While backing my (stock height) UrS4 out of a parking space the underside of front bumper caught on a parking barrier, loosening the panel which is attached to the bottom of the engine bay. Although I tried to jury rig it with a hanger, by the the time I got to the dealer the panel was dragging and destroyed beyond repair. Dealer tells me the part is about $175 and attachment hardware is another $25, plus a little labor, but that the car would be fine without the panel, except for a little extra engine noise and "a loss of smooth air flow above sustained speeds exceeding 130 mph". Should I believe the dealer and go without the panel? Sheepishly offering TIA.

The one on my 100CS vanished after a dealer service and I couldn't get them to replace it (not good terms with that dealership)... the only real difference is in the wet, it gives quite a bit of protection to the engine and all exposed parts under there. It won't kill the car to not have it, but I'd prefer to have mine in place. That said, I was quoted about $230 for a new one with all the brackets and such.

I really don't believe that about air flow above 130mph. I'm not familiar with the intake on the UrS4, though. On the V6, it doesn't even pull from the engine compartment.

if you live in the snow belt. Seems like it helps to keep the engine bay from getting sprayed with salt/slush. My 2 friends that have V8Q's have the shields on thier cars and there engine bays look spotless. My car which does'nt have the shield gets dirty all the time in the winter or when it rains...

Also, It should help with air turbulence under neath the car. I don't agree with the 130MPH+ that the dealer says. Seems like it would be helpful at any speeds. Especially on the highway...

The price is steep for a replacement. I don't think I would buy a new one. Look for a used one if you can. I cannot see it hurting anything if you don't have one...IMHO.

Steve Ankney
88 5000
Holland, MI

there are a number of hoses that could easily be cut or damaged by road debris, which are now protected by that panel. Also, your intercooler has cold air funneled to it via the front air damn and that large black panel. If you remove the panel, you lose a lot of air flow to the intercooler as well as other engine/transmission parts. Just my humble two cents.

I'd replace it. I have the same car - apparently the oilpan is aluminum and VERY easy to damage. I have bottomed the shield out on occasion (but I am lowered). Remember the next time you pull out of a parking spot, it is possible to catch somethig else on the engine instead of the bumper or shield. Also your gas milage will decrease a little bit without it (already not great, huh?). And lastly, you will get a lot more crud in the engine compartment.

The way I figure it, the car is already so expensive to diagnose and repair that for $175 it's cheap insurance to eliminate some random causes of damage. The first thing that you damage due to not having the shield will cost you more than $175. In all likelyhoioid the car is in pretty good shape and you've probably spent a LOT of money buying it and maintaining it so far. Now if this were a total beater Audi 4000, I'd look at it differently ;-)

I don't know if you'll find a used one in usable condition, most of the wrecked ones I've seen either don't have it or they are damaged. Mine has a couple of the mounting holes damaged, but it is still able to hold to the body as designed.

Jim
93S4

PS - you're really lucky you didn't pull the bumpercover off instead, that has been known to happen and $175 won't seem like anything.

no problems in two years, including stability at 130+ mph. However, everything these guys have said is true, so why not? I have just been too lazy and besides, there is always something more "important" to buy. In this case, if I had $170 laying around, I would spring for some clear corners, or maybe the hardware to finally install my RS2 stuff, etc.

Hmmm, my engine DOES get pretty dirty...

I think you can find a slightly better price at Clair. I thought guys were picking these up for closer to $100. No affiliation.

HTH,

Over a year ago my car aquaplaned and I ended up hitting the corner of my bumber (S2 style) and destroying the front mounting points, it ended up scraping on the road surface and in the end there wasn't a lot left to attach it to the front of the car.
When the car was at the dealer for a cam belt change the dealer removed it completely telling me it affected the air flow under the car and said it was perfectly fine without it.
The engine compartment gets a little dustier only, rain water is driven directly under and past by the speed/air flow of the moving car.
I do miss it due to the fact that it would complement and give extra support to my new RS2 bumper and it's not one of those items your likely to find at a salvage yard especially if the doner car has been in a frontal smash!