Door Panel Removal Procedure
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Door Panel Removal Procedure
I was cleaning through some documents on my computer and ran across this post from woofpup I saved. I think I remember someone requesting this a while back, but here it is now. I think woofpup's pics might've been taken off his picposter...so the red x's come up. So hope it helps someone.
I have it all saved in a word document if anyone needs me to send it to them.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/50225/door_removal.jpg">
My trim pieces ("decorative panels" Audi calls them) are wood and therefore have a metal backing, so the clips are sturdy. However, someone with aluminum said something about the backing or clips being plastic and therefore easily broken.
I think if you're careful, you should be fine. With that in mind, the procedure for removing the decorative panel is described as "unclip decorative panel, remove decorative panel toward front." What you actually need to do is pull the piece out at the end closest to the front of the car, then pivot it out and slide forward and out. You'll find it has a sort of hinge at the rear you have to slide it out of once the clips release.
Behind this decorative panel are four bolts you must remove (labelled as 2 in the image above)
Now for the driver's door, there are two bolts (number 3 above) under an oval trim piece (number 5) that unclips.
Finally, remove the bolt at the bottom of the door panel (number 6).
You can now unclip the door panel, raise it upward (manual says approx. 20cm) out from the door, and disconnect the eletrical harness and door latch cable. You unclip the door by basically pulling it out with some force. The door latch cable ("Bowden cable") has to be released at the door handle end - remove the securing ring and then pull the cable out of the guide.
"When installing, speed nuts (number 1 - four of them) for the expanding nuts (number 7) must be clipped in.
"When installing, door trim must be pressed in the middle to door shell."
Also, check to make sure all of the plastic clips are on the door panel and not stuck on the door.
The other doors are similar, just varying in bolt numbers and location, and there is speed nut that goes in the middle of the door panel behind the decorative panel.
It's a bit easier to understand all this with the CD though... It's difficult to cut and paste the instructions and images, unfortunately.
------------------
I have it all saved in a word document if anyone needs me to send it to them.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/50225/door_removal.jpg">
My trim pieces ("decorative panels" Audi calls them) are wood and therefore have a metal backing, so the clips are sturdy. However, someone with aluminum said something about the backing or clips being plastic and therefore easily broken.
I think if you're careful, you should be fine. With that in mind, the procedure for removing the decorative panel is described as "unclip decorative panel, remove decorative panel toward front." What you actually need to do is pull the piece out at the end closest to the front of the car, then pivot it out and slide forward and out. You'll find it has a sort of hinge at the rear you have to slide it out of once the clips release.
Behind this decorative panel are four bolts you must remove (labelled as 2 in the image above)
Now for the driver's door, there are two bolts (number 3 above) under an oval trim piece (number 5) that unclips.
Finally, remove the bolt at the bottom of the door panel (number 6).
You can now unclip the door panel, raise it upward (manual says approx. 20cm) out from the door, and disconnect the eletrical harness and door latch cable. You unclip the door by basically pulling it out with some force. The door latch cable ("Bowden cable") has to be released at the door handle end - remove the securing ring and then pull the cable out of the guide.
"When installing, speed nuts (number 1 - four of them) for the expanding nuts (number 7) must be clipped in.
"When installing, door trim must be pressed in the middle to door shell."
Also, check to make sure all of the plastic clips are on the door panel and not stuck on the door.
The other doors are similar, just varying in bolt numbers and location, and there is speed nut that goes in the middle of the door panel behind the decorative panel.
It's a bit easier to understand all this with the CD though... It's difficult to cut and paste the instructions and images, unfortunately.
------------------
#5
Funny thing is, my driver door doesn't have the #6 bolt. The hole is covered over, and...
there's a little dead plug in the metal hole on the door. The passenger front door has one though. Everyone be careful when pulling the panel. I broke two of the black plastic clips (the ones with the white rubber o-ring on them) when I removed. They were the ones toward the edges of the panel in the middle (up and down) of the door. Kind of in line with the armrest. Also, to clarify the trim removal, I've got the fiberglass trim, and I used a very small and thin flat head screwdriver to pop the front edge of the trim where it wraps around into the jamb area. Then, I gently worked my fingers along the trim, popping each clip until I got about three inches from the back end. Then, it's just the slide out motion that the directions say. Reinstalling is just the opposite. There's no metal backing on mine, but it was still pretty rigid. The clips are pretty sturdy as well. They are thick plastic pieces that plug into the metal door. When reinstalling the door panel, pay extra attention that the top edge gets completely seated on the rail before pushing the panel on. It may be easier to see if you do it with the window down, but don't turn on the key while the door harnesses are unplugged. You may get a code. Hope it helps.
#6
Here's some pics that might help...
Here's the clips I broke:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/door_clips.jpg">
Here's the back of the panel. You can see the five rectangle metal slots at the top where the trim plugs in:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_1.jpg">
Here's the bottom of the door. You can see two of the clips, and right by my ring finger is the hole where the #6 screw comes through:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_2.jpg">
Here's the front edge of the panel. You can see one of the white o-ringed clips, as well as the purch for one of the ones I broke, just above and to the left of the speaker grill. Also, at the very top left corner, you can see a little white clip. There is one on either end at the top:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_inside_edge.jpg">
Lastly, here's the rear edge of the panel. You can see the other white and white o-ringed clips along the edge, as well as the purch for the other clip I broke, just to the left of the red reflector:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_outside_edge.jpg">
I didn't get any pics of the back of the trim at the time, but the metal slots should give you and idea. Hope it helps. Any questions, let me know.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/door_clips.jpg">
Here's the back of the panel. You can see the five rectangle metal slots at the top where the trim plugs in:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_1.jpg">
Here's the bottom of the door. You can see two of the clips, and right by my ring finger is the hole where the #6 screw comes through:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_2.jpg">
Here's the front edge of the panel. You can see one of the white o-ringed clips, as well as the purch for one of the ones I broke, just above and to the left of the speaker grill. Also, at the very top left corner, you can see a little white clip. There is one on either end at the top:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_inside_edge.jpg">
Lastly, here's the rear edge of the panel. You can see the other white and white o-ringed clips along the edge, as well as the purch for the other clip I broke, just to the left of the red reflector:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39454/rear_of_door_panel_outside_edge.jpg">
I didn't get any pics of the back of the trim at the time, but the metal slots should give you and idea. Hope it helps. Any questions, let me know.
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BlueGrass Lady (06-09-2021)
#9
AudiWorld Senior Member
This thread is over 17 years old, and the OP that you are asking to send the instructions has not been active on this site since January 2010.
Plus, this is the B6 A4 forum, so the instructions will not match your 2012 A8L...
J
#10
My experience when I want to change the Audio..
My Audio was broken
The best way to open the door panel is
1. Open the window completely
2.Push the door panel up so that it releases from the door lock
3. Then move to the right side
And this worked for audi a4 b6 v6
I found and buy the Manual Book which I feel is the most complete and detailed here and other Audi.
Just choose your Audi type
My Audio was broken
The best way to open the door panel is
1. Open the window completely
2.Push the door panel up so that it releases from the door lock
3. Then move to the right side
And this worked for audi a4 b6 v6
I found and buy the Manual Book which I feel is the most complete and detailed here and other Audi.
Just choose your Audi type
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