Black 3.2 grille project: Preview, and some tips.
06-30-2006, 10:13 PM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Black 3.2 grille project: Preview, and some tips.
1. The black sheet metal screws that hold everything together may look the same. They're not.. DON'T MIX THEM UP!!
There are four long ones that go through the upper rear corners of the cover, just behind the upper wheel well liner. (Two per side)
Then, shorter coarse and fine threaded screws.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/Screws.jpg">
The fine ones go into the stainless nut clips and plastic (the three along the lower edge of the bumper cover.)
When removing the old grille, start with the small clips at far upper corners. The next two, above the top corners of the surround can by released by slipping a small screwdriver under the bumper cover, and pruing it up to put pressure on the clip. Pry the edge of the clip into the hole until it pops through. (Sorry, no pic).
The big clips around the edges are the easy ones. Apply pressure while pressing the tabs with your fingers or the knife blade.
The little clips in the center are are the hardest. Fortunatly, I had the perfect tool, an Xacto knife with a big handle and a 1/2" wide flat-faced blade. On the clips in the phhoto below, I pried the bumper cover upward relative to the grille with a big flat blade screwdriver and used the knife blade to pry the clip edges over the edge.
If you want to save the old grille with it's clips intact, get one of these knives before starting.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/PryClips.jpg">
(These clips are NOT designed to be removed.)
And, if posssible, put the car up on jackstands and remove the front wheels. It's MUCH easier this way..
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/Faceless.jpg">
And, a quick preview of what it looks like, (very dirty)
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/BlackFace.jpg">
Still trying to find the one clip nut for the engine pan that I lost somewhere..)
There are four long ones that go through the upper rear corners of the cover, just behind the upper wheel well liner. (Two per side)
Then, shorter coarse and fine threaded screws.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/Screws.jpg">
The fine ones go into the stainless nut clips and plastic (the three along the lower edge of the bumper cover.)
When removing the old grille, start with the small clips at far upper corners. The next two, above the top corners of the surround can by released by slipping a small screwdriver under the bumper cover, and pruing it up to put pressure on the clip. Pry the edge of the clip into the hole until it pops through. (Sorry, no pic).
The big clips around the edges are the easy ones. Apply pressure while pressing the tabs with your fingers or the knife blade.
The little clips in the center are are the hardest. Fortunatly, I had the perfect tool, an Xacto knife with a big handle and a 1/2" wide flat-faced blade. On the clips in the phhoto below, I pried the bumper cover upward relative to the grille with a big flat blade screwdriver and used the knife blade to pry the clip edges over the edge.
If you want to save the old grille with it's clips intact, get one of these knives before starting.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/PryClips.jpg">
(These clips are NOT designed to be removed.)
And, if posssible, put the car up on jackstands and remove the front wheels. It's MUCH easier this way..
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/Faceless.jpg">
And, a quick preview of what it looks like, (very dirty)
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/BlackFace.jpg">
Still trying to find the one clip nut for the engine pan that I lost somewhere..)
07-01-2006, 09:26 AM
#3
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Re: Black 3.2 grille project: Preview, and some tips.
Wow, that looks like quite a game of memory you got there. Good job on the post, and if no one else said it yet, thanks for spending the time to teach and use the forum for something positive. Good on you for "making things happen!" Repost pics when it's done to your satisfaction.
07-01-2006, 10:16 AM
#4
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
And, remove the top 3 screws last.
This way, it stays on the car until you're standing in front of it, keeping it from falling onto the ground as you remove the final ones.
07-01-2006, 02:08 PM
#6
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
And now, a couple of photos.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/BG1.jpg">
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/BG2.jpg">
Waiting for an overcast day to get some shots with more even lighting.
<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/BG2.jpg">
Waiting for an overcast day to get some shots with more even lighting.
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07-02-2006, 05:51 AM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Not too bad with the car on jackstands and front wheels off..
1. Jack up one side, put stand under back end of lower suspension arm (perfect spot) Do same for other side.
2. Remove front wheels. (These things are MUCH heavier than my old car's 205-16's)
3. Remove lower front fender liners (several screws, one push rivet each.
4. Remove two vertical screws in each back corner and a 10mm bolt, Requires bending the corner of the upper liner back a bit (not difficult)
5. Remove the 5 remaining screws along the lower edge of the cover (Keep the screws in cups or bags, by location)
6. Unplug what light connectors you can reach.
7. Remove top 3 screws, pull the corners free, lift off. Remove any remaining light wires.
It took me an extra hour to sort out the screws I dumped in one pile, with the help of the Euro-ETKA catalog, and more to find a nut clip I damaged and lost after jamming a wrong-sized screw into it.
I can't imagine trying to do this with the front wheels still on the ground.
2. Remove front wheels. (These things are MUCH heavier than my old car's 205-16's)
3. Remove lower front fender liners (several screws, one push rivet each.
4. Remove two vertical screws in each back corner and a 10mm bolt, Requires bending the corner of the upper liner back a bit (not difficult)
5. Remove the 5 remaining screws along the lower edge of the cover (Keep the screws in cups or bags, by location)
6. Unplug what light connectors you can reach.
7. Remove top 3 screws, pull the corners free, lift off. Remove any remaining light wires.
It took me an extra hour to sort out the screws I dumped in one pile, with the help of the Euro-ETKA catalog, and more to find a nut clip I damaged and lost after jamming a wrong-sized screw into it.
I can't imagine trying to do this with the front wheels still on the ground.
