Retrofits

Overview

Difficulty is as rated in the research. "Not rated" means no rating was sourced. The online column shows only what the research names as needing VW online access; "Not stated" does not prove a job is offline.

Before you start

Backups and access

• Save a full coding backup of every module before changing anything²⁹.
• On 2018-on cars, module 09 shows zero long coding, so changes there are made through adaptation channels²⁹.
• Some late cars have a diagnostic firewall and need the bonnet open before the gateway allows changes Unverified.
• Disconnect the battery for wiring work. Use a battery support unit while coding. Both are common practice, but no source page confirmed them Unverified.

What needs VW online access

These jobs are reported to need dealer, ODIS or GeKo online access. No single source page covers the whole list Unverified. Each retrofit section cites a source where one confirms it.

• Component protection removal: AID, radars, gateway and MIB head units.
• ADAS camera and radar calibration with VAS 6430.
• FEC and SWaP feature codes for the head unit.
• The flat MRR radar.
• AID mileage adaptation.

Tools

VCDS

PC software and cable, with the Long Coding Helper for byte and bit changes²⁹.

OBDeleven

Dongle and phone app, with one-click apps paid for in credits³⁰.

ODIS

VW's own diagnostic software, used for retrofit routines⁶.

Security access codes

Codes published for MQB modules. Where several are listed, the right one depends on the module and the change³¹.

Active Info Display (AID)

Replaces the analogue dials with the digital cluster. The map view in the cluster needs a MOST link to a Discover Pro head unit³².

Parts

Coding and online steps

1. Save the coding of modules 17 and 5F before removing the old cluster³².
2. Recode module 17 on the new cluster³².
3. Component protection removal and a dealer immobiliser adaptation are needed online, even for a brand new cluster².
4. Mileage can only be adapted if the donor cluster shows under 100 km².

Kit price

£1,099–1,299 from RSW (retrofitsw.co.uk)¹

Difficulty

Hard

MK7.5 LED tail lights into MK7

Fits the facelift LED rear lamps to a pre-facelift car³³.

Parts

Harness

An adapter harness is needed. Kits named in the research:

Coding afterwards

In module 09, change the lamp settings on these Leuchte channels³³. Channel numbers vary by BCM, model year and lamp type, so check the channel names on your car first³⁴.

Difficulty

Medium

MK7.5 LED headlights into MK7

What the research found so far⁶:

• Kufatec's kit 42100 is only for facelift cars and is not for RHD or US cars⁶.
• One pre-facelift Golf R owner found no LED options in module 09. The thread suggests a MK7.5 BCM may be needed Unverified⁶.
• Kufatec sells a coding dongle, 43936, that parametrises the LED headlights, covering modules D6/D7 and 29/39³⁵.
• An ODIS retrofit routine is involved⁶.
• Difficulty: Hard.

Discover Pro MIB2 navigation

Replaces the standard head unit with the 9.2 inch Discover Pro⁷.

Coding

To enable the USB port for CarPlay after the retrofit: module 5F, Byte 19, Bits 6–7³⁶.

Online steps

The 125 Coding set is sold pre-coded with component protection already removed⁷. A used unit from another car will carry component protection, which is removed online Unverified.

Difficulty

Hard

App-Connect and CarPlay activation (FEC)

MIB2 features are switched on with feature enable codes (FEC). Codes for MHI2 and MHI2Q units³⁷:

FEC and SWaP codes are reported to be an online dealer job Unverified. RSW sells CarPlay activation for £299, for Discover Pro units built after 25.05.2015⁹.

Reverse camera

Fits the camera behind the rear VW emblem¹⁰.

Parts

The VW kit costs about £273 and takes about 2.5 hours¹⁰. A Kufatec kit, 39634, at €600 is also named in the research, but no source page for it was captured Unverified.

Wiring and coding

There are two versions³⁸:

Difficulty

Medium

Park Assist and 8-sensor parking

Kufatec kit 43485 adds Park Assist and lists PR codes 9S4, 9S5, 9S6 and 9S8. Kit 39633 adds front and rear sensors¹¹. Coding details were not in the research.

Difficulty

Hard

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) and Front Assist

Adds the front radar for adaptive cruise and Front Assist¹².

Parts

Wiring

A Gateway High is needed. Radar power comes to pin 8 from the cabin fuse box¹².

Coding and online steps

Coding changes in modules 01, 03, 19, 17, 5F, A5 and 13. Component protection must be removed online¹².

RSW offers a dome to flat radar upgrade for £650¹³.

Difficulty

Hard

Lane, Sign and Light Assist camera

Adds the windscreen camera used by Lane Assist, and optionally Light Assist and sign recognition¹⁴.

