A8 Parts Forum - Solar Roof Retrofit.

A8 Parts Forum (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/index.php)

- D3 - Interior Electrics (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=46)

- - Solar Roof Retrofit. (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7857)

Solar Roof Retrofit.

Reading up on this Solar roof and I like the sound of it.

Anyone fitted one to a D3?

D3 is more complicated as its all linked through canbus, and can be switched on/off from the HVAC setup button.

Still do able I guess but it don't look like anyone has done it.

Not that I can find.

I assume you have a sunroof now, they are quiet rare on the D3 it seems. I have the solar one on mine.

yeah got a glass one.

Having the fans on when its hot and sunny outside seems like a much better idea than having the windows open or sun roof.

The forum sponsors have one, reasonable price as well. Not sure on the wiring requirements though.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A8-D3...-/170791011126

Seen that, was tempted as a spur of the moment but after a little thought, I think I need to do some reading about it first.
Hence this thread.

I also need to look into my surging first.

Be worth giving Dave a call to discuss fitting - I'd expect them to have pulled necessary wiring and I'm sure I read something IT posted that said the contacts are already there? May be less involved than you think as I doubt you'd need to fit the whole sunroof and can probably just change the panel same as the D2

I read that in a D2 solar roof thread.

I'll contact Dave.

Sunny day today, made me think about retrofitting solar sunroof :) Scott did you find out anything?

yeah.

I had a couple of good PMs from dave.

I'll edit them down to the information we need and I'll post it up.

From Dave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave@A8parts

The sunroof tray is according to ETKA different between Glass and Solar sunroof models so in order to do a smooth retro fit I would suggest swapping out the tray complete. This would obviously mean removing the headlining from the car which isn’t as difficult as it sounds. It is a matter of removing all the pillar upper trims which mostly unscrew and unclip easily, and then dropping down the headlining and then unbolting the sunroof tray and refitting the solar one. I have personally swapped all the upper trims and headlining in my own car and it took me around half a day.

As for the wiring the solar roof has simple Brown and Red (+ and -) connectors which track down the A pillar and go to a connector behind the glove box and then on the Climate Control Unit itself. This would need to be coded to tell it that it now has a solar roof. Once coded you will have the option of turning the solar roof on or off (which is a great idea during the winter months to prevent the windows steaming up like the D2 used to!) and it also automatically sets the fresh air intake flaps open when you switch the ignition off, and if for some reason you have the centre vents closed it will automatically open them to allow the air to flow into the cabin (despite looking like a normal roller operated vent, the centre ones are actually controlled by an electric actuator which receives its message from the roller). This way the climate control unit stays in control, not the driver!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave@A8parts

The wires from the solar roof go down to a 3 pin connector behind the glove box which connects to the Blower Control unit under the bonnet and in turn connects to the HVAC unit.

There is no control unit or canbus wires mentioned in the diagram, but any of these you may need we would be able to supply.

I'd like to do it but it won't be for a couple of months yet.