A mod for the kids - Sun Shade Install

[mtbsteve]

I was looking for a rear sun shade to keep the sun out of my son's eyes and ordered the VW shade from ECS Tuning for the B6 Passat.
VW PN - 3C0064360. http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-...ade/ES2207865/

So far, so good. For $10, this was cheap enough to try out. There is a small gap on each side but it is much less than what you might find by using a generic rear shade.

Pretty easy install and I think it looks good for what it is and no rattles or noises. The toughest part is just trying to fit your hands in the space to work on it because you are working so close to the window and side. I did a little bit of work to make it fit but it was pretty easy by following the included instructions.

1. I had to rewind the spring before install, the end popped off during shipping. There isn't anyting to prevent it from coming off so you will probably have to do this too. Once installed, it can't move.
2. Find a distance the works for you by placing it on the shelf and extend it up to the rear headliner, roughly 12" behind the seats.
3. Modify the shade by trimming the foam along the whole length of the bottom (cut about 1/2 of the thickness away, maybe more if you find it difficult to hold down when screwing it in).
4. Trim back to just a 1/4" of foam for the last 1.5" on each end to accomodate for the raised edges of the rear shelf.
5. I just pushed hard to set the screws and cranked them in, no room to make a pilot hole. Use a 90 degree ratcheting screwdriver and apply lots of pressure. I used the screws provided but a self tapping type might work easier.
6. The clips go on the edge of the headliner and it seems sturdy enough to hold and not bend the headliner over time. It just takes a little bit of force to bend it slightly during install and it might feel like you are cracking the headliner but no issues as far as I can tell (nothing noticable from inside or outside). I found it easiest to install closer to the center and then slide them towards the outside edges.

[TDI Brad]

[compu_85]

Looks like it fits great. At $10 I might have to pick one up too!

-J

[writeb]

Considered this myself, but was satisfied with 35% tint in the back instead . Glad to hear it can be made to work though. This would probably still be handy for particularly hot days. Now that my lil'man is forward facing, this is no longer as big of an issue too.

Can you please post a pic of the headliner clip? Thanks for the howto!

[mknieri]

Nice write up and pictures! Thank you for sharing.

[mtbsteve]

Considered this myself, but was satisfied with 35% tint in the back instead . Glad to hear it can be made to work though. This would probably still be handy for particularly hot days. Now that my lil'man is forward facing, this is no longer as big of an issue too.

Can you please post a pic of the headliner clip? Thanks for the howto!

I will try to grab a picture tonight and post tomorrow. I might just scan a copy of the instructions if that shows it clearly enough. It is a tight "s" shaped hook.

[TDI Brad]

Mines ordered. I'll do anything to keep my little lady comfy in the backseat.

[mtbsteve]

Can you please post a pic of the headliner clip? Thanks for the howto!

Here is a blurry picture of the clip installed. The part of the clip behind the headliner looks just like the part exposed except that it is about twice as long to hold in place better.

[writeb]

Thanks for the clip photo. Seems pretty quality to me, I'm in. Couldn't get over the 12$ shipping though, but I did find a source for ~18 shipped total. (Just search Google Shopping for 3C0064360, and one of the three with the cheapest price also has more reasonable shipping). Still a ridiculously good deal considering these units were going for a lot more in the B6's heyday.

One part of your mod that is still abstract to me (until I get the unit in the mail) is the trimming you had to do to the base unit. Hopefully it'll be more clear when I have it in hand and am looking at it. How did you go about trimming it? Shears? Scissors? Dremel?

[cheapa55TDI]

Great thread! Thanks OP! for the useful inexpensive mod. It seems like many of us here are Dads and we are willing to do almost anything for our little ones.

[Kchorro]

[mtbsteve]

One part of your mod that is still abstract to me (until I get the unit in the mail) is the trimming you had to do to the base unit. Hopefully it'll be more clear when I have it in hand and am looking at it. How did you go about trimming it? Shears? Scissors? Dremel?

There is a foam strip over an inch thick that runs the entire length of the shade base. I just used a box cutter/razor blade to cut about half of the thickness away. On the ends, I trimmed it even clser to the shade base. You will see when you install that the ends will sit on the slightly raised portion of the rear shelf and you can't compress the foam enough for it to sit flat without trimming the foam. I just removed a bit at a time so I did not remove too much and checked it until it seemed to fit best. I still left it thick enough that I had to compress the foam when tightening the 2 screws but I wanted it like that to prevent any rattles.

[TDI Brad]

Installed my rear shade today. Wow getting at those two screws is a beast. I only trimmed down foam from the ends to about an inch inward tapering the foam in. The picture in the instruction actually show the foam ends tapered in like I had trimmed it. Anyway this was a great idea. Thanks again for posting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WeeeZer14]

Here is another option. I had a "Sun Stop" shade from Sunshine Kids (now Diono) from our last car (a Toyota Prius). The shade has suction cups attached, but they didn't work well so I had it wedged between the headliner and the back of the seats. This method also allowed better visibility since I was looking back through the shade at a 90 degree angle as opposed to the high angle of the fastback glass on the Prius.

Anyway, I decided to try the same method in the Passat and it works great. Top is wedged at the junction of headliner and rear glass and the bottom is wedged at the back of the seats. As long as you don't drop the seats it will stay in place. It is not as wide as the back glass, but it does cover from head rest to head rest.

Here is a bad picture. It is dark in my parking garage.



Product page showing how it should be installed at Diono.com

Where I got it - BuyBuy Baby (I'm sure other stores have it as well.)

