mike
Member
I've been asked a couple of times now what it takes and costs to turn this:
into this:
First, there are two ways to do it: paint the existing one piece bumper or replace the whole lot with highline parts.
There is a third way, get VW to build it colour coded in the first place - Good luck with that.
I went for the second option, replace with highline parts.
Now all you have to do is convince the local VW parts department that you really do want to buy a load of bits that aren't fitted to your van. I had to drag them into the showroom and point out the differences between a startline and highline before they got it.
To be fair, once he got the idea he was quite enthusiastic and even offered a discount without being asked.
Rear:
Reflectors from the original rear bumper are re-used.
Note: I have a tailgate, parts are different for twin doors.
7E5 807 417 C GRU, bumper cover, £220.
7E0 807 322 D GRU, trim for D-pillar (right), £43.
7E0 807 321 D GRU, trim for D-pillar (left), £42.
I have rear parking sensors, fitting these involves drilling four quite large holes in the nice shiny new bumper and bonding on the mounts removed from the old bumper.
Front:
The only parts that can be re-used from the original front bumper are the fog-light trims, everything else is junk.
Note: Some parts are different if front parking sensors or ACC are fitted.
7E5 807 221 C GRU, bumper cover, £235.
7E5 807 241 GRU, cover for towing eye, £8.
7E5 853 651 C 041, radiator grill, £188.
7E5 853 683 9B9, vent grill (left), £26.
7E5 853 684 9B9, vent grill (right), £26.
7E5 853 678 A 9B9, vent grill (center), £36.
7E5 853 065 9B9, coverstrip (left), £6.
7E5 853 066 9B9, coverstrip (right), £6.
7E5 853 761 9B9, coverstrip (center), £40.
I don't do shiny chrome so went for the standard grill, rather than the caravelle one, and managed to pick up a good second hand one from someone who likes his bling. It's also worth asking around to find someone who has replaced the lower grill trim strip, £40 for that center section is outrageous.
Painting cost £450.
So altogether about £1200 with the VAT, but I think the result was worth it.
Disclaimer: These are the parts used to convert my van, yours is almost certainly different. eg the D-pillar trims were changed on the actual build date of my van. Please don't rely on the part numbers given there is a good chance I've mistyped.
into this:
First, there are two ways to do it: paint the existing one piece bumper or replace the whole lot with highline parts.
There is a third way, get VW to build it colour coded in the first place - Good luck with that.
I went for the second option, replace with highline parts.
Now all you have to do is convince the local VW parts department that you really do want to buy a load of bits that aren't fitted to your van. I had to drag them into the showroom and point out the differences between a startline and highline before they got it.
To be fair, once he got the idea he was quite enthusiastic and even offered a discount without being asked.
Rear:
Reflectors from the original rear bumper are re-used.
Note: I have a tailgate, parts are different for twin doors.
7E5 807 417 C GRU, bumper cover, £220.
7E0 807 322 D GRU, trim for D-pillar (right), £43.
7E0 807 321 D GRU, trim for D-pillar (left), £42.
I have rear parking sensors, fitting these involves drilling four quite large holes in the nice shiny new bumper and bonding on the mounts removed from the old bumper.
Front:
The only parts that can be re-used from the original front bumper are the fog-light trims, everything else is junk.
Note: Some parts are different if front parking sensors or ACC are fitted.
7E5 807 221 C GRU, bumper cover, £235.
7E5 807 241 GRU, cover for towing eye, £8.
7E5 853 651 C 041, radiator grill, £188.
7E5 853 683 9B9, vent grill (left), £26.
7E5 853 684 9B9, vent grill (right), £26.
7E5 853 678 A 9B9, vent grill (center), £36.
7E5 853 065 9B9, coverstrip (left), £6.
7E5 853 066 9B9, coverstrip (right), £6.
7E5 853 761 9B9, coverstrip (center), £40.
I don't do shiny chrome so went for the standard grill, rather than the caravelle one, and managed to pick up a good second hand one from someone who likes his bling. It's also worth asking around to find someone who has replaced the lower grill trim strip, £40 for that center section is outrageous.
Painting cost £450.
So altogether about £1200 with the VAT, but I think the result was worth it.
Disclaimer: These are the parts used to convert my van, yours is almost certainly different. eg the D-pillar trims were changed on the actual build date of my van. Please don't rely on the part numbers given there is a good chance I've mistyped.
