Heads Up to anyone Thinking of Votex front end.

[bugasm99]

As many of you know I managed to damage the front end of my car about two weeks ago. Although the damage itself was not that bad, i needed to replace the front grill and the turn signals that were mounted in my Votex front bumper.

Some background. When I first installed the bumper, I shaved both the large turn signal hole that resides on the corners of the bumper. This is what would hold the stock turn signals from a standard beetle, not turboS. I also shaved and removed the upper turn signal holes that mount on top of the bumper next to the headlights, like that of a turboS model. I then relocated these round turn signal housings to mount down in fog light position inside the front grill.

Well, after hearing for 5 days now that my car would be finished "tomorrow", i finally decided to stop in and see what the hold up was. As it turns out, the body shop cannot seem to locate the turn signal housings or the front grill. After calling a round a to a few VW parts departments, they decided to call VWoA and see where to get the parts. VWoA then insisted that the parts do not exist. After explaining to them that they are VW factory parts and even have a part number stamped on them, they decided to inform the body shop that this is a European only aftermarket light and that I imported them from Europe. What VWoA cannot seem to understand is that I drove 2 miles down the road and picked this up from my local VW dealer... HERE IN AMERICA.

Well, two days later, we are still having no luck tracking down these parts. What seems to be the case is that VW imported these Votex front bumpers as kits, and did not record the individual part numbers for the items in the kits. They also do not want to break up the kits to pull parts. Therefore, I may be forced to purchase a whole new kit at $605.00 + tax, in order to get a front grill and two lenses.

So this is a warning to anyone contemplating this at all. It will be a pain in the A$$ if anything ever happens to the front of your car. A REAL PAIN.




with that said, anyone happen to know the part numbers for the two turn signals on the TurboS. I am thinking that these are the same light housing, but simply have a different part number.

[bugasm99]

photo of my car for reference...

[GINA]

When I first saw this thread, I thought you were going to say that you were gonna sell the bumper Good luck finding those parts!

[bugasm99]

well, if i need to buy the kit I will have a standard US votex front bumper for sale. as well as some parts to help the swap move along.

[GatorBeetle]

If you have the part numbers, couldn't someone in Europe get them for you ALOT cheaper than buying a new kit? I can think of several members who might be willing to help.

Smack me if I missed something above...I read it twice...

[bugasm99]

well, the catch to the whole thing is that I shouldn't have to get them from Europe. I bought them through a VW dealer here in the states. Its advertised on the drivergear website to purchase here in the states. I cannot understand why VW can't simply let me purchase the parts just like I would any other part for my car. I know these exist in the US, so i know the parts are here as well.

[GatorBeetle]

Originally Posted by bugasm99

well, the catch to the whole thing is that I shouldn't have to get them from Europe. I bought them through a VW dealer here in the states. Its advertised on the drivergear website to purchase here in the states. I cannot understand why VW can't simply let me purchase the parts just like I would any other part for my car. I know these exist in the US, so i know the parts are here as well.

This would P me off too...no doubt. They should be thinking AHEAD...THESE WILL NEED REPLACEMENT PARTS...but when do they ever think ahead.

It is the principle of the matter...but you have to think what is best FOR THE CAR...that is what is most important here.

As to S part numbers...here's a good link thanks to an old friend on the org!

http://members.amaonline.com/hesters...arts.list.html

Good Luck!

[bugasm99]

thanks for the list. I passed the numbers along to the body shop so that the parts guys have a better idea of what they are looking for. Even if those lights fit, it won't solve the grill issue so I need to keep working on it. I am going to stop by another dealer on the way home and see if I can talk it out with a parts guy since I seem to be the only one who really understands what it is that were looking for.


Also, driver gear calls those lights "driving lights" which gets really confusing to a parts guy when he keeps trying to sell you a fog light.

[Basher]

I live in Sweden. If you want me to check availability and prices for those parts, please send me a PM with the part numbers and I'll give the local dealership a call.