So for $8 you can pick it up in person and install it with no hardware. Something to consider.

[writeb]

mtbsteve and TDI Brad, Is the glass clearance for screwing the shade to the shelf the major limiting factor in how far back you could place the shade, or did you only go so far back on purpose? (E.g. is the shade only so long, or is visibility better if the shade is more vertical, etc?).

Darn LED trunk project is taking longer than expected, so that burned up all of my shelf installation time for today. Hopefully I can get away for another few hours over tomorrow.

Cheers and thanks to any folks in the military reading this BTW. (US holiday - Memorial Day, tomorrow).

[TDI Brad]

The instructions suggest 265mm which is like 10" from the headrest so I just went with that. Also the shade doesn't pull out too far either. I did notice it was harder to see out today when it rained. The further forward you put it the easier it my be able to install. I plan on doing the trunk LEDs tommorow if it's not too hot.

[writeb]

Got the LEDs in. Huzzah.

But for this mod... Sheesh. That clearance is definitely an annoying issue - even with my little stubby ratcheting screwdriver. I got it mounted only to notice that the shade wasn't spaced perfectly evenly. I was willing to live with that except for the damn spring being cranked too conservatively and the shade not retracting fully.

So I had to remove it and crank the hell out of the spring so that the shade will fully retract without any hesitation. I also took the time to shave more foam off the full length. (Also fast forward too many hilarious end cap popping off episodes, resetting the spring).

That said, I'm in no mood nor hurry to try to shove that thing back in there again. Say hello to my little friend.

I'm going to give that a shot. Hopefully it'll make the install (and drilling of new, appropriately spaced holes) a breeze.

[TDI Brad]

My isn't centered either I wish I had marked the center point on the shade and the rear deck to keep the thing centered. I an about a half inch off of center but it was such a hassle to get the screws in I'm ok with it for now.

[tdiatlast]

Just received my shade from ECS. Is there any concern about the screw placement with regard to the electronics (SEL Fender) under the deck?
Thanks.
TDI Brad: I sent you a PM a few weeks back, re: wooden shift knob for my SEL DSG. I'd like to know where you bought yours. Thanks!

[writeb]

Just received my shade from ECS. Is there any concern about the screw placement with regard to the electronics (SEL Fender) under the deck?
Thanks.
TDI Brad: I sent you a PM a few weeks back, re: wooden shift knob for my SEL DSG. I'd like to know where you bought yours. Thanks!

No, the screws are super short, so they probably don't even make it past the shelf.

[tdiatlast]

Just installed the sunshade. Major PIA, but doable. I carefully marked the hole placement, and "pre-drilled" with just the screw only. Then the install of the shade itself worked well. FYI: i asked about the screw depth interfering with the Fender underdeck system? No problem, as the screws are to the outside of the box.

I didn't need to shave any foam...I was able to compress it. Hope it isn't putting too much stress on the screws.

I hope the headliner, which holds up the hooks, won't weaken with age/heat. Seems a bit flimsy.

Problem: The shade is tight on one edge, and flops on the other. Also, the leading edge, when it's up, sags in the center. Any solutions for either issues?

Thanks for the inspiration. I think it looks great, and will probably stay up most of the time, unless that might weaken the spring (?)

[mtbsteve]

Problem: The shade is tight on one edge, and flops on the other. Also, the leading edge, when it's up, sags in the center. Any solutions for either issues?

Thanks for the inspiration. I think it looks great, and will probably stay up most of the time, unless that might weaken the spring (?)

I leave mine up most of the time, comes down if I am driving exclusively at night or in lots of rain. You can still see out in both conditions but it does make it more difficult. It seems to want to recoil just fine after a week or so of being in the up position. I will probably use it less when I get back to the winter season when I am driving before sunrise and after sunset. I thought the middle would sag more based on other comments of people installing in older Passats but it is minimal in mine. I make sure the clips are spaced as far apart as possible. I have not noticed one side flopping more than the other. I think there is only one spring on one end so maybe you need to remove the screen, spin the shade and get more compression on the spring, then re-install.
Happy with it so far and happy to hear others like it as well.

[Fignewton]

Can anyone provide dimensions for this? I'm wondering if this will fit in my 2013 CC.

Thanks.

[jbrattdi]

I leave mine up most of the time, comes down if I am driving exclusively at night or in lots of rain. You can still see out in both conditions but it does make it more difficult. It seems to want to recoil just fine after a week or so of being in the up position. I will probably use it less when I get back to the winter season when I am driving before sunrise and after sunset. I thought the middle would sag more based on other comments of people installing in older Passats but it is minimal in mine. I make sure the clips are spaced as far apart as possible. I have not noticed one side flopping more than the other. I think there is only one spring on one end so maybe you need to remove the screen, spin the shade and get more compression on the spring, then re-install.
Happy with it so far and happy to hear others like it as well.

Installed my 😄 with results to compensate for sag in middle I went to ace and brought a flat hook that you can insert into top of the liner works perfect with Rearview camera I don't take it down .

[mtbsteve]

Installed my �� with results to compensate for sag in middle I went to ace and brought a flat hook that you can insert into top of the liner works perfect with Rearview camera I don't take it down .

Nice. I have not noticed much sag and I just lowered it for the first time since last summer to see if it would still recoil. It did. I always leave it up and think it was well worth the $10.

[jbrattdi]

agreed it cost nothing when you really think about it, provides perfect shade and on top of my tinted window , looks crazy nicer they cant see in but I can see out , I leave my up too I have rear view camera