Replacing outer door skin

[Mollygoogle]

How easy is it? I've found plenty of how-to's on removing the inner door trim, but can't find one for the outer door trim. I'm assuming it can't be too hard as plenty are for sale on the bay of e. Has anyone done it?

Front drivers outer door skin is the one I'm interested in

 

[Stickystuff]

In all honesty, for that type of job is best left to the professionals in a body shop. It’s not as simple as it once was on a classic mini etc there’s a lot more to it.

If you need to replace cause of corrosion I would suggest to find a second hand one on eBay or the likes and replace the complete door. Chances are something will need spot welding properly and the hardest part will be making sure your door gaps look right. With a second hand (undamaged) door your can adjust the gaps on the hinges etc. You will also need to paint it and get the right colour match.

In all honesty this is probably the type of job where if you have to ask it’s not for you.
There’s a lot of tasks I would undertake(I’m a mechanic by trade) but body work like that is beyond easy.


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[Mollygoogle]

I’ve read that first post at least 10 times and still can’t find the bit where I said that I was going to do it myself. Could you be a dear and point that out for me?

I’m asking before I buy parts for my bodyshop. On many cars, it’s straightforward, mk5 Golf for example.

The chrome window trim needs replacing, which I understand is riveted on and a swine to replace. I simply need to know whether I need a skin or a full door as both are available second hand on the bay and the skin is noticeably cheaper

 

[Stickystuff]

If that’s the case then pose the question to your body shop who’s doing the work as they will be able to give you the cheapest or most cost effective solution.

If you’re asking how easy it is on a forum then 99.9% of people will assume you are asking to aid doing it yourself, otherwise I assumed you would have said that your body shop are doing it etc.

I’m only trying to be helpful no need to shoot me down


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[B5NUT]

You cannot replace the door skin on the A6. If its gone rotten then find a new door. Audi's are not the same as some VW's where you can unbolt the outer door skin. My wife did have a MK5 golf for a year where the door skin was easy removed (made it a lot easier when I had an issue on the lock) Audi's doors are all welded together so impossible to remove just the outer skin

I've just had a look on ebay as I've never seen a A6 C6 skin before listed before (but to be fair I've never searched for one), however the ads where the Ebay sellers call it a skin is in reality the entire door frame +/- parts they have removed to sell them separately (make more money).

For example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/08-12-AU...749042?hash=item3b106e8572:g:hcAAAOSwetxbG42y

If you want to understand how the A6 door is fitted & all the parts are bolted on then best buy an hour on erwin https://erwin.audi.com/erwin/showHome.do

 

[Mollygoogle]

If that’s the case then pose the question to your body shop who’s doing the work as they will be able to give you the cheapest or most cost effective solution.

If you’re asking how easy it is on a forum then 99.9% of people will assume you are asking to aid doing it yourself, otherwise I assumed you would have said that your body shop are doing it etc.

I’m only trying to be helpful no need to shoot me down


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I’ve been a forum user for 20 years and an admin for most of that time. The good members are the ones that ask questions without making assumptions. I have every right to shoot you down because of the condescending tone of your post

 

[Mollygoogle]

You cannot replace the door skin on the A6. If its gone rotten then find a new door. Audi's are not the same as some VW's where you can unbolt the outer door skin. My wife did have a MK5 golf for a year where the door skin was easy removed (made it a lot easier when I had an issue on the lock) Audi's doors are all welded together so impossible to remove just the outer skin

I've just had a look on ebay as I've never seen a A6 C6 skin before listed before (but to be fair I've never searched for one), however the ads where the Ebay sellers call it a skin is in reality the entire door frame +/- parts they have removed to sell them separately (make more money).

For example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/08-12-AU...749042?hash=item3b106e8572:g:hcAAAOSwetxbG42y

If you want to understand how the A6 door is fitted & all the parts are bolted on then best buy an hour on erwin https://erwin.audi.com/erwin/showHome.do

Come on Lee, the whole point of coming on a forum and asking the hive mind for intervention is to avoid paying money to find out the answer, the answer that you have kindly provided. I probably should have come to you first in fairness. I can always rely on you to know the answer.

 

[B5NUT]

Not for me I would rather spend the €7 and find out the correct information, even more so when you are looking for parts to be prepared & painted which is where the real money comes in. Information on the forums can be helpful but can also be a complete load of rubbish. I've seen members ask for torque setting for what I consider fairly critical components and some of the replies just make me cringe.

There are about 6-7 documents on replacing a door on the A6, which covers alignment, locks, trim panels, glass and the frames etc. It's not something that could be put in a simple post that's all I'm trying to say.

 

[Stickystuff]

Fair enough after reading it back through I can see why you think it’s condescending.
But I’m sure you can also see that after 20 years of being on forums people ask a question that really shouldn’t be asked.

I’m a firm believer that there are no stupid questions only stupid answers because if you don’t know the answer that’s why you ask. (You meaning the person asking in general)
I just feel that certain questions should be asked to the professionals.
If you had said in your first post that you were trying to find out on behalf of your body shop I would have still answered similarly and suggested you found a different body shop if they don’t know.

But also that’s where posing 1 question on a forum could land you potentially 10 different answers and non of them could be right.. it’s open to interpretation at the end of the day. If you want the right answer first time ask the professionals, which might cost you money but save you in the long run.

I hope there’s no hard feelings, I was only trying to help even if you didn’t feel so


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