Euro changes for shipping GTI to Germany

Hi all,

I´m located in SC and just bought an 08 GTI. I´m planning on taking te car back to Germany end of the year and want to do the nessesery changes by my own without paying to much money in oversees. Also I read quite a few things about stuff I would like to change, even if its not required.


I list the functions I need and what I already learned about. Please varify and let me know what you think:

Required:

• Disable DLR: no prob with VAG-COM DONE
• City park light: no prob with VAG-COM
• Rear fog lights: Euro switch and VAG-COM, aditional wiring and new tail light required!
• BAck turn signals: R32 or euro lights. Wiring change required
• Flash to pass: Change country code via VAG-COM DONE
• Head light washer: really a requirement? I read before, that the requirements are different if you move to Germany instead of only buying it in the states and ship it because it´s cheaper

Wanted:

• Remot open/close windows: VAG-COM DONE
• Rain closinging windows: Sensor and mirror required, Pending
• RDS info on MFD: Change country code via VAG-COM Not working
• Juse additional Flash to pass lights with High-Beams: Change country code and VAG-COM mod DONE
• Auto head light on PENDING
• Coming home/leaving home: Euro switch and VAG-COM

Please help me out, if you have any additional information for me.

Thanks

Required:

• Rear fog lights: Euro switch and VAG-COM, new tail light required???

Need the euro swtich and a new inner light w. a red lens 2 options
1. get that tail light part from oempl.us
2. get r32 lights (euro ones) as this will take care of seperate break signals

• BAck turn signals: need to be orange and seperte from the brake light. No idea here so far.

Get r32 euro lights

Wanted:

• Rain closinging windows: dont now jet. Sensor in car installed?

there is a diy on adding a rain sensor dont know if you can have the rain closing windows or if it works.

I retrofitted my GTI with the rain sensor. Auto-closing when the sensor detects rain works perfectly.

info on rain / light sensor and US HU in eu

Blacky1002 said:

...
[*]Rain closinging windows: dont now jet. Sensor in car installed?
...

Click to expand...

No US market GTI has been supplied with this sensor. It was supplied on '08 r32. To install the sensor, you will need to replace the windshield with a blue tinted r32 windshield 1K0-845-011-BD (highlighted letters "BD" are critical). Stone cracked mine, so it was being replaced anyway, I have an '06 with factory blue tint, so the r32 tint matched the original one.

All VW OEM Mk V windshields come from the factory with the mirror / sensor bracket glued in place, since the screening is changed for the specific bracket. i.e. the black sprayed on screening inside of the windshield (see last two pics) are different for rain / light sensor installs. If you do not replace the windshield, the black screening will block the sensor if you mount in the correct location. You could mount it lower to avoid the black dot for the standard mirror, then the conduit to conceal the wires won't work.

The rain / light sensor bracket only supports the auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, so you would have to buy a new mirror too! Of course, the new mirror adds useful function (auto-dimming). Wiring has to be added for both the rain / light sensor and the auto-dim mirror. (In the third pic below, the sensor wiring is in place but hidden, all that is visible is the mirror wiring).

Total parts only cost including windshield is about US$600-700.

Blacky1002 said:

...
[*]RDS info on MFD: Change country code via VAG-COM
...

Click to expand...

Yes, the country code change will add the RDS to MFD, but heading to Europe you have other concerns. US market Premium 7 HU does not support euro radio frequency divisions. You will likely need to swap to a euro market HU. The radio section of US nav units will adjust to eu frequencies with a country code change, but the nav section will be unusable with EU map discs - go figure.

BTW Do you realize that headlight washers are required with HIDs in Germany? You may need to add if you have an '08. Auto-leveling is required with HIDs there too, but VW retained that here.
-------
I just noticed, everything on that list I have done to mine :wink: (click pic in sig for full list)

The US GTIs got short changed on the tail lights, you will need to run new wires from CEC under dash drivers side to each tail light to enable amber turns :yikes: , whether it is euro incandescent or LED tails

Haha, this is probably going to turn out more expencive than just buying one there :lol:

pm me if you need someone with a vag com i have one and live in greenville so not too far away.

Has anyone successfully enabled the RDS info on MFD using the Premium VII HU?

