Retrofitting from a donor GTi to another GTi - how complicated & risky to DIY?

[flyGtiGuy]

Hi everyone,

I bought an MK5 GTi and it's turned out as a complete lemon.  After doing the clutch, wheel speed sensors, brake calipers, o2 sensor and more - a seal on the gearbox failed.  Didn't notice until it sounded like a bag of nails.  Goodbye, old GTi....

Now, I'm buying a lower spec GTi in great mechanical condition - but I'd like to transfer over (all OEM):

Xenon Auto Leveling Headlights,
Rain Sensor,
Auto Lights,
Reversing Sensors

Am I mental?  Are these jobs that a semi-experienced DIY'er could tackle? Risky?  Anything I need to consider on the new GTi before I buy?

Cheers everyone

[chigmuss]

I'd imagine the Xenons shouldn't be too bad.... are you putting the washers on too?
The rain sensors might be a specialist job as it requires you to have the 'special' windscreen with the gel filled portion near where the rear view mirror sits doesn't it? You're gonna be into a few ££ getting your old one removed in one piece and transplanted into the new shell. Fingers crossed all the wiring is sat there unconnected.
It all sounds do-able, just depends on how handy/experienced you are working on a Mk5.
Good luck 

[LC5F]

Swapping parts over should be relatively straight forward, the issue will be lots of coding to get everything working on the new Golf - how bad is the old one?

I'd imagine the Xenons shouldn't be too bad.... are you putting the washers on too?

Unless the MOT rules have changed, you don't need to install them, washer jets: "if fitted, they must work" -if not fitted there is nothing to test.

[flyGtiGuy]

I'd imagine the Xenons shouldn't be too bad.... are you putting the washers on too?
The rain sensors might be a specialist job as it requires you to have the 'special' windscreen with the gel filled portion near where the rear view mirror sits doesn't it? You're gonna be into a few ££ getting your old one removed in one piece and transplanted into the new shell. Fingers crossed all the wiring is sat there unconnected.
It all sounds do-able, just depends on how handy/experienced you are working on a Mk5.
Good luck 

Yeah, I think the windscreen is a bit specialized and sounds costly.  I've read that you can use a heat gun, razor blades and sandpaper to scrape off the coating on the non-sensor windscreen but it seems silly to expect that to go well on first attempt.... 

Happy to hear I don't need the washers for MOT!  I've never felt like they do much more than drain the liquid super fast!

Am I right to assume reversing sensors / leveling xenons aren't that tricky, then?

[Robsmib]

Hi,

Cannot comment on the reversing sensors but recently retrofitted the windscreen washers and levelling for the xenons.

Very good how to on Vortex, not a simple job, have to wire up sensors on front and rear suspension, to both headlights and control module. Basically have to take a lot of the car interior apart.

All good fun

Enjoy