How to install aftermarket headlights on your 1999 to 2002 Volkswagen Golf, GTI, Jetta and Cabrio
You've paid for your new custom headlights online, got them shipped to your door, ripped open the package in excitement, and now you're standing in front of your Golf scratching your head. No worries, we are here to help. Grab a friend, your Dad's toolbox and use this guide to get your VDub looking hot from the front.
1) Open the hood, and disconnect the electrical connector at each end of the four bulbs at the back of the headlight housing.
2) Remove the front bumper cover as follows:
a. Remove the radiator grille. With the hood open, locate the hood release handle where it connects to the hood release lever. Raise the small cover, and use a screwdriver to pry the two sides of the release handle from the pins on the release lever. Pull the handle out through the opening in the grille. Pull out the plastic pushpins at the top of the grille and release the clips with a screwdriver. Lift the grille up and out.
b. After that, there are four mounting fasteners in the front of each fenderwell, four through the front of the bumper cover, and three in the area where the grille was. Remove these to loosen the bumper cover.
c. Have a friend hold the other side of the bumper cover and slide it off.
3) On Jetta models, remove the headlight cover at the top of the headlight housing. On all models, remove the four headlight housing mounting screws and withdraw the headlight housing.
4) Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.
5) You may need to re-aim your headlights after aftermarket headlight installations. The headlight housings have two adjustment screws, one controlling left-and-right movement and one for up-and-down movement (see illustration). A 6mm Allen wrench is used on the screws. The type with a ball-end works best. The best way to do this is to park the car, empty and 25 feet away from a blank wall with a level floor, using masking tape for reference points.
NOTE: If the mounting tabs at the top of the headlight housing happen to break off, a repair kit is available from Volkswagen to mount new tabs on the housing, rather than replacing the entire headlight housing.
Illustrations:
Golf-mounting clips
Jetta-mounting clips
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