Rabbit to Gti Front conversion DIY (w/ pics) - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum

shelbzz · 02-13-2010, 11:10 PM

This is a full DIY on how to convert your Rabbit front end to a Gti or Jetta front end with out the radiator support swap. This requires trimming of the plastic on the new bumper.

Materials:
-Mk5 Rabbit
-Mk5 Jetta (or) Gti bumper & grill
-Torx 25
-Torx 30
-Dremel and/or very sharp razor blade
-a friend to assist

STEP 1
Open up the hood and remove 2 bolts with a torx 25.

STEP 2
Remove clips and pull off the grill.

STEP 3
Remove 2 more bolts using torx 30. (These will not be used for the Gti grill.)

STEP 4
Then go to each finder well(both sides) and there will be 4 bolts attached to the bumper that you will have to remove using torx 25.

STEP 5
Now go towards the bottom on each side under where the reflectors are and there will be 1 more bolt you will need to remove using a 25 as well.

STEP 6
Now in the front of the bumper, under the lip there will be a total of 6 bolts to remove using a torx 25.

STEP 7
Now using your friend for assistance, gently pull the bumper off and unplug the reflector lights on each side.

STEP 8
Now get your new Gti bumper and lay it up against the car, you will see that there are some things in the way. Mark the bumper and cut off some of that plastic that is blocking the bumper from laying against the car using a dremel or any tool of your choice. DO NOT cut your car.

STEP 9
Now cut or break off the little plastic fins that stick out on the headlight brackets (each side).

STEP 10
Also cut or break this plastic thing on both sides.

STEP 11
Try fitting your bumper, you may need to trim a little bit more off your bumper in order for it to lay against the car fully. Also, drill a hole for the the tiny plastic that stick out off the bumper brackets.

STEP 12
Now that you trimmed some more plastic off the bumper, place the bumper on and reattach the 4 bolts on each side in the finder wells using your torx 25. Also reattach the 1 bolt on each side under the reflector area to the lip.

STEP 13
Reattach the 6 bolts in the front of the lip using your torx 25.

STEP 14
Now have your assistant near and you may need to use them guns and push as hard as you can to align the holes for the screws. Have your friend start the screw in the hole as you are flexing your biceps holding those ******* in place. Reattach the 2 bolts using torx 25 on each side near the headlights.

STEP 15
Now slam that hood shut and hope everything stays in place.

*NOTE: If you are planning on painting your bumper, install it first cutting everything to fit then uninstall to paint so you don't risk messing up that shinning new coat with burning plastic spitting off as you cut stuff up.

------Thanks to gtimakesmebroke for my new bumper------

KkSc · 02-14-2010, 12:18 AM

nice write up!

shelbzz · 02-14-2010, 01:34 AM

thanks!

Starbucks · 02-14-2010, 02:50 AM

great write up with lots of pictures!!! Thanks!!!

*eurocars* · 02-14-2010, 02:52 AM

gaah! dirty engine bay

shelbzz · 02-14-2010, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurocars

gaah! dirty engine bay

haha yeah its just a little dusty :p

bigg · 02-15-2010, 01:30 PM

really useful write up should be using this next week.

thanks

shelbzz · 02-15-2010, 05:12 PM

goodluck, post pics of the finished product!

shelbzz · 02-17-2010, 03:39 AM

Bump

dub4orl · 02-17-2010, 12:27 PM

nice write-up but i think that you may have cut a little too much around the headlights. there's a little black gap on the bottom-inside part of both headlights where you can tell there's white plastic missing. fantastic write-up though!

shelbzz · 02-17-2010, 06:20 PM

I didn't even cut around the headlight area of the bumper, just in the middle where the grill is covering the bumper was cut. That's just how it fit and it was a REALLY tight fit. I'm thinking it may be that I actually didn't cut enough in the middle so it may be curving out all weird rather than hugging against the headlight. When I take the bumper off for paint, I'm going to try and get it to fit better so that gap isn't there though.

