Help with direction on putting headlights in.

[lhennessy]

I need help, I bought gti headlights and want to fit into my 06 TDI.

Tried to find a video but could only find for the gti... Seems pretty easy but just unsure in case of any differences in ways to take the bumper off etc.

Picture step by step or a video would be amazing!

[Gigitt]

bumper is easy to take off. there are plenty of diy guides... search!

takes about 10 minutes

hardest part for me was taking out the lower side grills... undo the screw then pull like a mofo from side closest to center of car the outer most side of grill does not pull out but slots in.

[Qwertypants]

Hey Luke. You don't need to take off any side grilles as it is a rabbit. They are all torx screws so firstly remove your front grille (4 torx), then remove the rest. There will be some more in the front fenders and underneath the front bumper. Get out a flashlight and feel around.
Then keep wiggling it and it'll come off easy.
Taking headlights out is pretty easy, when u out them back in make sure they are aligned before you screw the bumper back in.

Try not to strip your torx! Had to cut through a bit of my bumper because of it...

[Gigitt]

Google it: golf 5 front bumper removal - Google Search

[lhennessy]

Thanks everyone think I'll give it a go tomorrow or something if I can get abit of time

[Gigitt]

one thing i forgot to mention is that the headlights can be body fit aligned for Gap.
This might take you some time to get it right. Took me about 30 mins.

there are 2x 19mm(??) plastic nuts on the housing around where you fit the mounting bolts.
These 19mm plastic nuts wind in and out and allow you to adjust the Gap between the body of the car (hood (top), fenders (outside), grill (inside) and bumper Bottom) and the headlight itself.

I suggest before you take the bumper off that you look at the Gap fit of the headlight - even take pics.
Look at how much the headlight sticks out/in compared to the body panels as well as the Gap.

Then when you take the old headlights out measure the Plastic nut distance and adjust the new headlights to be similar. then trial fit them to see how the Gap is. The headlight itself cannot be jigged to make the alignment fit as there are alignment pin holding if the the mounting frame of the car.

[Fatherless One]

I need help, I bought gti headlights and want to fit into my 06 TDI.

Tried to find a video but could only find for the gti... Seems pretty easy but just unsure in case of any differences in ways to take the bumper off etc.

Picture step by step or a video would be amazing!

Sorry to but in on you thread but where did you get the headlights? And what did they cost? (PM me if that suits).

Oh and post some photo's once done, looking forward to seeing the car.

[lhennessy]

No worries. Got them from a forum member here. Believe his username was hazrd he has a polo gti.

I was incredibly lucky. Got them at a absolute steal. $100 or $150 (cant remember which)with just a little bit of haze, and they are genuine!
Seen the stock tdi headlights go for 200+ so great deal he didn't have any use for them and wanted them gone.

Been horrible weather in Melbourne so haven't done it yet and trying to get a mate help me do it because it makes it 10x easier.
Will be sure to put up some pics literally haven't done a single thing to the car since I got it in may.. Had no money after buying it and have a 13 week old daughter. All Iv done is clean it heaps then rego the other week... But gave her a little polish today came up nice!

[lhennessy]

Oh and gigitt could you send me a picture of the adjusting bolts your Talking about? I had a look yesterday and couldn't see the ones you were talking about

[Gigitt]

This is from the Hella Halogen Headlight - it is the same for the Bi-Xenons.

Inside this nut you put the bolt to attach it to the car. adjust the palstic nut before you tighten the bolt all the way up. There is also a plastic nut on the headlight near the grill... you cant miss them as these are the 2 main headligh mounting locations.



Just some hints - (I'm writing this from memory so there might be some slightly wrong info)

TAKE some pics of the healights especially the GAPs around them with the body work 1st!!!

Use a Stubby handle with your torx T30 and T27 bits.
Start car and turn steering wheel to get one side car wheel well open up - you dont have to turn them much - llike dont need to do full lock.
Undo the 4 bolt in the wheel well.
Turn steering whell to other side and do the other wheel well.
Turn car off.
Open Bonnet
Using Phillips head screwdriver undo 2 screws bottom of the center grill like under the licence plate - they are at an angle.
Unclip the top of the center grill and pop it off
Undo the 2 T30 bolts in center grill above the licence plate area
now here is where the stubby handle works a charm - undo the 8 or 10 bolts under the front lip of the bumper from wheel to wheel
undo the center grill clips at top and pull center gille out
If you are working on a hard surface like concrete/dirt etc, put an old blanket down under the bumper so when you pull it off it does not get scratched.
Pull the bumper forward untill all the wires stop it from comming off. You might be able to put the bumper on the ground then unclip the wires for Parking sensors and fog lights temp sensors etc.
Once wires are uncliped move bumper to the side out of the way so you dont keep bumping into it.
Undo the Headlight bolts at top, and using a long handle extention for the Torx Bit the bottome and center bolots where the adjustment nuts are.
Adjust the pastic nuts on the new headlights so they are similar to the old ones
Test fit the lights
trial fit the bumper to check for GAP (you dont have to wire up the connectors just skide bumper on and off)

Putting bumper back is just as easy.
Wire up the bumper 1st
Pick bumper up at the center and slide it on - make sure you slide the sides onto the side rails - these are big and easy on Mk5.

Do all the bolts up hand tight do not over tighten or crank them down!
Put center Grill back on and do the 2 screws under the licence plate

It looks daunting - but really is quite easy and fool proof. and you can do it by your self.
I have taken mine off about 4 times now - at one time I swapped headlights in 20 minutes - I just dropped the bumper without undoing the wiring

goto www.my-gti.com they have pics.

[lhennessy]

Thanks again

[lhennessy]

Finaly grew a pair and got off my ass.

[VW VR6]

Look awesome - that would be my next investment.

[lhennessy]

I managed to pick mine up really cheap from a forum member abit of haze/foggy tho.

[jessv3]

I recently put new headlights in my GTI (my previous ones were foggy) and taking the bumper off was a bit of a stuff around, mostly putting it back on trying to get it to align properly took me a while, a good 2 hours and I had 2 spare screws at the end of it .

I seem to struggle with every DIY, so maybe I should avoid them in the future.