Facelift FL RS3 Sedan - How do I Remove the front plate holder?

Javbomb

Javbomb

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Hey Guys,

I took delivery of a new RS3 sedan in Australia yesterday, can anyone help me out with the trick to removing the RS3 Front plate bracket/holder?

There is 4 screws under it which I took out, but then it seems to be held in by tabs snapped into the honeycomb grill on the left and right, I can get the middle to come forward by pulling the bracket up and out, but the left and right sides are in there and not budging. Feels like I might break something if I pull too hard (I did pull pretty hard).

Anyone know how to do it?

This is what it looks like

Gym5i8r.jpg
 
Just my 2p worth......

On the tabs that you can see when you pull the holder towards you, can you get a flat bladed screwdriver between the holder and the grille (being careful not to scratch the grille) and gently push the tab down? This would work on one sort of a tab, however if its a double pronged tab you'd need to squeeze both parts of the tab together using say long-nosed pliers and being even more careful to not damage the grille.........

Good luck if you try this :sunglasses:
 
If its anything like the RS7 - its bolted on from the rear, so a bumper off job (or you may just have enough space if you remove the top cover between the radiator and the bumper to get your hand down and unbolt)
 
Sorted it!

Finally worked it out almost by accident. It was a real damn pain, I recommend you guys to ask the dealership to remove it for you if you plan on having it done because it almost felt like I was going to snap something, and the fool that put my current bracket and plates on drilled almost into two sections on my honeycomb grille. Scratched the black honeycomb in two places. Luckily the plate as I have it now pretty much hides it, but I think its better for you guys to start with a clean slate. If the pre-delivery guys use screws that are too long you run the risk of them damaging your grille underneath the unsightly stock plate holder. No issue of course if you leave it on forever, but an annoyance to know that under there someone has pretty much drilled through a perfectly good RS grille.

Anyway with the bracket, there are four screws to remove, then you will find its still stuck well and truly on the grille, there are a multitude of tabs and you need to pull the bracket up and backwards, but when I did it I could only seem to get either the top to get loose or the bottom, not both at once, but all the taps have a lip or a tooth facing downwards, so the whole bracket definitely needs to move UP and then you can carefully shimmy the whole thing slowly until the tabs come loose from the honeycomb grill it snaps into.

Here is what the underside of the bracket looks like.

rShbDT8.jpg


Once it came off I just added a load of form gasket all over the rear of my plate and then just used some small black screws to drill right into two of the existing holes in the grille. Worked great, love it. Would like to just get a simple black frame next and get rid of the Alto text.

cMEOTDq.jpg


fyh2pL4.jpg


Thanks for all our suggestions guys, hopefully this helps someone trying to do the same.
 
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Glad you got it sorted and that does look clean now :sunglasses:
 
It looks great, much, much better!

Unfortunately the plates in the UK take up the whole backing plate that you just removed. I may look at having a legal but shortened plate and then remove the surround, will have to test it in a few months when it arrives.

Someone I know said that he had a massively reduced (illegal) plate and got pulled all the time. He now drives with no front plate and never gets stopped!
 
A mate of mine drives a RS6 performance with no front plates as well, never gets pulled over... No idea how. Really wanna remove them too now. Or I'll buy a sticker of my plate and place it somewhere, but no idea where...
 
Deluxo said:
A mate of mine drives a RS6 performance with no front plates as well, never gets pulled over... No idea how. Really wanna remove them too now. Or I'll buy a sticker of my plate and place it somewhere, but no idea where...
Click to expand...

You are allowed to have a stick on plate providing they are reflective like a standard plate and have the correct markings to confirm that. You have to have the plate facing kerbside, in whatever county you are in so likely the passenger side of the car.
 
AudiNutta said:
You are allowed to have a stick on plate providing they are reflective like a standard plate and have the correct markings to confirm that. You have to have the plate facing kerbside, in whatever county you are in so likely the passenger side of the car.
Click to expand...

Can I politely ask if you are sure on this for the UK?

I'm sure I've read on the internet (Gospel!!) recently whereby supercar owners trying to get away with having a front number plate have also stated that the stick on plates are no longer legal.

I've no intention of not using a front number myself but would like to know what the law is for the UK.
 
dunes7 said:
Can I politely ask if you are sure on this for the UK?

I'm sure I've read on the internet (Gospel!!) recently whereby supercar owners trying to get away with having a front number plate have also stated that the stick on plates are no longer legal.

