Dumb ?

I am still a newbie with some of this stuff. I ordered some Billet Aluminum Knobs for my headlight and wipers. My questions is this, is the peice behind the pull out knob the bezel? Looks like whatever I have is just painted like the car. If this can be changed easily I would like to get a chrome or Aluminum bezel.

Thanks a bunch,

Marty

Marty, In most parts catalogs it is indeed called the bezel. The picture shows what looks like a VW unit which is threaded into the switch. It is aluminum and threaded on the back to screw into the switch. If it were stripped of paint, it could be polished to a nice shine. The Porsche units were chromed and I think of steel. The threads on the Porsche units are not interchangeable. If you go to Mid-America Motorworks ( www.mamotorworks.com ), you can find their switches and see how they thread together without taking yours apart. In their catalog it's called "escutcheon for dash switches" and either part number 378-740 or 300-003.

Although it can be done other ways, there is also a special tool for unscrewing it.

This looks like the piece, Is it better to remove and replace the one I have or just mask off and remove the paint on my exsiting ones. I see there is a tool to remove the exsisting ones. I wonder if there is a polished one for purchase somewhere. Or is the alumnium easy to polish yourself.


http://www.mamotorworks.com/acvw.html?frame=1.4563&searched=300-003

Here is one that looks polished to replace my painted ones. Am I on the right track?

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D941%2D515

Marty

You're on the right track.

I don't think the bezel from CIP1 is actually polished.

I think the OEm one has a smoother finish than the CIP repro one. I'd polish the one you have. Remove it, use paint stripper if more than one or 2, then 600 to maybe 1200 (or 1500) WD sand paper. and finsih with metal polish or jewlers rouge on a buffer.

Carey Hines has some nice billet bezels that look like the originals, if you want to go that route.

Lane did you use the special tool to remove the exsisting ones?


Marty

My original ones were very thin, and had knurled edges, so they were easy to remove. The new ones have 4 holes around the rim. I used a small allen wrench to stick in the holes and turn them. In my case the extra thickness meant that the knobs could not be screwed on as far, or the lights wouldn't be able to go off. I used a small amount of red Loctite Thread Locker to make sure the knobs didn't come off. I'll see if I can find a pic of what the new bezels look like.

EDIT: This is the best pic I have, but it's not much of a close-up. I'll take one at home tonight.

Try this link for escutcheon:
http://www.airheadparts.com/viewDetail.asp?idProduct=4365

Lane,

Those larger bezels look really lush! I like them a WHOLE lot better than the flat ones that came originally from VW.

Where did you scoop them up? I'd like to grab a set for my coupe if I can.

Thanks !

FP

Got 'em from Carey at Special Edition. He's also got a smaller size for the switches with small knobs on them.

I got a few chrome washers and ran the aluminum vw bezel through them to give it a little less of the "vw" look. You can polish the vw bezels with a little Mother Billet Polish, they'll come up nice.

Lane,
Are the ones Carey offers different in any way? Do they look more like the original bezels? Pics?


This is what mine currently look like.

I'll post a pic this evening. I'd say they're a bit more original, although yours look good.

I dont have the special tool to remove the Bezel. What is a good substitute to get around the male switch thats in the way?

Marty G.

"male switch"? If you mean the knob, it should just unscrew.

Marty,
I just use my c-clip pliers. They look like pliers but they have points at the end. You can get a set at any hradware store. They also may have an e-clip tool that'll work too.

Thanks Mickey, Lane, I have standard VW ones, I did mean after you unscrew the knob.

Is this it?
http://www.karmannghia.com/viewDetail.asp?strMasterCat=&idproduct=6671

Yup.

I have used C-clip pliers myself, but sometimes they slip and mar the bezel.

Once I made a tool by cutting a slot in the end of a bottle opener.