GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Golf mk5 how to guides + info => Topic started by: ub7rm on 27 June 2009, 15:26

Title: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 27 June 2009, 15:26
Like many my High Level Brakelight was fecked.  It started with the LED's flickering then they all failed one by one until they were all goosed.

A visit to VW revealed the cost of replacing it was just shy of £400 (out of warranty  :sad:) and would involve removing the old spoiler (and in the process breaking it) spraying a new spoiler and remounting etc as the light was stupidly designed to be retained by a couple of screws INSIDE the spoiler.

With nothing to loose I decided to buy the lamp and have a go at removing the old one and refitting.

Thanks to Daywoo for giving me the confidence to have a bash at this, but I think his was a little easier to get out than mine as he had written in a different thread that his fell out of it own accord...
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5563.0

First step was to buy the replacement:
Part No. 1K6 945 097F - £35 ish

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1085.jpg)
Image showing the back of the new light, flying lead and rubber grommit.

Next was the daunting bit - breaking out the old light.  For this I used some plastic trim removal tools I got of Ebay.  A good investment as it means the spoiler isn't butchered as you pry and lever the old one out.  That said there was a tiny amount of collateral damage to the housing but not too much.  But hey - you're saving £360  :smiley:

I started at the rear edge of the light and broke the light lens out.  No real technique - its pretty fragile and just a case of brute force and nasty noises.  Watch out for flying splinters!

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1086.jpg)
Poor quality but there is a small gap just big enough to get a wedge in and start breaking the lens out.

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1088.jpg)
Camera pointing up - photo of the bottom of the lens being broken out

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1089.jpg)
Trim tool being used to break the lens out

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1090.jpg)
Gunged up bit of lens - water has clearly been sitting there for a long time.
(Note I took my drill out as a way of breaking into the lens if needs be - I didn't actually have to use it.)

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1091.jpg)
Lens all broken out - LED strip exposed. 


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1092.jpg)
Use a wedge / trim removal tool to pop the LED strip out.  I didn't take a photo of this but the wiring where it connects to the PCB at the back was corroded as expected.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1093.jpg)
With the LED strip pulled out its really just a matter of getting hold of the black housing and ripping it out.  I used a trim tool to lever the housing down in the middle and then grabbed hold of it and pulled.

Note the metal bit to the left, thats where the retaining screw goes into.  One on each side.  The plastic housing is quite weak and flexible so it will rip around the retaining bolts and come out as shown.

Once free of the light housing, the retaining screws will lift out of those slots and be discarded.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1100.jpg)
Again sorry for the quality but this shows where the plastic housing has ripped around the bolt.

Follow the cable up and you will be able to feel the rubber grommit in place.  I suspect it helps if you do this on a warm day like I did but its relatively easy to grab hold of this with your fingers and then use needle nosed pliers to pull it out.  Also helps if you have girly fingers!

Once you pull this out, the connector comes with it and it connects to another connector.  There will be just enough slack to be able to pull this out to just beyond the spoiler.  It looks pretty fragile so be carefull with this.  Undo the retaining clip and replace with the new one.  (Sorry got a bit carried away and didn't take a picture of the 'car side' connector.)


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1085.jpg)
Picture of the 'light side' connector.


Push the wiring back in and push the grommit back into the hole.  This is a bit fiddly and is probably the hardest part as you cant see what you are doing.  You have go by feel alone.

Push the cable into the spoiler and snap the new light into place.  JOB DONE.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1094.jpg)

I didn't use anything other than the clips to hold the new light in place and it seems pretty solid.  If you wanted you could use some adhesive on the top to hold it in place.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1096.jpg)
Picture of the mangled old light unit.

Took me no more than 40 minutes.  Could probably do it again in about 20.

I did disturb the paint ever so slightly around the lip where the light unit sits but this is pretty much invisible unless you go looking for it and I will smooth it down with some wet and dry.

Just remembered I need to go out and re-aim my washer nozzle to 2 O'Clock so this never happen again....

