Has anyone removed this insulation? Do those plastics clips self-destruct when the insulation is removed? Is the hood under the insulation painted?

Mine is starting to get dirty, and I was thinking about just pitching the whole thing. [I borrowed the pic with the air filters highlighted from Escapa8's pictureposter.]

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/31455/escapa8_location_pollen_filters.jpg">

...because of the accident that I had. Cleaning them with a vaccuum cleaner gets you pretty far. How were you thinking about cleaning them?

Don't go overboard with this unless you have spare change to spend to replace. It is doing its job regardless of the cleanliness. The plastic clips do get brittle with age and heat damage from engine but they can be purchased at the dealer or even a bodyshop might have them available.

Just my 2 cents but the hood is rarely open, I wouldn't risk loosing the insulation just because it is dirty...

I'm one of them. ;-)

it looked as good as this hood of TTschwing's TT. The A8's passenger compartment is so well noise insulated that I seriously doubt if I'd miss the additional insulation under the hood.

<img src="http://images5.fotki.com/v71/photos/7/7305/212841/IMG_6880a-1-vi.jpg">

<center><img src="http://www.e21parts.net/prodimages/hoodinsulation/hi1.jpg"></center><p>This would look great on a dark car, like my green one.

due to some pesky mouse chewing it up. The clips were pretty strong (being under a year old at the time) and easy to install/uninstall.

This is an easy job IMO (5 minutes). You guys swap out all kinds of stuff on your 8s. The part ran 77 bucks for my A6, but I'm sure it would be a few more for an A8. Just put a sheet over the engine in case a clip drops. BTW, new clips were included with the new underhood insulation (make sure with your parts department though). Only took Stoddard a day to get the part in for my A6.

I wouldn't go without it due to heat and sound though. Good luck!
-Marc

The headers are hidden under the V of the V8, protecting the hood from direct radiant exposure. And with the motor running, air flow from the fans keeps under-hood temps much cooler than the hood gets just sitting parked in a Texas sun. I'm sure the only purpose of the mat is just noise insulation.

i doubt it would ever get hot enough to melt the paint. i was thinking of taking that off to let the HOT underhood heat to escape faster. what do you think. ive had mine off my ls400 for over a year no paint melting or anything such.