VW Golf Mk2 Owners Club

all mk2s had the electrics change/moved hazard switch in late 89 (as in when they were made not when they were registered over here)

GTI all got big bumpers, thinner side strips, different arches and sill extensions. The GL got big bumpers but retained the thicker rubbing strips and used arch spats. all lower spec models had small bumpers still, with the old small bumper arches and chunky rubbing strips

dont confuse the 90spec thin rubbing strips with the pre-88 rubbing strips which were also thin, but these were stuck on and say a little lower on the car.

loads of other minor differences over the years i can list em all if you really care :lol:

ok here are all the changes i have found so far:

85ish changes:
dual tip exhausts on GTI models
dual exhaust cutout on rear lower valance introduced
MK1 style side stripes dropped
side repeaters added
single washer tank/pump instead of separate bottles/pumps for front/rear

Kerrly edit
1986  - 16v introduced
Came with stick on thin black rubbing strips with a sticky red stripe above them
bottletop alloys
42mm inlet manifold
different ECU - il see if i can find part numbers


August 87 changes:
5 slat grill replaces old 7 slat grill
front 'GTI' & 'GTI 16v' grill badge font & clip design changed
left side rear 'VW' roundel & 'Volkswagen' badges removed, larger central 'VW' roundel with indent in panel introduced, right side 'Golf' badge font changed
single piece glass front doors replace 2 piece MK1 style doors, mirror moved to front of door
digifant injection replaces k-jet on 8v models
chunkier stalks introduced
wiper arms swapped to the other side on RHD models
chunky rubbing strips
bonnet & washer jets changed
better quality dash fitted to all models as standard?
steering wheel changed to single button

88-89 changes:
digifant engines now have a blue 2 pin push fit ECU coolant temp sender, earlier models have a white threaded 2 pin sender
large spline wheel column adaptors start being fitted
handbrake lever & mount bracket, cables & rear calipers changed
light switch changed to 11 pin
16vs got red/black tinted rear clusters, also on 8v '1 in 10 million' edition
256mm brakes on 16v
2 piece plastic timing belt cover
16v got 50mm inlet manifold

89-90 changes (90 spec):
almost all car loom changed
engine management loom hole on rain tray moved
front wings all have 2 holes for big bumper brackets
hazard switch moved to top of steering column
dash clocks now have 1 plug instead of 2
fusebox
coolant level sensor control relay removed, now internal to clocks (except with digifiz dash, relay is retained but different slot)
16vs got plain rubber injector lines instead of braided
thin rubbing strips, sill trims & front fogs on GTIs
big bumpers on GTIs & GLs
outer column housing
ignition lock housing
ignition switch
stalks
fusebox holder brackets
driver side dash under tray
fusebox cover
boot carpet made of foam instead of carpet
colour coded boot plinth on GTI
wiper spindles are thicker
header tank, lower hose, cap, level sender, level sender plug & mounting bracket
longer gearbox earth to a stud on engine->gearbox mounting bolt introduced
lower engine bay heat shield on 8v GTI models
sidelight holders have different plug
front indicators have different plug
horn loom has different plug
reverse switch has different plug

later 90 model improvements:
key in ign live for stereo
chunky plastic scuttle & ecu covers
side impact bars in doors
loom tape instead of thick plastic sheathing stuff
stainless sunroof deflector arms