GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Cosmetic and bodywork matters => Topic started by: Jimmy Filth on 06 February 2011, 20:04
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I've done a search and all that came back were lots of people saying about smoothing bumpers.
So, I want to get rid of the indicator gaps, but keep the textured plastic trim. Does this need plastic welding?? I don't particularly want to just back it and fill it.
Suggestions anyone?
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You will need a rear bumper. Cut the sections out and weld in with a soldering iron. To keep the texture you will need textured paint.
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The textured section on mine pulls off, but I don't really want to mod my bumper, I want to but another one and do that.
I'd never even thought of doing it with a soldering iron, you're a bloody genius.
Im'm now going to attempt to get my next question in my head into words...
So, I cut the bit out to fill the space. I then put this so it is flat to the bumper, and get some more plastic behind and solder that, rather than cut out a section and solder it straight behind?
Do I then use a softer mix of filler, so it flexes???
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(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6024/dsc02224ab.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/dsc02224ab.jpg/)
is this what your after?
all i did was cut blanks out of the rear bumper but only up to the swage line, so i had the smooth bit and then curved thing along the top edge, then plastic welded it in with a soldering iron, (on the 3 flat sides cut the blanks about 3mm bigger than the indicator hole, you can use the excess material to weld onto the bumper, but i cut some rods from the rear bumper to fill in where needed)
now onto the hard bit, the top, the trick is to weld it from the back, can be awkeward but you can always cut the indicator mounts out (not gonna be needing them are you lmao)
to join the bits of the "tube" around the top on the front just be careful and use a thinner attachment on the soldering iron
i used normal body filler, ive even been in a crash, the filler has cracked but the welds are perfect.
hope this helps dude!!
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Look very plain without them.
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That is exactly what I'm after. Got any pics of it on the car?
so you cut the bit out of a rear bumper, did you then hold that on the front and plastic weld it from the back, or put it all in from the back and fill on top?? I'm interested as to how you got it perfectly flat?
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Also, where did you locate the indicators??? I was thinking of putting them in the vents at the bottom.
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i have front and rear bumpers here if you interested jimmy :wink:
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Also, where did you locate the indicators??? I was thinking of putting them in the vents at the bottom.
Will be too low under construction and use regs, the lowest they can be is the factory place, relocate them to the headlamps if you can.
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Also, where did you locate the indicators??? I was thinking of putting them in the vents at the bottom.
Will be too low under construction and use regs, the lowest they can be is the factory place, relocate them to the headlamps if you can.
I thought i'd heard something about that. Does that go for foglights too?
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Also, where did you locate the indicators??? I was thinking of putting them in the vents at the bottom.
Will be too low under construction and use regs, the lowest they can be is the factory place, relocate them to the headlamps if you can.
mine passed the mot with them like that
and yeah i did put them under the vents, i cut out and used the original mounts
and i placed the cut out on the front and welded them in flush with the body work from the front and the rear
its just at the top you have to weld from the rear only.
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Hmmmmm, might have to have a play. Did you like the way it looks on the car??
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i love it, really smooth and more modern looking imo
standard height, the tinted indicators make a huge different over the ginger ones lol
(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9881/dsc02231h.jpg) (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/dsc02231h.jpg/)
looks a bit wierd with no splitter though, damn steep drive :evil:
(http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2966/p2201082055.jpg) (http://img137.imageshack.us/i/p2201082055.jpg/)
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I like it as it's one of those mods that, when done properly, you don't even realise it has been done.
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yeah really a subtle mod, but looks almost like a "facelift" front lol
just pick some bumpers up from a scrappy and get to work dude, and tbh you dont even need a smooth rear bumper, i used a fully textured one and you can probs pick them up alot cheaper than the smoother ones.
good luck if you decide to do it, just take your time, i am no way a body work expert, just a 17 year old playing in the garage after work, just learn as you go along, thats what i did and it came out fine lol
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Also, where did you locate the indicators??? I was thinking of putting them in the vents at the bottom.
