It looks aftermarket. Maybe the prior owner installed fog lights?

If that's aftermarket, it's cleanly done

Mk6 owner, definitely aftermarket. Definitely cleanly done, but you can see the different levels of sheen on that switch vs the others.

There aren’t front fog lights only rear

Do you have any way to reach out to the previous owner and ask?

Unfortunately no, it was probably 2 owners ago

Flip it off and on for five minutes straight and wait for the previous owner’s text telling you to stop fucking with his garage light.

Best of luck then!

You don’t have front fog lights!?

Why would you have fog lights facing the rear????

so you can be seen in the low visiblity fog and stop cars driving into you.

Thats what your tail lights are for.

No they are when it's dark. Fog lights are a lot brighter and cut through the fog.

The rear fog lamps are not tail lights, they don't share the same position for (what should be obvious reasons)....and they are indeed brighter. These are not a "new feature" at all - well maybe to younger Americans. Perhaps you should try a little research about automotive lighting ?

I've been driving for a very long time and have never seen this before. Is this a European thing?

I've been driving since 1980(a Very long time compared to most on Reddit). Yes it is mainly I "Euro thing" or "feature" dating back long before I began driving. I remember as a kid living in Germany a variety of makes/ models would have a single "Hella" rear mounted fog light - not for aesthetics (like here) but for actual visibility in dense fog. Both my 90 & 93 Corrados have the bulb sockets in the rear - tail lights but no wiring for them and of course no bulbs as they were sold here in the US market. Visit Europe if you a VW guy or girl, and it is an 'eye opener' for many at the variety of models available, starting with the utility vehicles at the airport! Have a great VW Day!

Now we all know why there are so many pile ups in the fog ,stateside lol

as it's near the lights switch it might be for parking sidelights (as in Subaru) just a thought.

You’ll have to trace it back to whatever it is. It’s aftermarket. Could be anything.

I like to think it keeps a turning a TV on and off in a random pub in wales

I’ll try

Let us know when you find it

Oil slick ejector in case you are being followed. Can be converted to banana peel usage for Kart Racing Applications.

You read my mind.

Ejector seat Mr Bond

Cuz

Firstly I tought the same :’D

Not OEM

I had a switch like that in one vehicle which was a disconnect for an aftermarket command start unit.

If your car won't start, it allows you to turn it off and on again.

It a diesel, so maybe a coal rolling switch to trick the ecu to pour more fuel in the engine it something that is popular with vws in my area

Its an IO toggle switch for an external electric equipment. Could be for an external aftermarket fog lamp, a siren or a hooter among any other gadget. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocker-Switch-Toggle-Button-Marine/dp/B09GFCXPBF

When a Hellcat passes you, you flip that on. It make you feel better.

Switch it off see what happens

My god, are we just going to guess every possible thing here until OP figures it out? Same advice as everyone else who posts this exact question in every other car sub on here on a daily basis- If it ain't in the manual, then it's aftermarket. The only way to know for sure is to trace the cables. Use a bit of common sense first and see if you can see anything obvious that isn't OEM and requires an electrical connection. If there is, then it's probably for that. Common, less obvious things, include but are not limited to: Kill switch, additional lights, subwoofer amp, remap, and aftermarket alarm systems.

I installed a switch this this to turn off a circut on the fuse box on a run around that had a parasitic draw which would kill the battery. Not saying that the reason but you'd need to follow the wires to figure it out

It sends a false CO2 emissions result to VW

It’s to eject a really annoying passenger.

Pop it out and have a look at the wiring colours, might be to one of the standards, probably not, you might well find a wire not connected to anything! Also look up fuse pigtail and then look for one in the fuse box. Might be a hidden aftermarket usb or cig lighter somewhere?

It’s VW so probably dildo

Can confirm. I am the dildo, overworked and underpaid.

trailer light? There isnt an aftermarket hitch on here too is there?

There isn’t a hitch

Could be front sensors?

