cyrusli

I saw those too. It depends on how technically inclined you are. It's cheaper for sure, but you will need to do more work after taking the top half of your door off. In terms of steps and hassle, you actually just give yourself more work to do because once you remove the old rail from the door frame, you will need to remove the wires and redo them if you buy the kit. If you buy the actual regulator with the rails, you just unbolt and bolt the new one on.

If you are on a budget and looking for a challenge, go for it. I paid 69.99 + 30 shipping for the complete regulator.

Cyrus.

Sly_North

For the rear window regulators, it's fortunately quite simpler and cheaper.

Parts: cheap

- get one of these replacement plastic parts for less than $20



Dismounting the door

Follow only the 1st steps of the classic DIY like DIY: B6 A4 Rear Window Regulator (I took some of their pics).
- put window in its top position (pull the glass with your hands; then use the button to also pull the cable at the corresponding place).
- remove the door trim, remove the 4 screws
- pull hard the decoration of the door from the bottom to the top, disconnect the door handle cable, drop the decoration on the ground, rotated 90° (no need to disconnect anything else, you'll have plenty of space).



- remove the top of the foam, remove the small plastic mask and its two screws: that's the regulator access window! Which is why there's no point in removing the speaker, window engine and the likes. This is what you should get (I only removed the trim, 4 screws, the door handle cable, the top of the foam and the regulator access door):




Fixing the window regulator

Then following 2003 AUDI A4 Window clip | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- while blocking the window (use someone else's help or use some wood/tool) use a small finger ratchet to remove the two screws at the back of the plastic. Slide it on the side, put back the new one instead.

- put everything back in place. The whole operation may take up to 30mn the 1st time, 10mn the second time



A temporary fix!

Now let's say you ordered the part but don't have it yet, and you want to secure your rear window closed. The idea is to lock the node on the cable in its position in the green plastic part attached to the window, in the closed position. Follow these steps:
- Align the cable node in the small 8-shaped space in the black rectangular bar.
- Using some strong string, insert it between the regulator cable and the rectangular bar. Pull it from the side, and send it back on the other side of the regulator cable. Do a node just above the cable node. Then send back both end of the string in the 8-shaped window, one on each side.

- Make one end go around the green plastic part and do another node with the other extremity. This will be very fragile, do not try to open the window, leave it in the closed position! At least it won't open itself and that should stand a few days, until you get the new part.
- Put back the regulator access cover and its 2 screws, and put back the foam in place. Reconnect the door handle to the door decoration, put it back and screw it. And DON'T put back the trim: you would need to remove it again to replace the green plastic, risking again to break some of its clips.

Sly_North

Guys, if the major reason for breaking front window regulator is also the plastic clips... Maybe there's an easier way too


The plastic clips seem to be accessible through the side-most and through the speaker holes. And they're quite cheap on Ebay too, starting from 15$. Thus it may not be necessary to completely dismount the door.

RegulatorFix

In a lot of cases (most), it is the clips that break on the B6 (and most other cars for that matter). Rears are the 'big green', front are a pair of clips.

Unwilling to spend $250 (quoted to me by the 2 Audi dealers I contacted for front regulator), I used my (German) connections to locate manufacturers in Europe and now stock all available clips for Audi and VW (and some other cars).

Listed on ebay and Amazon under REGULATORFIX.

Regarding rear: some hinted/suggested the clip can be changed without the need to take the regulator out. Certainly a bit tricky, but possible. A helpful Audi gent sent me his version of DIY to do so, but leave it up to everyone's preference.

website (still work in process after it was wiped out entirely):

regulatorfix (dot) com

Shipping from Michigan (same day), but having lived in Montreal, you and I know Canada Post (patience required).