enrikito
New member
- Location
- San Jose, CA
So I'm lurking through these forums and discovered that my mk7.5 did not come with a feature that came standard with previous model years... the glovebox air vent!
I was bummed, specially in these hot summer days just imagining how nice it would be to have a cold drink in the glovebox... so I figured I would venture and see if it could be done...
I searched around and did not find info or DIYs on this, the good news is that it can be done!
Parts
20 - 5G1816311A Air Hose (For Left Hand Drive)
21 - 5E0816355 Valve
The retrofit is pretty straightforward but it was not easy - It took me about 2.5hrs to complete - I would rate it a 7/10 difficulty level
Also, besides your typical torx bits, you'll need a pair of radio/stereo removal keys and an bit/driver extension to reach a screw at the back of the multimedia main unit.
As any DIY - proceed at your own risk! I will not responsible of any damage or injuries if you have trouble with this DIY guide!
STEP 1 - Open and remove all contents from your glovebox
STEP 2 - Remove glovebox screws
There's 2 at the bottom of the glovebox (white arrows)
Note for later: the inlet for the air hose can be easily reached from here by peeling down the soft cover (green arrow)
There's 3 screws to be removed at the top (white arrows)
You can also drop your glovebox door down by pushing up at the tabs holding the door in place (yellow arrows) for more room to work
Use a trim tool to remove the side panel to expose and remove 1 screw (white arrow)
STEP 3 - Remove the multimedia main unit
This video was very useful for this and next steps
Use a pair of stereo removal keys, just insert them into the slots until they click and pull the unit straight out
Push on the side metal tab to release the keys
Be very careful when removing the unit, there are many cables attached to the back of it
Using a flashlight, locate a single screw at the back of the opening
Removing the last screw was not easy but I was able to reach it with extension bars and without removing any cables from the main unit
STEP 4 - Remove the glovebox
This step was very difficult for me and required quite a bit of pulling and pushing on the glovebox and the trim around it - also wiggling the glovebox with the door closed seemed to help a bit
Remove the side closest to the passenger door first (the one with the single screw)
Slowly pull down and outwards as you make your way towards the center console
As you get closer to the center console you will need to pop open the trim (white arrow) to free the glovebox - I used quite a bit of force but also had to made sure not to break or crack anything
If there's an easier way that you know of - please post it here or send me a link!
STEP 5 - Locate and remove the inlet cap
You can easily reach it from the bottom of the glovebox by pulling down the soft cover (see "Access to Inlet" in Step 2 picture)
STEP 6 - Install Air Hose
Position the hose so that the end with the sharper bend is on the inlet side
Connect the hose to the inlet side, there's a notch on the hose that should align with a tab in the inlet
No special tools needed - just push/wiggle in
STEP 7 - Install Air Valve
Remove the tab at the top of the glovebox for the air valve
No special tools needed - just push up from inside of the glovebox upwards until the tab breaks open
Install the Air Valve from inside of glovebox, it should click in place
STEP 8 - Connect Hose to Air Valve
Connect the hose to the valve side, there's a notch on the hose that should align with a tab in the valve
No special tools needed - just push/wiggle in
STEP 9 - Put everything back together and done!
I was bummed, specially in these hot summer days just imagining how nice it would be to have a cold drink in the glovebox... so I figured I would venture and see if it could be done...
I searched around and did not find info or DIYs on this, the good news is that it can be done!
Parts
20 - 5G1816311A Air Hose (For Left Hand Drive)
21 - 5E0816355 Valve
The retrofit is pretty straightforward but it was not easy - It took me about 2.5hrs to complete - I would rate it a 7/10 difficulty level
Also, besides your typical torx bits, you'll need a pair of radio/stereo removal keys and an bit/driver extension to reach a screw at the back of the multimedia main unit.
As any DIY - proceed at your own risk! I will not responsible of any damage or injuries if you have trouble with this DIY guide!
STEP 1 - Open and remove all contents from your glovebox
STEP 2 - Remove glovebox screws
There's 2 at the bottom of the glovebox (white arrows)
Note for later: the inlet for the air hose can be easily reached from here by peeling down the soft cover (green arrow)
There's 3 screws to be removed at the top (white arrows)
You can also drop your glovebox door down by pushing up at the tabs holding the door in place (yellow arrows) for more room to work
Use a trim tool to remove the side panel to expose and remove 1 screw (white arrow)
STEP 3 - Remove the multimedia main unit
This video was very useful for this and next steps
Use a pair of stereo removal keys, just insert them into the slots until they click and pull the unit straight out
Push on the side metal tab to release the keys
Be very careful when removing the unit, there are many cables attached to the back of it
Using a flashlight, locate a single screw at the back of the opening
Removing the last screw was not easy but I was able to reach it with extension bars and without removing any cables from the main unit
STEP 4 - Remove the glovebox
This step was very difficult for me and required quite a bit of pulling and pushing on the glovebox and the trim around it - also wiggling the glovebox with the door closed seemed to help a bit
Remove the side closest to the passenger door first (the one with the single screw)
Slowly pull down and outwards as you make your way towards the center console
As you get closer to the center console you will need to pop open the trim (white arrow) to free the glovebox - I used quite a bit of force but also had to made sure not to break or crack anything
If there's an easier way that you know of - please post it here or send me a link!
STEP 5 - Locate and remove the inlet cap
You can easily reach it from the bottom of the glovebox by pulling down the soft cover (see "Access to Inlet" in Step 2 picture)
STEP 6 - Install Air Hose
Position the hose so that the end with the sharper bend is on the inlet side
Connect the hose to the inlet side, there's a notch on the hose that should align with a tab in the inlet
No special tools needed - just push/wiggle in
STEP 7 - Install Air Valve
Remove the tab at the top of the glovebox for the air valve
No special tools needed - just push up from inside of the glovebox upwards until the tab breaks open
Install the Air Valve from inside of glovebox, it should click in place
STEP 8 - Connect Hose to Air Valve
Connect the hose to the valve side, there's a notch on the hose that should align with a tab in the valve
No special tools needed - just push/wiggle in
STEP 9 - Put everything back together and done!
