Learn From My Pain!!!
Okay, I know it's gauche to answer my own post, but I thought I'd share my experience and spare some unfortunate fellow Golf owner what I just went through trying to install the dash cubby in my car. The part number I tried to install was 5K1858365-82V.
First, I had to use the MkV DIY install, so if there is one specific to the Golf 6 that has the correct part numbers and instructions, I never found it due to the Vortex reorg.
Problem number 1 - the trim panel over the steering column. It is held on with 4 friction clips (instead of the 2 on the MkV DIY) and it is held on TIGHT, especially the first time you remove it. Not knowing how to get it off, i masked off everything with blue painter's tape, tried pry bars, my finger behind the leather shroud over the steering column, etc. etc. I puzzled over this for a good 30 sweaty minutes in my garage until finally I just yanked very, very hard from both ends. The whole instrument cluster seemed about ready to give with it, but finally it gave. Voila! That wasn't too hard.
Problem number 2 - the barrel instrument gauges protrude and overhang the steering column unlike the MkV which is flat, which means the Torx screws holding the dash panels in place are buried deep. I puzzled over this for a bit before trying the obvious, taking them off with a Torx driver at an angle, again, masking off any part of the trim in contact with the driver shaft to avoid damaging the trim while driving at an angle. The Torx screws seem to be hardened so I managed not to strip them and out they eventually came.
From there, I followed the DIY pretty closely. That long curved bracket was a royal PITA, as has already been well documented. I scraped my knuckles up pretty bad before I wised up and wrapped my hand with painter's tape (barely remembering to put a bandaid on the bloody parts before overlaying with tape). But off it came. I thank God I didn't try to remove the clipsert...
I test fit the new piece, and oh my god it is the wrong piece. I think it is made for the JSW or an MkV even though the color is right for the Golf, because the bottom hangs lower than the original dash (and the abutting lower panel) by about 1 inch. The original Golf panel continues for about 1.5 inches from the seam along the bottom, whereas the new panel is about 2.25 inches. I know I should have compared the two while they were both down off the car (I could've spared myself the trouble of getting the long bracket out at least) but I think I was so giddy with finally getting the instrument cluster trim piece and hidden Torx screws out, I felt almost invincible.
At the very least, the reverse of the gutting went a little quicker (getting the long bracket back in was as much as a pain as removing it), only about 40 minutes compared to the 1:15 I took to remove everything. But she is back whole and a test drive confirmed no rattles came of our little adventure.
Honestly, this was SO not worth the hassle. I really don't think it would've been worth it even if the part was correct. I have both underseat drawers and more than enough storage now with those but I think I was just itching to do something more with my car. Besides which, I got a little anxious about removing those heavy metal pieces and styrofoam sound deadening the original panel has. Well, I learned my lesson. It is going back to the vendor and I don't think I'll bother again, even if the correct part is available.
On the upside, I got aspherical mirrors in the same shipment, and they are very nice and so simple to install I would've trusted my clumsy brother to install them for me. Okay, maybe not.
Pics from this afternoon:
Where the piece extends too far for the Golf:
Where the Torx screws holding the dash panel in place are buried:
Part number I ordered:
I also didn't like the fact it says "airbag" on the new piece--the knee airbags that come with the Euro cars?
It might be hard to tell, but the bottom of the new piece extends almost an inch further than the original Golf panel.
Lovely way to start the weekend, but one good thing that came out of it is I overcame some of my fear of tinkering with the car. I feel pretty confident I can do this again much more quickly, but really don't think I'll bother for the extra few cubic inches of added storage.
