S Line front bumper conversion issue

B

Baffles

Guest
Hey guys, looking for a bit of help.

My A3 is currently in a bodyshop recommended by Audi (so they should know the cars well) for the S Line front conversion. I shopped around and they quoted a very good price compared to some others, so the car went in last week.

It's an 04 plate Sport with the split grill. I purchased a complete front S Line bumper from a 2006 car, and having got the inspiration from Ads thread, thought it would be a straight swap, along with a new bonnet..

Today they have called and said that the bumper will not fit on the car, and that it's an issue with the cross beam..... As far as I know if you are going to do an S3 conversion you have to cut either side of impact bar (or whatever it's called), but this shouldn't be an issue with the S Line bumper. They have said they can take the cross beam off but I will apparently have to sign to agree to this? (Not gonna lie.. am not sure what they mean by a cross beam, lol).

I'm heading over there tomorrow to take a look but would be good if anyone could give me some advice.

Many thanks,

Chris
 
I would just say okay thanks then do it yourself, I was sure you only had to cut the cross member for s3 conversion too. So if you don't need to cut anything it won't take you long to fit yourself. Unless Audi were spraying or body work? I got a sport bumper to do my conversion and only took me hour and bit to take old one off and fit the new one.
 
As said it should be a straight fit if its an 8P2 S-line bumper. Loads of people on here have done the 8P2 A3 conversion and its just a straight swap. Done it with a friend who done the s-line conversion and was a straight fit. You only cut the reinforcement bar for the S3 conversion.
Can you get a picture up of the bumper?
 
I don't have a pic of the actual bumper but this is identical.

AETV78540916_1c.jpg


Popped over there and had a look at the car - they had the bumper on it and looked fine. Then the guy said that they can't line it up properly with the aluminium re-enforcement bar on it - but they can take it off and it will fit.. puzzling..

The car has never been modded before so that can't be an issue.
 
sounds silly that they would want to remove a cross beam to just fit a bumper... i would tell them to do everything else needed and then fit the bumper myself.
 
I'm down at my parents for a week on the south coast - actually took it to Harwoods in Southampton.

Ok so here's an update at the end of the day.

Basically they've said they can't do it unless they take the aluminium cross beam off - so I've agreed for them to do that - simply cos I need the car back on the road really. They have already fitted the new bonnet so it's a bit of a nightmare to take it off and put the split grill bumper back on..

Now I'm a little concerned about safety as surely the cross beam takes the majority of the impact in an accident?

I think I'll have a go at putting the cross beam back myself, but then again I'm not brilliant at car DIY, so may end up taking it to another bodyshop to see if they can do it :(
 
I wouldn't give them the OK to remove the bar mate. Lets just say that worse case they are correct in that the s-line bumper (like the S3 bumper) won't fit with the bar in place..... then WORSE CASE they would just have to TRIM the bar.
Why not get them to hold fire on doing anything until you can get there to have a look and if it looks as though the bumper won't go on then ask them to trim the bar as a workaround.
 
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Baffles said:
I'm down at my parents for a week on the south coast - actually took it to Harwoods in Southampton.

Ok so here's an update at the end of the day.

Basically they've said they can't do it unless they take the aluminium cross beam off - so I've agreed for them to do that - simply cos I need the car back on the road really. They have already fitted the new bonnet so it's a bit of a nightmare to take it off and put the split grill bumper back on..

Now I'm a little concerned about safety as surely the cross beam takes the majority of the impact in an accident?

I think I'll have a go at putting the cross beam back myself, but then again I'm not brilliant at car DIY, so may end up taking it to another bodyshop to see if they can do it :(
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mate thats not right! i would never take that reinforcement bar off... they dont know what they are doing simple!
diggz here has converted his plit grill to the new facelift front without having to touch the reinforcement bar!
 
ive done the same as you to my car and its an 04 and didnt have to take the bar off or cut it at all i did it all myself its really easy so id say take it back off and put the bar back on. By the sounds of it they dont know what they are doing?
 
itwasntme187 said:
mate thats not right! i would never take that reinforcement bar off... they dont know what they are doing simple!
diggz here has converted his plit grill to the new facelift front without having to touch the reinforcement bar!
Click to expand...

That's right .......
 
Baffles said:
I'm down at my parents for a week on the south coast - actually took it to Harwoods in Southampton.

Ok so here's an update at the end of the day.

Basically they've said they can't do it unless they take the aluminium cross beam off - so I've agreed for them to do that - simply cos I need the car back on the road really. They have already fitted the new bonnet so it's a bit of a nightmare to take it off and put the split grill bumper back on..

Now I'm a little concerned about safety as surely the cross beam takes the majority of the impact in an accident?

I think I'll have a go at putting the cross beam back myself, but then again I'm not brilliant at car DIY, so may end up taking it to another bodyshop to see if they can do it :(
Click to expand...


