Mk3 door handle upgrade for Mk1

[pedro]

Has anyone upgraded to these pull type mk3 door handles with success?

MK3 Style Door Handle Set Front for VW Golf MK1 Right and Left Pair New | eBay

I'm unkeen to outlay the coin for these if anyone knows that they don't actually fit. But I must admit the standard mk1 handles are annoying.

Appreciate any feedback.

[Stanton]

The cost may well send you broke !

[pedro]

Sorry I'm not as rich as you champ, but I don't like wasting $50 on something that doesn't fit.

[RedMk2Gti]

I've done it for Mk2, it worked but I wouldn't say I'm very happy with the result.

What's annoying you from a Mk1 door handle ?

[Doesy]

The ad says that those are Mk3 STYLE handles made to fit a Mk1 Golf. So I'd say they more than likely fit your Mk1.

[dubstar]

These have been on the market for over a decade. In my time 'in the scene' (12+ years), I've never heard a good opinion of these, they never fit right, they break easy, they seize, blah, blah, blah.

What you should do is pull your existing handles out, re-grease everything, look at replacing the 'hammer' and the lever it hits in the door and you should get a 'like new' feeling door handle. You may also want to adjust the striker pin on the body or replace them with some nice shiny ones.

[pedro]

Thanks guys below, these are the replies I'm looking for.

I've done it for Mk2, it worked but I wouldn't say I'm very happy with the result.

What's annoying you from a Mk1 door handle ?

The whole design of the mk1 handles are cumbersome in the way you have to depress the inside lever to open the door. The mk3 design is much better and easier on the hands.

These have been on the market for over a decade. In my time 'in the scene' (12+ years), I've never heard a good opinion of these, they never fit right, they break easy, they seize, blah, blah, blah.

What you should do is pull your existing handles out, re-grease everything, look at replacing the 'hammer' and the lever it hits in the door and you should get a 'like new' feeling door handle. You may also want to adjust the striker pin on the body or replace them with some nice shiny ones.

Cheers! Yep after writing the post I actually found a write up on the re-greasing of the door striker mechanisms through google (wish I'd found it while having the handles and strikers off. So I will definitely be giving that a go before anything else, as currently when you hold the door handle and press the inner lever there is a lot of flex in the handle and I can almost see the inside of my door.

Probably a combination of cheap chinese handles, perished locating rubbers and dried up grease as you suggested. The car originally came from WA, so it looks like the has been in the heat (but also possible it's just because it's over 30 years old).

I'll get greasing and advise of results.

[pedro]

The ad says that those are Mk3 STYLE handles made to fit a Mk1 Golf. So I'd say they more than likely fit your Mk1.

Yeah I don't believe any of those ebay descriptions anymore. Those aftermarket headlight switches they claim fit a mk1 actually don't. The click to hold it in is on the wrong side, and the wiring pinout is slightly different, just an example but would rather have a real life opinion like the ones above instead of some ebay seller with a vested interest in selling something (rather than actually caring if it fits properly or not).

[Doesy]

Yeah true. I'd hazard a guess that reports of them seizing would be a greasing issue too, the latch mechanism on these is even bigger than the mk1 mechanism.