Pretty chuffed with the result, and if I can do it, anyone can (but at your own risk  :wink:).  :cool:


Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: TagnuT on 27 June 2009, 15:45
Nice bit of work there. Good job it went ok!  :wink: Knowing my luck something would Feck up half way through  :sick:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 27 June 2009, 16:58
To be honest although it looks pretty brutal there isn't that much that can go wrong.  The fiddly bit is pulling the grommet out and putting the new one in.  The biggest risk I'd say is that you try and pull the old cable out too far and the fragile looking wiring on the 'car side' is damaged.  Having the rubber grommits warm for pulling out / pushing back in place is a big help I reckon.

Thinking about it, if I were to do it again I would use the drill to start breaking into the lens rather than risk damaging the paintwork trying to get a lever in / crack started.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: andytran on 27 June 2009, 17:55
Mate,
I was looking at the houses in the background of your piccies!!

Thought I recognised the granite city!!

I drive a private plate (T15...) Mk5 GTI with red splitter and newly installed RNS510!!

I live in Peterhead (although Im a Guff, originally from Hull).

Andy
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 27 June 2009, 19:13
Indeed the silver city  :grin:

Do you work in Aberdeen?  Hardly ever up that way but I'm back and forth to Westhill all the time.  If you ever need a hand for changing your high level brake light give me a shout  :grin:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: bacillus on 27 June 2009, 19:34
A big thumbs up on that DIY.   :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Gene Hunt. on 28 June 2009, 10:59
Nice guide.Touch wood the light on my 05 is fine. :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: TeddyKGB on 28 June 2009, 22:07
Thats excellent and worthy of a sticky!

Call me cynical but it wouldnt suprise me if this was all VW did (but used the story of having to cheesewire off the spoiler etc.. as an excuse for the £400 labour charge!) :shocked:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: celica on 29 June 2009, 00:09
nice write up and pics

sticky this
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: VWjon on 29 June 2009, 09:07
Nice job, glad it went well. As you know mine was done the same was under warranty by my dealer.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 29 June 2009, 21:05
Maybe a Mod could sticky this then  :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: timfranco on 01 July 2009, 08:48
found this forum last night after garage failed my car its MOT 'cos the high level brake light wasn't working.

followed the instructions and BINGO ! it's now fixed.

I also put a bead of silicon around the joints and re-directed the rear wash jet as it was aimed right in the crack.

Thanks a lot UB7RM you saved me a fortune !
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: celica on 05 July 2009, 22:00
found this forum last night after garage failed my car its MOT 'cos the high level brake light wasn't working.

followed the instructions and BINGO ! it's now fixed.

I also put a bead of silicon around the joints and re-directed the rear wash jet as it was aimed right in the crack.

Thanks a lot UB7RM you saved me a fortune !

third brake light isn't necessary to pass MOT though
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: bacillus on 05 July 2009, 22:31
afaik if the car comes with a third brake light as standard, to pass the mot it must be working. 
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 06 July 2009, 07:10
^^ Indeed, I did a bit of research into this and found it was a very grey area.  Probably comes down to what your tester had for breakfast, but:

If its fitted, it has to work.  BUT you can disconnect it and theoretically you could pass.

But then, type approval for mk5 golfs includes them having a working third rear brake light...

Clear as mud and like I say probably comes down to the individual tester.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 13 August 2009, 11:45
^^ Indeed, I did a bit of research into this and found it was a very grey area.  Probably comes down to what your tester had for breakfast, but:

If its fitted, it has to work.  BUT you can disconnect it and theoretically you could pass.

But then, type approval for mk5 golfs includes them having a working third rear brake light...

Clear as mud and like I say probably comes down to the individual tester.

Type Approval is the crucial bit!  :wink:

Great initial post BTW, thanks for sharing. :afro: :afro:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: AndyGTImk5 on 14 September 2009, 18:58
Just thought I'd comment and say a big thanks for this post, having suffered with a similar story.... MK5 GTI, just out of warranty (2month) and the rear high level LED went pop due to water ingress!

To cut a long story short, VW customer services would offer 30% discount on the £415 repair bill :undecided: (based on age of car, mileage, servicing history etc), which I politely declined.
Next day, purchased the parts direct from VW and following instruction posted here, completed a repair in 20 mins as suggested.
Not bad considering the £380ish saving and minimal effort!!

