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Been meaning to start a thread on this for a while - just too lazy! Here's my '93 VR, now has about 50,000 miles on it, pretty much all standard - btw that's not me in the last picture but an onlooker at the vagdrivers show in Cork 2 years ago. I'll put up more as we go along - some of these pics are a year or two old and some things have changed since then - the immediate plan is to fit the 70mm Spoonfed front spoiler and replace front and rear shocks with Bilstein B6 ones. Oh, and the oil cooler seals as well. Chris

Milltek is very subtle - but depends on quality fitting - I get a slight boom around 65mph in fifth. There's a huge exhaust thread sdomewhere on the forum as well. Loads of info there.

Here you go - second from right on the connector at the bottom. stromlaufplan_gamma4.pdf

That's some cash - rear beam probably needs to be dropped as well to fit it. I fitted a Milltek and am pretty happy with it, but would have liked an OEM one, but at nearly double the price it's not an option - I do miss the refinement of the standard exhaust though, and they really last.

Press TP and TA at the same time for 3 seconds and 0000 will come up, then press channel key 1 to set the first digit, then 2 for the second etc. After this press TP and TA again, and the radio should show LEARN if the correct code was entered. For an incorrect code entry you have to wait a number of hours before you can enter it again. VW can give you the code, but only with proof of ownership and there are rumours that there might be software on the interwebs for generating codes from the serials, but I wouldn't know about that...

I have a manual, pin outs and wiring diagrams if needed - actually I think I may have posted them on here before. The red LED is an anti-theft warning, you need batterry + and iginition + connected correctly for it to work. It flashes when the unit is powered down and acts as a useful deterrent, especially as from a distance it looks like an extra alarm. At this stage my car has 3 LEDs (stereo, alarm and immob) and a big chain to protect it - lol - you can never be too careful. There was also a version from 98 onwards with blue LCD display and red backlighting for the buttons found in later passats, some Golfs and the T4 van - be careful when buying them on ebay to make sure you get the right one. The green ones are earlier and actually use a different circuit board - I have the part number and will post it when I find it on my spare unit. I think at the time they were pretty top notch, the tape deck has auto reverse and dolby on it, RDS for the radio with traffic warning and I have GALA ( speed sensitive volume control) and phone mute working in my VR6 as well. Remember that CDs were still a bit of a novelty then! I run a Connects2 iPod adapter which works as a cd emulator and can also charge the device - I have yet to find a way to be able to run both the changer and the iPod at the same time though - Dension and some other manufacturers make a CD changer retention kit (kind of a 3 way switch) but this only works with the Gamma V and later. Have pondered the idea of a simple mechanical switch but haven't found anything suitable yet. My manual is in German - I can translate for you if needed - I don't think it ever came in English as the radio was only ever fitted in Germany, hence the easy availability of them on ebay.de

Well said.... For the perfectionists among you, you can swap over the longer and narrower visor part from the newer version into the older mounting bracket by removing and refitting the spring retainer, and it will fit the later cars perfectly without catching the mirror. I've just checked this seeing as I have the two different ones to hand. Bit of a waste though, unless you can find them in a breakers...

FPR would be my bet as well - sorted a very similar issue on mine.

The older sunvisors look and mount better, but need "help" to get past the mirror - the later ones are more plastic looking and need to be modded and glued but will deploy fine - six of one, half a dozen......typical Corrado stuff. You could always move the mirror and rebond it if feeling really adventurous.

@8vMatt: sounds good to me - yeah the family album lists two part numbers for the carpet, one for spacesaver, one without. Just checked mine and it's totally flat so yours must be the right one. Let me check into shipping and I'll be in touch. Thanks for letting me know. @pumbaa: lol - I've had a few nasty moments where I've passed someone with a puncture and had to think exactly what I'd have to go through if it was on the front... not to mention having to explain it to the nice AA man if they had to become involved as well. I've had a few cars with over tightened wheel nuts in the past, and now always undo them and tighten to the correct torque myself.

lol: yes it is available - you can order direct from the classic parts centre, or if you have a nice dealer they will do it for you on the qt! FYI, the part number quoted is the visor that clips on to the sunroof switch/light trim with metal clips, i.e the 88-96 part mentioned above. The later ones don't look as nice and use a screw fixing. Trust me because I've ordered one from german ebay in the past, although only a few squid! It's a tight fit on the facelift cars and needs a bit of a wiggle and prod to flip past the mirror - stop at traffic lights to "deploy".

Cheers - will hang on for a bit to see if anyone has a grey one, but will keep you in mind.

Does anyone have one of these ? I'm looking for a grey one in good condition, or black might do in a pinch. VAG seem to want about 250 for one ! Reason is the 288 conversion, so need to carry a spare speedline, as I don't want to be swapping rears to front if I can avoid it. Thanks

Just to let anyone whose interested that the grey Passat middle sunvisor is still available from VW Classic Parts in Wolfsburg. This is the clip on one, not the later 3B one that doesn't really fit and is made out of cheaper plastic. Part# is 3A0 857 555 A77 and online ordering was easy, cost €27.26 and €7.00 shipping to Ireland with payment by bank transfer.

Just got mine this morning - thanks again MikkiJayne for the organising and shipping, very well packed I must say. And to Dogger, the spoiler is a great piece of work and does you credit - incredible quality and well worth the money. Looking forward to seeing what other goodies you have up your sleeve.... ;)

Well, time to be honest - I paid 6K for my VR6 (leather) in mint condition with FSH and 36K on the clock if it helps - but I gues I was the "right" buyer they were waiting for, or else pistonheads had very large windows ! If you can wait, and someone who knows what they are looking for comes along, it will be worth it.

Still available from VAG - I have 2 I got last year - same as the MkII item and nearly every other VW from the same era - i think they came fitted but are usually one of the first things to dissapear.

Anyone with advice on how to check if a brake circuit has failed ? I would have thought that this would have been picked up during bleeding. Thin I'll get one of those Sealey jobbies - looks a lot better than an eazi-bleed.

Cheers for checking that - still puzzled as to how you would tell if a circuit had failed - the Bentley has nothing on it, not even a diagram of the layout. @mimjed: can you check a price on the later one, and I'll also check with an ATE dealer here, to see if it works out cheaper without the postage ?

Well, I think the Gamma IV may well have been standard fitment in Germany - it certainly was on the Passat - and what I like about it is that it looks very OEM. Not likely to get stolen in a hurry either - and it has a red anti theft LED on it that can only help. With changer or Ipod input it works pretty well. I think the only other worthwhile upgrade is a Nakamichi CD 35-45z or CD300/500

Granted the performance will never match up to more recent car - the servo assist is much more powerful. However, I had an experienced VAG modifier drive the car recently and he thought they were standard brakes ! I know the rears will not make much of a difference, but the fronts should, as they do all the work. @RW1 - what would the troubleshooting procedure be for circuit failure ? I presume it is a diagonal circuit. @16VG60 - would that be an ATE master ? Maybe I should just get another Irish forum member to dirve it. I drove straight away after the work, and I use it almost daily.

@mimjed: would that be an ATE one ?

Is there any way to identify the circuit failure ? Just my luck as I believe the brake master is now NLA lol: :(

It's been bled 3 times by an independent specialist who fitted the parts, and once by a VAG main dealer - covered about 2000 miles since then, so I'd expect the pads/discs to be well bedded in at this stage.

Well, it's not so bad that it's undrivable, and it feels perfectly safe - it's just that there does not seem to be any perceptible improvement over the old setup. Thanks for your input though.