Gti+ Grille Chrome strip removal / wrapping?

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Does this little chrome piece come off easily? Or will it break into a thousand pieces if you pull at it?

Looking to wrap or spray it gloss black as i don’t think it really does anything pleasing for the front end (i understand it’s supposed to follow the drl line but hmm)

[POLO Clive]

They come off ok without damage, it's a bit of a fiddly job to do, but easy enough. When you get the grille off you'll see one end of the trim has a 'hooked' clip, you'll need to start at the other end and work along the trim releasing the clips, then finally the hooked clip has to be pulled/slid out.

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So the grille has to come off first?

Whats the process for this?

[POLO Clive]

So the grille has to come off first?

Whats the process for this?

Yes the grille definitely has to be removed first. I can't just remember if the headlights need to come out as well, but if you remove the 4 screws at the top of the grille under the bonnet, then pull the grille forward slightly, you'll see 6 tab clips (3 on each side), these are easily released by hand, then there are 8 at the bottom which ideally will require a plastic trim tool to release, then unplug the unit behind the VW badge. This video shows how to release the bottom clips from the bumper, it's an earlier Polo, but they're attached exactly the same as on yours, there are 4 on each side.
https://youtu.be/qxITYSAyZPY

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Done the screws and all the clips mentioned.

Seems to be something else holding it at each side.

The whole thing has come away about an inch but can’t fathom what the last thing holding it on is…

Is the coloured same colour as the car strip supposed to come off too?

[POLO Clive]

There is nothing else holding the grille on apart from the 6 clips at the top and 8 at the bottom, the coloured bit doesn't come off with the grille, it's a part of the bumper.

[POLO Clive]

There is nothing else holding the grille on apart from the 6 clips at the top and 8 at the bottom, the coloured bit doesn't come off with the grille, it's a part of the bumper.

I've just thought that in addition to these clips, there could be a clip behind the top of the VW badge, it's a while since I had the grille off, and mine is the SEL, but I can't imagine the GTI grille will be held on any differently.

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There is nothing else holding the grille on apart from the 6 clips at the top and 8 at the bottom, the coloured bit doesn't come off with the grille, it's a part of the bumper.

Do you have instagram? I have a video on there trying to work it out in my story. aw_pologti_uk

The bottom of the grill is basically totaly free from the bumper. The coloured strip below the bonnet appears to be attached to the grille, are these the clips that need removing? Do they pull up or push down before trying to pull forward?

[POLO Clive]

There is nothing else holding the grille on apart from the 6 clips at the top and 8 at the bottom, the coloured bit doesn't come off with the grille, it's a part of the bumper.

Do you have instagram? I have a video on there trying to work it out in my story. aw_pologti_uk

The bottom of the grill is basically totaly free from the bumper. The coloured strip below the bonnet appears to be attached to the grille, are these the clips that need removing? Do they pull up or push down before trying to pull forward?

No I don't have Instagram, yes you need to detach the top of the grille from the body-coloured strip, you can release a couple of them by putting your fingers under the top rail of the grille, and I'm now thinking this is why the headlights might need to come out, I don't think you can reach the 2 end clips from the front of the grille, here's a picture of the back of the grille showing the clips.

POLO grille 3.JPG (2.06 MiB) Viewed 642 times

[POLO Clive]

If you look at my picture, you can see where you can get your fingers under to press the 4 innermost clips (press clips up and pull outwards), but you can't do this with the 2 end clips, so I think the headlight needs to come out. As I said earlier, it's a while since I lads did mine, and I can't just get to see my car right now.

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I just went to a body shop and he whipped it off with the relevant tool in 5mins.

Cheers for the help though.

You are right though for anyone else wondering;

Coloured strip is where you need to seperate the grill from (hard bit which requires a decent pair of skinny hands and the right tool + some faith you wont break anything)

Headlights dont need to come out.

Chrome strip seperates fairly easily from the red.

Onto my spraying now and change of GTI badge now!

[POLO Clive]

Glad to hear you've got it sorted anyway

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Aha yeah! Kept me busy

I’ll post the finished article once done, although most will probably not even realise / prefer stock lol.

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Turned out alright!

[POLO Clive]

Turned out alright!

Yes it looks ok