Lower Grill and Fog Lights

[MiG]

Who's the peeping tom?

[D2Beetle]

Ok, Dear has done it again, she apparently ran up/over something, I know not what, but the bottom support for the fog light has broken off. Look at the lower corner of the nose and you can see that something was hit; the scratches say it all. I have four fog lights that work, but they are all missing the lower support and I am really getting tired of buying fog lights.

So this time I have done the DIY using the zip tie mount mentioned in an earlier post. If your NB uses these style fog lights, this DIY should work for you. As long as your fog lights have the two upper supports and the black mesh grille, you can use this method to mount your fog lights. The driver side fog light was used in creating this DIY.

Your choice of zip tie color is up to you; I used white so it can be photograph. Black is best as you cannot even see it.

Step 1 [BFL DIY 001] If you noticed in the pic, the lower support is missing; they typically break right at the outer fog light casing. Put your zip tie on the upper vertical support #1 as pictured. DO NOT CUT OFF THE EXCESS STRAP.

Step 2 [BFL DIY 002] Remove the outer fog light grille covering; the circles indicate where the plastic snaps are located. Simply grasp and squeeze, then with mild force pull the fog light grille toward you. If you use to much force you will rip the whole thing out and that would be very bad. Pinch and pull the horizontal bar to get it out. I do not recommend using any tool and a prying technique as it is only light plastic and damages easily.

Step 3 [BFL DIY 003 and 004] Put the fog light in from the underside; you must get the fog light into the position noted in pic 003; make note of the upper supports (green circles) and where they go. It will be cumbersome, but it can be done. The outer rim portion of the grille has two mount spots for the upper fog light supports. Looking from the underside, you can see them, you just cannot get to them without taking the front nose off. Once you have the fog light upper support mounts in their proper place you will need to pull the excess zip strap through the black mesh grille as noted in pic 004.

Step 4 [BFL DIY 005] Keeping the fog light steady in place, use another zip tie and slide it over the strap that is poking through the black mesh grille. You want to make sure it is flush to the grille and is not so tight that pulls the fog light out of its upper support mount position and does not interfere with snapping the fog light grille cover back in place. Cut of the excess straps.

Step 5 [BFL DIY 006] Snap the fog light grille cover back into place and you are done!

[vwgrl1999]

I am trying to replace my lower valance and grill today, I've got all of the parts, they're all painted and ready to go. I've go the drivers side of the valance pulled out but can't seem to get it out any further. Can anyone offer any tips? I'm leery of pulling too hard as I can see that one of the plastic clip-things is tearing! Any help is greatly appreciated as I've got bits and pieces hanging off of the front of my car and by the looks of the weather forcast I will need to drive it tomorrow (instead of riding my scooter). Thanks in advance!

[D2Beetle]

The outer valance/grille has a large clip just above each fog light; these are used for one of the fog light mounts and it will have to be cut off, as it is to big to pull back through.

[vwgrl1999]

Perfect! Thank you! That must be what the hold up is with mine. Starting to get dark out now, so I won't be able to finish up until Sunday....guess I better go zip tie up that hanging fog light! haha

[vwgary]

I'll be doing this....again....on the new to us 02 Sport thanks to a #20 raccoon

[4SEVEN3]

This thread is AWESOME! I didnt realize it was this easy to get some fog lights installed....I just KNEW that the whole bumper cover was going to have o be replaced to get the fog lights! Ill be keeping this in mind! You guys/gals rock!!!

Question...does the factory foglights use the euro style switch to control them on/off??

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by 4SEVEN3

This thread is AWESOME! I didnt realize it was this easy to get some fog lights installed....I just KNEW that the whole bumper cover was going to have o be replaced to get the fog lights! Ill be keeping this in mind! You guys/gals rock!!!

Question...does the factory foglights use the euro style switch to control them on/off??

Thanks, and I'm not certain on the switch, I never really pay any attention to it.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by 4SEVEN3

This thread is AWESOME! I didnt realize it was this easy to get some fog lights installed....I just KNEW that the whole bumper cover was going to have o be replaced to get the fog lights! Ill be keeping this in mind! You guys/gals rock!!!

Question...does the factory foglights use the euro style switch to control them on/off??

If your car was equipped with fogs originally then you already have the function by pulling out on the headlight switch with park/headlights on. If yours was originally a non fog car then you'll need a switch from a car that came with OE fogs or a Euro switch. Our old 98 was not factory equippd with fogs and I didn't want to buy a switch so I simply wired them to the parking lights.

[4SEVEN3]

Thanks for the replies! Im going to do a euro switch beacuse I plan on doing the rear fog/rain light as well, so hopefully itll be fairly easy to wire things up!

[Zendrumdude]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to chime in as I just did this repair myself as well, but used a different method.

