Firstly I would like to say a big hello and what a great site this is.
I have done a few searches regarding the heater control illumination so I went to have a look at mine only I ended up snapping two of my heater controls off
Is there a special way of removing the plastic knobs and also how difficult is it to replace the levers?
As far as I am aware the end of the knobs are moulded onto the plastic parts of the levers. The complete knobs/plastic levers slip over the metals prongs behind the panel which control the vents.
You should have pulled on the arms of the levers, not the end of the knobs themselves.
If you have pulled the end knobs off from the pastic part of the lever, then I don't know the answer. I would think a new knob and lever as a complete unit.
All the above sounds rather rude, but it ain't supposed to sound that way.
i always find the trick is to push them on further before pulling them off, as they are located bt a moulded "Bobble" and "groove", and centralise the lever in the slot when pulling them off.......
Don't know how much the knobs are from VW, but I paid £1-£1.50 each at Vanfest this year for 2nd hand. I needed all 4 and it seems there are a couple of (slightly) different styles (and part no's), so if you go the 2nd hand route, make sure you get a matching set.