Mid-Cycle Mirror Mount Changes and NAGS Identification
Pinpointing the correct replacement glass on this car comes down to a mid-cycle split in the 1999 model year. While the glass curvature and perimeter dimensions are identical whether you drive a Sedan, an Avant wagon, or the twin-turbo S4, Audi altered the rear-view mirror mounting button glued to the inner face of the windshield. Early production builds (1996 through early 1999) call for NAGS part number FW00823, which carries the early round mirror boss and the lower ceramic cutout for the driver-side dashboard VIN plate. Models built from 1999.5 through 2001 switch to NAGS FW02262, accommodating the revised mirror bracket design.
Audi released various dealer part numbers across this run—including 8D0845099, 8D0845099G, 8D0845099S, and 8D0845099AC—predominantly reflecting shade band variations across European and North American markets. Because these windshields predate modern ADAS forward-facing camera brackets, acoustic interlayers, and integrated rain sensors, ordering accuracy relies on matching your mirror base and selecting your preferred upper sunshade band.
| Production Split | NAGS Number | Mirror Mounting Style | Eurocode Cross-Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 – Early 1999 | FW00823 | Early-style twist mount button | 8547AGN / 8547AGNGNV |
| 1999.5 – 2001 (Facelift) | FW02262 | Revised late-style mirror boss | 8547AGNGYV / 8547AGNGYV1V |
Protecting the Brittle Rain Tray and Passenger Footwell
The lower edge of the windshield interfaces directly with a two-piece plastic cowl, covered by OEM part numbers 8D1819401 and 8D1819477. Decades of engine bay heat soak and sun exposure leave these plastic scuttle panels exceptionally fragile. I take extreme care when releasing the wiper arms from their splined drive shafts and disengaging the cowl's retaining lip from the lower glass channel. If the locking tabs snap or the rain tray is reseated incorrectly, runoff bypasses the water deflector and pours straight into the cabin air filter box mounted on the passenger side.
Water pooling beneath the windshield is a known hazard on this platform. Directly below the cowl lies the battery plenum, where factory rubber drains easily clog with pine needles and road silt. When a drain backs up, trapped water overflows the fresh air intake box and saturates the front passenger carpet, quickly destroying the electronic transmission control module or central locking components housed beneath the floorboards. I cover every installation with a lifetime warranty on my workmanship alongside a one-year warranty on the replacement glass itself, ensuring your perimeter seal stays completely watertight.
Reveal Moulding Fitment and Interior Pillar Cleats
The top and lateral edges of the windshield use a push-in reveal moulding, referenced in the aftermarket as WFT F823 or FM823. This flexible channel bridges the gap between the glass perimeter and the roofline, sitting flush against the steel pillars without the wide rubber flanges found on earlier cars. A wide black ceramic frit matrix lines the inner glass boundary to protect the urethane bonding bead from ultraviolet degradation while concealing the vehicle's interior pinchweld edges.
Inside the cabin, the A-pillar trim panels snap into metal clips pressed directly against the inner body frame along the side glass channels. Releasing these interior pillar covers carefully is essential to ensure the glass seats at the precise factory depth, allowing the side mouldings to sit true against the painted sheet metal without wind whistle at highway speeds.
