Body & Exterior

General Infoexpand_more

Window Glass

Bumpers  expand_more

General Info Euro Bumpers Golf II Bumpers

Body Kits  expand_more

General Info Clipper Kit Aftermarket Kits

Grilles  expand_more

1979-1987 1988-1993 Red Trim Badgeless

Spoilers Heckblende

Light Lenses  expand_more

General Info Side-markers Tail Lights

Square Headlights

Side Trim  expand_more

General Info Removing Side Trim Installing Side Trim Clips Where to Buy Side Trim Clips Where to Buy Rocker Trim Clips

Roof Rack Badges & Decals Body Seals License Plate Brackets Windshield Wipers Structural Reinforcement

DIY Guidesexpand_more

Clipper Stone Guard Template Badge Restoration Compressing Bumper Shocks Installing Golf II Bumpers Repairing Bumper Ends/Caps Removing Clipper Side Skirts Removing Clipper Bumpers Fixing Door Sag Raplacing P/W Door with M/W Door Lubing Door Latches Removing Door Handles Replacing Lock Cylinders Refurbing Fender Flares Cleaning H1 Headlights Tinting Lights Removing Hood

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Window Glass

All window glass information, including windshield, is now in one complete document:

To install the "chrome" windshield trim/moulding, you'll want to purchase the Lisle 47000 Windshield Locking Strip Tool.

Vent windows

• North America
  • 1980-1989: Opening
  • 1990-1993: Fixed


• Europe
  • Fixed windows were standard
  • Opening windows were optional

Bumpers

All 1979-1993 Cabriolets can interchange their bumpers with each other. And, no, there was a never a filler piece between the front bumper and valance/core support!

Removing the bumpers

Disconnect the front turn signal wires from their harness connectors. Remove the 4 bolts holding the bumper brackets to the frame, two bolts per left and right side (rear bolts are accessed inside the trunk; front bolts are accessed from under the car -- one left side bolt also holds the horn bracket in place). Clipper kit bumpers: Remove the screws and/or rivets in the fender flare area. Bumpers weigh approximately 50 pounds each; be prepared to hold/catch the bumpers as the bolts are loosened and removed.

Euro bumpers

Note 1: You cannot use the USA bumper bolts. You will need to purchase M8x1.25x25 hex bolts as well as matching washers (best to use one larger washer with one smaller washer).

Golf II (Mk2) bumpers

Golf II bumpers can be installed on your Cabriolet, but a) it will look rather silly, b) it will take some modifying to make them fit properly. Additionally, there are two bumper styles used on the Mk2 Golfs: "small" bumpers and "big" bumpers; tap here for more details.

Body Kits

Clipper kit

Aftermarket body kits

Various aftermarket body kits & accessories were/are available for Cabriolets.

Still available: ABD Racingwerks Rieger Infitinty Spoiler Kerscher Dietrich Seidl Autostyle

Available used, if you can find them: BBS Erebuni (kit #236) GMP Kamei (X1 kit) Neuspeed Rieger Zender

Grilles

1979-1987 Cabriolet Grille

The grille on these cars is called a single-round grille. The single-round grille from '79-'87 Cabriolets can be installed on '88-'93 Cabriolets. Contrary to popular belief, it is simply plug-and-play; however, the wires for the former inner lights may need to be capped or taped off. No additional wiring should be necessary due to the outer dual-round grille lights being pre-wired as both hi- and low-beam (you may need to purchase dual-filament headlights to complete the swap). Additionally, the inner lights on the dual-round grille, in stock form, are wired into the hi-beam wires and, therefore, only turn on when the hi-beam switch is activated; doing this swap will eliminate a pair of hi-beam lights. If you are doing this swap and haven't added relays to your headlight wiring, it's highly advised that you do so to gain better lighting out of your single-rounds.

There is also what is known as the Hella grille insert, which is the same as a '79-'87 grille except it has lights in the center section. This grille came stock on many Cabriolets in Europe. If installing this grille on A/C-equipped cars, the A/C condenser will most likely need to be relocated or removed. (Also available in aftermarket versions, as well as badgeless.)

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1988-1993 Cabriolet Grille

The grille on these cars is called a dual-round grille. The dual-round grille from '88-'93 Cabriolets can be installed on '79-'87 Cabriolets. In most instances, it may be necessary to add wires and/or to add relays to make the inner lights work.

The inner lights, from the factory, are wired into the high-beam circuit and, therefore, only turn on when the high-beam switch is activated. Ergo, the inner lights are not fog lights! The outer lights, whether sealed beam or H4, utilize dual-filament bulbs and are, therefore, both high- and low-beam. The low-beam side of the bulbs turn off when the high-beams are turned on. See the headlight guide for additional information.

Replacement corner screw caps via 3D printing

NOTE: Grilles for A2 chassis Volkswagens (1985-1992 Golfs/Jettas) may look identical, but they are not and will not fit your Cabriolet!

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Spoilers & Other Accessories

Front Valance / Chin Spoilers

Most commonly used on the 1979-1987 Cabriolets is a "duckbill" spoiler and there are 2 types: the smaller, 1-piece spoiler and the bigger, deeper and often 2-piece GTI "duckbill" spoiler can be found at many online aftermarket suppliers found on the Parts page. Both spoilers snap into the 5 holes at the bottom of the front valance utilizing clips which are usually sold separately from the spoiler (you can also use bolts, washers and nuts in place of the clips); the spoiler clips are the same as the grille clips.

Light Lenses

Side-marker Lights

No, the factory side-marker lenses do not have, nor ever came with, gaskets because:

• They are set off of the car via the screw clips, which allows water to pass through and/or evaporate.
• The lenses themselves are two halves that are factory-sealed.
• Provided the rubber boot is fully installed, it prevents water intrusion into the bulb socket.

Clear and smoked lenses:

• Search for W460 or W463 Mercedes G-Wagon side-markers. Thank you to Danny for this discovery!
• The "clear" versions are actually clear lenses attached to white backing plates and, thus, actually appear more white than clear and, therefore, may not look too good on the darker color cars.
• The clear versions, when lit at night with color-appropriate bulbs (amber for front, red for rear), will look much like the factory versions; the smoked lenses will merely have a circle of light as seen at right.

Part numbers for side-marker light hardware:

• Plastic nut: N-905-353-01 (2 required per lens)
• Screw: N-013-964-4 (2 required per lens)
• Bulb, incandescent: 37R (3893)
• Bulb, LED: BA9s-x4 (12V, 90°); 2 amber, 2 red

To remove/install the side-markers, keep pressure on the lens as you turn your screwdriver. If the lenses have not been touched in many years, you may need to gently pry the bulb's protective rubber boot away from the lens using a small flat screwdriver.

Aftermarket Tail Light Lenses

Styles available:

• M3-style
• M3-style, smoked
• Clear
• Crystal clear
• Smoked
• All-red
• Altezza
• LED Optik

Where to buy:

• eBay
• German eBay

When searching German eBay, use the following search words:

• Golf I leuchten
• Golf I Rückleuchten
• Golf I lampen
• Be sure the seller is willing to ship to North America before bidding!

Square Rabbit/GTI Headights

Side Trim

1979-1988: Chrome center

1989-1993: Black center

Factory side trim is not available new. You will need to source it used from online sources (like eBay or Facebook Marketplace), or your local junkyards, or seek alternative trim.

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Where To Buy Side Trim Clips

• NAPA Auto Parts (Part #6651396)*
• eBay
• German Auto Supply
• Heritage Parts Centre
• Werk34 (1980 version)
• Pelican Parts

Total number of clips on the car: 36

VW Part Numbers:

• 1980: 155-853-585D
• 1981+: 155-853-585

* Notes & Warnings:

• Some aftermarket clips do not come with the fiber washer as the originals did. This may result in the trim not mounting sufficiently, or at all.
• The NAPA clips are slightly different from the OEM clips and will require more force to install the trim/molding.
• If you use a tool to punch out the center posts to remove the old clips, be sure the windows are rolled all the way up or you may break the glass.
• Clip #113-853-585C sold at ClipsAndFasteners and elsewhere is for '70s-era Golf I/Rabbits. It is too small to fit the 1981-1993 Cabriolets.

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Where To Buy Rocker Panel Trim Clips

• ClipsAndFasteners
• Mk1 Autohaus
• Bus Depot (contact before ordering to verify stock)
• VW Classic Parts & subsidiaries

Total number of clips on the car: 12

VW Part Numbers:

• 1980-1987: #803-853-139C
• 1988-1993: #155-853-147A

Roof Rack

Badges & Decals

Where to buy them: Salvage yards, on-line auction houses like eBay, or other suppliers (see Parts page).

Etienne Aigner decals are no longer available in North America; however, the decals (along with Classicline badges and Sportline decals) are now available for purchase from Volkswagen's (German) Classic Parts web site. You can also contact me for a print-ready image of the Etienne Aigner decal to take to your local print shop.

Body Seals

List of part numbers and (not current) price list:

Those listed as "NLA" are no longer available new. If new seals cannot be found, you will have to source used ones.

Where to buy seals, new: Vintage Rubber and other online parts suppliers.

For convertible top seal information, please go to the Convertible Top page.

Front License Plate Brackets

North America

• 1980-1987
• Part #176807997


• The bracket was installed by VW dealers when the cars were new and mounts to the underside of the front bumper, while the license plate slides into the bracket and is bolted in place.
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• 1988-1993
• Part #155807847C
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Europe

• 1980-1987
• Part #171807841A


• The bracket mounts to the provided holes on the underside of the front (plastic) bumper.
• 
• 1988-1993
• Part #155807847B
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Structural Reinforcement

Karmann Coachworks added structural reinforcements to the Cabriolet during the manufacturing process, which can be seen in the images below.