Removing S-line spoiler from 8PA bootlid

[Michael O'Connor]

As in the title... does anyone have any idea how to do this?

I've found a breaking s-line A3 and would like to go and get the rear spoiler off of it! Its a bit of a drive though and want to know if it's easy enough to do first before I go there...

Went and bought an OEM rear spoiler, thought it was the same as S-line one, got it sprayed and fitted and now decided I'm not happy with it (for f*** sake) - I think it was the votex one, actually realised I'm not so keen on how angular it is at the sides. What a muppet.

Thanks

 

[Billy Willson]

Dunno mate. Are you going full S-Line conversion? I've got 4 le mans 18" wheels with tyres if you are interested

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Nah man, I just think that S line spoiler perfectly rounds off the lines off the old A3, even for my little 1.6 Just gonna be a ball ache getting the old spoiler off as it was bonded

I want some of those 5-spoke Ronals that were on a lot of the 2007 models, just waiting till I see a pair in good nick.

Actually seen another car at the breakers with those wheels, but not sure if getting wheels off a potentially crashed car is a good idea... can see no crash damage from the pic but who knows.

 

[Billy Willson]

What's the difference between the spoiler you got and the S-line one? I though there were only 2 types - and then the RS3 one's obviously different

 

[Matt268uk]

Try contacting a windscreen fitter as they have cutting wires which they use to cut out bonded screens. We use screen fitters all the time at our body shop so am sure they could cut it off cleanly with no problems at all.

 

[Omy193]

I replaced the whole tailgate on mine with an S line to get the spoiler lol.

Will never look OEM if you just stick on the spoiler

 

[Michael O'Connor]

What's the difference between the spoiler you got and the S-line one? I though there were only 2 types - and then the RS3 one's obviously different

It's really hard to tell but the OEM s-line is slightly more curved at the side edges and slightly flatter, doesn't stick up off the roof and tailgate as much. It's such a subtle difference, I compared the one I bought with my neighbours S-line 8P and only really noticed the difference once mine had been sprayed and fitted.

If you look at the left side of the spoiler, you can see how mine is slightly more angular.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Try contacting a windscreen fitter as they have cutting wires which they use to cut out bonded screens. We use screen fitters all the time at our body shop so am sure they could cut it off cleanly with no problems at all.

Very good idea. thanks! Will help when i remove the current one, still can't work out how to get the one off the S-line a3 at the breakers yard though All I know it's bolted on at each side, just don't get where the bolts go through to. On mine, looking at the otherside (e.g inside of the tailgate) under where the spoiler would be, I can't see where the bolts would go through to, I would have thought there'd be a panel to access the non s-line tailgate, top brake light strip, wiring etc from the inside of the tailgate.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

I replaced the whole tailgate on mine with an S line to get the spoiler lol.

Will never look OEM if you just stick on the spoiler

Haha **** I can't be ***** to do that! Unless I come across a model in the exact same colour. To be fair mine looks pretty well fitted with bonding adhesive, it's all pretty flush, but it's just clearly not an OEM s-line one. It is actually an official Audi part as I checked the part number with parts department at chingford, so god knows what the S-line one is.

 

[Matt268uk]

iirc the spoiler has a stud one on either side, if you look on the inside of the tailgate you should see either a 10 or 12mm nut, these just need taking off then its a matter of getting something like welding wire and cutting through the tape thats holding existing one on, when refitting some people cut off the two studs and just bond it on or you can redrill a hole either side + bonding.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

iirc the spoiler has a stud one on either side, if you look on the inside of the tailgate you should see either a 10 or 12mm nut, these just need taking off then its a matter of getting something like welding wire and cutting through the tape thats holding existing one on, when refitting some people cut off the two studs and just bond it on or you can redrill a hole either side + bonding.

Cheers man, I was thinking of going up there today but I don't have anything to cut the tape with think I might just order some and go next weekend instead. I'd prefer to bolt it on but no idea how someone would measure up where the holes would go, I imagine audi had some sort of machine that was set to the measurements at the factory to do it

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Windscreen removal wire I mean

 

[Michael O'Connor]

iirc the spoiler has a stud one on either side, if you look on the inside of the tailgate you should see either a 10 or 12mm nut, these just need taking off then its a matter of getting something like welding wire and cutting through the tape thats holding existing one on, when refitting some people cut off the two studs and just bond it on or you can redrill a hole either side + bonding.

The picture I put up from the garage is really deceptive, at that point I thought wow that looks wicked, but from the side it sticks up a fair bit compared to the s-line one.

Also from above and front it looks weird, I always park it facing my building at work, and from my office I can see over the front of the car to the back with the spoiler sticking and it makes me sad every time I look haha. Is that pic your car? Looks great!

 

[Matt268uk]

Once you have the new spoiler with the studs you’ll see where to drill the holes, they don’t have to be the exact size of the studs, you can drill larger holes and then you can place the spoiler on dry to check positioning. Once your happy then use a tube of tiger seal or similar (not double sided tape) and a skeleton gun running a good bead around the top of the tailgate. Then tighten the studs and also place a blanket or similar on your car and then put some heavy objects across the length of the spoiler, leave for a couple of hours or longer and hey presto your all done. Sounds a pain to do but it actually pretty straight forward.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Once you have the new spoiler with the studs you’ll see where to drill the holes, they don’t have to be the exact size of the studs, you can drill larger holes and then you can place the spoiler on dry to check positioning. Once your happy then use a tube of tiger seal or similar (not double sided tape) and a skeleton gun running a good bead around the top of the tailgate. Then tighten the studs and also place a blanket or similar on your car and then put some heavy objects across the length of the spoiler, leave for a couple of hours or longer and hey presto your all done. Sounds a pain to do but it actually pretty straight forward.

Thanks! What would be the likelihood of getting the current one off mine with windscreen wire without wrecking the edge of the bootlid/ surrounding panels, and ideally keeping the spoiler in a condition that could be sold on?

I did notice earlier on mine that you can see the bonding adhesive just under the back edge where they mounted. I pulled up on the spoiler then pushed down and it's almost like the adhesive wasn't 'hard', as it pushed out slightly when I applied pressure. I wouldn't want that again, would you say it would be OK to put the tigerseal a CM or two away from the outside edge when fitting the new one?

 

[Matt268uk]

I’m sure if your careful you’d get your current one off without any problem. When I put mine on I put a good bead along the front and back edge of the tailgate. I then put a good circle around the holes that I drilled to seal that area. I then ran from left to right in a s type squiggle, placed the spoiler on and got position correct and tightened nuts. Any tiger seal that happens to ooze out can be wiped away with a little solvent on a cloth. I then places a blanket on top and loaded it up with heavy objects, I had my tool box etc. Left for the afternoon and bingo all done.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

I’m sure if your careful you’d get your current one off without any problem. When I put mine on I put a good bead along the front and back edge of the tailgate. I then put a good circle around the holes that I drilled to seal that area. I then ran from left to right in a s type squiggle, placed the spoiler on and got position correct and tightened nuts. Any tiger seal that happens to ooze out can be wiped away with a little solvent on a cloth. I then places a blanket on top and loaded it up with heavy objects, I had my tool box etc. Left for the afternoon and bingo all done.

Cheers man, that's really helpful. Very good idea about putting it around the drilled holes too! With the old sealer on my tailgate, do you think it would need sanding down or is there another way to remove the sealant?