Wheel center caps

[mossy69]

Hi there in after some new golf Gtd wheel centre caps was wondering if anyone has bought any cheaper ones than the dealership

[SRGTD]

I think some VW dealers may have online websites or sell via eBay. Those that do have an online presence may sell them a bit cheaper than you’d pay if you bought them over the counter at the dealers. Some independent eBay sellers also sell the genuine article.

I’d personally avoid the cheap copies as the quality can be questionable and the chrome effect VW emblem can take on the appearance of white worm corrosion, necessitating premature replacement.

[Guzzle]

Steer clear of the cheapo ebay copies. They're often made from hard and brittle plastic, and the shiny logo is exposed to the elements.

[willni]

As above buy the genuine ones they last longer and look better, from memory they're £12-£14 a pop or £100 if you want the fancy spinny ones.

[martin998877]

Do you have to remove the wheel from the car to push the old caps out? Or can they be prised out with the wheel still fitted? With a small screwdriver or something?
 
Obviously new ones are pushed in from the outside of the wheel, it's the removal of the old one's I'm asking about.

Thanks

[Gnasher]

If the old ones are going in the bin anyway, I'd just carefully drill a hole (about the same size as the ones on the nut covers) and use the metal hook tool to get them off.

Safer then maybe taking the paint off the wheel.

[SRGTD]

Do you have to remove the wheel from the car to push the old caps out? Or can they be prised out with the wheel still fitted? With a small screwdriver or something?
 
Obviously new ones are pushed in from the outside of the wheel, it's the removal of the old one's I'm asking about.

Thanks

I certainly wouldn’t prise them out with anything like a screwdriver if your alloys are diamond cut and the diamond cut surface extends right up to the centre cap. Damage to the lacquered surface from a screwdriver or similar tool is likely to result in the onset of white worm corrosion.

If you’re not removing the wheels to push the caps out from the reverse side, the method that @Gnasher has suggested is the safest. Before drilling the hole, I’d also stick a piece of masking tape on the face of the centre cap so when you start drilling, the drill bit is less likely to slip.

[willni]

Ah I guess I'm the only one that uses a screwdriver and hammers it through and then remove it with the nut cap removal tool in the boot.

If not just wait until next tyre rotation and do it properly.

[Gnasher]

Ah I guess I'm the only one that uses a screwdriver and hammers it through and then remove it with the nut cap removal tool in the boot.

If not just wait until next tyre rotation and do it properly.

Hadn't thought of that one, but it'd work - the same tool as I'd have used but a different hole making philosophy!

[martin998877]

I used a blunt kitchen knife, levering against the centre cap outwards, and they came out with virtually no force at all. No pressure or marking to the alloyse, no mvisible marking to the centre cap either.

Makes me surprised they don't all get pinched!

Anyway, definitely no need to take the wheel off to get them out.