Renewing convertible roof cover: Audi A3

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A3 (8P, 2003–2012)

• Renewed: adhesive strip

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• Before removing tensioning cables, clearly mark their position and attachment points on the convertible roof frame and on the cover (1, 2, 3 etc.).
• Screw in bolts again loosely immediately after unfastening cables/guide eyelets.
• Mark positions of fabric flaps for cross struts with a white felt-tip pen or similar on both sides (for half-open positioning) and mark end of cross strut flaps on cross strut tube (for tensioning at convertible roof cover).
• The following designations are used in this section.
• Cable must be routed at outer edge of convertible roof.

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ Before tensioning cables and retaining straps are removed, mark or take pictures of their positions to ensure that you can re-install them at their original positions.When removing the retaining rails for the convertible roof seals, make a note of the number and thickness of the washers (for lateral adjustment) to ensure that they are are installed correctly. — Headliner removed .
2. Remove trim from cross strut »1«.
3. Remove seals »1«, »2« and »4«.
4. Unscrew bolts (arrows) at front of front cross strut from retaining strip (1).
5. Unbolt retaining strip (1) at rear of front cross strut.

6. Drill out rivet heads (3x) on guide rail for seal for main guide element and detach seal and cover from retaining bracket.
7. Before removing tensioning cables, clearly mark their position and attachment points on the convertible roof frame and on the cover (1, 2, 3 etc.).
8. Detach tensioning cables and tensioning straps for regulation of cover and pull through guide eyelets. [Note: Screw in bolts again loosely immediately after unfastening cables/guide eyelets.]
9. On fully automatic convertible roof, unplug electrical wiring and remove.
10. Unbolt tensioner and pull out fabric retaining strip of convertible roof cover.
11. Drill out rivet head (arrow) at spring with tensioning cables.
12. Drill out rivet head at tensioning cable »6« for splash guard. [Note: Mark positions of fabric flaps for cross struts with a white felt-tip pen or similar on both sides (for half-open positioning) and mark end of cross strut flaps on cross strut tube (for tensioning at convertible roof cover).]
13. Unfasten cross strut flaps and pull them off cross strut tube.
14. Remove adhesive tape from front cross strut and detach clips (1) at tensioning cable (2) from front cross strut to the side.
15. Bring convertible roof to half-open position, fold convertible roof cover at front cross strut towards rear and disengage tensioning cable (2).
16. Remove rear window guide element and guide link (only on right side) from rear window (unscrew flange bolt TX 30).
17. Place convertible roof cover towards rear over rear window and at the same time pull tensioning cable out of cover.
18. Disengage tensioning strap from front cross strut and unbolt from all cross struts.
19. Convertible roof cover can now be lifted off convertible roof frame.
20. Pull retaining strip of convertible roof cover out of tensioning strap downwards at an angle. [Note: The following designations are used in this section.] [Note: First remove retaining clips from old convertible roof cover and attach them to plastic strip of new convertible roof cover; pay attention to central positioning (indentation).Tighten all bolts on retaining strips (front and rear) for securing cover at front cross strut to 1.5 ... 2.0 Nm.Tighten bolts for securing tensioning straps to cross struts to 2 Nm.]
21. Insert convertible roof cover into fabric retaining strip on tensioner.
22. Place convertible roof cover with fabric retaining strip in convertible roof well.
23. Engage tensioning straps (left and right) at front cross strut and secure to cross struts with bolts.
24. Install rear window guide element (2) and guide link (1) at rear window.
25. Screw in bolt (3) with locking fluid and tighten to torque .
26. Attach locking spring (4) to pin.
27. ⚠ Routing of steel cables has changed for new convertible roof covers. — Renew adhesive strip; round off edge beneath if necessary.
28. Thread cable through hole in plastic strip at top edge of retaining bracket.
29. ⚠ Pull in steel cable in the direction indicated by the illustration. — Pull steel cable into convertible roof cover using a bent piece of welding wire or similar.
30. Cable must be routed at outer edge of convertible roof.
31. Rivet strap (1) for retaining bracket to inside of retaining bracket (∅ 3.2 x 8 mm pop rivet). [Note: On old convertible roofs, strap is secured with a bolt.]
32. Engage tensioning cable (1) at side of front cross strut and secure with retaining clips (2).
33. Mask off clips with fabric adhesive tape.
34. Place convertible roof cover across front cross strut.
35. Bond side flap (rear) on according to markings made during removal of old convertible roof cover.
36. Bolt front retaining rail to front cross strut (15x).
37. Bolt plastic strip (only on fully automatic convertible roof) of insulation to front cross strut (11x).
38. Starting at bottom, rivet C-pillar seal »4« ((item 1)) to convertible roof cover at retaining bracket using pop rivet pliersVAS 5072 and long nozzle supplied.
39. ⚠ Make sure steel cable is correctly installed and is not trapped or stuck. — Fit tensioner onto centring pin (arrow) in centre of vehicle and secure loosely with two bolts (left and right).
40. ⚠ Note different bolt lengths. — Starting in centre, tighten tensioner to torque .
41. Close convertible roof and align cover centrally.
42. Secure cross strut flaps to cross struts without pre-tension and approx. 2 ... 3 mm from markings so that fabric of convertible roof cover is not pulled inwards.
43. Fold back fabric flaps at cross struts 2 ... 4 from front to rear.
44. Fold back fabric flap at cross strut »5« from rear to front.
45. ⚠ Make sure that fabric of convertible roof cover is not pulled inwards when the roof is closed.Observe distance of 2 ... 3 mm from markings on cross strut.If necessary, unfasten cross strut flaps and bond them on again. — Pull in electrical wiring (1) through pouch at rear left of tensioning strap and on vehicles with fully automatic convertible roof secure in loops along tensioning strap with Velcro fasteners (2).
46. Hook and loop sides of Velcro fasteners must engage fully.
47. When routing cables for rear window heating, pay attention to position of cable tie fasteners.
48. Fasten top corner of Velcro pouch with a stapler or similar (2x) and flatten staples using pliers. Velcro hooks must not protrude from edges.
49. Pull all tensioning cables back into guide eyelets according to markings made during removal and secure to frame.
50. Guide tensioning cables »1« and »2« first through eyelets on front cross strut and then through front hole in double eyelet towards outside and bolt onto roof guide element »1« from inside (3).
51. Route tensioning cable »3« ((item 1)) through double eyelet (2) towards outside as shown and bolt onto roof guide element »1« from outside (together with tensioning cable »4«). [Note: Tensioning cable »3« must be detached again before headliner can be installed.]
52. Route tensioning cable »4« through double eyelet (2) towards outside as shown and bolt onto roof guide element »1« from outside (together with tensioning cable »3«).
53. Secure tensioning strap »1« ((item 2)) to rear edge of front cross strut.
54. Bolt tensioning strap »2« ((item 1)) to inside of control lever for cross strut »2«.
55. Route tensioning cable »5« ((item 2)) as shown across retainer for cross strut »2« and secure to inside of guide element »4«. [Note: When installing interior headliner, another strap is bolted on.The attachment point for new convertible roofs has changed.]
56. Bolt tensioning strap (1) onto outside of guide element »3« as shown. [Note: The attachment point for new convertible roofs has changed (from inside to outside).]
57. Secure tensioning straps to convertible roof linkage in area of C-pillar as shown.
58. ⚠ Take care not to twist straps. — Bolt strap »1« to top side of rear window guide element.
59. Bolt strap »2« to corner retainer for strut.
60. Bolt 3-part strap »3« to inside of main guide element with a metal guide eyelet.

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