RaBBiT MKV · 02-17-2010, 06:46 PM

nice job. time for paint!

heimbachae · 02-20-2010, 08:59 AM

what are you doing with that extra bumper now!? heh heh???

shelbzz · 02-21-2010, 02:23 AM

selling it! are you interested in buying it? :p

shelbzz · 02-24-2010, 01:11 AM

bump

shelbzz · 03-01-2010, 08:33 PM

has anyone else done this yet? post pics!

Wild Hare · 03-01-2010, 08:35 PM

One question... what will you do when the Golf R comes to our shores?

BTW, nice job!

shelbzz · 03-01-2010, 08:45 PM

nothing >.< haha i got a long ways till i can get rid of my wabbit plus golf r will be $$$$$$. & thank you!

spartanrabbit09 · 03-01-2010, 08:50 PM

i want to do this but i dont trust myself even with this good DIY haha

shelbzz · 03-01-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartanrabbit09

i want to do this but i dont trust myself even with this good DIY haha

There's really not much you can mess up! :p

inimicus · 07-07-2010, 10:42 PM

Hi Shelbzz!

nice work there!

Just wondering...is it possible to change the front grille without changing the whole bumper?

shelbzz · 07-07-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inimicus

Hi Shelbzz!

nice work there!

Just wondering...is it possible to change the front grille without changing the whole bumper?

definitely! jetta/gli/gti/gt grills all fit.

02-13-2010, 11:10 PM	#1
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	Rabbit to Gti Front conversion DIY (w/ pics) This is a full DIY on how to convert your Rabbit front end to a Gti or Jetta front end with out the radiator support swap. This requires trimming of the plastic on the new bumper. Materials: -Mk5 Rabbit -Mk5 Jetta (or) Gti bumper & grill -Torx 25 -Torx 30 -Dremel and/or very sharp razor blade -a friend to assist STEP 1 Open up the hood and remove 2 bolts with a torx 25. STEP 2 Remove clips and pull off the grill. STEP 3 Remove 2 more bolts using torx 30. (These will not be used for the Gti grill.) STEP 4 Then go to each finder well(both sides) and there will be 4 bolts attached to the bumper that you will have to remove using torx 25. STEP 5 Now go towards the bottom on each side under where the reflectors are and there will be 1 more bolt you will need to remove using a 25 as well. STEP 6 Now in the front of the bumper, under the lip there will be a total of 6 bolts to remove using a torx 25. STEP 7 Now using your friend for assistance, gently pull the bumper off and unplug the reflector lights on each side. STEP 8 Now get your new Gti bumper and lay it up against the car, you will see that there are some things in the way. Mark the bumper and cut off some of that plastic that is blocking the bumper from laying against the car using a dremel or any tool of your choice. DO NOT cut your car. STEP 9 Now cut or break off the little plastic fins that stick out on the headlight brackets (each side). STEP 10 Also cut or break this plastic thing on both sides. STEP 11 Try fitting your bumper, you may need to trim a little bit more off your bumper in order for it to lay against the car fully. Also, drill a hole for the the tiny plastic that stick out off the bumper brackets. STEP 12 Now that you trimmed some more plastic off the bumper, place the bumper on and reattach the 4 bolts on each side in the finder wells using your torx 25. Also reattach the 1 bolt on each side under the reflector area to the lip. STEP 13 Reattach the 6 bolts in the front of the lip using your torx 25. STEP 14 Now have your assistant near and you may need to use them guns and push as hard as you can to align the holes for the screws. Have your friend start the screw in the hole as you are flexing your biceps holding those ******* in place. Reattach the 2 bolts using torx 25 on each side near the headlights. STEP 15 Now slam that hood shut and hope everything stays in place. NOTE: If you are planning on painting your bumper, install it first cutting everything to fit then uninstall to paint so you don't risk messing up that shinning new coat with burning plastic spitting off as you cut stuff up. ------Thanks to gtimakesmebroke for my new bumper------ Last edited by shelbzz; 03-17-2010 at 02:12 AM.*

02-14-2010, 12:18 AM	#2
KkSc TS Auto Design Drives: Euros Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: W.Vancouver/ Hong Kong Posts: 2,149	nice write up! __________________ 09' VW MKV Gti - H&R Sport, APR Stage 1 11' Mercedes W204 C63 - KW V3

