How to remove the MK1 Golf dashboard

I've just done this while restoring my car, and thought an illustrated guide may help people doing the same thing.

I can't stress enough how simple it is to remove and refit the dash. The good people at VW made virtually everything push fit, and all the electrical connections only fit one way round and in the correct place. So it's dead simple to put back together.

You'll need the following tools: -

A phillips screwdriver
A flat head screwdriver
A good pair of mole grips
A camera (if you want to make a record of what goes where)

That's it!


1. Remove both halves of the lower dash - 3 or 4 screws hold each half to the upper dash.

2. Loosen the centre console and slide it back out of the way.

3. Remove the radio, the switch surrounds on both sides of the instrument panel, the heater control knobs (just pull these firmly), and the cover which goes over the heater controls.



4. This will reveal 5 phillips screws which hold the instrument panel surround on. Remove these and gently ease the surround forward.

5. For each switch, remove the push-fit connector on the back, ease the switch through the dash, and reconnect the wires so you don't forget where they go.

6. Remove the 2 screws which hold the instrument panel in place



7. Ease the instrument panel forward, remove the electrical connector from the bottom right, and the cable on the back on the left hand side

8. Disconnect the heater control panel from the dash (2 screws)



9. Remove the ash-tray & surround by pulling it through the dash

10. Loosen 4 screws on the underside of the dash which hold it to some supporting brackets

11. Remove the 4 screws (2 at either end of the dash). You'll need to open the doors to access these…

12. Gently pull the dash free from the bodywork - it's held in by 4 clips just underneath the windscreen - and ease it over the steering column.

13. Stand back and admire your handiwork  8)




HTH

Rich

Wanted recently to get behind instrument cluster,got everything off except the fan blower switch.

Does this just pull apart or does it twist and pull :dontknow:

It just pulls off

Does anybody know if a GTI dash will go in a non GTI car??

They are the same, switch gear etc may vary.

Cheers