Another satisfied Dieselgeek Panzer customer...

[Dee-Bug]

What a great product...Installed it the other day and the skid plate is a brute. Very easy directions and the Rivet tool worked like a charm..Gonna buy a race pipe from them next...

Looks good on our Beetle!

 

[runonbeer]

I just bought 3 more last Friday

 

[gmickey2001]

Installed mine this weekend. I have one warning for you. If you are using a 2 foot long torque wrench and set it to 20 ft/lb (it's lowest setting) for the pot metal frame studs (supposed to be 15 ft/lb) you will twist that sucker right out of the frame

Yep, the other three got just snugged with a normal short ratchet.

Only other small setback was that the two flat nuts that go onto the threaded studs were not machined all the way through. The threads stopped just short on one side of both nuts. I pulled one of the studs back out, put it in the vice, and finished cutting the last bit of thread on the nuts with a wrench. No biggie

I forgot to pay attention to the alignment of the three torx screws at the back with that of the panzer. As a result I couldn't put my plastic pan back on unless I wanted to loosen it all up again and re-align. I think I'll just leave the plastic pan off...

 

[runonbeer]

The plastic pan installs fully prior to installing the panzer over it (under it more accurately)

 

[gmickey2001]

The plastic pan installs fully prior to installing the panzer over it (under it more accurately)

Seriously? How in the world did I miss that in the instructions?

Is there a compelling argument for putting the plastic pan back on?

 

[JSWTDI09]

Is there a compelling argument for putting the plastic pan back on?

There are at least t arguments. How compelling they are is up to you to decide.

1) The plastic cover more completely encloses the underside of the car. It helps to keep out dirt and water.
2) The plastic cover does at least some noise reduction (that really is its stated purpose). This is what all the little black squares are for.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[gmickey2001]

Hey wait, no fair. The install instructions on the web site have been changed since I downloaded them. These new instructions include double nutting for threaded shaft install, would have helped me a lot, and also instructions to re-install plastic pan "in-red".

Somebody is messing with my head! Am I crazy or is it different? The original I used is at home so I can't check right now.

 

[gmickey2001]

There are at least t arguments. How compelling they are is up to you to decide.

1) The plastic cover more completely encloses the underside of the car. It helps to keep out dirt and water.
2) The plastic cover does at least some noise reduction (that really is its stated purpose). This is what all the little black squares are for.

Have Fun!

Don

Fair enough, I think I'll do it.

 

[Woodrobin]

There are at least t arguments. How compelling they are is up to you to decide.

1) The plastic cover more completely encloses the underside of the car. It helps to keep out dirt and water.
2) The plastic cover does at least some noise reduction (that really is its stated purpose). This is what all the little black squares are for.

Have Fun!

Don

Well, dang. I sold mine for just about shipping and time cost to drive it to UPS, to someone who wanted a little mud protection while they saved up for a skid plate. I don't know if I would've wanted to put it back on anyway. I didn't even know that was an option when CoolairVW put mine on.

 

[B100]

The plastic pan installs fully prior to installing the panzer over it (under it more accurately)

News to me... I can't recall seeing that in the instructions, or in anyone's descriptions, back when I put mine on in 2005. But yes, it would keep some dirt out, and yes, it would damp some noise... sounds perfectly reasonable to keep it there.

 

[runonbeer]

News to me... I can't recall seeing that in the instructions, or in anyone's descriptions, back when I put mine on in 2005. But yes, it would keep some dirt out, and yes, it would damp some noise... sounds perfectly reasonable to keep it there.

The MKV-VI panzer probably hadn't been developed in '05.

The MKIV plate replaces the plastic cover and it cannot be used with the Panzer. The MKV/VI plate was designed to be used with the plastic cover. Virtually no modification to the cover is required and the side skirts may even be left in place while installing the plate's mounting hardware.

I can't even say now which one is easier to put on (MKIV vs. MKV/VI) they're both so easy!

The double nut thing for the rear subframe studs was news to me too until Jim Royston himself showed me how to set the nut depth and such at a recent GTG at my shop.
Also learned the secret crashbar bolt trick which is possibly also in the new and improved write up.

That reminds me: Jim I need 3 more MKV/VI plates for stock. I'll email ya.

 

[runonbeer]

Well, dang. I sold mine for just about shipping and time cost to drive it to UPS, to someone who wanted a little mud protection while they saved up for a skid plate. I don't know if I would've wanted to put it back on anyway. I didn't even know that was an option when CoolairVW put mine on.

Again, not an option to use the plastic along with the panzer on the MKIV.

It's also not really necessary since the MKIV panzer covers the entire area and mates up with the factory plastic side pieces (Yes, FMJ is also an option if your plastic is all blown up).

I guess you'd just have to see one/install one to really get a feel for the differences.

They are both a perfect fit and an absolute requirement in my opinion.

 

[craig01b]

Dumb question perhaps...mk 4 vs mk 5 totally different?

 

[coalminer16]

Yes-totally different.