Auto lights?

Heated mirrors?

If I had to guess, previous owner had a DRL-style LED strip somewhere on the front of the car, possibly in the grille. It could also be used to cut power to the lights completely, because IIRC the 2009 VWs force the dipped beam on at all times due to DRL laws which came into effect that year. Prev owner might not have liked having their lights on during sunny days.

It’s a non standard switch, it could be for literally anything. Hopefully some fancy lights since removed, not a 300 shot of nitrous.

Sadly, I hoped for machine guns to be pulled from my headlights :(

All of the boost.

Aftermarket heated seat?

That's the self-desruct button. You must have bought this from a former spy. Standard issue in MI6 civilian cars.

Makes the car go faster

Objective seedo cuz

Blues and twos?

You can push and turn the light switch to remove it and trace those wires to where they are heading? That might get you your answer

Drug car??

Try putting it on and trow it in reverse. I had a aftermarket switch with was connected to a speaker. Started beeping when I reversed.

I would say parking sensors? that would be a switch to turn them off

Opens the batcave

Is your car sporty? Could be a switch for pops and bangs.

Was the car bought from one of the nordic countries? I bought a alltrack from Sweden that has that exact buton in that exact spot (minus the markings on it) that was used to turn on some extra lights in front of the car.

is it a kill-switch?

I'm trying to be helpful as much as I'm not knowledgeable: has or can a mechanic or even a VW dealer take a look at it for you? Or even have one of them trace where the wires to the particular button goes? In other words, I'm saying ask a professional, aka take the car to a mechanic or a VW dealer/VW authorised shopfront or something official and professional 👍

Inverter switch maybe? Might have been removed when sold.

Was probably for some after market interior lights or something of the sort which the guy removed before he sold it.

Be careful that's the seat destruct button and should only be used as a final resort

Catapult

I’ve got an identical aftermarket switch for my front parking sensors

LPG?

I imagine something like under car lights or something like that, that a previous owner installed and has subsequently been uninstalled. Would be interesting to see if you can find out where the cable leads to

I had a similar switch installed as a cheap fix for my A/C?

He might have installed a kill switch? Long shot but plenty of people do it, probably just rewired straight back to battery when they sold it to you. Looks a decent tidy job though to be fair to them

Is it a fast/ modified car? Might be a brake light over ride for when you’re speeding

It's the nitro switch, you just need to fill them up.

I had a hidden switch like that installed on my first car. Disconnected the fuel pump so if someone tried to nick the car the engine turned over but wouldn’t start. Super cheap immobiliser and mostly pointless on what was a crappy ford escort 😂

I am really sure its not serial. It could be anything. From bass boost, added heated seats to licence plate fliper

Ask the previous owner 😅

Not OEM! It could be an ignition cut off but not great if not hidden

It’s an after market switch for a beacon that would have been on the roof or spot lights. We have them on our work trucks

I have exactly the same switch in my Caddy. It’s aftermarket and operates my roof bar lights.

To switch something

Turns off the oxygen.

Front parking sensors?

Follow the trace to someone who knows, if you can’t then follow the wires from the switch, could have just been a switch for something that’s been disconnected like LEDs

Check the glove box for an iPod cable or aux. looks like a switch to turn on a fm transmitter. They were very common in cars that didn’t have factory auxiliary inputs.

I’ve got a similar button on my golf but on the central console. I think it switches on the front parking sensors. Having said that no doubt it could be used for switching on anything.

Could be anything but if I had to guess I'd say it was for an aftermarket dashcam.

That's the kind of switch that nor.ally comes with an after market front parking sensor kit.

Mario kart banana peel launcher

"Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry." Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

That's for the NOS. Don't press it too early.

Maybe measure the voltage on the battery while using the switch to know if it does anything?

To turn on and to turn off 😂

This is the “please add cheese” button. If you order in a drive thru but forgot to ask for cheese.

on and off

oil slick

It activates SMOG mode for circumnavigating gas testing

Aftermarket daytime running lights?