Parts

Wiring

The camera joins the extended CAN at J533, pins T20/17 and T20/7, and is fused at SC32, 7.5 A¹⁵.

Coding and calibration

• Coding changes in modules A5, 5F, 17, 44 and 10¹⁴.
• The camera is calibrated with VAS 6430¹⁵.
• Light Assist: 09 Byte 2 = 03 and A5 Byte 2 = 01³⁹.
• Kufatec dongle 40610 for sign recognition is named in the research, but no source page for it was captured Unverified.

Difficulty

Hard

Blind spot and Rear Traffic Alert

Requirements and kit

Kufatec kit 41035 costs €750. It needs a Gateway High, a 3Q0 or 5Q0 ABS unit from 2016 on, and PR code 9S5, 9S6 or 9S8¹⁶.

MK7.5 parts and wiring

• Radar units 2Q0907685B and 2Q0907686B⁴⁰.
• J1086 joins the extended CAN at pin 17⁴⁰.
• The units sit on 6–7 degree wedges⁴⁰.

Difficulty

Hard

Power-folding mirrors

Kufatec kit 40810 costs €850 and is for LHD cars only. The door control units must be Highline, shown by a 5 as the 7th digit of the part number¹⁷.

Coding afterwards

To fold the mirrors on locking: 42 and 52 Byte 4 Bit 6, then in 09 set "Funk Spiegelanklappen", the menu entry, and the mode via the remote⁴¹.

Difficulty

Medium

Kessy rear door handles

Kufatec kit 44950 extends keyless entry to the rear doors. It is for MY2019 cars that already have Kessy¹⁸.

Heated steering wheel

Kufatec cable set 43696 suits cars built up to 29.07.2018 with module 16. Kufatec dongle 44382 does the coding¹⁹.

DSG paddle steering wheel

Paddle wheels: 5G0 419 091 DK, DL, DM, DN, GC, GD, GE or GF. The car must have DSG, PR code 2ZH²⁰. Coding details were not in the research.

Towbar

Kufatec kit 50388 with towbar 5G0092150D, PR code 1M5. Not for Variant or US cars²¹.

Coding afterwards

Add module 69 to the gateway (19) installation list, then code 01, 09, 03, 10, 13, 3C, 6C, A5 and 69²¹.

Heated windscreen

The coding was not confirmed Unverified²². A Kufatec kit, 46804, is named in the research without a source page Unverified.

Touch Climatronic panel

Panel 3G8907044 or 5NA907044AJ. It only replaces a 2-zone Climatronic panel⁴².

1. Copy the coding from the old panel to the new one⁴².
2. If the MENU button does nothing, set the 5F adaptation "climatic_master_0x01"⁴².
3. Run basic settings⁴².

RSW sells the panel for £299 and says it is not plug and play²³.

Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC)

Kufatec cable set 44250, PR code 2H5. The control unit, dampers and sensors are needed as well²⁴.

Difficulty

Very hard

Exhaust valve app control (Golf R)

Kufatec module 44383 controls the exhaust valves on a Golf 7 R from a phone app. Kufatec sells it for racing use only²⁵.

Door puddle lights

The lamps connect at pins 5 and 16 of the door plug. Coding: 42 and 52 Byte 1 Bit 2²⁶.

DQ381 gearbox in place of DQ250

Reports differ. One VWROC member calls the swap almost plug and play. Others report the engine and gearbox control units do not work together, with rpm flare, and some have used an "immo off" software route Sources differ²⁷.

• There is no off-the-shelf kit²⁷.
• Whether the bevel box, prop shaft or mounts must change is not confirmed Unverified²⁷.

Full guide: DQ381 swap on a MK7 Golf R, with the parts owners report needing, the gearbox plug pinout and the subframe.

RS3 engine and running-gear swap

One owner fitted the 2.5 TFSI engine, gearbox, rear differential, fuel system and seats from a 2018 Audi RS3 to a 2019 US Golf R, repinning the engine control unit's body-side connector and adapting the Golf's fuse panel⁴³. It is a one-car, owner-level build with some wiring marked as a guess, not a documented conversion⁴³.

Full guide: RS3 engine and running-gear swap, with the T91 pin map and the RS3 seat wiring.

Not yet verified

No source was fetched for these, so no instructions are given:

• Golf R steering wheel into a non-R
• Golf R seats
• Dynaudio hardware
• Ambient lighting hardware
• Rear side airbags
• Auto Hold
• Dynamic Light Assist
• Facelift bumper and grille
• Golf R quad exhaust into GTI
• Alarm
• Wireless CarPlay
• Performance Pack brakes
• Wireless charging
• Car-Net

Panoramic roof: not practical, because the roof is structural. This is a judgement, not a sourced fact.