golfdave
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Scotland (U.K.)
- Car(s)
- Mk7 Golf GT Estate
Disclaimer:- This info is for community usage. I am NOT affiliated to, or sponsored by, any company/individual to promote them or their products. Companies/individuals may NOT use my name, photos, or threads/technical guides, for financial or personal gain (fraudulent misrepresentation).
Part 1 of 1
Vehicle used in this guide
UK spec, 2014yr model, Mk7 Golf Estate (GSW), GT (Highline) trim, 1.4lt TSI (140PS) CHPA petrol engine, MQ250 6speed manual gearbox, multilink rear suspension.
Vehicles that this guide is applicable to
All Mk7 Golf Estates (GSW), with the standard rear bumper.
Special thanks to
Forum member “HXP” for posting up the details on the smaller cover in this thread, "Woo58" for the photo, & also my dealer (Hawco's of Inverness) for providing the part free!
Introduction
So you have a nice Mk7 Golf Estate, & you look under your rear bumper & notice that there is a big slot/hole about 10 x 4 inches, in the top part of the diffuser which faces downwards towards the road! What is this for & shouldn’t there be a cover for it, if so what happened, missing part at the factory or did something fall off??
Research
This is designed for the optional factory fit retractable tow hitch to disappear into the bumper cavity. If you didn’t get that option why is there still a huge slot/hole open to collect grit, salt, snow, muck etc. into the bumper cavity? VW wrongly assumed that the majority of these cars would be ordered with the tow hitch fitted. This would have been acceptable, except that here in the UK that option was not available from the factory for the first 2yrs!
So why does the Mk7 Golf Hatch come with a solid rear diffuser, & if you order the tow hitch you get a “pre-cut out” diffuser” fitted instead, & can the solid one be retro-fitted to our cars? Again, VW thinking, is that more of the hatch versions will be sold without the tow hitch, so the solid version is fitted. Unfortunately, because the rear bumpers are different the diffuser part is not interchangeable, so we cannot use the solid diffuser from the hatch! So why do VW not make a solid version for our cars??....cost cutting!
So what is VW doing about it? NOTHING! “They all come like that Sir” is the reply. However VW (UK) have had loads of complaints from customers about this, even before I started this thread & they have had a part made to cover the hole!
In September 2013, VW (UK) commissioned RGM Ltd, the same people who make aftermarket rear guards & sill guards, to make a cover to fix this problem. I spoke to them & apparently VW UK wanted the initial cover to be a single solution to all "possibilities". Some aftermarket tow hitches which fit the Mk7 Golf require the slot to be cut out even bigger as it hits the bumper then it tries to fold out!
So they first made a long cover. Then the proverbial really hit the fan because of this thread etc. & they then decided to make a standard short cover to fit the exiting factory hole!
Unfortunately when I got mine there was only the longer cover made, which meant I had to cut my bumper hole bigger to fit it! However, this has the advantage of making access to the parking sensors wiring easier, instead of having to remove the bumper!
Parts required
RGM Ltd will not sell this item direct as it is made for their client (VW UK). These items are NOT VW items, & are NOT on the ELSA/ETKA data base. If you are in the UK tell your dealer to contact VW UK to get this part. If you are outside of the UK, there are people who are selling this item, just search the web!
Part No.ZGB5G9071568, Tow hitch cover short version, (for factory hole) £56 approx.
Part No.ZGB5G9071569, Tow hitch cover long version, (for enlarged hole for aftermarket tow bars) £56 approx.
As for cost, my dealer provided it free of charge (FOC) due to my relationship with said dealer (Hawco’s Inverness). I did however state to my dealer that VW UK should be back charging VW HQ (Germany) for solving their stupid problem!
Fitting
Very easy! Clean the area first, so as to not trap any dirt, then hold the cover so that the concave (inward curved) longest edge is facing towards the spare wheel well. This should mean that the spring catch is on your right & the “tongue” is on your left. Insert the tongue first & then put a finger in the spring catch & pull it towards the centre of the cover. This should retract the catch & allow you to push the cover upwards & flush, then release your finger from the catch & it should keep the cover in place. There is quite a bit of “movement”, i.e. you can slide the cover from side to side & end to end, this is meant to be!
Results
Well it covers that nice big hole in the bumper! It is also much better looking, & the car looks properly “finished” now, i.e. as it should have left the factory!