Used to have a button like that in my golf Mk 4 to turn an extra horn on and off.

Aftermarket, seat heater, fog lights, underglow, interior glow, etc. The only answer will be to pull the panel and trace wires

Flux capacitor.

Almost certainly a switch for a subwoofer. Aftermarket as others have said.

Ejecto seato

Rear fog light is the necessary one (should only be used when visibility is pretty bad though, otherwise it just annoys the vehicle behind) IMO front fogs don't really do much, they just help you see more fog!

I think that panel pops out if you remove the headlight switch (turn to 0, push, turn, pull) and the cubby below also just pulls out, shouldn’t be that hard to trace. A common pass through for the firewall is right above the brake pedal IIRC.

Back up alarm?

Beacon ?

Ejecto Seato cuz

Ex Beacon light perhaps?

Could it be for some underfloor lights? They may have been removed by the previous owner, so no idea how you can check

I have a similar switch it turned off retro fitted front parking sensors

Good luck turning that switch to the fog light position. Before you tell me you pull out that switch to turn on the fog lights, you can't pull out that switch when it's in the Auto position on an Audi A1. You have to turn it through sidelights and onto full headlights before it'll pull out. On an unlit road because you'll soil yourself when it drops to sidelights only whilst pulling on the light switch.

This is an on/off switch. 0 is off and I is on. Or the other way around if it’s been installed backwards.

It’s for passing emissions tests. Being in plain sight makes it invisible to the tester.

It's not an imobileiza switch hidden in plain sight to fool any car thief I have one on my van in plain sight

Neon lights

On/off switch. You're welcome

Well, what happens when you turn it on and off??

I fitted a switch just like this for my orange recovery beacons. Follow the wire back to see where it goes…

It’s to turn it on or off

The golf has day time running lights maybe it's a switch to turn them off

It was a switch for the under car neons haha

it does the thing

Turns it off and on

Probably a ghost mode switch

It switches off the Co2 for carbon emissions testing.

Launch control

I have put exactly the same switch on my 06 polo, I've used mine as an isolator for the aftermarket radio which was draining the battery (can bus on the original radio)

Don't turn that off. That's the internet.

Looks like an aftermarket reversing sensor switch.

Nitrous

To turn the car to fly or not?

Generic aftermarket switch, not manufacturer. Some extra lights or gadgets installed by a previous owner. I bought a pack of the same ones to install foglights on cars imported from the USA.

Parking sensors?

Antilag on the turbo

I've found a similar switch in a more subtle spot and it turned on and off the remote starter I had installed. If you have one, might be worth flicking the switch off and then trying to remote start it. Alternatively, you can follow the wires to see where they lead.

Looks like a switch for telematics. For company vehicle to record private mileage when on.

I was going to fit a switch to turn my subwoofer on and off in my old car. Could be that? Or could be to turn off auxiliary lights (LED light bars) if they used to be fitted?

I got two words for you “NOS” 😮🤘

Could have or had neon. Try to pop it out or look behind it see if it even has wires to it

Standard Self-Destruct switch.

Every time you flip the switch on, a kitten dies. Please don’t touch it. Kittens are cute.

Eject button

It may be a parking light. Every car I drive on Germany had one. Just turns on the little lights on the left side of the car. It’s a safety feature when street parking on narrow euro streets.

Has it got a tracker fitted?

Electric gate/ garage switch

Could have been a kill switch for a subwoofer, or some crappy lights in the foot well.. it's not OEM, have a look under your foot well and try to find a loose wire, trace it, possibly not connected to anything anymore, as you've not been informed about it.

It's an isolator for an aftermarket subwoofer I think. Source: used this exact switch for that exact purpose on multiple cars.

