richard-tx

I spent some time tonight looking at the various parts for the soft close aka close assist.

What I found was this:

Motor - 4E0-837-059 Ellis Price - $240.98

Apparently the soft close cable is part of the latch assembly.

As far as I can tell, the drivers door lock with switch assembly for my 2006 is 4E1-837-015C - Ellis price - $177

What I find frustrating is that Ref #16 shows the soft close cable as a separate item. Yet I can find no part number for it. Has anyone found a part number for that cable?

Doc_A8

Separate question: how can you tell if your A8 has this feature?

richard-tx

You likely do. To see it in action simply push the door closed to the first "click". It should pull it in the rest of the way. If the drivers door does not work, try one of the rear doors.

MP4.2+6.0

For OP, you jump right to looking at parts. What is the issue? You talk about a cable; is that broken?

I ask because when mine was in for the issue under warranty, dealer replaced a sensor, not the closing mechanism components.

richard-tx

Motor runs but it doesn't do anything. Not much else is left.

Anyway I ordered the latch. I will know more once I get the door apart.

amsnooze

where is the sensor located? my front passenger door will not soft close any more. i would like to start by replacing sensor.

richard-tx

There are no sensors for the soft close. There are two parts that fail. #1 is the microswitches in the door latch. #2 is the cable which is part of the door latch. In either case a new latch is needed.

MainelyA8

Sorry to resurrect this, but is this standard on all A8Ls? I can't seem to get it to work on any door in my 05, so I assumed I don't have it.

MP4.2+6.0

Not standard. Even if an issue, it usually works except on the problematic door. So, if no door does soft close, suggests the option isn't there to begin with.

Hannibalacp82

I love the soft close to the point where I try to soft close the doors on my other car and then have to go back and actually close it. However my wife closes the doors like she is slamming a bank vault shut.