Any one else suffering from the same- give it a go (unless in warranty- although you risk a new sprayed spoiler being attached)


Cheers!!!  :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Upperoilcan on 25 July 2010, 10:16
Woke up this morning to find my upper brake light hanging from the spoiler(No joke),got the old unit out which was obviously no problem at all....lol

However looking at pic 7 from this excellent thread ive noticed that my car does not have the fitting bolts as it appears my light was broken at both fixing points resulting in the light being stuck on.... :evil:

Now im off to vw tomoz to source the new light but will it come with the fixing bolts or will i need to get these as an extra ?

Any help will be a blessing cheers..
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ub7rm on 25 July 2010, 12:34
Answered in the main board but if this helps with any future questions ...

Do you mean the picture that shows the metal bit sticking out of the slot?

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1093.jpg)

This is the bit thats left in when you 'rip' the old unit out, the bit you are seeing in that picture used to be inside the light unit and is what the screw from the back of the spoiler tightens into.  Its a stupid design and its why VW say you cant replace the light without taking the spoiler off.  The replacement unit will have this integrated into it but of course you cant put the screws in.  If you were to follow my method you just slide that up out of the slot and discard.

Must be about a year since I did this repair and all I did was connect up the cable, then push the light into the housing, it snaps into place and even a year on is absolutely rock solid.  HTH
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: wuker on 10 August 2010, 16:28
Hi All

The fulty light symbol is on on my dash board at the moment.

It says its the rear right light - I assume that is the drivers side?

Out of interest how do you get the old bulb out to replace it?

Do you have to take the entire light out to replace the bulb?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Cheers
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: palyniam on 16 December 2010, 22:08
 :angry: sorry but I am new to this forum and have spent 20 mins or so looking at how to start my own thread to ask a question but I am struggling so I have put it here, if anyone could help me that would be great.
Hi. This is an odd one. when the setting is set to the windscreen it blows cold, when set to window and feet it blows hot.
I have had fitted two sensors on the left and right side and a black box thing behind the control but still it blows the same cold air upto the window when on that setting only.
Any help would be great.
Paul.
sorry
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: 9iron on 04 January 2011, 14:12
Using this guide I replaced it in less than 10 mins!.
It feels like a leap of faith smashing the lens but it really was simple.

I decided to use a gentle tap with a hammer and chisel to crack the red lens and it worked perfectly.

The only other thing was to make sure you take note of the old connection before disconnecting the light so as connecting the new one is straightforward.

Thanks again for the guide.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: bassett on 27 January 2011, 17:44
Brilliant detail.
I have a 56 plate Golf R32 Mk 5 and the Central LED light has totally given up...
I am very tempted to follow your instructions as all the VW places say you need to rip the spoiler off..... just ridiculous design !!!!

Is the light the same as on a GTI ? I have the exact part... my query is over the bolts which you cannot obviously screw in.
You said the unit snapped in .

Is this the case

Many thanks

Jonathan
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: 9iron on 28 January 2011, 09:49
I can't confirmof the part is the same (it surely is).
The light does just snaps into place and stays there, no drama.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: bassett on 31 January 2011, 21:40
Just did mine this weekend and took me 20 mins ....
Thanks for the advice... just saved me £300
Jonathan
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 03 February 2011, 18:33
I suspect the VW main dealers just smash out the light and replace it, all in 20 mins.
Then they look up the 'standard' VW price of £300 and charge you that.

Well done OP
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: MaXXeH on 03 April 2011, 12:46
u this today :D  took me 10 min many thanks :D
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Stitch on 18 April 2011, 16:44
Mine was in for it's service today. Along with quotes for pads my rear brake light is also out. VW guy said its not an MOT fail but quoted me £300 to repair. So costs so far this month:

-2 new conti SP3s £244
-12 months tax is due this month £235
-service £349

and they also "recommend"
-new discs and pads F&R £458
-fix rear brake light £298 + vat

So that's approx £1600 just to keep the car on the road FFS!!!!

Look like I need to appempt this fix myself. Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: crimsonfin on 18 April 2011, 22:23
Brilliant guide - many thanks.

Fixed it myself at weekend, only took about 15 mins.  Replacement LED was £41 inc VAT from local dealer.  Also used a 5 piece set of BOJO trim tools bought from everyones favourite auction site for about £10.