Ok, thanks a lot. Many usefull information so far. Does anyone know the difference between those 2 euro light switches I posted? One has 3 the other one 4 positions (without foglights).

So I discard the rain sensor, too expensive.

JetTurbo brought up a good point too. If I need to get a different head unit, are their any limitations? Do I need a VAG-COM to change the head unit?

@BigT I certainly will get back to you as soon as I got everything straighted out and the parts in. Thanks man

non-auto headlight switch

Blacky1002 said:

Ok, thanks a lot. Many usefull information so far. Does anyone know the difference between those 2 euro light switches I posted? One has 3 the other one 4 positions (without foglights).

So I discard the rain sensor, too expensive. ...

Click to expand...

That makes your headlight switch decision for you, the rain sensor is also the light sensor. Get the three position switch since the fourth (auto) position is useless without the sensor to automate it.

Coming Home and Leaving Home in manual mode (no sensor) will work with any switch including the one delivered with the car, just a VAG-COM tweak. It does not benefit from the auto position without the rain / light sensor.

Blacky1002 said:

... If I need to get a different head unit, are their any limitations? Do I need a VAG-COM to change the head unit?...

Click to expand...

$$ are usually the limitation. Most cost effective way is to drop in a similar used EU VW HU after you get there. If I was were in your shoes I would be purchasing an EU RNS-510 and selling it used right before I returned. First sentence applies :wink:

You probably don't need a VAG-COM to swap a US HU for a similar EU HU. There are output settings for direct drive of speakers vs external amp, number of speakers, equalization, etc. Should any of those be set wrong in the unit you obtain, then a VAG-COM would be needed to correct them. You will need VAG-COM for other stuff like amber turns, DRL adjustments, etc. When you change the country code in instruments, it will take care of the radio setting (if there is one) too.

BigT hooked me up. I wouldn't waste any time contacting him.

Welcome to the forums. =)

Blacky1002 said:

Ok, thanks a lot. Many usefull information so far. Does anyone know the difference between those 2 euro light switches I posted? One has 3 the other one 4 positions (without foglights).

So I discard the rain sensor, too expensive.

Click to expand...

Update:

After I learned to enjoy the rain/light sensor function in my 2009 CC, I now really want to retrofit my wives 08´GTI.
I wont do it while I´m still in the US, but since I plan to ship the GTI in about 2 month, I did start looking for parts in Germany.

I got the 2 main items so far:

Automatic mirror 1K0 857 511: $60
Rain/Light sensor 1K0 955 559 AH : $54


I also discovered that it can be done with the original wind shield when using the 2K adhesive and mounting fixture.

Thanks a lot for all the information and write up´s.


I also plan on retrofiting the DWA+ system.

This contains a level sensor and in cabin ultra sonic sensor. Will let you know how this turns out.

JetTurbo said:

$$ are usually the limitation. Most cost effective way is to drop in a similar used EU VW HU after you get there. If I was were in your shoes I would be purchasing an EU RNS-510 and selling it used right before I returned. First sentence applies :wink:

You probably don't need a VAG-COM to swap a US HU for a similar EU HU. There are output settings for direct drive of speakers vs external amp, number of speakers, equalization, etc. Should any of those be set wrong in the unit you obtain, then a VAG-COM would be needed to correct them. You will need VAG-COM for other stuff like amber turns, DRL adjustments, etc. When you change the country code in instruments, it will take care of the radio setting (if there is one) too.

Click to expand...

The Country setting change to Europe did NOT active the RDS Radio information in the MFA. It still shows only the frequency....

BUT, it DID get rid of that frinkn´seat belt sound and activated the park lights.

JetTurbo said:

BTW Do you realize that headlight washers are required with HIDs in Germany? You may need to add if you have an '08. Auto-leveling is required with HIDs there too, but VW retained that here.
-------
I just noticed, everything on that list I have done to mine :wink: (click pic in sig for full list)

The US GTIs got short changed on the tail lights, you will need to run new wires from CEC under dash drivers side to each tail light to enable amber turns :yikes: , whether it is euro incandescent or LED tails

Click to expand...

Question for you folks:

Did anybody retrofit the head light washers so far? Does somebody know the part numbers involved?

Shouldn´t be a big deal, but I couldnt find any information about this....