ECS steel skid plate question

Cosmo's UNA

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Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Location
VIRGINIA
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
Does anyone know if Diesel Geek Full Metal Jacket Side Skirt Set works with my steel skid plate? ALH TDI Jetta wagon For those of you that have this skid plate, did you run into any fitment problems? I have close interference with my lower radiator hose. Thanks folks!
 

Cosmo's UNA

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Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Location
VIRGINIA
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
That's good advice. I'm working (potentially, haven't bought the side skirts yet) with parts from two different companies, ECS and Dieselgeek, IDK if they are speaking the same language, are compatible.
 

454k30

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Joined
Feb 20, 2006
Location
Long Beach, CA
TDI
2002 Jetta
That's good advice. I'm working (potentially, haven't bought the side skirts yet) with parts from two different companies, ECS and Dieselgeek, IDK if they are speaking the same language, are compatible.
For what it is worth, to use the panzer plate from DG we have to modify the plastic side skirts to fit that plate. In my imagination, the steel plate is likely closer to the plastic cover than it is the DG offering. So, with that in mind, the DG side skirts are likely not going to fit an OEM plate. But that's all assumptions.
 

Zak99b5

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Apr 30, 2021
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Albany NY
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2003 Jetta TDI
I’ve looked at that OEM skid plate. I was wondering if one couldn’t just fasten the oe plastic side skirts to it so that when you pull the skid plate, it all comes out together. You’d probably have to cut the very tops off.
 

Cosmo's UNA

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Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Location
VIRGINIA
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
That's a good idea. I think cutting plastic to fit is the way to go. I just want to protect the passenger side with the belts exposed from anything the road/wheel can kick up, most of it anyway.
 

turbocharged798

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May 21, 2009
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Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
The ECS steel skidplate is junk IMO. Not impressed at all. Thin steel, alignment isn't great, and trying to make it work with the OE side covers is a major pain.

I really like Evolution import skidplate from Cascade German. Great price and great product. Easy to make it work with OEM side covers with a bit of trimming in the front part.
 

Cosmo's UNA

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Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Location
VIRGINIA
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
Cut original side skirts to fit, very easy. I couldn't pass on the steel ECS pan, it was new, never installed and I bought it from a young man with a beautiful family including 5 young children.
 

Bob S.

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Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Location
Central MD.
TDI
A B4V, some ALHs & BRMs
Cosmo's; I have a one of the VW Mk IV platform steel skid plates that I will likely never use. New, out of box. Located Maryland. PM me if you have interest.
 

benmarks

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Joined
Jun 14, 2003
Location
Portland, OR
TDI
2004 Jetta GLS Sedan Platinum Gray
When I saw this thread earlier, I noted the one on ECS was the OEM one, but I decided not to reply. Technically, there were two versions, a 1.35mm version and a 2.8mm version. I have the the thicker one so I didn't want to comment on the quality of the one ECS sells because it is the thinner one (if their OEM part number is correct):

1J0698930 - 1.35mm
1J0698931 - 2.8mm

With that said, my thicker one is awesome and has saved me a few times after running over some pretty gnarly things on the road. My only issue is that my TDI guru complains when he has to remove it due to the weight ;) And, it required very minimal modification to the existing side skirts to fit.
 
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