New joiner so apologies if there is already a post on the this forum which I failed to find.

 

I need to replace the rear passenger door following “hit and run” damage which twisted the frame.

 

It looks like there are a number suitable on eBay, so am wondering if it is a straight forward DIY job.

 

Looking at the photos on eBay it looks like they simply cut the wiring harness ..... I presume I can use the wiring on the current door.

 

Is the screw that holds the door strap to the body XZN m8 ?

 

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.....

 

 

 

Yes offcourse you could use the existing wiring loom.

 

The check strap bolt is M10 spline or XZN as you know it.

Thanks for the information.

 

Can I imply that it is a reasonably straightforward job without any hidden pitfalls?

Is it better that I leave the hinges on the car and unbolt them from the door, or will I need to get access to the head of the bolt securing it to the car from the inside? Maybe for adjustment ?

the longest part of the job will be swapping the wiring over.

 

As long as you buy like for like, then the whole job should be around 2 - 3 hours

 

"imo" its easier to leave the hinges on the car, as you can get straight on access to the hinge bolts on the door when the door is shut or nearly shut

Be aware, many sellers also show a full door but sell it "Stripped" Of glass, motors, etc. Some cars may have rear speakers and different trim, some have electric rear windows so you may find your self doing just a little more work then you anticipated but its still do-able. Additionally, hatchbacks and estates share a common front door but rears are different or at least, I am lead to believe. (I know fronts are matched).

I would suggest it would be pretty obvious as to whats included in a sale, ie door complete or not....

Thank you both for the useful feedback.

Mrgf - I was aware of the potential in buying a stripped door, which although I could strip everything from the old door, it sounds like a lot more work, so a useful warning. The car (my sons) has manual windows, which I had thought about, but was not aware that some had speakers and some not so hadn’t looked too closely. I will be wary on both counts.

Urban Panzer - thanks for the advice. Do you happen to also know what size torx the screws are that hold the hinge to the door?

(I don’t have ready access to the car prior to starting the job).

 

 

 

 

 

They are T45

22 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

I would suggest it would be pretty obvious as to whats included in a sale, ie door complete or not....

Sadly, sometimes sellers show the whole lot in the pictures but in the text, say the door is "Bare". I have seen a lot of that and in particular, on doors. Engines too, look like they have all the bits and bobs but then are stated as bare units. 

With doors, mostly the seller removes the glass and the mirror as they are very easy to sell on separately, along with motors etc.  I am not suggesting the seller is being sneaky but if the photo shows all the bits, it should include all the bits as it is so easy to not spot the smaller or lower down text, when in a hurry. Its just as easy to photograph the item after stripping, after all!

Thanks again for the helpful feedback.

I have found a nearly complete door, seemingly in good nick except that it’s not clear if the big window glass is present.
Is it a big job to swap the glass from my old door - I am referring to the main opening window, not the fixed quarterlight which is there in the “new” door.

Does anyone have instructions on how to do it ?

I am unsure if there is a guide in the relevant Haynes manual (Worth having anyway-I always get one for any vehicle I own, if they have one) Offhand but if you do need to change it, be sure to take great care when taking it out and re-fiting as just a simple drop will wreak it and you will end up having to start over. That said, the door will be a lot lighter to remove from the car/re-fit, if the glass is taken out first/re-fitted afterwards. I would suggest putting plenty of cardboard on the floor, along with something like one of those builders/decorators dust covers, folded about 4 times. This will help absorb any impact and help find any bolts/washers, etc you may drop. as the covers are usually white.

Heres "the" how to..........

 

PS it seems VAG prefer to remove the pivot bolt of the hinges.

 

I have added "most" of the procedure, it also depends on what you need to swap, the last 2 are when you actually remove the door and you need to remove the lower B trim to access the door loom plug / connection

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 19 May, 20215 yr by UrbanPanzer

You are very kind to take the time to share this information.

I won’t have ready access to the car until I am ready to start the swap, so you wouldn’t happen to know of the top of your head what bits are needed to removed the pivot bolts?
Am seem to recall they are TORX on the top but don’t know the size….are they captive underneath?

 

As an aside, I am finding it a real challenge to find a door in the 9102 shade “Diamond Silver”

Lots in Brilliant Silver A7W /9156, which I believe is a lighter shade……how much lighter I will be finding out unless I hit lucky…

 

thanks again

Its a hex on the bottom of top hinge and top of bottom hinge, 13mm I think.

 

I think its like a bolt that fits a bush / pin

Job done.

 

For future reference the bolt securing the check strap to the car is an M8 spline.

 

The “hinge” swap was straightforward following the advice given earlier in this thread - a 13mm spanner/socket to undo both bolts and the door lifts up and off …anyone familiar with the pintles  o.n the rudder of a sailing  dingy  should recognize the concept.

 

I got a complete door, so did not have to swap the glass across, but with the harness cut at the hinge so I elected to unthread the harness out of the old door, which was not too difficult with the door card removed.

Overall the biggest challenge was finding a door that vaguely matched….

 

thanks again to all who took the time to post

 

I have the glass from the old door (rear drivers side) - both the wind up window and small fixed quarterlight, available (free) for collection in NW Leeds if they are of use to anyone…seemed a shame to junk them with the damaged door….