Rear View Mirror Assembly

[TLR_0125]

Would anyone happen to know if the B8 and B8.5 rear view mirror assembly is the same? They look the same visually from what I see online. Not sure if the connector is different. The plastic on the front side of the mirror has a crack, doesn't look very nice. My other option was just buying one off ebay, and swapping that plastic cover and hoping I don't crack the new one. Looks like a brand new rear view mirror with the dimming feature and compass is around $1000.

[Smac770]

They are definitely different part numbers, due to the humidity sensor change and its wiring change.

8R0 857 511 C is the B8.0 all features one.
8T0 857 511 AC is the B8.5 all features one.

The 8-pin plug is the same part number. But again, the included humidity sensor and wiring are changed.

Now, could you swap over the humidity sensor and rework the wiring? Probably. But couldn't guess to your options until both were laying on the operating table.

[DrGER]

Short answer: No.

All B8.5 mirrors have the 8-pin connector, while some B8 mirrors use the 6-pin connector. ETKA doesn't differentiate the 6- and 8-pin connectors with mirror P/Ns, that I can tell. What year and options codes (e.g., 4L7+6NQ+8N1,8N6+9AQ) are you looking to replace ? More options info here: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../8/857-857045/ --g

[RPMtech147]

Would anyone happen to know if the B8 and B8.5 rear view mirror assembly is the same? They look the same visually from what I see online. Not sure if the connector is different. The plastic on the front side of the mirror has a crack, doesn't look very nice. My other option was just buying one off ebay, and swapping that plastic cover and hoping I don't crack the new one. Looks like a brand new rear view mirror with the dimming feature and compass is around $1000.

You can find them on Ebay used for about $300 but be aware of what you're looking at. The mirrors are all very similar starting from the early 2000's across many models, and most will fit, but the wiring/connectors are all different, as Smac said.

The compass mirror broke on mine; the joint inside cracked and the mirror just flopped around. I installed one from a 2008ish A6 I had in a drawer. The connectors don't match, but it functions as a mirror and looks nearly identical. I didn't feel like paying $300-1000 for a compass. I was going to try and re-pin the connector to get it working, but meh.

[TLR_0125]

So I was thinking of buying something like this and then just taking that front plastic off. This listing says 06-09, but the shape looks identical. If those years are different, then I was thinking this one. It's listed as A5/S5, but also looks identical. Just needs to be cleaned.

Now I'm wondering how hard it would be to take off that front plastic around the brim of the mirror without damaging it...

[RPMtech147]

So I was thinking of buying something like this and then just taking that front plastic off. This listing says 06-09, but the shape looks identical. If those years are different, then I was thinking this one. It's listed as A5/S5, but also looks identical. Just needs to be cleaned.

Now I'm wondering how hard it would be to take off that front plastic around the brim of the mirror without damaging it...

Thats the older Gen(B7). Once again, itll fit, the car but the harness is different. The mirror housing itself is also different. The only thing actually the same is the cover over the wire and the mount to the glass. Visually they're similar. The mirror for your car won't be less than $300.

[Smac770]

Short answer: No.

All B8.5 mirrors have the 8-pin connector, while some B8 mirrors use the 6-pin connector. ETKA doesn't differentiate the 6- and 8-pin connectors with mirror P/Ns, that I can tell. What year and options codes (e.g., 4L7+6NQ+8N1,8N6+9AQ) are you looking to replace ? More options info here: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../8/857-857045/ --g

It's easy enough to differentiate the 6-pin applications and 8-pin applications for B8.0 by cross-referencing the relevant sections in the wiring diagrams document. 6-pin is used on those without the humidity sensor and without high beam assist (which no US B8 has HBA, iirc).

4L2 = manual dim mirror
4L6 = auto dim mirror
4L7 = auto dim mirror with compass

8N1 = no RLS
8N6 = with RLS
8N7 = with RLS

9AK = basic climate system, single zone, no humidity sensor
9AQ = comfort climate system, three zone, with humidity sensor

6NJ vs 6NQ refer to interior trim material, and have no net impact on parts, at least for US market

7L1, L7L = without stop/start
7L8 = with stop/start, meaning no US B8 (except B8.5 Q5 without the 2.0T engine).

But again, once you say "with compass", there's only the single-zone climate system version (with no humidity sensor, would have the 6-pin; this is the 8R...A) and the three-zone climate system version (with the humidity sensor, would have the 8-pin; this is the 8R...C), for B8.0. B8.5 has only the with humidity sensor version, with 8-pin.