I was doing this anyway tonight so thought I'd get some pics, as it's a simple and cheap job and there doesn't seem to be any guide or 'FAQ' thing on here. I'll be as detailed as possible, but it's a really quick job to do.

You will need:

• Needle-nosed pliers
• Normal pliers
• Flat and cross blade screwdrivers
• REAR door handles from a Mk2 Golf - about £8 each from GSF usually, cheaper with club discount
• Somewhere flat to work ideally
• And last but not least, a car with central locking

Step one

Remove your door handle from the car. Dead simple to do, just prise off the trim (carefully) with the flat blade screwdriver to reveal the cross-head screw at the front. Open the door, remove the screw from the front of the handle, then remove the rear screw (which is in the door shut near the latch). The handle should withdraw from the door. Simple.

If you turn the handle over you should see something like this - there's a trigger (the big square bit with a hole in the middle for a lock) and the flipper (which is the obviously much older bit in this image). Most of the old handle isn't needed, but the flipper is the key to the conversion.

I call it the flipper because when you squeeze the trigger it flips downwards and pops the door open.

And here's why you can't just fit the Golf handle, the flipper is different.

Step two

Take the Golf handle, turn it over and look for the pin which the flipper pivots on. Obviously it's the bit I'm pointing to with my trusty pen.

This is the third time I've done this, and each of the handles I've done is slightly different. The latest GSF ones are MUCH better quality than handles of old, with far smoother trigger operation. In the past I've done it with needle-nosed pliers and the pin off the other handle to push it through, this time I withdrew the pin using a pair of wire cutters.

The flipper should withdraw pretty easily. New ones are usually greased so be careful where you put it if you're not in a garage.

Repeat the process with the other handle, and then decide which pin you want to reuse. I've gone for the VW handle because it's tapered at the ends and much easier to refit.

Step three

Home run now! Slot the Polo flipper onto the Golf handle, and line up the hole for the pin.

(The first time I did this I had to sand the bit the flipper mounts on to make it fit - shitty pattern parts for you - this one was absolutely fine though)

Slide the pin into place

Squeeze it through using the pliers

Then use the edge of the flipper to press it in like this

If it's a bit sticky then pop a bit of bearing grease into the joint between the flipper and trigger.

Step four

Slot it back into the door, put the front and rear screws back in place and refit the trim. GSF handles come with chrome and black plastic trims, so you can fit whichever you want, obviously. I put chrome in for a day originally, then I've run black plastic ones for the last decade.

Sorted. Test to make sure everything works and you're done!

hi great mod i have not got central locking as not sure how to do it and what parts to buy ? but could this be done on the passenger side and still be able to open it from the inside ?

hi great mod i have not got central locking as not sure how to do it and what parts to buy ? but could this be done on the passenger side and still be able to open it from the inside ?

It doesn't change how anything operates from the inside - so yes you can still operate the locks manually using the pins on the door cards.

I've left the lock on the boot so I can still get in if the battery runs flat. It's not a massive pain to hop in over the back seats and open the lock from the inside so you can get in.

I don't think remote central locking is that expensive, mine works with my alarm so I never used the locks. Someone had a go at the driver's side while it was parked outside my parents house which was the reason I went delocked.

But yes you could certainly delock just the passenger side to tidy it up, and leave the driver's side lock as is. My Passat had this from the factory, as quite a lot of cars seem to these days. Just one door lock.

This what i was thinking one less lock to get mashed up and as for your boot thats a great idea

Any chance you got the parts number as been on gsf and can not find mk2 golf rear door handles ?

thanks

I just read all of that! Thought its genius to ger rears from a mk2 golf! Then I realised I don't have central locking

Tidy lil mode tho dude

I just read all of that! Thought its genius to ger rears from a mk2 golf! Then I realised I don't have central locking

Tidy lil mode tho dude

Just do the passengers side, push pin down, pull pin up

Or both & use boot entry

haha na its cool man ill just keep the lock there! my pins are abit tempramental

Any chance you got the parts number as been on gsf and can not find mk2 golf rear door handles ?

thanks

Here you go - it was on the website under BODY AND EXHAUST -> LOCKS AND HANDLES:

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/875vg0210

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/875vg0220

Slowest reply ever! Sorry...

Any chance you got the parts number as been on gsf and can not find mk2 golf rear door handles ?

thanks

Here you go - it was on the website under BODY AND EXHAUST -> LOCKS AND HANDLES:

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/875vg0210

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/875vg0220

Slowest reply ever! Sorry...

Better late than never