John,

Here's how it's done. (per Bentley pgs. 19.16-19.17)

1.  raise front end about 40 cm (15 3/4 in.)
2.  set heater control to max heat
3.  open control valve for rear heater
4.  remove grill
5.  open bleeder screw on passenger side top of radiator
6.  open bleeder valve at front of engine compartment (on black plastic
fitting with 4 large radiator hoses connecting to it.)
7.  fill coolant until expansion tank the one on the left, NOT the overflow
tank on the right.) is full (approx. 4-5 liter (4.25-5.3 US qt.))
8.  start engine
9.  at approx. 2000 rpm fill expansion tank until coolant flows from bleeder
screw in radiator bubble free (it takes two people!)
10. add coolant until expansion tank is full and close tank with cap
11. turn ignition off and start engine again after about 20 seconds
12. raise engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm and open cap of expansion tank
13. close bleeder screw on radiator when coolant flows out (need that friend again!)
14. add coolant if necessary and close tank
15. close bleeder screw in engine compartment
16. turn engine off
17. top up overflow tank
18. reinstall grill
19. lower front end
20. drive for a couple days and keep an eye on the coolant level. (my
suggestion, not VW's)

Miscellaneous notes:  A set of ramps helps get the front end up, but they're
not really tall enough.  15.75 inches is WAAAY up there. You've got to have
that friend.  You're going to put about a gallon of coolant on the ground.  I
premix the coolant 50-50 before I start because VAG is very specific about the
ratio.  I've heard it said that tap water is better than distilled due to
coolant being formulated to work with the chemistry of the water.  I use the
orange long life stuff.  Others prefer the genuine Autobahn stuff.  Still
others just use plain old ethylene glycol coolant.  Truth be told, I don't
think it really makes that much difference and I have yet to see any
quantitive data on one vs. the other. (An aside; my '83.5 was dealer
maintained for the first ten years and 125k miles of its life. Came with ALL
recipts. When I bought it (second owner) it had GREEN coolant.)

Jim Arnott
WetWesties
Union, OR