How hard is it to fit a new door shell and transfer glass, locks from old door?

[MelbMan]

Quite a while ago I accidentally backed my 2011 Polo with Sportspack out of a townhouse carport with the drivers door not shut properly. THe door caught one of the carport pillars and bent back at 90 degrees to the body before I stopped. It's got a small dent at the front of the door where it meets the guard. And the window frame which took most of the hit is very slightly bent out of shape. So there's a wind whistle and if you wash the car the door around the window does not seal against water well.

I have an identical bare door shell I got from a wrecker Qld in the same colour (white).

Question is how much work is it to transfer the other workings of the door to this replacement shell and any tips about doing it? And are any special tools needed. For example not sure if you take the old door off first. And whether you then hang the bare shell first because that might be lighter to do. From memory I paid about $250 delivered for the shell

Not sure if going to a wrecker and buying a complete replacement door might be easier. In this case will the door still unopen with the remote control? I guess if you wanted to use the key you'd haVe to transfer the barrel from the current door.

Some videos on YouTube
6mm socket needed to undo the bolts where the doors sit on the door pins. Once these bolts (hidden under rubber caps) are removed the door simply lifts off


Thanks in advance, best wishes for 2025!

[DV52]

MelbMan: I haven't done this swap. Maybe the information below will help with the glass bit:



Don

[MelbMan]

MelbMan: I haven't done this swap. Maybe the information below will help with the glass bit:



Don

Thanks Don!
Getting a price from a wrecker on a complete door just to see how much my time is worth!!
The first question they asked with or without mirror. Of course I have a mirror, next job is to see how involved that is to get off!

[Hillbilly]

Thanks Don!
Getting a price from a wrecker on a complete door just to see how much my time is worth!!
The first question they asked with or without mirror. Of course I have a mirror, next job is to see how involved that is to get off!

Spend $10 and get an hour on ERWIN and download the full manual and documents for it Well worth it I had the POLO stuff but sadly deleted it after I sold it


Volkswagen AG erWin Online

[Sharkie]

Best way to do this is to buy a complete door from a wrecker. Ideally with a mirror (even though not terrible to fit) is just more hassle. I have done this before, both ways (stripped door and a complete door).

Complete door will take less than an hour (2 at a push) to fit. Lock change is a 15min job.

Stripped door can take many hours to assemble if you need to strip off the damaged donor for the transfer parts and will very likely result in some damaged bits (mainly plastic trim).

If you have a lot of tools, its doable, if you don't you may need to buy/borrow/steal some as you will invariably discover tools you don't have but need.

[MelbMan]

Thanks Sharkie
Yes with or without the mirror, if going the complete door replacement route I'd get the mirror as well.
I have the tools to get the door off (6mm socket basically is it)

Now to see how much a complete door costs.