Tools:
- Small ratchet with 10mm socket
- Soldering iron and solder
- T20 Torx driver
- wire clippers
- Painters tape
- Glass marker (a permanent marker will work and should come off the windshield)
- X-acto knife
- Flat razor
- Fine-point needle (to remove wire pins from a plastic connector)
- Electrical tape (or friction tape)
Parts:
- Replacement Mirror. There are many to choose from. Some have 6 pins some have 8 pins. The 6-pin mirror is for a single -zone AC system with NO climate sensor. My mirror was from an older A6. It was: 4F0857511A.
- Wiring Track: 4F0857593G. Find something similar. Other models have similar part numbers.
- Wire Cover: 4F0857593F. Find something similar. Other models have similar part numbers.
- Audi Wire: 000979009E
- Plug for new wires: 8E0971833
- New Mount (no Audi part number... see below). NOT 701845543
- 10" of wire (cut a piece from one of those extra network cables in your drawer)
Process
The most important thing to know about this is that the mounting bracket for the new mirror is not the same as the mount for the basic mirror. Unfortunately, the new mirror mount is NOT a part that can be ordered from Audi. It has no part number. The only way to get this part is used. The best way to do this is call up 2 or 3 local dealers and ask them who they contract their glass-work out to (they often do not do glass themselves). Get the names and phone numbers. Call them up directly and explain that you are looking for the mounting bracket from the compass-mirror. Explain that it looks like a large teardrop or U, not a small quarter-sized circle. If they have ever done any glass-work, they will know what you are talking about. Ask them to take your name and phone number, and call you when a cracked windshield comes in. Check with them every couple weeks. Eventually, they will get one (it took me 6 weeks). Ask them to break it off the glass, but keep it intact. They may tell you that your plans won't work. Just tell them they are probably right, but you want to try. Incidentally, they are wrong, but be nice so you get the part.
When I got my part, it had little pieces of glass still glued on it. I took it to a trusted glass guy. My glass guy used a box-cutter to scrape the glass off. It turns out that the "glue" Audi uses from the factory is like black caulk. Use a razor and scrape off as much as possible.
The next major hurdle is to remove the existing mirror. This is where most panic sets in. Warning here: do NOT try this yourself. Be prepared for the risk that this process may crack your windshield. If it does, order the proper glass for the new mirror. The glass guy should use his hand to twist the stem coming from the mirror. This will leave a quarter-sized mount to the window. He will need to take a blow torch to the thing to heat up the glue underneath. While he is doing that, he will need to TWIST (not pull) until it comes off. When it does, that little mount will be hot as hell. While the windshield is still hot, he needs to take a straight-edge razor and scrape off the glue. Clean it, cool it, and move on. Hopefully, your glass is still intact.
Mounting the new bracket is not too difficult. First of all, do not use any of the cheap mounting glue from the local auto store. All of the glass guys I spoke with said that the store-bought stuff was useless. At least the guy that did my work had that same black-caulk like stuff and used it. I did buy the glue kit that is listed in ETKA and we did not use it. Don't waste your money on it. The next step in this process is to push the plastic wire track into place in the headliner. Run your finger along the headliner in front of the over-head controls. You will feel a small cut-out in the middle. That is where you need to push the wire-track into.
Now, slide the mount onto the wire-track. Line everything up to the center of the glass, tape it to the glass. Go outside and look at it from the front center of the car and re-align as needed. Repeat until you are happy. Now, use the marker on the outside of the glass to mark where it should line up. When you do all this, keep in mind that the hole in the middle of the new mount will overlay that black dot inside the glass. That hole is for the rain sensor. If you have any desire to eventually put the sensor in, you need to move the bracket upward so the hole is not covered by the dot. There is plenty of space and you only need about .5 cm. Keep in mind, if you do this, you will do a little cutting on the wire cover later.
