southpawboston
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- Somerville, MA
For anyone who wants to either upgrade their stock 6.5" display to 8", upgrade their headunit, or add a Helix sub to a 2018 base model with integrated headunit+display, you have to remove the trim panel around the display. To do this the proper way, you need two copies of a special VW tool, which inserts into the center vents and pulls the trim panel and vents out as one complete unit.
Without the specialized tools, most people (including those who've made youtube how-tos) pry the trim panel away from the vents using trim tools, leaving the vents in the dash. The problem with this method is that you have to pry really hard. The trim panel is held to the vents by 12 small and delicate plastic snap tabs, and you will probably break a few in the process.
If you remove the panel and vents as one complete unit, as VW recommends, you are only working against four metal tabs which are not likely to break, and which are designed to release with less effort.
To remove my panel, I fabricated a wooden tool to do essentially what the VW tools do. It's made from a small block of wood and a dowel cut at a 40 degree angle.
The tool inserts into the hole for the 4-way flasher switch, and engages the frame of the vents. Once engaged, you simply pull toward you, and the vents + trim panel pop out. No broken tabs!
See my video demonstration here, shot by my 12 year camera videographer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XhuFdiOmzimC74aOh0l2EzCY_zCj47X0
Happy to loan the tool to anyone who needs it for cost of shipping.
Without the specialized tools, most people (including those who've made youtube how-tos) pry the trim panel away from the vents using trim tools, leaving the vents in the dash. The problem with this method is that you have to pry really hard. The trim panel is held to the vents by 12 small and delicate plastic snap tabs, and you will probably break a few in the process.
If you remove the panel and vents as one complete unit, as VW recommends, you are only working against four metal tabs which are not likely to break, and which are designed to release with less effort.
To remove my panel, I fabricated a wooden tool to do essentially what the VW tools do. It's made from a small block of wood and a dowel cut at a 40 degree angle.
The tool inserts into the hole for the 4-way flasher switch, and engages the frame of the vents. Once engaged, you simply pull toward you, and the vents + trim panel pop out. No broken tabs!
See my video demonstration here, shot by my 12 year camera videographer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XhuFdiOmzimC74aOh0l2EzCY_zCj47X0
Happy to loan the tool to anyone who needs it for cost of shipping.
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