Argus Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Having read many things about the grill, and how easy it scratches....does this sound real stupid..but what if you where to coat it with a clear varnish...is that a possibility or a definate NO NO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scillyisles Posted February 6, 2006 Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 A replacement front grill (complete) is £79 plus VAT and to that you need to fit the roundel surround £11.71 plus VAT. I'm thinking about buying one and then spraying the aluminium painted part of it in the body colour (which in my case is Steel Grey) After spraying with body colour I'd put a couple of coats of clear coat (lacquer) on. I think this would look much better and make the front end look slightly less bling. I also think it would be more durable than the aluminium look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainy Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 You could always buy a GTI front end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3WOB Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Understand this is possible, it fits the V32 nose - need the support bar as well. Probably quite expensive though, parts, paint, labour etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClimberSP Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 If it was possible to fit the GTI grill, you could get the fog lights, but I think it's no possible because the R32 has air-entries for the brakes, am I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3WOB Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Some of the OEM plates I've seen are partially drilled out so if that is an issue then air could still pass through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scillyisles Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 The GTI grill is quite different and uses different bottom mounting points so I don't think it would be easy to fit. It would also be a bit pointless trying to turn your R32 to look like a GTI. The lower side vents where the fog lights go in the GTI are solid plastic on the R32 and don't really provide airflow to the front brakes. I guess some aftermarket company could manufacture ones with fog lights in them quite easily but I don't think you can use the GTI ones as again the front valance is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3WOB Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 2 hour job from our resident techy I'm sure they'll be some aftermarket activity in this area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 anyone who does do something with their grill and is planning to drive in Europe should bear in mind that the whole front bumper & grill has to come off to get the Xenon's adjusted. so probably sensible to combine the 2 jobs !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan32 Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Does that mean VW didn't 'learn' from the MKIV and you still have difficulty getting to back of lights for changing bulbs? I'm sure aftermarket will pick up on the lacklustre grill and produce a couple of options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scillyisles Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 The Mk V R32 is fitted with Xenons as standard and as such these lights have an inbuilt control lever to dictate whether a left or right hand beam pattern should be used. You can access this lever by removing the rear headlight cap by turning in an anticlockwise direction. You'll then be able to adjust a lever - up is left hand drive and down is right hand drive. If you are getting problems with your R32 Xenons being set too high particularly the passenger side dazzling cars that you overtake then you can adjust the height of this headlight by adjusting two adjustment screws (white plastic screws). They have labels on them indicating Up one way and Down the other. I did this earlier today and hopefully won't get people flashing me now. I'm not sure what the adjustment procedure is for cars without Xenons - the workshop manual says that this info was'nt available at the time of going to press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Does that mean VW didn't 'learn' from the MKIV and you still have difficulty getting to back of lights for changing bulbs? I'm sure aftermarket will pick up on the lacklustre grill and produce a couple of options. [/ QUOTE ] There's actually loads of room for acces this time Dan. I guess it's the adjustments that are still a pita. Not a great pic, but you can see the gaps here, loads of room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 [ sorry didn't mean to take this thread off topic ] just to clarify - my comment was only regarding switching the bias between driving on the left and right - England or Germany for example. I think there may be a difference in effort required between adjusting height for fine tuning purposes (think this is what scillyisles is describing) and adjusting the overall left>right pattern. Am basing this on the workshop manual details I saw earlier today and the frustrated tech who couldn't get to the adjustment lever scillyisles mentioned. Grateful for any other clarifications in case I have posted misleading info. so people know it's possible, I now have a completely centered Xenon beam pattern so suitable for driving on both left & right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3WOB Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Not my cup o tea but one option already available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fieldgate Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Slight hijack, but can you adjust the Xenon's on the MkIV for overseas driving ? (ie I have a UK car, but if drive in France, can I "flick a lever") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 [ QUOTE ] You could always buy a GTI front end [/ QUOTE ] check out the supposed facelift version GTI thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3WOB Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Oh well one can live in hope that if we harp on about it enough, they may even facelift the V32. Ever the optimist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 I would definitely be interested in a new grille. It is the one thing I dislike most about the mk5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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