As you know, the way the fog lights are factory installed is with 3 screws each... 2 on top (inaccessible unless bumper cover cones off) and one on the bottom. My VW mechanic shared a tip: if you replace the top 4 screws with hex-head screws, you can put them in from above by reaching up under the front bumper. I used a socket with no handle- just hand-tightened them as much as I could. I got them pretty darn tight; I don't think they're going anywhere. If they need to be tighter, you could also use a box wrench hacksawed in half to fit the limited space. I will admit this was a very difficult job, but I feel better knowing they're in there with screws.

Also, those plastic push-in connectors on the bottom of the front valance really do help keep everything in line. I found them at my local hardware store. I also got some on eBay- they called them "push rivets". I found actual VW OEM ones there. Take a look if you need some!

Jer

[D2Beetle]

Well a few days ago in the wee hours of the morn I straddled something in the road and it was taller than it appeared and it hit the lower grille and broke it in half. So, there is no budget monies for replacement parts and I needed to do something about or it will flutter in the wind and brake off in pieces. This is meant to be a temporary fix until I can save up the money needed to replace the parts.

Here is what I did to reinforce the lower valance to keep it from fluttering and breaking off in pieces. The plastic mesh slot for the valance tabs snapped off so there is nothing to connect the lower to.

So I got a wooden rod from Lowes and cut it down to fit inside the lower valance between the fog lights; I also marked the center point of the rod.

I drilled two holes into the valance (at equal distances from the split) just large enough to get a small zip tie through.

I wrapped the zip ties around the wooden rod at the points mathcing the holes that I drilled in the valance.

I inserted the rod into the backside of the valance, pulling the zip tie straps through the holes.

I then put a zip tie on each zip strip poking out of the valance, using another zip tie I tighten each down and cut off the excess strips.

That helped to close the split, so I finished it by covering the split over with duct tap.

[vwgary]

Good quick fix idea

And a dab of touch up paint to the duct tape would hide the fix even further

[txbeetle]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

Well I finally got around to putting in the lower grill and fog lights on the wife's NB this past weekend. This body work was the result of a deer strike last winter. The only body parts that I did not replace were the hood and lower nose and that was due to budget reasons and as the damage is minimal. Now its time for wash, wax and pics.

Here are the pics old and new; it was all held together by duct tape...

It looks FABULOUS! I plan on focusing all of my attention to pimpin' out my nb after I return from Vegas. I want to start adding detailing, starting simple, then getting a small dashboard cover and other things I may feel I need. I have told my hubby to tell the kids that all I want for my birthday in November is BEETLE accessories. Also, Christmas goodies would be appreciated too!

Laurie
txbeetle *loving the cold front*
BEEP BEEP
*STILL HAVEN'T Named my NB..perhaps being in Vegas will enspire me!*

[90HorseBeetle]

Thanks for the plug for Pershing Auto, even if it was from several years ago! I was trying to buy something thru Ebay, but the vendor who advertised PAINTED parts (item #380269747671 ) replied to my message that I wanted silver and said: "If you need it painted, we do offer paint services for an additional $165."

I ordered the bumper cover and valance from Pershing who clearly prices the part far lower than anything I saw on ebay, and prices the painting at $125 (my fog trim and fogs are fine); I will post about the experience when I do it. I got a very nice silver RF fender from a junkyard ($100) and found another in not quite perfect condition for $150 which I did not buy. Pershing's price for a new painted fender is only a little more and depending on their answer I will either order the additional part and maybe the rear cover I also need if they tell me there is an advantage to ordering these all at the same time. I know I need to R&R all three front pieces and I am gearing up as we speak.

When she's reborn I will have to give her a name.

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by 90HorseBeetle

Thanks for the plug for Pershing Auto, even if it was from several years ago! I was trying to buy something thru Ebay, but the vendor who advertised PAINTED parts (item #380269747671 ) replied to my message that I wanted silver and said: "If you need it painted, we do offer paint services for an additional $165."

I ordered the bumper cover and valance from Pershing who clearly prices the part far lower than anything I saw on ebay, and prices the painting at $125 (my fog trim and fogs are fine); I will post about the experience when I do it. I got a very nice silver RF fender from a junkyard ($100) and found another in not quite perfect condition for $150 which I did not buy. Pershing's price for a new painted fender is only a little more and depending on their answer I will either order the additional part and maybe the rear cover I also need if they tell me there is an advantage to ordering these all at the same time. I know I need to R&R all three front pieces and I am gearing up as we speak.

When she's reborn I will have to give her a name.

Actually I stay away from EBay; if I have to put excessive effort into making I sure I get what I'm supposed to, then that is too much effort, so IMO EBay is to much effort.

[rbarton15]

I have a yellow 2000 NB, GLS 2.0L. Anyway, I have the yellow lower grill and a yellow mesh insert.

Where is a good place to order the lower grill molded in yellow? I'm just going to go with black mesh on the insert.

Thanks.

[D2Beetle]

I have always gotten mine from the dealer; not your best choice, but I could never find any parts place that had them. They also come unpainted; which is an additional cost.