When you have found the right place, put the black-caulk glue on the back of the mount, slide it onto the wire track and put it in place. Line it all up, double check, tape it in place and wait 24 hours. No touching, just wait. Do not worry about any glue that has leaked out the side. The wire track may get glued to the windshield as well. Don't worry about that. Once the 24 hours are up, gently wiggle free and move the wire track out of the way. It comes loose very easily. You do not need to take it off completely , just turn it a little to the side. Use the X-acto knife to trim off any excess glue. You can also scrape it off the windshield with a flat-razor.
Now comes the electrical work... If you are only worried about the compass, you only need to focus on power to the mirror--pins 1 and 2 of the mirror jack. Since that was my goal, and I am not worried about doing a full, Audi-like wiring process, I will describe what I did. You could buy the proper plug and wire the plug, I decided not to go that route. It looks like it would not be to hard to remove the A-pillar cover and run the wire to the fuse box, but for me there was no real need. If you plan to install the rain sensor, you will need to run the wire.
First, I cut the Audi wire to size. Do NOT cut the wire in half. Cut the wire into about one-third/two-thirds. Solder the 10" wire to the one-third part. When done, both wires should be about the same length. Strip off the ends of the wires.
Second, take note what color pins 1 and 2 are, and the remove all the pins from the connector on the mirror. My mirror had 6 pins, pin 1 was black (ground) and pin 2 was white (hot). Put one wire onto one pin and tape it together with electrical tape (or possibly friction tape). Repeat with the other wire/pin. Since I only wanted the compass to work, I ignored the other pins...for now. If you plan to use the pin-jack, put the wires into slots 1 and 2. Still make note of the wire color so you can connect it properly. Time to mount the mirror.
Remove the cover to the over-head lights and sunroof. This is very easy--open the glasses compartment, remove the one torx screw, and pull the cover downward gently. It will hang there with two wires holding it up.
With the wire track still out of place, gently twist the new mirror onto the new bracket. Once in place, put the mirror track in place. Line the wires upward into the track, and fish the two new long lines into the over-head lighting area. The easiest way to tap the power line it so slide it into the same space as pin 1 on the Homelink buttons. This works out well because those buttons only have power when the car is on. Tape the wire to the bundles to keep it from moving or coming out. Find one of the screws in the roof that is tucked under the edges of the hole (sorry, no picture). Tap the ground wire to one of those. Done. When you power the car on, the mirror compass should light up. If not, check your wire connections. DON'T reattach the over-head light buttons just yet...
Its time to put the wire cover on. A couple tricks and hints here... First, if you did move the mount upward so you could install the rain sensor, you will need to cut the tip of the cover off. Use a box-cutter and take your time. When you put it in place, it is easiest to tilt the mirror down and go straight over it and snap it in place. I would also recommend putting the cover on BEFORE you re-attach the over-head light buttons. It will go on easier and will not scratch the front plastic lip on the button frame. Once the cover is cut down to the right size, put it in place, make sure all the wires are hidden. If it looks good, NOW, reattach the over-head light buttons. You are done.
TODAY, this is where I am at. I have other plans... From the outside, the mounting does not look bad, but not great either. I am currently investigating putting a piece of vinyl over it. You know that stuff you see on car windows that looks like an advertisement from the outside, but tint from the inside. I am investigating putting a piece of that on the outside of the glass. Below is a template I am working with for the shape of the vinyl piece. I still need to re-size it, and confirm it is a good shape. My only concern will be the impact to the wipers once it is in place. I will let you know as I learn more.
Hope this was helpful.
UPDATE: Don't use vinyl. I ended up taking a permanent marker and outlining the black plastic track on the window ON THE OUTSIDE of the car. I took the track off the window and then painted the inside with Testers brand model paint bought at a local hobby store. I tried 4 different shades of black and they were all the same. The marker on the outside gave me a template on how much to paint. I let the paint dry and did a second coat. I also got underneath the mount with the paintbrush. Once it dried, I reinstalled the track. I then used a straight-edge razor and scraped off the excess paint. Put it all together and it looks outstanding. You cannot even tell I did anything. Oh, a little glass cleaner will take that permanent marker right off, too.
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Originally Posted by charlievoviii
Lesson learned... I will now hunt for a new mirror... But at least the outside looks great!
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