Getting dazzled by sun in gear surround (auto)

[Das Stig]

Is there a nice factory standard looking alternative to the horrible disco chrome surround trim piece that goes around the automatic gear lever in the cabin? The bit with the P-R-N-D-3-2-1 quadrant display in it?

Apart from just looking very disco cheesy and totally out of place in the rest of the cabin, it has a very annoying and practical downside as well. On sunny days the reflection of the sun through the windscreen off this piece of chrome trim is extremely dazzling to both the driver and front passenger. Frankly, I can't believe that VW ever did any vehicle testing of the car fitted with this piece of trim at all because a 5 minute drive on a non-cloudy day is all that's required to reveal this major problem. The reflection is so bad in fact, I would seriously put it in the 'dangerous' category for blinding the driver while driving.

Closing the sunroof makes no difference. It is the sun coming through the windscreen that's the issue rather than the sunroof, though the sunroof being open doesn't help either of course.

I'm hoping there is an alternative black trimmed piece instead that was fitted to lower grade models I can put in place. Mine is a GLE. Maybe I need to find a GL at a wreckers?

[DUB 20V]

pull it out and paint it.

[Das Stig]

Yeah thanks, helpful. Firstly how does it attach? I've just tried pulling it out and it won't budge. Next step would be to use a screwdriver as a lever and I'm guessing that will result in lots of little broken shards of chromed toymetal plastic going everywhere.

Consulting ETKA it would appear there is a satin black alternate piece available with part number 1J0 863 269 B41 as opposed to 1J0 863 269 B for the standard chrome jobbie.

Are there any VW-specific wreckers in Perth?

[DUB 20V]

lol you will need to pull the center consol out.

i say get on to vw vortex and read the diy/faq section and you will find you answer.

[Das Stig]

Has anyone with a Golf Mk4 seen parts 5 & 3 on the below diagram in satin black before? I was pretty sure some models came with them in satin black instead of chrome, but the local parts dude is telling me they're only available in chrome?