dolmstead

Has anyone ever had a row hitch removed from their SQ8 before? Bout to purchase one and I don’t ever tow anything and don’t like the look and was wondering if this is something I can get the dealership to do for me? Has anyone has that done before? Know what the cost would be? If so please let me know.

ThomasWShea

the factory installed hitch has a higher weight rating than even the official audi bolt on parts so it may be more integrated than the a bolt on. cars without the hitch have a different rear diffuser, so that part of the bumper skin would need to be replaced. i don’t know if that means the whole rear bumper skin needs replacing - which if that were the case ur talking paint and they typically want to blend into adjacent body panels - and that too me is very invasive and i would not advise doing it.

i would find another car if i really didn’t want the hitch over removing it. it is more than money you are talking about mucking with the car to such a degree that the value of the car would be lower.

dolmstead

its a USA car I think they put the trailer hitch on at the port here so its not factory. Does that have any difference? I thought they were just bolt on things that would be easily removed?

SQ8westcoast

If its port installed , yes easy to remove and then buy a new rear rear diffuser to replace the oem one with the hole , if its factory installed you probably could have it cut off

termite

The USA and probably all of North America version of the hitch is bolt on. There is nothing to cut off. You are correct that you need a new diffuser insert without the cut out for the hitch. That part is snap in plastic…

1stRS

The USA hitch is built into the rear frame crash bar. If you want to get rid of the hitch, you need to buy the non-hitch crash bar.

dolmstead

Will an Audi dealer be able to do all this for me or will I need to go to a body shop?

Sk8

The dealer or body shop will be able to do it. They just have to remove the bumper to remove the trailer hitch. You'll need to buy a new bumper carrier (4M0807109A) to replace the tow hitch as it acts as bumper carrier under the bumper cover. You'll also be left with a vacant area in the rear bumper unless you replace the rear valance too.

Here's a video of the bumper removal.


My SQ8 was totaled but you can compare it with the video and see the differences.




I'm not sure it's worth it to remove it. The trailed hitch adds value to the SQ8 too.

ThomasWShea

@dolmstead this might make it easier to get the right parts:
https://europrice.us/rear-valence-sq8
OR
https://europrice.us/diffuser-q8-s-l...ack-optic-rear

kapseli

I recently bought '22 Q8 without a hitch and got Stealth Hitch installed to it. So, I would have one spare bumper carrier (4M0807109A) in my garage. When I looked the Stealth Hitch install guide and noticed the factory bumper carrier is thrown away, I was like nope you are not keeping or throwing away a part that costs ~$700, I'll rather put in my garage wall
Not sure how reasonable it's to send from WA to FL tho.