Here are some more photos which might give others the courage to go for it ...

(http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/8827/img0507w.th.jpg) (http://img852.imageshack.us/i/img0507w.jpg/)
To get started drilled a few holes in one side of the led light casing (just be brave and go for it)

(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7572/img0508p.th.jpg) (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/img0508p.jpg/)
Next, get your trim tool of choice and start cracking off the red platic casing.  Might be worth wearing some eye protection here as the shards of plastic ping everywhere.  No real technique just get your wedge under the plastic and brake it off.

(http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8956/img0509b.th.jpg) (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/img0509b.jpg/)
With the plastic removed now get your trim tool in between the white plastic casing which contains the LED's and the hole in the spoiler which seats the light.  I just prised at both the far left and right ends of the light and after a fair bit of wiggling about you will hear the plastic which is holding the retaining screws (see below) crack then you should be able to just lift the light out.

(http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/7862/img0510h.th.jpg) (http://img852.imageshack.us/i/img0510h.jpg/)
After removing the main LED housing as per step above you now need to get to the cable which connects it to your cars electronics.  What I did here was get a pair of needle nose pliers and feed them into the hole where the cable is housed (you should just be able to see the plastic rectangular part of the cable buried inside the hole - in this picture the hole i refer to is the one in the centre of the picture with the wires dangling out).  Just use the pliers to grab it and yank it out through the hole.

Also in this picture you see one of the retaining screws which I mentioned above (rusty screw in far left of picture).  In your new light you will notice that there are 2 holes in the back of your brand new LED.  If you were doing it the correct way (i.e. paying VW £300+ to rip off your spoiler :-P) then you would be using these.  However for our purposes we don't need them so just use your pliers to twist and lift them upwards and they should come out.  Disgard them once removed as they are now useless.

(http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7550/img0511ha.th.jpg) (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img0511ha.jpg/)
Bit blurry but this is where you connect your new LED up to the wire which you prised out of the spoiler above.  Must admit it confused me for a bit as to how to detach the old cable but if you look at the picture you can see a very small platic notch (just above and to the right of my thumb) - this twists slightly allowing you to pull out the old connector.  BEWARE : this notch doesn't feel very substancial so be very careful.

Dont have a photo of the next step but what you need to do is connect your new led to the cable from the car, feed the spare length back inside the spoiler and then refit the complete LED housing back into the spoiler.  Its not immediately obvious how to best do this but if you push the LED back inside the spoiler it will eventually click into place and should hold.  I think I might add a drop or two of silicone sealant just to be sure that its properly held in place - remember the LED is no longer held in place via the screws which were inside the spoiler. (will also help to prevent future leaking)

(http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/8279/img0513d.th.jpg) (http://img864.imageshack.us/i/img0513d.jpg/)
At this point you should now have a broken old LED light and a few thousand shards of red plastic.....

(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4425/img0512un.th.jpg) (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img0512un.jpg/)
But finally here is what you should end up with - a nice new shiny LED and with the £300+ that VW would charge you still in your back hipper !

Once again thanks to original poster (ub7rm) for all assistance provided
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: deano lfc on 30 May 2011, 22:12
done mine last week ( not working when i bought the car ) after reading this post, i give it a go, when i had to snap the light out at first i was bricking it ! but all came out nice, fitted new one , and all my brake lights are working now !! happy days !!!! this post was very helpfull ! :grin:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Revcounter on 24 June 2011, 15:33
 It worked great, thanks UB7RM for advice and pictures.

In my case and with my fat fingers I had to take a hacksaw to the tab of spoiler plastic to make the hole larger to get at the rubber grommet. (You can see the tab in the pictures),  that wasnt difficult.

  :nerd:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: billy_vw on 04 July 2011, 13:27
Typical , My 3rd brake light is very dim , can hardly see it.  :sad:

I guess, i'd better give this a try too
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: billy_vw on 06 July 2011, 10:15
Typical , My 3rd brake light is very dim , can hardly see it.  :sad:

I guess, i'd better give this a try too

Ordred part yesterday & VW have just called to say its ready to collect  :smiley:

Lets hope i don't Fcuk this up now  :embarassed:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: billy_vw on 10 July 2011, 11:53
All changed and now working.  :smiley:

Great guide

Many thanks
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Len on 12 July 2011, 08:57
Looks good too! :wink:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: swenak on 17 July 2011, 13:34
Hi all, I found this on another forum.

http://www.vw-club.cz/download/file.php?id=565257&mode=view

You can try it at your dealer.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: black5 on 19 August 2011, 14:17
Like many my High Level Brakelight was fecked.  It started with the LED's flickering then they all failed one by one until they were all goosed.

