Whats wrong with my side skirts?

[barker196]

Hi, i bought my A4 1.8T before i understood the different body kit options. As much as i love my car i can't stand the side skirts. Should they really bow like this in the middle? Anyone got the same kit? It's a 2003 model.

Cheers

 

[technics100]

The bottoms of the doors need painted, its easy to take them off and leave them in somwhere to get painted, then she will be sorted.

 

[AudiSport]

I think he's more worried about the drop in the middle?
Perhaps you have some fixings screws missing along the bottom - have you had a look underneath? Although those kits (Vortex I think?) are not to my taste I think they are very popular amoung this forum and should fit correctly!

 

[barker196]

Yeah it's the actual side skirt not the door blades. Here's some more photo's which show things a bit clearer. If anyone has the same kit could they please post or link me a photo and maybe look if there should be something fitted half way along. I am the secons owner of the car and it came with the kit fitted. The previous owner as far as i was aware was a lady and it was a lease car so don't think they would have fitted them themselves.

Side view

Close up of skirt looking from rear wheel

A strange recess in the bottom of the skirt half way along

The bottom of the car. The skirt is in the top of the pic and i believe is attached to that clip. From feeling underneath it seems that the screw is not attached to anything but i will have to jack her up and look closer.

 

[Nickynibbles]

Here's my old car with the Votex kit on it, its not quite as close a shot but you can still make out the droop in the middle.

What im more intrigued with is the s-line badges on it, didnt think the s-line variants appeared on an '03 plate, plus there's a badge missing from the rear drivers side door. Does the V5 call it an s-line? Reason for my suspicion is that i've never seen a votex kitted A4 that has the matt black lowers to the door still there? Makes me wonder if a votex kit has been added post-factory?

 

[AudiSport]

Those bits have been added by the last owner. The S-line front bumper looks different and the S-line trim option did not come with that kit.

Nice looking car though, although the kit should also be bonded on so it would be hasssssssssssssle to remove.

 

[chris_20]

Ive got that kit, my sides dont droop like that though!! very strange

 

[A4Ade]

Sorry for the slightly cacky pictures, but my car also has the skirt-bow. Never noticed it until now!

 

[barker196]

Ok you got me. I added the S-line badges myself ahemm... That was after the first photo was taken.

Anyway i believe the kit was almost certainly fitted from new and i'm probably right in saying that when this car was made the lower parts of the A4's were that grey plastic stripe, hence the bottoms of the doors being grey.

Thanks for confirming your skirts don't droop chris. Any chance of a pic or looking to see how it's held up? I think the screws in the picture need screwing to the body to pull the skirt up. Just have to be carefull where i drill i guess. Thanks to those that pointed out this is a Votex kit also. I've now found more pictures on the internet and none of them seem to droop either. I'll try and remember to post a new picture if/when i pull em up.

I spent a lot of time looking for the right model when i bought this car and i was sold by the body kit, leather interior, sunroof and Audi FRIDGE in the glove box! Someone had a field day ticking the options boxes when they ordered this car.

 

[J7USS]

Couple of screws will sort it out!
Ive never been a fan of the votex because I dont like the way it sticks over the existing.

Id like to see a Flush fitted votex though, thought someone would have done that by now...

 

[A4Ade]

Reason for my suspicion is that i've never seen a votex kitted A4 that has the matt black lowers to the door still there? Makes me wonder if a votex kit has been added post-factory?

I have to agree - my car is a 2003 and does not have the grey coloured plastic door lowers.

chris_20 - does your car definitely have this same kit? If it's the car in your avatar it looks slightly different. Is it the s-line?

Ade

 

[quattrojames]

I have to agree - my car is a 2003 and does not have the grey coloured plastic door lowers.

Mine is a 2003 and does - earlier model perhaps, registered May I think

EDIT Ignore that I should have read it fully, I dont have the Votex kit d'oh!

 

[A4Ade]

Mine is a 2003 and does - earlier model perhaps, registered May I think

EDIT Ignore that I should have read it fully, I dont have the Votex kit d'oh!

Which is what is causing the confusion - the standard body kit has the grey lowers, and so has the grey door lowers. The votex kit is colour coded, so cars that had votex fitted from the factory should also have colour coded door lowers - most people can confirm this but barker196 seems to have a car which contradicts this. The only cars I have seen with a bodykit AND the grey door lowers have had the kits put on after market. But I guess it is possible that some cars came out the factory like this?

Anyway, we are losing the OP's original point. So far, 3 people in this thread all have the droopy middle section of skirt, and one (who may indeed have an s-line not votex kit) does not. So, it seems that there might be nothing wrong (or at least, nothing unusual, it still maybe should be considered wrong!) with it.

Ade

 

[Nickynibbles]

Mine was an '02 plate so an earlier model to the OP's so its not an age thing. You can check with an Audi dealer by giving them the reg or VIN number & they will tell you if the car had the Votex kit from the factory.

Chris, your kit was fitted aftermarket so wonder if your fitter adjusted it so there was no droop? Could explain why you havent got a droop!

 

[malcolm1sim]

Hi Guys, mine droop just the same, 02 plate fitted by dealer when
vehicle was new.

