MK6 overhead console illumination

[jacky_moo]

Hey all,
just had a quick question re the overhead console on my MK6, my sunroof buttons dont lite up!

on my MK5 they did and ive seen the diy to change the newer style illuminated knob over but my console seems to be a bit of an odd ball one as all the parts catalogs i have seen show a different type of console ( more like the mk5 one)

has anyone else got a MK6 with sunroof and alarm??

[tonymy01]

My console looks like the photo there, except the rear view mirror has sensor for rain& possibly light.

[jacky_moo]

yeah mine has the rain light sensor just cant see it in this pic

[AdamD]

That's the standard Mk6 w/sunroof overhead console. Mine's exactly the same (except for colour). And no, the sunroof button does not illuminate - it's a shocker from an ergonomics perspective. Amazed that VW let it out of the factory that way TBH.

I just remember "7 clicks" to open, "7 clicks" to close.

[MadWorm]

That's the standard Mk6 w/sunroof overhead console. Mine's exactly the same (except for colour). And no, the sunroof button does not illuminate - it's a shocker from an ergonomics perspective. Amazed that VW let it out of the factory that way TBH.

I just remember "7 clicks" to open, "7 clicks" to close.

Same in the R. Generally the German design is really thoughtful and clever. No illumination on the sunroof dial is a clanger.

[jacky_moo]

hmmmm, i thought maybe mine had a fault.. damn!

im going to try swapping it out for a MK5 illuminated one (the button is interchangeable)

or one of the touareg ones

[tonymy01]

Yeah, the main thing I don't like about my sunroof button is that there is no tactile feel or difference when you reach the centre position when closing. Often I think I have returned it to centre, only to get out the car and see the roof is tilted up a small amount. Of course I then just long hold the remote lock button to get it closed, but still....
Let's face it, with that tiny white dot/stripe you can really only tell its position if you stick your head directly under the button, else parallex error trying to "guess" that you think it is centred.

Even my 1994 Pulsar SSS was more user friendly!(let's not mention the massive boominess the Golf has vs the Nissan when slid back...the Nissan didn't need that spring loaded section, there was no major boom at any slide back position, nor did you have to crack rear Windows open to bear with it).

[jacky_moo]

there is a very slight difference when you turn it to centre but not by much, and really not by enough my mk5 switch had a much better feel to it... ive ordered one to swap it out so we shall see!

[jacky_moo]

update on this thread, I bought a illuminated switch from a MK5 and sure enough its a straight plug and play swap.
drop the light console down, squeeze the retaining tabs on the back of the sunroof switch then just slide it up & out, install the new switch in reverse order.
The MK5 switch has a MUCH better feel/action to it and you can very clearly feel where the "centre/closed' position is.

I'm still yet to figure out how to wire up the illumination in the switch but otherwise it works perfectly

when i get some more time i will pull apart the stock mk6 switch and see if the internal cogs (that govern the 'clicking/notches) are able to be changed over from the mk5 switch, given the rest of the design id say this will be as easy as changing the physical grey mk6 knob onto the body of the mk5 switch

[tonymy01]

Thanks for the update. But surely putting mk6 knob onto mk5 switch defeats the illuminated purpose for doing this, as the illumination would be a small LED shining through a semi transparent section which the mk6 knob won't have? I assume the wire connector is the same and you just require a repair wire it whatever it is called to break out the third? 4th? blank and there are a number of places to tap for power up there (permanent illumination), or dig around for a lighting switch power source.

[jacky_moo]

the MK5 knob has the LED + wiring built into it and if you pull apart the two (mk5 & mk6) the illumination section can be easily transplanted as the mk6 knob can support illumination ( the small "direction" stripe is actually semi transparent ) re the wiring i will tap into the switch illumination for the room/reading lights, just didnt get a chance to pull apart the light assembly yet.

but the big improvement has been the tactile feel of the mk5 switch as you can now clearly tell where the center position is

[jacky_moo]

tapped the illumination circuit

[Lucas_R]

This looks good, and i have the same thoughts on the sunroof switch in that its hard to know when it is closed. Do you mind sharing where you purchased the Mk5 switch from and the part number?

The one in my car is either dark grey or black i think - same shape as yours but different colour.

[Lucas_R]

Just found this as well:

[jacky_moo]

@lucas_R i bought the switch off ebay its just a standard mk5 switch ( make sure when your purchasing one it has the two extra wires coming out the back as thats the illumination
i pulled apart the MK6 knob and yes it can be illuminated but you have to put the guts of a mk5 switch in there and you still wont be able to tell properly what position it is in due to the 'notches' on the mk6 internals