Conclusions
Yet another perfect example of stupidity from the bean counters at VAG by trying to save money, but ending up creating a problem, then having the cheek to deny that there is a problem!! All I can say is thank you VW UK for having the guts to at least commission a part to solve the problem!
Part 1 of 1
Vehicle used in this guide
UK spec, 2014yr model, Mk7 Golf Estate (GSW), GT (Highline) trim, 1.4lt TSI (140PS) CHPA petrol engine, MQ250 6speed manual gearbox, multilink rear suspension.
Vehicles that this guide is applicable to
All Mk7 Golf Estates (GSW), with the standard rear bumper.
Special thanks to
Forum member “HXP” for posting up the details on the smaller cover in this thread, "Woo58" for the photo, & also my dealer (Hawco's of Inverness) for providing the part free!
Introduction
So you have a nice Mk7 Golf Estate, & you look under your rear bumper & notice that there is a big slot/hole about 10 x 4 inches, in the top part of the diffuser which faces downwards towards the road! What is this for & shouldn’t there be a cover for it, if so what happened, missing part at the factory or did something fall off??
Research
This is designed for the optional factory fit retractable tow hitch to disappear into the bumper cavity. If you didn’t get that option why is there still a huge slot/hole open to collect grit, salt, snow, muck etc. into the bumper cavity? VW wrongly assumed that the majority of these cars would be ordered with the tow hitch fitted. This would have been acceptable, except that here in the UK that option was not available from the factory for the first 2yrs!
So why does the Mk7 Golf Hatch come with a solid rear diffuser, & if you order the tow hitch you get a “pre-cut out” diffuser” fitted instead, & can the solid one be retro-fitted to our cars? Again, VW thinking, is that more of the hatch versions will be sold without the tow hitch, so the solid version is fitted. Unfortunately, because the rear bumpers are different the diffuser part is not interchangeable, so we cannot use the solid diffuser from the hatch! So why do VW not make a solid version for our cars??....cost cutting!
So what is VW doing about it? NOTHING! “They all come like that Sir” is the reply. However VW (UK) have had loads of complaints from customers about this, even before I started this thread & they have had a part made to cover the hole!
In September 2013, VW (UK) commissioned RGM Ltd, the same people who make aftermarket rear guards & sill guards, to make a cover to fix this problem. I spoke to them & apparently VW UK wanted the initial cover to be a single solution to all "possibilities". Some aftermarket tow hitches which fit the Mk7 Golf require the slot to be cut out even bigger as it hits the bumper then it tries to fold out!
So they first made a long cover. Then the proverbial really hit the fan because of this thread etc. & they then decided to make a standard short cover to fit the exiting factory hole!
Unfortunately when I got mine there was only the longer cover made, which meant I had to cut my bumper hole bigger to fit it! However, this has the advantage of making access to the parking sensors wiring easier, instead of having to remove the bumper!
Parts required
RGM Ltd will not sell this item direct as it is made for their client (VW UK). These items are NOT VW items, & are NOT on the ELSA/ETKA data base. If you are in the UK tell your dealer to contact VW UK to get this part. If you are outside of the UK, there are people who are selling this item, just search the web!
Part No.ZGB5G9071568, Tow hitch cover short version, (for factory hole) £56 approx.
Part No.ZGB5G9071569, Tow hitch cover long version, (for enlarged hole for aftermarket tow bars) £56 approx.
As for cost, my dealer provided it free of charge (FOC) due to my relationship with said dealer (Hawco’s Inverness). I did however state to my dealer that VW UK should be back charging VW HQ (Germany) for solving their stupid problem!
Fitting
Very easy! Clean the area first, so as to not trap any dirt, then hold the cover so that the concave (inward curved) longest edge is facing towards the spare wheel well. This should mean that the spring catch is on your right & the “tongue” is on your left. Insert the tongue first & then put a finger in the spring catch & pull it towards the centre of the cover. This should retract the catch & allow you to push the cover upwards & flush, then release your finger from the catch & it should keep the cover in place. There is quite a bit of “movement”, i.e. you can slide the cover from side to side & end to end, this is meant to be!
Results
Well it covers that nice big hole in the bumper! It is also much better looking, & the car looks properly “finished” now, i.e. as it should have left the factory!
Conclusions
Yet another perfect example of stupidity from the bean counters at VAG by trying to save money, but ending up creating a problem, then having the cheek to deny that there is a problem!! All I can say is thank you VW UK for having the guts to at least commission a part to solve the problem!
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