A visit to VW revealed the cost of replacing it was just shy of £400 (out of warranty  :sad:) and would involve removing the old spoiler (and in the process breaking it) spraying a new spoiler and remounting etc as the light was stupidly designed to be retained by a couple of screws INSIDE the spoiler.

With nothing to loose I decided to buy the lamp and have a go at removing the old one and refitting.

Thanks to Daywoo for giving me the confidence to have a bash at this, but I think his was a little easier to get out than mine as he had written in a different thread that his fell out of it own accord...
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5563.0

First step was to buy the replacement:
Part No. 1K6 945 097F - £35 ish

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1085.jpg)
Image showing the back of the new light, flying lead and rubber grommit.

Next was the daunting bit - breaking out the old light.  For this I used some plastic trim removal tools I got of Ebay.  A good investment as it means the spoiler isn't butchered as you pry and lever the old one out.  That said there was a tiny amount of collateral damage to the housing but not too much.  But hey - you're saving £360  :smiley:

I started at the rear edge of the light and broke the light lens out.  No real technique - its pretty fragile and just a case of brute force and nasty noises.  Watch out for flying splinters!

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1086.jpg)
Poor quality but there is a small gap just big enough to get a wedge in and start breaking the lens out.

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1088.jpg)
Camera pointing up - photo of the bottom of the lens being broken out

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1089.jpg)
Trim tool being used to break the lens out

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1090.jpg)
Gunged up bit of lens - water has clearly been sitting there for a long time.
(Note I took my drill out as a way of breaking into the lens if needs be - I didn't actually have to use it.)

(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1091.jpg)
Lens all broken out - LED strip exposed. 


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1092.jpg)
Use a wedge / trim removal tool to pop the LED strip out.  I didn't take a photo of this but the wiring where it connects to the PCB at the back was corroded as expected.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1093.jpg)
With the LED strip pulled out its really just a matter of getting hold of the black housing and ripping it out.  I used a trim tool to lever the housing down in the middle and then grabbed hold of it and pulled.

Note the metal bit to the left, thats where the retaining screw goes into.  One on each side.  The plastic housing is quite weak and flexible so it will rip around the retaining bolts and come out as shown.

Once free of the light housing, the retaining screws will lift out of those slots and be discarded.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1100.jpg)
Again sorry for the quality but this shows where the plastic housing has ripped around the bolt.

Follow the cable up and you will be able to feel the rubber grommit in place.  I suspect it helps if you do this on a warm day like I did but its relatively easy to grab hold of this with your fingers and then use needle nosed pliers to pull it out.  Also helps if you have girly fingers!

Once you pull this out, the connector comes with it and it connects to another connector.  There will be just enough slack to be able to pull this out to just beyond the spoiler.  It looks pretty fragile so be carefull with this.  Undo the retaining clip and replace with the new one.  (Sorry got a bit carried away and didn't take a picture of the 'car side' connector.)


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1085.jpg)
Picture of the 'light side' connector.


Push the wiring back in and push the grommit back into the hole.  This is a bit fiddly and is probably the hardest part as you cant see what you are doing.  You have go by feel alone.

Push the cable into the spoiler and snap the new light into place.  JOB DONE.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1094.jpg)

I didn't use anything other than the clips to hold the new light in place and it seems pretty solid.  If you wanted you could use some adhesive on the top to hold it in place.


(http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd328/ub7rm/DSCN1096.jpg)
Picture of the mangled old light unit.

Took me no more than 40 minutes.  Could probably do it again in about 20.

I did disturb the paint ever so slightly around the lip where the light unit sits but this is pretty much invisible unless you go looking for it and I will smooth it down with some wet and dry.

Just remembered I need to go out and re-aim my washer nozzle to 2 O'Clock so this never happen again....

