MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: vRS_Pagey on February 14, 2011, 03:31:51 pm

Title: Spot the difference?
Post by: vRS_Pagey on February 14, 2011, 03:31:51 pm
So the hunt continues for a MK5 GT, these things seem rarer than rocking horse s--t! 
To try and increase my chances of finding one I have broadened the search to include the pre-FL model, question is, apart from the obvious front end and alloy change, are there any other significant differences between them?

Also if I went for the pre-FL how easy would it be to upgrade to the FL front and how much roughly for the this?

Cheers, Lee.
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: rich83 on February 14, 2011, 03:46:50 pm
To upgrade from PFL to FL is quite expensive if you want to use a Genuine VW GTI bumper... you need to swap the front slam panel etc etc etc! Costs about 1000 quid to do it properly. Aftermarket bumpers are available for much less and dont require the slam panel to be changed.
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: vRS_Pagey on February 14, 2011, 03:50:00 pm
 :surprised: Am I right in thinking that the FL and GTi is the same bumper with different grill inserts?
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: Russ_leeds on February 14, 2011, 03:55:28 pm
yeah mate i think so
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: apollo13 on February 14, 2011, 04:08:41 pm
Yes FL and GTI are the same bumper.

I had a pre FL GT TDI and put the OEM GTI bumper on it but without changing the slam panel.

Or you can go for the xparts bumper conversion on ebay for around £150 but it comes with GTI style grilles.

This is mine

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fm520%2Fapoll013%2FDSC01381.jpg&hash=f1407672a02e1413295a69185e5be6c3b61814ce)
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: rich83 on February 14, 2011, 04:10:55 pm
I didnt think it fitted unless you swap the slam? Did you have to chop the back of the bumper?
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: daboy3000 on February 14, 2011, 04:12:20 pm
and this is mine (xparts)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5137%2F5392118255_b8b4401c13_z.jpg&hash=5459a26a046d23cd110dc47dd5121c9a051a6ab6)
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: apollo13 on February 14, 2011, 04:14:59 pm
Yes you have to 'trim' it a little but its not major. Maybe 50mm or so but its all hidden away behind the grille so no one would ever know.

The benefit of using the OEM bumper is that you can still change the splitter  on the vagen/xparts rep the splitter is moulded onto the bumper.

If you intend to use the FL GT main grille that will need trimming aswell but the GTI one will go straight on.
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: vRS_Pagey on February 14, 2011, 05:14:09 pm
and this is mine (xparts)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5137%2F5392118255_b8b4401c13_z.jpg&hash=5459a26a046d23cd110dc47dd5121c9a051a6ab6)

So this isn't OE? It fits excellent, and looks ace.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: leetdi22 on February 14, 2011, 08:04:25 pm
Yes FL and GTI are the same bumper.

I had a pre FL GT TDI and put the OEM GTI bumper on it but without changing the slam panel.

Or you can go for the xparts bumper conversion on ebay for around £150 but it comes with GTI style grilles.

This is mine

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fm520%2Fapoll013%2FDSC01381.jpg&hash=f1407672a02e1413295a69185e5be6c3b61814ce)
do you have any pics of the fitting mate? was it just a bumper change with a little modding? or to you need the carrier ect
lee
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: apollo13 on February 14, 2011, 08:10:21 pm
No carrier needed mate.

No pics of the fitting but once you have the bumper offered up its pretty obvious what you need to cut  :happy2:
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: leetdi22 on February 14, 2011, 08:21:42 pm
cheers. are the foglights the same as th pre f/l
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: jacko78 on February 14, 2011, 08:33:03 pm
I've done this to mine aswell. The only thing you will need is
Gt bumper
Grills
Fog lights
I found a how to on the American forum. And it's so easy, literally
A few hours work, and so so worth it
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: leetdi22 on February 14, 2011, 08:36:53 pm
do you have a link mate?
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: jacko78 on February 14, 2011, 08:42:04 pm
No mate sorry. But all I did at the time was type in front bumper conversion.
Went through a few threads did a bit of searching and came across
Some pics. But to be fair. If you took your old bumper of and offered
Up the new one it would be obvious where to cut, and you'll
Only need to cut behind where the main front grill sits( number Plate) one
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: apollo13 on February 14, 2011, 09:01:52 pm
No mate sorry. But all I did at the time was type in front bumper conversion.
Went through a few threads did a bit of searching and came across
Some pics. But to be fair. If you took your old bumper of and offered
Up the new one it would be obvious where to cut, and you'll
Only need to cut behind where the main front grill sits( number Plate) one

Its only the facelift GT main grille that needs cutting the GTI main grille will go on without.

As said you will need new foglights for the GTI/GT fog grilles.
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: Andy on February 14, 2011, 09:34:49 pm
people keep telling me to change to the gt bumper but if every body is doing it then mine will be original :P :signLOL:..i like the org look
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: apollo13 on February 14, 2011, 11:12:10 pm
people keep telling me to change to the gt bumper but if every body is doing it then mine will be original :P :signLOL:..i like the org look

You do what YOU want Andy  :happy2:

Put the money towards your hybrid..........
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: jacko78 on February 15, 2011, 09:12:56 am
I bought an original Gti bumper of mat ed30 and I only had to
Cut the bumper. All the gt grills fit a treat hth
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: rich83 on February 15, 2011, 10:54:48 am
The xparts fits 'ok' but i you look closely its not perfect, i suppose it depends how anal you are about fitment!
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: vRS_Pagey on February 15, 2011, 01:17:28 pm
The xparts fits 'ok' but i you look closely its not perfect, i suppose it depends how anal you are about fitment!

Unfortunately I'm very anal so it would have to OEM.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Spot the difference?
Post by: DamoP on February 15, 2011, 08:10:28 pm
just done it to mine , slam panel was £200 ish for a genuine one as no one makes it after market. got bumper and grills off ebay all OE , for some reason the fog light connectors dont match so its another job to do at some point. well worth the effort it makes a massive difference.