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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: kmpowell on 27 April 2009, 09:56

Title: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: kmpowell on 27 April 2009, 09:56
Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin :)
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: MarkS on 27 April 2009, 10:02
1) I don't think they came as standard. However I heard you can pick them up from VW or you can go to various parts shops such as GSF

2) If they're not fitted and the handle and surrounding area looks unmolested, you should be ok I think :afro:

3) Bit fiddly to fit with only one pair of hands but easily doable! Got mine from a motor factor for about 20quid I think, pretty shoddy fit though.
If they are available from VW, go for a set of them!

Hope this helps.

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day  :cool:
How did you find it?

:)

Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: Wayne on 27 April 2009, 10:03
Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin :)

1) aftermarket and were never offered as a dealer fit option.
2) correct
3) yes easy to fit but not sure who sells them now.
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: kmpowell on 27 April 2009, 10:29
Cheers guys - much appreciated. As you will have seen by my other thread I have not had time to go and buy the grey one, and last night a Red one has come up that is a lot cheaper! It doesn't have the armoured plates, so I was curious as to their origins.

Good news that I won't have to take any trim off to check. Also good news that it appears that they can be retrofitted. :)

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day  :cool:
How did you find it?
One word.... 'Expensive'! I stupidly bought it brand new (I know I know, you don't need to tell me!), and with depreciation and running costs I lost £12k in the time I owned it. Having said that though, no other car I have owned has evoked so much love. It was a truly wonderful machine that made me grin EVERY time I got in it or even looked at her.

(http://www.kevinmichaelpowell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/whereisshenow.jpg)
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: MarkS on 27 April 2009, 11:10
Glad you've got the answers you need mate  :smiley:

:cool: :cool:
Lovely car!

I think I'd have to go for the Tamora just so I could hear the V8 even more  :cool:
With the T350 Headlight conversion I think
I think about cars I can't afford for at least a good 5 years way too much  :grin:
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: kmpowell on 27 April 2009, 11:51
I think I'd have to go for the Tamora just so I could hear the V8 even more  :cool:

You'll have a job - Tamoras, T350s, Sagaris' etc all use a Straight 6, not a V8. ;)
 
With the T350 Headlight conversion I think
Tis ok, but if I were to do a front end replacement on a Tam' it would have to be a Sag' front end like this one that was recently done:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3477024464_6e7121fff8.jpg?v=0)

:evil:
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: MarkS on 27 April 2009, 12:10
 :grin: :grin: :grin:
I always thought they came with Rover V8s!  :embarassed:
 

:shocked: :shocked:
That Sag' front is amazing!  :cool:

Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: Wayne on 27 April 2009, 13:04
:grin: :grin: :grin:
I always thought they came with Rover V8s!  :embarassed:
 

:shocked: :shocked:
That Sag' front is amazing!  :cool:



They stopped using the Rover V8 from the Cerbera onwards, the V8 in that was Tvr's own (AJP8) they then switched to the 6cyl which was a badly designed engine and is one of the reasons Tvr went bust due to warranty costs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_Speed_Eight_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_Speed_Six_engine
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: Daston on 28 April 2009, 21:33
Cheers guys - much appreciated. As you will have seen by my other thread I have not had time to go and buy the grey one, and last night a Red one has come up that is a lot cheaper! It doesn't have the armoured plates, so I was curious as to their origins.

Good news that I won't have to take any trim off to check. Also good news that it appears that they can be retrofitted. :)

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day  :cool:
How did you find it?
One word.... 'Expensive'! I stupidly bought it brand new (I know I know, you don't need to tell me!), and with depreciation and running costs I lost £12k in the time I owned it. Having said that though, no other car I have owned has evoked so much love. It was a truly wonderful machine that made me grin EVERY time I got in it or even looked at her.

(http://www.kevinmichaelpowell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/whereisshenow.jpg)

Very nice chap was a close call between a T350 and the tuscan but I enjoy my topless fun :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/godaston/DaveandRob.jpg)
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: MarkS on 28 April 2009, 23:52
I love how this has turned into a TVR appreciation thread  :cool:
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: kells on 29 April 2009, 00:23
Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin :)

1) aftermarket and were never offered as a dealer fit option.
2) correct
3) yes easy to fit but not sure who sells them now.


wayne they were offered at the dealer matey  :wink:, the earlier ones were not as good as there was a way around getting into them, the later types were stronger... i rock them on my mk 3, faffy to fit, but easy all the same
Title: Re: Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's
Post by: Thom89 on 29 April 2009, 01:00
Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin :)

Back on topic...
1, Door plates were not a O/E part, but, dealers did fit them, usually as part of a package that was insisted on by insurance companies at the time, Door plates, alarm/immobiliser, steering wheel lock, were all par for the course, on any hot hatch, from the mid 80s on.. Golfs, Astra's and Escorts being particularly easy targets
2, Correct, though it would be worth checking to see if your car has been repaired around the door lock, and treating the back of the repair to a shot of some sort anti corrosion/waxoyl product, easy acsess with the door card removed..
3, Plates could easily be fitted.. VW probably dont stock them any more, GSF would have them though
Personally, I would recommend NOT to fit them... here's why, the doorskin can still be punched, in the same way, doing even more damage, especially if the plates are already covering up old damage! repair of the original configuration, is straightforward,
If someone wants to steal from you car, they're more likely to put a window in! If they want to steal your car, then they would need the keys, if you have an immobiliser fitted that is? and, more than anything , they look really crap!
Tom