Looking under car it seems to me that you need to cut away some
of the under body soundproofing to ensure the screw, as shown above,
pulls right up to bodyshell.. I have not bothered but still find it
quite annoying.

 

[AudiSport]

Ok you got me. I added the S-line badges myself ahemm... That was after the first photo was taken.

Anyway i believe the kit was almost certainly fitted from new and i'm probably right in saying that when this car was made the lower parts of the A4's were that grey plastic stripe, hence the bottoms of the doors being grey.

Thanks for confirming your skirts don't droop chris. Any chance of a pic or looking to see how it's held up? I think the screws in the picture need screwing to the body to pull the skirt up. Just have to be carefull where i drill i guess. Thanks to those that pointed out this is a Votex kit also. I've now found more pictures on the internet and none of them seem to droop either. I'll try and remember to post a new picture if/when i pull em up.

I spent a lot of time looking for the right model when i bought this car and i was sold by the body kit, leather interior, sunroof and Audi FRIDGE in the glove box! Someone had a field day ticking the options boxes when they ordered this car.

See: http://audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=59089

Then you / we will all know for sure.

 

[barker196]

Ok i've done that site:

E0A = No special edition
7A0 = Without CD changer/CD player
4UF = Drivers and front passenger air bag with front passenger air bag deactivation
6XD = Exterior mirrors: electrically adjustable/heated
5SJ = Left exterior mirror: convex
6TS = Right exterior mirror: aspherical, large viewing field
1KP = Disc brakes, rear
J0L = Battery 340 A (70 Ah)
1LT = Disc brakes, front
1BE = Sports suspension/shock absorption
3FE = Electric slide/tilt sunroof with sun screen/sunblind
5TD = Decorative aluminum inserts
7X2 = Park distance control, front and rear
4R5 = Power windows with comfort operation andcircuit breaker, mechanical window regulators rear
F0A = No special purpose vehicle, standard equipment
8GL = Alternator 120 A
0G1 = Gearshift lever
0YG = Weight range 7 installation control only, no requirement forecast
0JF = Weight category front axle weight range 6
T0L = 4-cylinder gasoline engine 1.8 L unit 06B.G
3ND = Rear seat bench/backrest, unfolding
8JK = Ellipsoidal headlight for driving on the left
U1B = Instrument insert with mph speedometer, clock, tachometer and trip odometer
X2B = National sales program Great Britain
1N1 = Power steering
2PV = Leather trimmed sports steering wheel
8Q1 = Headlight-range adjustment
9Q3 = Multi-function display, without on-boardcomputer and check control
8Z5 = Not hot country
D7G = 4-cyl. gasoline engine 1.8 L/120 kW 20V turbo base engine is T0L/TF2/T8C
7Q0 = Without navigation device
C1X = Alloy wheels 7.5J x 17 5-arm spider style, offset 45
7K0 = Without tire pressure warning light
4X3 = Side air bag front with curtain air bag
2K1 = Reinforced bumpers
6R2 = Leather gearshift boot
3L3 = Manual height adjustment for front seats
4KC = Side and rear windows in heat-insulatingglass
3Y0 = Without roll-up sun screen
4K4 = Radio remote controlled central locking
5D1 = Carrier frequency 433.92 MHz-434.42 Mhz
1SA = Without additional engine guard
0GG = Emissions concept EU 4
Q1D = Sports front seats
4GP = Windshield in heat-insulating glass withsunshield and viewing window for vehicleidentification number

Doesn't mention the body kit, front arm rest, glove box fridge, leather seats. I guess it doesn't cover everything. A4Ade or nickynibbles what is your reading showing?

 

[V6 Quatt]

Hi, i bought my A4 1.8T before i understood the different body kit options. As much as i love my car i can't stand the side skirts. Should they really bow like this in the middle? Anyone got the same kit? It's a 2003 model.

Cheers

Thebowing is a common fault. And as for the grey sills. some Audis do have the kit fitted after the car has been bought. I'ts an optional extra ( A bit like the Golf Votex)
It depends on the dealer who paints it. The rear exhausts trims also sometimes are left matt black too.

 

[chris_20]

no thats not my car in the sig mate- i got mine fitted by a bodyshop so yer they may well have sorted the droop, they are the genuine audi skirts though not replica's

 

[malcolm1sim]

Hi Guys,

Did we get to the bottom of this?

Is there a quick fix for "The Droop"!

Photo of correct fitting would be handy,
as I would like to try>

Cheers for now.

 

[malcolm1sim]

Just to bring this thread back up the list.

Did anyone with the "droop" fix it?

If so how?

Look forward to hearing from someone!

 

[AndymacA4]

I think that the car should have had the matt grey anti-scratch door mouldings and skirts. Then a dealer of aftermarket garage has glued the new kit over the plastic sideskirt probably not removing the existing grey moulded on parts. I think best course of action is to have the skirts removed to see what is underneath, then re-fit them correctly using Silkoflex adhesive and proper mounting screws.

 

[malcolm1sim]

Thank you AndymacA4,
I will have a look underneath and around,
as they say, as I feel you may have
provided both the answer and the cure.
Thank you.

 

[malcolm1sim]

Need to bring this up again as mine seem to have come
unstuck by rear door on one side.

Does anyone know where to get a copy of fitting instructions?

Thanks in anticipation.