Will be too low under construction and use regs, the lowest they can be is the factory place, relocate them to the headlamps if you can.
mine passed the mot with them like that
and yeah i did put them under the vents, i cut out and used the original mounts
and i placed the cut out on the front and welded them in flush with the body work from the front and the rear
its just at the top you have to weld from the rear only.
It might pass an mot but it is still illegal.
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More bollox from Wayne!
If its illegal it cannot pass the MOT! :rolleyes:
Please explain what is illegal about it! What clause of the Road Traffic Act does it contravene?
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More bollox from Wayne!
If its illegal it cannot pass the MOT! :rolleyes:
Please explain what is illegal about it! What clause of the Road Traffic Act does it contravene?
Under the construction and use regs indicators have to be a set distance from the ground.
(c) Vertical
(i)Maximum height above the ground.
(A)Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (B) or (C): 1500 mm or, if the structure of the vehicle makes this impracticable, 2300 mm.
(B)A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985: No requirement
(C)A motor vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph: No requirement
ii)Minimum height above the ground: 350 mm
Have a read: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made lots of info available.
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So you can measure 350mm from a photo? :rolleyes:
TW@T!!!!
I guess it took you about 20 minutes to find that! Must be really busy at work Wayne!
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If It's passed the MOT and it's been gone over by the Police, plus there is no problem with it, to be honest I'm not put off that there is an obscure regulation.
And the mod looks so clean and properly done it looks like it came out of the factory like it.
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If It's passed the MOT and it's been gone over by the Police, plus there is no problem with it, to be honest I'm not put off that there is an obscure regulation.
And the mod looks so clean and properly done it looks like it came out of the factory like it.
Obscure regulation :huh: construction and use regs are far from that.
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The regs aren't obscure themselves, but that particular piece of legislation is. Plus, as said before regulations and laws are two very different things.
A regulation itself wouldn't make it illegal. For instance the checks in an MOT are not legal checks, but the MOT is.
If it breaches the regulations the only thing Police can do is offer a VDRS, which means the car has to be taken to an MOT station and stamped. If the car has passed the MOT like it then you have nothing to worry about.
The only time the Police can do anything else is if the vehicle is is a dangerous condition. If the indicator can be seen then this isn't the case.
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the seperate indicators are much much safer than more modern single units imo, at night you can hardly see indicators if the headlights are on, yet with the indicators down on the ground they are much more visible.
i have been pulled by traffic police (you know, the ones driving the fast volvos and mondeo st's that we have to pay for lol) didnt bat an eyelid and its passed the mot thats good enough for me, if i had trouble with the position of the indies i would of said so from my first post.
maybe them regulations apply to a new car/kit car but new cars fitted with H.I.D's need auto leveing systems and washers as standard, but you can buy legal kits that dont encorperate leveling or washing systems, same probably applies for the indicators, different tolerences for new cars and modifications.
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maybe them regulations apply to a new car/kit car but new cars fitted with H.I.D's need auto leveing systems and washers as standard, but you can buy legal kits that dont encorperate leveling or washing systems, same probably applies for the indicators, different tolerences for new cars and modifications.
Aftermarket HID kits are illegal and will be soon tested as part of the mot.
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not sure what part of the indicator your meant to measure to, or if its from the floor or not, but from the floor to the bottom of the indicator unit its well over 350mm and my cars lowered
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Well ive just finished grafting a mk4 Golf numberplate recess into my mk3 bumper.Was a bit daunting at 1st as id not done any plastic welding before :laugh:
As it happens i was going to buy a plastic welder for about £100 off ebay but a mate lent me this
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/csk100-universal-soldering-kit
I thought it would do for tacking up till i got a proper one and to be honest the gun was perfect!!Very time consuming but slightly theraputic!(sp)
My next job was going to be smoothing the indicator and fogs like you on the front.I was in 2 minds tbh and after looking at the above pics im definatley not going to do it.(no offence,my choice tis all)It looks a little too plain for me.
I havnt started filling it yet but i bought some proper plastic filler as when its sprayed i dont want no bloody cracking or i will cry :laugh: