Spare wheel well panel

Has anyone used any after market spare wheel well panels for their mk1? I've been looking at the heritage one which is around £120 but I'm unsure what the quality of them is like as I can get a decent second hand floor pan to repair mine but if they are decent shape to drop straight in might pay to just get one of these. Cheers

Bit of an update, bought the spare wheel well panel from heritage and it doesn't fit. Too big for the hole if you pardon the pun 😂 Anyone else had any bother with this panel? It seems slightly on a tilt as well rather than being flat on top it's a bit up and down.

Well I spect it all depends on the year.

Cabbies in mid 84 went from the full sized spare that the early mk1 Golfs enjoyed, to a space saver spare, and a larger gas tank.

Any pictures never seen them up close personally but would be interesting to see what you are seeing.


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There's a step at the bottom of the panel which is probably the cause of the problem it's maybe 3-5mm out all the way round the tub which is stopping it from dropping straight in. It's spot welded all the way round the bottom part to the side walls don't really want to unlock it all and reshape or I would just repair the old one.

You can't really see much by these pictures to be honest but like I say it's around 3-5mm all the way round stopping it from dropping in and there's only a small lip that it welds to as it is without grinding that away.

I wonder if it was designed to go over the old one from underneath?  If you have the time take a cutter to it and separate the base lip and side. Then rebuild it with a smaller diameter. Cut the upper lip into 4 quarters and then reattach to match the new diameter. A lot of messing about though for a part that should fit.


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Backinblack said

I wonder if it was designed to go over the old one from underneath?  If you have the time take a cutter to it and separate the base lip and side. Then rebuild it with a smaller diameter. Cut the upper lip into 4 quarters and then reattach to match the new diameter. A lot of messing about though for a part that should fit.


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Yeh that's the point I bought the new panel to kind of save time messing around and it should fit really I know that spurious parts aren't the best but still for that price you kind of want it to actually be able to sit in somewhere near 😂 

For me, cut the old well out and this one replaces it.
It looks to be a replacement panel.


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Where the panel steps out at the bottom of the panel is the problem, I've drilled the outside welds and ratchet strapped it to try pulling it in but no joy so next time I get chance I'm just going to hammer and dolly the sides flat and that should do it hopefully.

Reviving an old post as I'm after people opinions before I weld this spare wheel well into place. 


I know the panel isn't the same as the original as it has an egg shape in the centre rather than a circle pressing but the original panel has the big holes with the bonded in pieces to the front and back. I can't decide whether to keep it the same as the oval will sit side ways or have the holes to the sides and have the oval facing forward. A bit anal I know but obviously once she's in she's in! Haha

Colley27 said

Reviving an old post as I'm after people opinions before I weld this spare wheel well into place. 


I know the panel isn't the same as the original as it has an egg shape in the centre rather than a circle pressing but the original panel has the big holes with the bonded in pieces to the front and back. I can't decide whether to keep it the same as the oval will sit side ways or have the holes to the sides and have the oval facing forward. A bit anal I know but obviously once she's in she's in! Haha

How exactly did you get the replacement spare wheel well to fit.  I'm having the same problem on my 75 Scirocco.  I finished getting the old wheel well out yesterday and of course the new one is slightly larger.  

djholland_ said

Colley27 said

Reviving an old post as I'm after people opinions before I weld this spare wheel well into place. 


I know the panel isn't the same as the original as it has an egg shape in the centre rather than a circle pressing but the original panel has the big holes with the bonded in pieces to the front and back. I can't decide whether to keep it the same as the oval will sit side ways or have the holes to the sides and have the oval facing forward. A bit anal I know but obviously once she's in she's in! Haha

How exactly did you get the replacement spare wheel well to fit.  I'm having the same problem on my 75 Scirocco.  I finished getting the old wheel well out yesterday and of course the new one is slightly larger.  

I drilled the spot welds on the joins on the top and sides. Then used a ratchet strap to pull the circle tighter as it was dropped into place. Obviously so far in you will need to move the strap to the under side of the floor or tap it down with a block of wood and a hammer from the top. Hope this helps mate

every time I see a thread like this I am reminded of the old tele show get smart.

Missed it by that much Don Adams - YouTube

What did you use to attach the cover plates for the large holes in to bottom of the tire well?  When I took mine out last fall, it seemed like they just used some sort of seam sealer.