.jpg (http://www.my-gti.com/wp-content/uploads/volkswagen_warranty_extension_eye_level_brake_light_1.jpg)
I am pissed off at VW's crap design. I think I might take this up with BBC Watchdog and see if we can get VW to acknowledge they are at fault, it takes the piss, the yanks get much better consumer protection than us! Watch this space! :wink:
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Complaint now posted to BBC Watchdog! :happy2: Wether I'll hear anything back though we'll have to see! Although we do know how much the presenters love giving big company bosses a good grilling live on air! :evilgrin:
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Complaint now posted to BBC Watchdog! :happy2: Wether I'll hear anything back though we'll have to see! Although we do know how much the presenters love giving big company bosses a good grilling live on air! :evilgrin:
Good work :congrats:
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Complaint now posted to BBC Watchdog! :happy2: Wether I'll hear anything back though we'll have to see! Although we do know how much the presenters love giving big company bosses a good grilling live on air! :evilgrin:
Should raise the DSG warranty with watchdog too seeing as the yanks get 10 years and we get 3 and thats it!
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HOLY THREAD REVIVAL!
Anybody had any success with this problem lately? Half of my LEDs have stopped working and it's MOT time tomorrow!
:fighting: :sick:
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Yeah, I've done it and loads of others on here have as well. Did it over a year ago and it's still all good. Pretty straight forward to do. If I can do it then anybody can!! :laugh:
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Getting worried about the light on mine - especially as it has been a brilliant sunny day...there was condensation in mine when I went out to check the tyre pressures at 2pm.
This isn't a job I really want to do, but any further tips / a 'how-to' will be much appreciated!
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There is a how to! http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=121067.0
Anyway, I wouldn't change it yet if you just have condensation. I had condensation in mine for years before it packed up. I would wait until you can visually see a problem with the leds before you change it.
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There is a how to! http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=121067.0
Anyway, I wouldn't change it yet if you just have condensation. I had condensation in mine for years before it packed up. I would wait until you can visually see a problem with the leds before you change it.
Well done that man for finding that!
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No worries, it was just in the "how to" section :happy2:
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Thanks for that - will keep an eye on mine, and hope I won't need this guide! :drinking:
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I need to replace mine (im lucky my MOT dont expire till Jan 15) :jumpmove:
Local electrician quoted me 40 notes to get it done with following the guide :signLOL:
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I need to replace mine (im lucky my MOT dont expire till Jan 15) :jumpmove:
Local electrician quoted me 40 notes to get it done with following the guide :signLOL:
Well chuffed today for somebody that can't even change a light bulb!!!! - did my high level brake light today with no damage no nothing!! Took me about 30 mins and saved myself £40 as it was booked into my local garage tomorrow morning :-)))))
It secures in pretty well too
Some pics of the work
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fy2a7egez.jpg&hash=b705847c0844f5749b1fd70fbe315011f9918f7d)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fsuhe3a3u.jpg&hash=4560a34bba86bc72db99dc1e73c1482606efd989)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fmavana9u.jpg&hash=a76247a050b1dd69d4060553d54df3a93fd89a3a)
z%bz
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Good work :happy2: hope to get mine done when it stops raining
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I need to replace mine (im lucky my MOT dont expire till Jan 15) :jumpmove:
Local electrician quoted me 40 notes to get it done with following the guide :signLOL:
Well chuffed today for somebody that can't even change a light bulb!!!! - did my high level brake light today with no damage no nothing!! Took me about 30 mins and saved myself £40 as it was booked into my local garage tomorrow morning :-)))))
It secures in pretty well too
Some pics of the work
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fy2a7egez.jpg&hash=b705847c0844f5749b1fd70fbe315011f9918f7d)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fsuhe3a3u.jpg&hash=4560a34bba86bc72db99dc1e73c1482606efd989)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fmavana9u.jpg&hash=a76247a050b1dd69d4060553d54df3a93fd89a3a)
z%bz
Well done :happy2: Pretty easy really isn't it.
Just need to change that whitewormed boot handle now :grin:
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Did you use tape then? Or did it just click in and hold up just fine?
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I need to replace mine (im lucky my MOT dont expire till Jan 15) :jumpmove:
Local electrician quoted me 40 notes to get it done with following the guide :signLOL:
Well chuffed today for somebody that can't even change a light bulb!!!! - did my high level brake light today with no damage no nothing!! Took me about 30 mins and saved myself £40 as it was booked into my local garage tomorrow morning :-)))))
It secures in pretty well too
Some pics of the work
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fy2a7egez.jpg&hash=b705847c0844f5749b1fd70fbe315011f9918f7d)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fsuhe3a3u.jpg&hash=4560a34bba86bc72db99dc1e73c1482606efd989)(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F14%2F02%2F07%2Fmavana9u.jpg&hash=a76247a050b1dd69d4060553d54df3a93fd89a3a)
z%bz
Well done :happy2: Pretty easy really isn't it.
Just need to change that whitewormed boot handle now :grin:
After posting that image, I realised that it defo will be mentioned haha..!!
Yes I do need to replace that badge lol
z%bz
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Did you use tape then? Or did it just click in and hold up just fine?
It secured in very well to be honest.. I didn't need to use any tape!
Its brill havin a "bright working upper brake light" :-)
z%bz
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For some reason my post disappeared. So if anyone missed it, I just said that it's advisable to adjust the washer nozzle to 2 o'clock so it stops squirting on the light. Good to do this whether you have changed the light or not :happy2:
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Nice easy job really. 15 mins or so.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv489%2Ffordkaracing%2F20140212_145927_zpsvz5dkufx.jpg&hash=52f1f35d7870ea0b5984bcf8cee74a95f9425d35)