I have few questions regarding the child seat anchor kit installation using the AUDI parts ($35):
1) If the supplied spacer shall be installed above the rear deck?
2) If the anchor black plastic cap can be painted successfully?
3) Which one of the three possible locations is the best to install a single anchor? (i.e., passenger, center or driver)

Tx

A4 2.8Q Tip 1998
europa blue

$35!!! I got mine for $5 or less. You are not supposed to get the entire assembly with hook, bolt, threaded plate....(I have a 98.5 A4 Sedan). All of the threaded plates are already mounted to the frame in each of the three positions. All you need to do is take the plastic cover off of the hole your interested in, drop in the spacer, place on the hook and put in the bolt. Finally cap it off with the plastic cover in the appropriate colour.

1) Yes, the spacer goes above the rear deck - it fits in the hole in the decking material and makes up for that thinkness so that there is a good connection with the hook above the deck and the frame below.

2) The plastic is available in the different interior colours for a buck or something (you should have gotten one with your car as an example).

3) I'm sure they are all good - I prefer to avoid the center just because it gives me more room for passengers - but I suppose a side impact has a chance of getting my kid then.

Gordon Martin
98.5 2.8QMS (Santorin Blue)

In my US A4 1998 model (not 1998.5), there was no washer (i.e., what you name threaded plate) already mounted to the frame (i.e., rear deck). These washers are expensive with a M.S.R.P. of $20 a piece. Based on your comments, I believe that I have to drill an hole in the rear deck material the size of the spacer diameter. The dealer told me that the anchor plastic cover is coming in black color only!

What brand of child seat are you using?? I am lookinh at the Britax freeway!

Tx again for the useful info

DB

I believe your pricing then - I remember my dealer had made a mistake of specifying the whole kit for something like $45CDN when I first asked and before I found the threaded plates.

You're right about the hole. The idea is to avoid squeezing the decking material with the anchor and bolt and therefore having an unstable connection - the spacer makes a very solid connection.

I'm sure you can get the cover in different colours since the dealer was able to order one for me (Ecru) - but it did take quite a while and may not be worth the trouble. While you have car seats in your car, you will have these big ugly black belts heading up to those anchor bolts anyway. You will only have a problem once the seats are no longer being used and you have to cover up that unsightly hole. Maybe keep your eye out for a wrecked A4 in your area where you can scavenge the parts or something since the newer models all have at least one anchor bolt plus matching cover and the rest of the holes with a small round cover.

I've never heard of Britax (I'm in Canada). We have a Cosco and and an Evenflo in each of the cars. My wife has started to favour the Costco brand because it uses a breast plate rather than a large padded swinging arm. She finds the swinging arm just gets in the way for baby bottles, etc. We just recently just moved to Century booster seats for one of our children and it seems quite nice as well. In terms of safety, I'm sure any car seats will do (check Consumer Reports and your local library) - the only thing I really look for other than styling is the thickness of the foam padding - there is some real lightweight thin stuff being used in most car seats these days.

Gordon Martin
98.5 2.8QMS (Santorin Blue)

Make sure you don't put a rear facing infant seat in the middle if you have a center armrest. The manufacturers claim this can result in serious injury in the event of a collision.