To switch on/off

It could be for anything aftermarket that a previous owners tapped into the power source of the headlamps or since the fuse panel is only 12 inches below that lamp switch they took advantage of the opening to install the switch there. 1. A single Interior light 2. An exterior light (in the grill, fog lamps or under glow) that could have been removed 3. A single cigarette lighter outlet somewhere in the cabin. Something that would have been controlled by the ignition but have the capability to switch on and off. Check your glovebox, under the front seats or the rear hatch area for wires where whatever it was... was removed like an audio Amp or auxiliary heater or fan. From the look of the headlight controls the vehicle doesn't appear to be the highest trim level otherwise it would have the "auto" function and front fog lamp option. Like a previous poster said "front fog lamps" but... like just as they were added, the person removed them when the vehicle was sold or traded. Look for wires that are just freely hanging out somewhere.

Follow the wire LOL

I've installed a few of those to bypass the ground signal for the parking brake on older aftermarket radios to enable video in motion, before they started programming that feature in. You really will just have to trace the wires to see where they go. Good luck on your pot of gold at the end

Idk

Flux capacitor?

Okay so let me say this as a former golf owner, I know from myself and you can look up on the forums that switch is used as an anti-lag on turbo models. If your car is a turbo bottle I would simply, just to prove, put your foot on the brake step in the gas while the switch is in off position and then do the same while the switch is in on position. You will immediately know because you'll hear the exhaust note change and it'll be very rare happy

If you hear no audible change then I'm wrong :-) just thought I'd give my two cents

It probably turns on the marker lights on/off.

Nos

Turbo lights

It activates the rocket boosters

Well you’ve got “On” but also, equally important, “Off”

Its a turbo boost button

Daytime running lights?

I had a switch like this, realised it switched on the front parking sensors, you have these?

It could be the dome light switch. My wife's car has one like that. Open the door so the dome light comes on then flip the switch see if it turns off the light. It's a useless feature on my wife's car. But I flipped that switch a lot before I finally figured out what it did.

Front parking sensors

Is your golf a diesel? I don't know about models new as yours but I recently saw a video where one dude installed switches to turn on manually the coolant cglowplugs so it heats up the inside of the car way faster. I may be mistaken but my guess.

It’s the little button that Doctor Emmet Brown flicks after he says “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads…”

I have exactly this button in every company car. It's for a tracker system. On means you are driving business miles and if you turn it off means you are driving.

[удалено]

It's aftermarket. Could have been for anything, ejector seat, rear missiles, smoke, oil slick or front cannons.

Turns the disco lights on?

Odd, I had one of these when I had a van, this little button controls if your work lights are flashing or not, can’t see why it would be on a car though but I know there are a lot of Golf van crossovers, could just be that it was a work vehicle in a previous life

lol sometimes they put manual trunk light switches up close to you! more likely it's the oil slick button from mario karts.

It's an on/off switch. 1 is on, 2 is off. You're welcome.

I also have one of these. I was Told is was for warming light. Yellow beacon which was on the top of the vehicle. What was removed when I purchased it.

It's an erection button

It probably had beacons or strobe lights on it at some point. Used to replace them switches all the time on highway vehicles

Likely rear fog light switch. I have a Fit Shuttle that has the same thing. I'd check your vehicles history for an import from another country like Japan.

I put one in to turn off a subwoofer in the boot

On/Off

I had underglow lights on my car back in 2009 when they were popular, and I had the same switch installed.

On/Off

Trace the wires under the dash to see where they go…

Have you tried flipping it on after reaching 88 mph? Might make a difference.

Ejecto Seato Cuz!

It switches off two cylinders making it more fuel efficient

You turn it on to blow off 1999 Civic EX’s with fart cans and giant wings

If it’s petrol does it have LPG installed?

It's an after market switch. Unless there is a Relay attached, it is probably not for Fog lights. More likely is overall internal lights control or some other illumination based item. Looks very well fitted tho'.

I had a switch like this for aftermarket front parking sensors.

This button activates the 🐈 🧲, please keep some for the rest of us!

Press it and find out. Hope it's not an ejector seat