Well, what I feared was inevitable has happened. My wife managed to get the air damn into a curb.

Here's the amazing part. There are no bumper covers to be had in the US. None The body shop the Audi dealer uses here told me they have had dozens of A6's with the same damage. They also told me in many cases this also bends the front of the fenders as well. Damage for the bumper cover, paint and wheel well liners is a bit over $1100, and if the fenders are trashed, you don't wanna know. Nobody at Audi has a clue as to when parts will be available. Maybe February...or not.

While many would shake their heads and say "duh, don't drive over curbs" (including me perhaps), in the case of the A6 it's easy enough to manage, due to the long overhang, and lack of any visual clues as to where the front is, and the fact there are no audible clues either. It was one of the first thing I thought of when I saw the new model, and I've mentioned it to her, and been careful myself.

What's shocking is that it's such a poor design. A minor air damn touch, and the fenders can be ruined? The body guy told me that in many cases the air damn goes over the curb silently and easily (it's flexible and tapers down at a shallow angle), but when the car is put in reverse, the front settles slightly, and the air damn catches, as it has an abrupt edge. At this point, the fish hook fasteners are trashed, and the fenders can be pulled in to where they no longer fit around the headlights. As the body guy pointed out, if there was a lip on the back of the bumper that would allow it to ride back up smoothly, no problem. If there was more vertical air damn, no problem. With Audi's design, serious problems. I guess I should be glad that her's was just a touch, and not a solid hookup like he described.

Somehow she's managed to never do this with any of our BMW's, all of which have had lower air damns (sport package) than the A6. Indeed, she's a good driver and has never put a scratch on our cars... ever. Her moment I guess.

Comments on the design, or similar experiences?

jm