A3 Sportback - Removing B Pillar Exterior Trim

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Jabba1980

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Hi all

I have managed to scratch the exterior gloss black trim on the B pillar on my A3 1.8 Sline Sportback. Audi have quoted me £18 for the replacement part and £60 to fit it.

First thought was the labour charge was a bit steep.

Has anyone removed the trim themselves? How involved is it? I could have a go myself if it's just a case of peeling back the rubber and a undoing a couple of screws.

Thanks
 
The Challinor said:
How did you scratch it out of interest?
Click to expand...
Pub car park. Wind caught the door as my girlfriend opened it. It caught the wing mirror of a 4x4 parked next to me. It's a small scratch to the gloss part of the front passenger door.
 
Last edited:
On the 8P it's riveted on under the seals.

Getting hold of black rivets is the tricky part. Or you'd have to paint them black ;)

Edit: I think we are referring to different parts. I'm referring to the fixed B pillar trim, you're talking about the part attached to the door?
 
Jabba1980 said:
Pub car park. Wind caught the door as my girlfriend opened it. It caught the wing mirror of a 4x4 parked next to me. It's a small scratch to the gloss part of the front passenger door.
Click to expand...

Just wondered if was swirled or scratched as could of maybe polished it out.

With it being gloss I do worry that it will swirl easily. My OCD is tingling in anticipation lol
 
veeeight said:
On the 8P it's riveted on under the seals.

Getting hold of black rivets is the tricky part. Or you'd have to paint them black ;)

Edit: I think we are referring to different parts. I'm referring to the fixed B pillar trim, you're talking about the part attached to the door?
Click to expand...

Yep, the part attached to the front door.
 
The Challinor said:
Just wondered if was swirled or scratched as could of maybe polished it out.

With it being gloss I do worry that it will swirl easily. My OCD is tingling in anticipation lol
Click to expand...

Haha, you're right, it does swirl easily...as I found out last night trying to remove the scratch. Think I'll have a trip to the dealers this weekend and let them take a look.
 
I'll have a look in Elsawin and see if there are any details
 
Removing and installing trim panel for B-pillar (front door)
Removing
– Move door window to “open” position.
– Remove window frame trim [→ General body repairs, interior; Rep. gr.70.]
– Pull seal -1- out of window guide (rear) in vicinity of trim panel for B-pillar.
– Remove bolts -arrows A-.
– Slide trim panel for B-pillar -item 4- downwards -arrow B-; lug -3- will be disengaged from cut-out -2-.
– Press trim panel for B-pillar towards outside until surrounding section of trim panel for B-pillar is disengaged.
– Pull out trim panel for B-pillar upwards.
Installing
Install in reverse order of removal.
Tightening torques


A66 10927


1 - Sealing piece
q For trim panel for A-pillar
2 - Bolt
q 2.5 Nm
3 - Cover
4 - Clip nut
q 3x
5 - Bolt
q 3x
q 2.5 Nm
6 - Trim panel for B-pillar at door
q Removing and installing → Chapter
7 - Door
8 - Trim panel for A-pillar
q Removing and installing → Chapter
A66 10986
 
Step 2 of that is "Remove window frame trim", instructions for that are here:

Remove window frame trim

Removing and installing window frame trim
Special tools and workshop equipment required

t Removal wedge -3409-

Removing
– Lower door window.
– Remove door trim → Chapter.
– Unfasten ends of trim from adhesive pads -1 and 3- on door using removal wedge -3409-.
– Working from bottom to top, carefully prise off trim -2- for window frame working along window guide towards rear -arrows-.
– Pull window frame trim downwards off window frame and detach.
A70 11792



Installing
– Insert trim -1- for window frame in window guide -2- at top rear -arrow-.
A70 11702


– Install trim -2- for window frame over entire length of window guide.
– Peel protective film off adhesive pads on new part.
– Press trim firmly onto door in area of adhesive pads -1 and 3-.

A70 11792
 
I'd pay the £60 ;)
 
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Thanks cemerson, really useful. That's convinced me that the £60 labour charge isn't too bad after all.
 
And step 2 of that is 'Remove door trim' which is here...

Remove door trim

Removing and installing door trim (front)
Special tools and workshop equipment required

t Wedges -T10383-
W00 10741

Removing
– Switch off ignition and remove ignition key.
– Using wedge -T10383/1-, carefully prise loudspeaker trim -1- off door trim along gap -arrow- and detach.
A70 11928

– Remove bolts -1 and 2-.
A70 11930

– Starting in bottom rear corner, use wedge -T10383- to unclip door trim from door. To do so, insert wedge between door trim and door in area of retaining clips.
A70 11419


Position of retaining clips -arrows-
t Vehicles with 3 doors: 8 retaining clips
t Sportback: 7 retaining clips
A70 11931

– Pull door trim -1- approx. 15 mm away from the door all around.
l Do not leave retaining clips in door.
– Disengage door trim from door at top of window slot -arrows- and detach.
A70 11932

– Sportback: In addition, press door trim -1- upwards out of clip -2- in direction of -arrow- at location indicated.
A70 11899

– Carefully unclip Bowden cable -3- from interior door handle -2-.
– Swivel Bowden cable for interior door handle inwards -arrow-.
– Disengage end of cable -1- at interior door handle.
A70 11431

– To unplug electrical connector, press catch -1-, turn retaining bracket in direction of -arrow- and unplug connector.
– Detach door trim.
A90 0199

Installing
– Engage end of cable -1- in lever of interior door handle.
– Clip in Bowden cable -3- for interior door handle at interior door handle -2-.
l Bowden cable must engage audibly.
– Plug in electrical connector at door control unit.
A70 11431

– Position door trim at window slot and press on downwards.
– Carefully position clips -2- for door trim all around door -1- and press door trim onto door -arrows- until it engages audibly at anchorage points → Anchor.
A70 11933


– Sportback: In addition, engage door trim -1- in clip -2- by pressing door trim onto door in direction of -arrows- at location indicated so that it engages audibly.
Perform remaining installation in reverse order of removal.
Notes for installation: tightening torques, renewing components etc. → Chapter „Exploded view - door trim (front)“
 
Yup, if you want to do it 'by the book' as it were, quite a lot involved!

However, it may be that you can get away with minimal effort and carefully prise things out without fully disengaging everything else. Certainly when I installed my dashcam I was able to just half-deatch things and hide cables without fully removing bits of trim. At least you can see how it all goes together from the diagrams so you can see if you can do it.

eg, you might be able to just bend back the relevant bit of window trim, undo the bolts and get the trim piece off that way.
 
Jabba1980 said:
Haha, you're right, it does swirl easily...as I found out last night trying to remove the scratch. Think I'll have a trip to the dealers this weekend and let them take a look.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've noticed on mine these are heavily swirled and i've only ever used a delicate wash routine (lambs wool mitt, two buckets etc). Must be a very soft gloss finish on these trim panels as the rest of the car has very minimal swirling in comparison. Not sure whether to correct it or not!
 
Swirls on mine came out very easily with Scratch X 2
 
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Thanks all for your help. Just had a go with the scratch x 2.0. It has just about removed the swirl marks and the scratch is also almost barely visible, at least under the current light conditions. Very happy, definitely worth the £9.99.
 
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ino its an old thread was just wondering whats the process for the sportback model as I would like to install glossy black exterior pillar trims also there is a triangle piece on the back door I think this is included aswell als if you no how to do that I would appreciate it a lot thanks
 
We like old threads. They have so much useful info, like all the Elsawin stuff in this one!
 
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