Here is a pseudo write-up of retrofitting an auto-dimming mirror + rain sensor and Homelink visor.
The most difficult part was, as usual, getting to the CEC. Other than that, the other frustrations were that the mirror base + polyurethane adhesive look tacky from the outside because this windshield did not have the ceramic plating to accommodate the rain sensor/mirror base. Both versions of windshields are the same price, so when mine becomes abused by falling rocks, I’ll change it then.
As a bonus, I discovered that the sensor also acts as a light sensor (though not sure whether it is the mirror or the rain sensor that adds this functionality). I already had the Euro Auto Headlight Switch from a prior fog-lamp install, so this worked out well. However, I do not understand how this light sensor works with cars equipped with a sun sensor on the dash as well. Are they supposed to work in tandem? Perhaps one of you may know the answer to that.
Parts were sources from eBay, the local VW dealer and from the Vortex classified sections. A good set of PDF instructions can be found here on the first post:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2626178
List of Parts:
1X 4B0-971-833 HOUSING (Female Harness Connector)
1X 1C0-973-119 HOUSING (Female Harness Connector)
2X 000-979-009 WIRE SET (Trigger Wires)
3X 000-979-018 WIRE SET (Trigger Wires)
1X 1K0-955-559-R RAINSENSOR
1X 1K0-857-593—71N CONDUIT (Lower Piece Wire Conduit)
1X 1K5-857-304—71N TRIM (Headliner Connector)
1X DA-004-600-A2 2K GLUE (Holding Plate Glue) –READ BELOW
1X 1K0-845-543 PLATE (Rain/Light Sensor Mounting Plate)
1X 1K0-857-511-B-9B9 MIRROR (Auto-Dimming Mirror)
The only different part I got from this list was the 2K Polyurethane glue, which was smaller in size and cheaper at $30, instead of $50. The part number for this is D 180 KD2 A1.
I also did not need the CONDUIT listed above. Note, my mirror has been installed lower than it’s supposed to be because the windshield was previously broken.
The pictures below are quite self-explanatory, in supplement to the PDF documentation above.
My Rain Sensor is the older type.
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The Mirror Base.
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Wires & Connectors all connected.
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Ground taken from here under the Interior Lights
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This is the connector for the Homelink Visor. The connector is the old visor, but I had to get another one because the latch on this was broken when yanking the wiring from the roof. You have to pull hard to remove it, as it seems to be designed this way; the connector is slid into a trough of some kind inside the roof. The red wire seen here goes to the fuse box for a 12 volt Switched source. The blue and brown both connect to the existing connector’s red and brown for positive and ground respectively.
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This was an absolute PITA to get the connector to slide back into the roofline. Had to drop the headliner in this area for the connector to slide in properly.
![]()
Behind the Driver’s side fuse-box. The blue taps shown are tapping into 12 volt Switched. For 12 volt constant, the top left-most red wire was used.
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Wires coming out of the headliner to the windshield.
![]()
The 2K Polyurethane glue.
![]()
Water sprayed on after the wiper control stalked moved up one level and VAG COM used to tell the car that it has a rain sensor. Everything works as intended, and the sensor does not appear to be too overzealous in sensitivity. Because there is no ceramic plate attached to the windshield, the install looks tacky from the outside. Also note my broken glass.
![]()
Also notice the entire assembly is too low on the windshield. There should be no wires showing; the black housing around the mirror should be almost touching the headliner.
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Modified by jambo1 at 7:34 PM 3-30-2008
The most difficult part was, as usual, getting to the CEC. Other than that, the other frustrations were that the mirror base + polyurethane adhesive look tacky from the outside because this windshield did not have the ceramic plating to accommodate the rain sensor/mirror base. Both versions of windshields are the same price, so when mine becomes abused by falling rocks, I’ll change it then.
As a bonus, I discovered that the sensor also acts as a light sensor (though not sure whether it is the mirror or the rain sensor that adds this functionality). I already had the Euro Auto Headlight Switch from a prior fog-lamp install, so this worked out well. However, I do not understand how this light sensor works with cars equipped with a sun sensor on the dash as well. Are they supposed to work in tandem? Perhaps one of you may know the answer to that.
Parts were sources from eBay, the local VW dealer and from the Vortex classified sections. A good set of PDF instructions can be found here on the first post:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2626178
List of Parts:
1X 4B0-971-833 HOUSING (Female Harness Connector)
1X 1C0-973-119 HOUSING (Female Harness Connector)
2X 000-979-009 WIRE SET (Trigger Wires)
3X 000-979-018 WIRE SET (Trigger Wires)
1X 1K0-955-559-R RAINSENSOR
1X 1K0-857-593—71N CONDUIT (Lower Piece Wire Conduit)
1X 1K5-857-304—71N TRIM (Headliner Connector)
1X DA-004-600-A2 2K GLUE (Holding Plate Glue) –READ BELOW
1X 1K0-845-543 PLATE (Rain/Light Sensor Mounting Plate)
1X 1K0-857-511-B-9B9 MIRROR (Auto-Dimming Mirror)
The only different part I got from this list was the 2K Polyurethane glue, which was smaller in size and cheaper at $30, instead of $50. The part number for this is D 180 KD2 A1.
I also did not need the CONDUIT listed above. Note, my mirror has been installed lower than it’s supposed to be because the windshield was previously broken.
The pictures below are quite self-explanatory, in supplement to the PDF documentation above.
My Rain Sensor is the older type.
The Mirror Base.
Wires & Connectors all connected.
Ground taken from here under the Interior Lights
This is the connector for the Homelink Visor. The connector is the old visor, but I had to get another one because the latch on this was broken when yanking the wiring from the roof. You have to pull hard to remove it, as it seems to be designed this way; the connector is slid into a trough of some kind inside the roof. The red wire seen here goes to the fuse box for a 12 volt Switched source. The blue and brown both connect to the existing connector’s red and brown for positive and ground respectively.
This was an absolute PITA to get the connector to slide back into the roofline. Had to drop the headliner in this area for the connector to slide in properly.
Behind the Driver’s side fuse-box. The blue taps shown are tapping into 12 volt Switched. For 12 volt constant, the top left-most red wire was used.
Wires coming out of the headliner to the windshield.
The 2K Polyurethane glue.
Water sprayed on after the wiper control stalked moved up one level and VAG COM used to tell the car that it has a rain sensor. Everything works as intended, and the sensor does not appear to be too overzealous in sensitivity. Because there is no ceramic plate attached to the windshield, the install looks tacky from the outside. Also note my broken glass.
Also notice the entire assembly is too low on the windshield. There should be no wires showing; the black housing around the mirror should be almost touching the headliner.
Modified by jambo1 at 7:34 PM 3-30-2008