I've no intention of not using a front number myself but would like to know what the law is for the UK.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure they are, there is even a new company that has started up especially for supplying plates for bumpers. They are that tacky plastic, like fridge stickers etc.. the fridge magnets without the magnets of you get me ;)

6 months ago, it was definitely legal providing it is facing forwards and to the left. Supercars are difficult (why I don't have a McLaren ;) ) stick on plates typically end up facing towards the sky and this isn't legal. Think of Alfa Romeo, with side mounted plates!
 
audi upgrades
Just tried Googling it and it is a real can of worms........
 
Remarcabull said:
Piece of cake. Unscrew then push it upwards to unhook it then pull it straight out.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Mine is off now, but it was amusing watching the dealer try to figure it out.. took them about 10 minutes.
 
How you looking to fix your plate on now? Have you had a smaller one made up?
 
Phil3 said:
How you looking to fix your plate on now? Have you had a smaller one made up?
Click to expand...

I’ve got some twist mounts that twist into the honeycombe grill so a plate can be removed in about 5 seconds but at the moment.... I have no plate.
 
AudiNutta said:
I’ve got some twist mounts that twist into the honeycombe grill so a plate can be removed in about 5 seconds but at the moment.... I have no plate.
Click to expand...

Interesting... you don’t happen to have a link for them do you?
 
Phil3 said:
Interesting... you don’t happen to have a link for them do you?
Click to expand...

They were bought off of a guy on instagram. I’m still working with them to get it to work well, I believe you have to used pressed plates like the German plate to clip in properly.
 
AudiNutta said:
They were bought off of a guy on instagram. I’m still working with them to get it to work well, I believe you have to used pressed plates like the German plate to clip in properly.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing the outcome when you get them all sorted mate... keep us updated
 
Phil3 said:
Looking forward to seeing the outcome when you get them all sorted mate... keep us updated
Click to expand...

I had another look today, part success part failure. It will never look as good as a plate mounted flush on the backing plate because there is probably a 5mm gap between the grill and the plate but you’d have it because it’s easy to remove.
 
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JamesCrs3 said:
Anyone know what the best way to mount a shortened (legal) plate would be?
Click to expand...

Can remove the backing plate as described above and drill. Or cut a number plate surround down, fix to the car and then stick the plate on.
 
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AudiNutta said:
Can remove the backing plate as described above and drill. Or cut a number plate surround down, fix to the car and then stick the plate on.
Click to expand...
Cheers, I'll most likely cut a backing plate down a slight bit smaller than the plate itself and stick the plate on with pads or velcro.
 
JamesCrs3 said:
Cheers, I'll most likely cut a backing plate down a slight bit smaller than the plate itself and stick the plate on with pads or velcro.
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t cut the backing plate down myself but would just buy a cheap £5 numberplate backer from eBay, save the original part as it won’t be pretty either way.

I’ve got self adhesive Velcro for my trial, but the supplier did say it is by no means waterproof.
 
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AudiNutta said:
I’ve got some twist mounts that twist into the honeycombe grill so a plate can be removed in about 5 seconds but at the moment.... I have no plate.
Click to expand...

Hello,

Can you tell me where to get these from? I've seen them online but can't for the life of me remember where!

Thank you!
 
RichA3Turbo said:
Hello,

Can you tell me where to get these from? I've seen them online but can't for the life of me remember where!

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi :)

I don’t use mine and would be prepared to sell if somebody wanted them, they cost me near on £50 in the end but would sell for £30 posted.

The guy who sells them, sells only the part that twists into the grill and then when you buy them he breaks the news that you have to buy the actual plate holders and then messaged saying “why English boy cry so much, you spoil for everyone fun” when I complained about the trick.

Anyway after a lot of hassle got them myself and then realised that they don’t work with UK plates as they are designed for the metal pressed German plates. If you want or have metal pressed plates they will work a treat for you.
 
Oh that's annoying! Unfortunately I just have regular plates. Going for a vinyl plate on the side so just wanted to have a proper plate I could chuck on quickly if needs be.

Thanks though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
RichA3Turbo said:
Oh that's annoying! Unfortunately I just have regular plates. Going for a vinyl plate on the side so just wanted to have a proper plate I could chuck on quickly if needs be.

Thanks though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

No problem at all, hopefully this will stop a few others from getting caught out also.
 
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