As every one else said dont let them take it off. There is NO NEED TO MOD OR REMOVE THE REINFORCEMENT BAR when doing an 8P2 A3 conversion. You only trim it on the 8P2 S3 conversion or you just go and buy an S3 reinforcement bar. Because the bumper actually wont fit on in less you do that due to there foglights area design. It's simple as this really they clearly dont have any brain cells and dont have a clue. Take it some where else and as you said the reinforcement bar does take most if not all of the impact in a crash. My uncle done my conversion for me took him and me less than an hour to do it.
 
Any credible garage would know never to advise their customers to take off the impact/enforcement bar.

Mate do as others are saying. I have had a quote from a guy for s-line bumper and s3 bumper. I have a 2006 sportback. He said the exact same thing after carefully looking at the bumpers/car. S3 bumper needs trimming whereas s-line is a straight swap.
 
Well, here she is in the sunshine.

10.jpg


Managed to get the cross beam back on with no issues. Seen the S Line conversion done many times but feels so awesome when it's done on your own car - looks sooooo much better.

Annoying thing now though is that I've got the bonnet open notification flashing on the DIS every now and again whilst driving. Any hints or tips to sort this out? I've got my service coming up with Audi in a couple of weeks so if I can't sort it I'll ask them to - but can see it now - they will cause a hissy fit as it's probably not a mod they recommend.

Now to start thinking about the rear..
 
car looks good! beatuiful colour too
you also have the washers in place i see... good for future bi-xenon retrofit (don't worry i will talk you into doing it!)

thats good you got the beam back on! that garage you took it to had no clue! name and shame them!!!

sounds like the bonnet catch sensor is not secure and moving slightly with vibrations of the car. Audi should sort it out, just dont mention you did the retrofit... those guys probably wont notice it unless you tell them
 
itwasntme187 said:
car looks good! beatuiful colour too
you also have the washers in place i see... good for future bi-xenon retrofit (don't worry i will talk you into doing it!)
Click to expand...

Thanks mate - I find Mauritius Blue looks incredible in the sun, not so much in the shade.
Yeah when I bought the bumper I planned for possible Xenon's in the future - but that's one pricey mod!

thats good you got the beam back on! that garage you took it to had no clue! name and shame them!!!
Click to expand...

Nah I won't as they were pretty decent in all other respects, and quite cheap compared to others. Will look to get the rear done with them soon.

sounds like the bonnet catch sensor is not secure and moving slightly with vibrations of the car. Audi should sort it out, just dont mention you did the retrofit... those guys probably wont notice it unless you tell them
Click to expand...

That's what I thought - cheers.
 
Cars looking good..

Where did you source the bumper from?
Ive been looking for ages on ebay and can only find the standard bumpers not S-line??
 
Yeah it was a faulty bonnet switch - a £100 replacement was needed which was not great.

Just in the process of collecting the bits for the rear now. I've got a facelift rear bumper but have an 8P7 part stuck to it where the tailgate closes - so need to work out of it's gonna fit ok..

Also got hold of an S Line diffuser and spoiler to go on.

Got some Xenons and someone to code them for me lieing around then? :)
 
J8TT X said:
Cars looking good..

Where did you source the bumper from?
Ive been looking for ages on ebay and can only find the standard bumpers not S-line??
Click to expand...

Cheers. I was quite lucky and purchased a complete front bumper off eBay. Had to buy a new bonnet though.

eBay is pot luck really.. Just have to constantly watch it. I've been trying to get an S Line spoiler for ages but finally gave up and bought one new from Stoke Audi. Not the most affordable thing to do but couldn't be bothered to wait any longer.
 
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audi upgrades
itwasntme187 said:
ouch another £100?

i can fit and code them for you no worries bud... let me see where i put those xenons :p
Click to expand...

And that was on top of other stuff which needed doing in the service.

Will let you know if I come across a pair for a reasonable price.. wouldn't bank on it though lol!
 
I've got a s-line lower rear bumper if anyone's interested?
as I converted from the s-line to S3 style over the summer.
 
Anyone see any reason why this won't fit an 04 car? I'm questioning because it has the part number 8P7 807 385 on the part with the jagged bits where the tailgate closes. I know 8P7 is a cabrio part number - but this is defo a facelift 3 door bumper which has 8P3 807 511 on it.

Ignore the S Line 05 marker pen!

Cheers in advance.

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rearbumper5.jpg


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rearbumper8.jpg
 
audi upgrades
The more I look at this the more I think that either 1) all facelift bumpers come with this part number on that strip, or as mentioned in my PM.. 2) the seller has used the strip from a cabrio and stuck it to a 3dr rear bumper.

I think the only way you're going to know for sure if it'll fit your car is if you test fit the bumper or find someone who has a bumper that can measure the distance between the two main fixings (either end of the strip) and compare it to the distance of the fixings on the bumper you have bought.

I can measure it on my old bumper if you like but won't be able to do it until next weekend because its buried in my garage, there's no lights in there and i don't get home until its dark on weekdays.

But let me know if you want me to do it closer to the time.
 
Yeah that would be useful - unless we get an answer beforehand.

Cheers
 
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