02-14-2010, 02:50 AM	#4
Starbucks Rally Car Champion Drives: 08Mazda3SportGT(RIP), 09Rabbit Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 326	great write up with lots of pictures!!! Thanks!!! __________________ *09 UG Sport Rabbit 5Dr MT*

02-14-2010, 02:52 AM	#5
eurocars HEY TERRY! Drives: GTI Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Franklin, Indiana Posts: 9,489 *View eurocars's Garage*	gaah! dirty engine bay __________________ 9.5:1 JE Pistons, DM Forged H-beams, Calico coated bearings, ARP hardware, HEP Stage 3 intake manifold, Clutchmasters fx700 twin disc, AEM F/IC 6, FIC 1100CC aux injectors, RS4 primary injectors, APR Intercooler, FP HTA 3586R, Tail Q BOV, Tial 38mm wastegate, Bosch 044 low pressure fuel pump, APR HPFP, RS4 frv, VTA PCV, Turbosmart E-Boost2 EBC, Balance shaft delete, ETC

02-17-2010, 12:27 PM	#10
dub4orl FIA World Rally Car Newbie Drives: shaved & clean mkv gti Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MIA Posts: 473	nice write-up but i think that you may have cut a little too much around the headlights. there's a little black gap on the bottom-inside part of both headlights where you can tell there's white plastic missing. fantastic write-up though! __________________ shaved & clean ----->www.dubbersinc.com<-----

02-14-2010, 01:34 AM	#3
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	thanks!

02-15-2010, 01:30 PM	#7
bigg tastylicious golf owner Drives: MkV Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: uk Posts: 863	really useful write up should be using this next week. thanks

02-15-2010, 05:12 PM	#8
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	goodluck, post pics of the finished product!

02-17-2010, 03:39 AM	#9
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	Bump

02-17-2010, 06:20 PM	#11
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	I didn't even cut around the headlight area of the bumper, just in the middle where the grill is covering the bumper was cut. That's just how it fit and it was a REALLY tight fit. I'm thinking it may be that I actually didn't cut enough in the middle so it may be curving out all weird rather than hugging against the headlight. When I take the bumper off for paint, I'm going to try and get it to fit better so that gap isn't there though.

02-17-2010, 06:46 PM	#12
RaBBiT MKV Formula 3000 Driver Drives: 2013 GLI Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,138 View RaBBiT MKV's Garage	nice job. time for paint! __________________ flickr \| My Build Thread \| EuroMedian \| AirSociety \| Stance:Nation

02-20-2010, 08:59 AM	#13
heimbachae 484 Drives: 2009 MKV GTI Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 32	what are you doing with that extra bumper now!? heh heh???

02-21-2010, 02:23 AM	#14
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	selling it! are you interested in buying it? :p

02-24-2010, 01:11 AM	#15
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	bump

03-01-2010, 08:33 PM	#16
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	has anyone else done this yet? post pics!

Today
GolfMKV	Sponsored Links __________________

03-01-2010, 08:35 PM	#17
Wild Hare .: MR. BIG STUFF :. Drives: GTI's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nortvest Posts: 8,630 View Wild Hare's Garage	One question... what will you do when the Golf R comes to our shores? BTW, nice job! __________________ Retired U.S. AIR FORCE

03-01-2010, 08:45 PM	#18
shelbzz meh. Drives: '07 Rabbit, '87 Jetta Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,016	nothing >.< haha i got a long ways till i can get rid of my wabbit plus golf r will be $$$$$$. & thank you!

03-01-2010, 08:50 PM	#19
spartanrabbit09 ask me about my wiener Drives: 09 UB MKV Rabbit Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CT Posts: 1,599	i want to do this but i dont trust myself even with this good DIY haha __________________

07-07-2010, 10:42 PM	#21
inimicus Passed Driver's Ed Drives: FSI1.6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 7	Hi Shelbzz! nice work there! Just wondering...is it possible to change the front grille without changing the whole bumper?