Pkuhns

A little more followup for future peeps:


I ordered a complete "regulator" (metal frame, electric motor, and glass) from Force 5 ($90) and put it in the car. Adjustment was somewhat confusing - you do need to tweak/adjust the metal regulator so that it lines up with the driver's side window.

One thing I realized was the little window broke because of the big window. A while back (10 months ago?), the electric motor for the main driver's side window fell off it's strange mounts. The motor was mounted to the driver's side regulator using a bizarre squishy foam double-ended screw. The foam in these 'screws' rotted out (UV? Ozone?) and plunk! - the motor fell down inside the driver's side door. It rattled around a long while and wouldn't let the window go up and down. The window would bind on part of the electric motor/cabling. Ugly...


Long story somewhat short: by not fixing this immediately, I managed to mangle/bend the driver's side window/regulator a little so that the window was leaning in more than it used to. It bound up with the little rear window when all the windows were going up and eventually the plastic track thingy inside the rear window couldn't take the strain.

So I had to remove the shims inside the main driver's side door that shim the main window regulator to 'bend' the frame outward a tad. It's ugly yes and I am thoroughly aware of my stupidity. I can say that I now know how to remove interior trim faster than Superman though (not that he owns an Audi - too smart for that!).

I bought a Bentley to help but honestly it really isn't that helpful. I am a technical writer by trade and their approach/style is a little bizarre/confusing. Must be me...

GuyllFyre

If you bought the Bentley DVD, since there's no paper manual available, I agree, it's pretty much useless. The search function doesn't work and the index/contents don't make any sense.

Complete and utter waste of money and Bentley should be ashamed to have put out such trash.

Mike Atkisson

For the rear window did you notice there was a 13mm nut and that the "bolt" has a hex-head on the end of it?

From my experience replacing the window you neeed to adjust the bolt in and out to help align the window. Once you have it in the correct position you tighten the 13mm nut. This is easier said than done due to limited room to work.

Since I replaced the passenger side I have noticed that the driver side window is so far out of alignment that the aluminum window frame is actually worn down where it rubs against the body.

ijensen808

Any chance someone could reload this crucial photo? I am just now going through the rear window repair journey myself..

grillage

You're looking for the last bolt that lives behind this trim:

grillage

ijensen808

Fantastic, that's what I was missing. Thank you!

Pkuhns

I replaced my rear window 5 years ago this month. It still works. The rest of the car has seen better days but hot damn the window still works!

The front driver side window whacked out of alignment a tiny smidge at some point over the past 5 years and I've been too lazy to get in there and whack it back. On the to-do list. Fortunately it's not affecting the rear window.

I've had this car 15 years now and probably should be committed considering how much money I've spent on it. I have a new appreciation for American (ie simple) and Japanese (ie dependable) cars. German cars are still sexy which the other two countries haven't quite figured out and yes that's still important so I guess I'll shut up....