At 07:21 PM 3/7/2011, David M wrote:
>piece of inadequate German engineering snapped in two. What a sorry
>excuse for a mechanism this is!. Now I am in need of even more
>urgent help as to how to release the spare tire. I now dare not even
>risk driving the van to a tire shop. I'm hoping there is some arcane
>trick to operating the release. H-E-L-P!

It's common for the ring-pull handle to come off.  VW wasn't always
the absolute best on plastics.  Just knock the catch back with
whatever's handy, or more gently, lift the carrier a quarter inch and
pull the catch back by hand, then let go of the carrier.  No
biggie.  It's just meant to keep the thing up while you fiddle with the bolt.

Yours,
David