i bought a 1999 A4 and unfortunately the sunroof has an number of broken parts totaling $500 (for the parts alone). my old car is a 2000 Jetta VR6, which i haven't sold yet. it has a few other issues so the sell price won't be much, and i'm wondering if i should add "broken sunroof" to those issues. any problem simply swapping the whole assemblies between the two makes/models, other than the general hassle of pulling headliners and removing/reinstalling assemblies?? thanks for any advice.

 

The Passat is the VW model that have most common interchangeable parts for our A4's.

 

I got a complete sunroof assembly, with motor for $60 at a local salvage yard.

Tips
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+ Do not test the sunroof mechanism with the glass removed -- it will destroy the mechanism.

+ Use a trim remover tool to remove the pillar trim and headliner so you don't break the pillar plastic and/or crease the headliner.

+ When you get inevitably frustrated after dealing with the sunroof for a couple hours, don't get grease on the headliner by accident.

+ RECONNECT the (4x) sunroof drain tubes.

The motor was shot on my salvage yard assembly, but I used my existing motor.

 

i've had no preliminary luck locating a used sunroof assembly, but will keep at it. thanks for the tips, i'm not looking forward to pulling headliner.

i know the passat is closed relative to te A4, but i believe the sunroof is the same in the jetta (?)

 

According to ETKA a MK4 sunroof actually will fit, strangely enough it's the only other model to share this sunroof. That's for the '99.5 sunroof though, the prefacelift '99s got a different sunroof that isn't shared with any other car sold here.

 

thanks for that info, mad cow. by '99.5, you are referring to the audi, correct? (my jetta is a 2000 anyway.) i don't know what half-year my A4 is, can i tell from the vin? i guess i'm wondering if i look for another used sunroof assembly at salvage, what audi or vw models and years would work, or where i might be able to look that up... if it's not too much trouble to ask?

thanks again for everyone's replies.