Richard in SoCal

I finally replaced the front licence plate panel with one that did not have the holes in it for the license plate.

The replacement part is primered white and comes with double-backed adhesive tape (like the 3M stuff) along the bottom edge. There are also two vertical brackets that have double backed tape about a 1/4 of the way in from each side.

I got the replacement part painted a a local body shop. The results are not identical to the factory job but very good. They tried 4 times to get it right and said that's all they could do. They even said I would not have to pay ($75!) but I did anyway since they were so nice about it. I know there are shops in LA that supposedly can do this right but I am concerned that the bumper paint finish is so unusual and difficult to reproduce.

To remove the original panel I thought I would "saw" it off using monofilament line in much the same way as is done to remove exterior badges. This actually worked pretty well in that I never had to touch the bumper itself. I did not use a heat gun at all as some have suggested. The only problem is that it marred the edges of the license plate panel. In my case that was OK since the original was ruined anyway.

The double backed tape was easy to cut through. The problem was the glue they also used! That stuff was tough. There was a big blub of it near each upper corner and right in the middle.

I know this is not the most useful topic to post on but it is the best I could do.

AlexDucati

Thanks for the write up I want to do it as well how much did the replacement panel cost?

audiback wagon

since it was damaged by the Audi dealer. They claim the auto body shop will be able to paint the new bumper to match perfectly. I will try to salvage my old front plate panel and make it available to anyone interested. Also, if someone in southern California has an unpainted front plate panel, I would think the collision center could paint that to at little or no cost while doing my bumper.

I am assuming that the new bumper will come with a new license plate panel, of course.

HPH

...see <a href="http://www.paintscratch.com/">this place</a>. They claim to have the correct color.

Richard in SoCal

$55

Richard in SoCal

someone else can match the paint better. When are you having this work done? What part of Southern California are you in? I might want to take you up on this. I'd be willing to pay something.

Bummer to hear about your car, though. The dealer damaged it??! Unbelievable.

Thanks for the offer.<ul><li><a href="http://`">http://`</a</li></ul>

Richard in SoCal

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/31686/panel_-_rear.jpg"></center><p>You can see the remnants of the double-sided tape at the bottom and the blobs of the super-adhesive.

You can see the sticker that shows it was painted "soul schwarz". If only Audi would sell this exact part as a replacement with the correct paint.

audiback wagon

starting either Monday, Dec 17 or after the holidays. I'm driving to Park City, Utah the week before Christmas, and I will either have it done while I'm gone and get a loaner wagon of some sort for the trip, or wait till after the trip.

What part of So Cal are you located in?

Richard in SoCal

I've done the Park City drive a lot in the winter. I'd get a loaner. They put tons of gravel on parts of I-15. You could get lots of chips.

Are they actually replacing the bumper? If so, I am pretty sure the license plate panel will be seperate.

I'll let you know if I want to pursue this. The problem is the 2nd panel I am getting is still on backorder from Germany. It is supposed to be in anytime but I don't have it yet.

Thanks.

audiback wagon

Good point. We've been going to Park City for 4-5 years around Christmas, and I-15 has always been clean and dry, as best I can recall, so I hadn't even thought of that.