Golf MK2 Crash - WARNING: Images may be saddening.

[Josh]

Good morning everyone,

I regret to inform you with deep sadness that I have had a minor crash in my golf 2 . Luckily, it appears that everything in the engine bay is in tact, including the radiator! However, everything in between the radiator and the plastic bumper is bent and damaged in some way.
I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to my golf and in particular the body. So I thought I would turn to the experts and geniuses of vwwatercooled for a bit of advice/help/comfort/shouldertocryon.

My questions are:
1. Has this happened to anyone here? how did you proceed?
2. I'm looking to learn and do this myself if possible, last resort is send it to the shop. So I need to figure out what parts to replace and where to get second hand parts etc. I hear Camden GTI can have some great part finds!

Anyway, so far I know that I need to:
- Fix or source a bonnet
- Fix or source the radiator support
- Fix that cracked part behind the big bumper in the picture...not sure what it's name would be?

My aim is to basically learn more about the front end and do it as cheap as possible (poor uni student cliché). Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Photos are below.

[benough]

The good new is it's all repairable.

Matt at Camden will probably have most of that stuff but *may* try and sell you a whole new car

VW Heritage sell a lot of stuff but local will be better.

If you can get your hands on the Bentley Manual, that should help you out a lot.

Props for keeping it going!

[golfmeup]

Camden Gti should have everything you need to repair.

Try slick online (forum sponsors) they have Euro (JOM) grills and headlights and prices are very good.
Your lucky dude! Damage looks fairly minor- definitely doable on a student budget.

[ryana89]

^ X2 with whats been said above.
Essentially* with a MK2, everything in-front of the firewall can be attached and re-attached with ease

(Baring the 2 chassis rails, which are surrounded/protected by a removable panels/engine bits)

[benough]

Can I suggest against getting non OEM parts?

I know it sounds good, but they are worth paying extra for. Especially the headlamps.

[Schalke04]

This is how I bought my golf. Easy fix, If Camden gti doesn't have all the parts(would be surprised if he didn't) gti imports also has a lot parts.

[golfmeup]

Can I suggest against getting non OEM parts?

I know it sounds good, but they are worth paying extra for. Especially the headlamps.

If you can grab a set of genuine Hella's for a good price that would always be preferable.
I guess depends on his budget as Josh mentioned "cheap as possible".

Are the JOM headlights that bad?


Locky

[benough]

We had all HELLA on our car bar one Indian made glass. Turns out they glued the Indian made glass to the HELLA reflector.

When I put a genuine HELLA unit in, the beam patterns became silk and melted into each other.

[Josh]

Thanks everyone for all the positive replies! It's relieving to hear that I'm not doomed from the very beginning.

Benough and golfmeup - thanks for the suggestions on where to source the parts. I will check out the web and give Matt at Camden GTI a call. Luckily, my headlights weren't affected at all. The glass fell out of one but didn't break. I think whatever was holding the glass on may be damaged though.

Ryan89 - Sorry for the stupid question, but what exactly do you mean by firewall? And did you just learn through tinkering? or did you get help from elsewhere? I have the bentley guide that Benough has suggested (has been so helpful for my numerous other projects), but the image appears to be for the small bumper style mk2. My car looks like there are more parts behind the big bumper? Any idea what thats called or is it a part of the radiator support too? Like I said, I will be taking it all apart the next chance I get so that I know exactly what parts I need.

Schalke04 - You bought your mk2 with front end collision damage? May I ask what parts you had to replace and how much it roughly cost?

Thanks again everyone for letting me pick your brains!

[ryana89]

Sorry, I should have been a bit clearer, it's relatively easy (if you have the tools) to take everything from the back of the engine, to the front bumper, off the car.
I've tinkered and lurked forums, the Bentley is a great manual and explains everything step by step.

Bumper removal is reallllllly easy. Have a look at this link.
VWVortex.com - Pic DIY : Removing bumper/repairing saggy bumper

^There will be a couple of electrical plugs to be undone at the same time

The grill is held on by 2 accessible screws and a couple of plastic push tabs.

Don't be afraid to just take is apart, it's pretty self explanatory.

Also, just noticed, you've got a later MK3 engine (looks like an ADY/2E 2.0L)

[golfmeup]

Ryan's taught us all

Does look like a mk3 1.8 or 2.0 engine.
Looks like previous owner has done an engine conversion?

[Josh]

You guessed it Ryan! It's a 2E 2.0L. A previous owner converted it at Camden GTi. It's been such a good engine, however I get a bit confused when looking for certain parts, for example the clutch will need replacing and i'm not sure if i'm looking for a mk2 or mk3 clutch kit.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice! I'm waiting for pay-day at this stage so that I can buy all the parts. Will give Matt a call to get an idea on price. Anyone here want to hazard a guess of how much this could end up costing? (bonnet, radiator support, maybe a couple of other things once I get in there and have a good look this weekend)

[golfmeup]

Josh,
Your lucky about the headlights mate.

I'm guessing (roughly) you can fix this all for well under $500 (if you do the work yourself and hunt around for parts)
Give Matt a call. He has a bonnet and slam panel.

[Josh]

Thanks golfmeup. Is the slam panel the radiator support?

[golfmeup]

Thanks golfmeup. Is the slam panel the radiator support?

Hi mate,
Yep, same thing, slam panel holds the radiator, headlights and grill in place.

Good luck with it