Mk5 Golf GTi - what is this button?

[CarlosSainz100]

Unfortunately I don't have an owners manual and can't find one online. Does anyone know that this black button does, situated just below the lights on the right hand side of the steering wheel? Pressing it doesn't appear to do anything.....

[the-norseman]

Looks aftermarket to me.

[bigandclever]

Dunno. I haven't got one

[CarlosSainz100]

It looks pretty stock. Pressing it doesn't seem to make any difference. It starts whether the button is pressed or not. It's bugging me now....

[M11rph]

New one to me.

Is it a defeat switch for the Fog Light warning tone so that the fronts can be left on permanently? Cos itz bad innit?!

[hyperblue]

CarlosSainz100 said:

It looks pretty stock. Pressing it doesn't seem to make any difference. It starts whether the button is pressed or not. It's bugging me now....

If it was “stock” it’d have some indication as to what it was. Doesn’t look like any other switch I had in my Mk5 Gti.

[the-norseman]

I reckon its a aftermarket heated seat button.

[bigandclever]

There's a Reddit thread with about a thousand things it could be. What it isn't, is factory.

[Wilmslowboy]

I have had four Mk5 GTIs / R32 etc and none had that button


After mkt alarm/ sport exhaust valves/mileage blocker ....

[CarlosSainz100]

Curious....

So it's almost certainly not stock. But doesn't appear to do anything. Next time it's in the VW specialist I'll ask them to have a look.....

[Grumbler]

Had a similar switch on an Astra GTC. Front parking sensors?

[popeyewhite]

Aftermarket fogs?

[Red9zero]

Turning off the rear lights for evading the BiB ?

[blank]

Switch for the ODB port maybe?

Can't be too hard to pull the panel out and follow the wires!

[CarlosSainz100]

Grumbler said:

Had a similar switch on an Astra GTC. Front parking sensors?

It doesn't have them. It does have rear ones.

Actually I'll see if it turns them off next time I park up.

[CarlosSainz100]

Red9zero said:

Turning off the rear lights for evading the BiB ?

Like Steve McQueen had on his Porsche.....

[Mark V GTD]

If it’ only has rear parking sensors then they are aftermarket as all Golf Mk.5’s with factory sensors had them at both ends.

[cuprabob]

Mark V GTD said:

If it’ only has rear parking sensors then they are aftermarket as all Golf Mk.5’s with factory sensors had them at both ends.

My 2006 MK5 R32 had factory fit rear parking sensors. Front sensors weren't even an option when I specced it.

[Dingle Dell]

I think it was an option; you need to press it while going 88MPH apparently.

[Belle427]

If I had to guess id say maybe to turn the front fogs on without headlights being on.
Chavtastic.