Pretty chuffed with the result, and if I can do it, anyone can (but at your own risk  :wink:).  :cool:



Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: black5 on 19 August 2011, 14:22
Hi you all. just to say THANKS to all who cotributed to this. I replaced mine today and I only managed to do it in twenty minutes. I am quite handy with most diy. But again thanks for the great pictures which made the job very straight forward. Keep up the good work Pete
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: KEITH66 on 19 November 2011, 16:42
Thanks for the excellent write up i found that if u drill the plastic casing first u don't scratch any of the paintwork! Only took me 20 mins max saving an absolute fortune!!!  :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Kirkbyman on 27 February 2012, 18:56
Hi,Thanks for the info.Changed mine at the weekend with no real problems

Chas
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: clum1 on 28 April 2012, 13:17
Great thread; just managed to do mine with no problems. FYI, I managed to get the light from one seller on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180761625628#ht_1346wt_1037) for £15 and the trim tools (just search for trim tools - these ones are a fetching shade of green) from another for £2; much cheaper than VW!!!
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: andrewparker on 14 July 2012, 13:27
What an awesome guide. On Thursday VW attempted to charge me £430 to replace the high level brake light on my GTI. A quick read of this gave me the confidence to try it myself so I ordered the part and picked it up this morning.

It literally took my 10 minutes to fix. I'll be printing this off and taking it down to them!
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: rainswept on 11 September 2012, 17:18
Hi all, last week I was quoted £550 by Blade Gloucester (a VW dealer) just to have the spoiler and the embedded brake light replaced to get my 2007 Edition 30 through the MOT after the LED's had failed. Blade also informed me that the used car warranty that I had from them did not cover this :angry:. After I protested, they then suggested that it might be possible for them to hack the light out and replace it but they would not be able to give me any assurances that the spoiler would not be damaged and they wanted me to sign a document accepting any damage that they may cause to the spoiler whilst they tried to replace the light.

I bought the replacement light from them for £40 and then followed the instructions on this forum. Twenty minutes later I had a brand new high level brake light fitted and working with no damage to the spoiler whatsoever. :smiley:

Thank you all.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: RonanGTI.MKV.DSG on 26 January 2013, 09:46
Does anybody know if a warning light should come on for the third brake light. Bought the part but im afraid to go at it til Im certain its not something else. The light isnt working but ive no warning light on.
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: ib77 on 24 April 2013, 21:25
Thanks for this guide. I followed it today now have a working high mount brake light :)

I do have a question if anybody is able to answer that has done this procedure themselves..... When replacing the grommet i managed to accidentally push it all the way through! I could not get it back out again and it started to tear, so i had to just leave it like that. Will this cause any problems like water getting somewhere it shouldn't? Or does it not really matter?
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: mac456 on 05 April 2014, 13:12
Thanks for the guide just did this, although I almost did the same as the poster above. Just the top part of the gromit though.
Again does anyone know if water will get down there?
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: danj3000 on 10 July 2014, 15:10
Did this a last week and it was a nice and straight forward job. The lens of the light cracks off with surprisingly little force.

Also the new light seems to be held in sufficiently despite not being screwed in, I guess it makes it easier to replace down the line too when it inevitably fails again!!

Thanks to the OP for this guide  :smiley:
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: biscuit_boom on 12 November 2014, 15:49
Indeed the silver city  :grin:
If you ever need a hand for changing your high level brake light give me a shout  :grin:

I live in Aberdeen and work in Westhill as well! Just started driving Mk5 GTi in the summer. It's been great and gave me no hassle at all since I got it. That said, the high level brake light has stopped working... Struggling to find a decent solution other than your one. Might have to give it a try! What tools did you buy for it?
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Rowley102 on 25 January 2017, 15:01
Are Mk6 Golf GTIs the same to do? Mines just broke and dont want to take spoiler off

Thanks,

Sam
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Len on 22 June 2017, 16:40
Just got myself an R32 and didn't notice this fault!

So is this still the only way to do it??
Title: Re: How To: Replace GTI High Level Brake Light WITHOUT REMOVING SPOILER
Post by: Len on 23 June 2017, 20:03
Do you have to buy from a main dealer or are the "OEM" ones on ebay just as good???