Audi A4 B8 S line Bumper Removal / RS4 Grille Fitment Step-by-Step Guide

ScottishA4B9

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Hi All,

I fitted my new RS4 type Grille yesterday which involved me having to remove the front bumper and the original grille. I could not find any guides online relating to the B8 and the only similar one was for an A5 which has a slightly different bumper and was not a comprehensive guide. Therefore I decided to write-up my own guide with photos for each stage. Please excuse the quality of the photos as they were taken on an iPhone.

I purchased the grille from seller tcboverstock on eBay:
Audi A4 S4 B8 09-12 RS Style Gloss Black Mesh Front Hood Bumper Grill | eBay
It cost £60.37 with £36.58 delivery which incurred a £12 custom & admin charge when it arrived in the UK from the US.

The car involved was a 2009 S line. I cannot confirm if this guide would work for the SE bumper or the facelift model.

**ANY PERSONS FOLLOWING THIS GUIDE DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE ETC. CAUSED**

The time taken to carry out this task, was around 1.5 hours, but by following this guide it may be possible to do it quicker. I am not a mechanic and the guide is written as step-by-step guide for all abilities.

Tools needed are as follows: (these can be purchased from Halfords)
1x Torx t27, 1x Torx t26, 1x 3/8" Ratchet, 1x 3/8" 10" Extension Bar, 1x 3/8" 10mm socket, 1 x small torch (not essential), 1x small screwdriver, and some protective matting in front of the bumper.




STEP 1: After opening the bonnet, remove the 4 bolts on the Airflow panel indicated below, using a t26.


STEP 2: Locate the 3 plastic bolts indicated below.


Push down on these plastic bolts.


STEP 3: Remove the Airflow panel by pulling towards the engine bay and lifting upwards.


The engine bay will now look like this once the Airflow panel has been removed.


STEP 4: On the drivers side, turn the wheel inwards and locate the two bolts on the front edge of the wheel arch, as indicated below.


Remove these 2 bolts using a t27.




STEP 5: Peel back the wheel arch liner and locate the bolt, indicated below, which is located just below the headlight. (Note: A small torch might be useful in locating this bolt)


Remove this bolt using the Ratchet with the attached Extension Bar and 10mm socket.


STEP 6: There are 5 bolts located below the bumper. Remove these using a t26. (Note: There is a bolt located on the far edges of each side of the bumper. This is indicated on the left of the photo below. These bolts are different to the other 3 bolts so make sure you don't mix these up.)




STEP 7: On the passengers side, turn the wheel inwards and locate the two bolts on the front edge of the wheel arch (exactly the same as what was carried out on the drivers side.) Remove both of these bolts using a t27.




STEP 8: Peel back the wheel arch liner.


Locate the bolt, as indicated below, which is located just below the headlight. (Note: A small torch might be useful in locating this bolt)


Remove this bolt using the Ratchet with the attached Extension Bar and 10mm socket.


STEP 9: Locate the two bolts on the top of the bumper, as indicated below.


Remove these bolts using a t26.


Use a screwdriver, lift the flange located underneath each of the two bolts. (Note: Be careful not to damage the paint of the bumper when using the screwdriver)


STEP 10: Remove the Fog Light surrounds on either side by giving them a good pull outwards. (Note: This is not mandatory but I found it helpful for the next step)


STEP 11: ENSURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF AT THIS STAGE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FAULT CODES FLAGGING UP!
Remove the bumper from the car by gently wiggling and pulling on all sides, fog light hole, and from top and bottom. (Note: this is where step 10 proves useful). Make sure that protective matting is in place in front of the bumper in case the bumper is dropped etc. Be aware that the bumper will still be attached to the car at this stage, via wires.

STEP 12: Once the bumper is free, the airtemp sensor will then need to be removed from the bumper by gently pulling it free.


STEP 13:
Unplug the fog lights by using a screwdriver to unclip the socket.


The bumper will now be fully free from the rest of the car at this stage.


STEP 14: Place the bumper face down on the protective matting and locate the 12 bolts indicated below.


Remove these bolts using a t26. The bottom bracket indicated below can be removed once the 6 bolts holding it in have been taken out. This bracket has to be added to the replacement grille.


STEP 15:Unclip the 4 clips, 2 on either side of the top of the grille, using a screwdriver.


STEP 16: Unclip the 4 clips, 2 on either side of the grille, using a screwdriver.
 
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STEP 17: Locate the 5 clips, 4 of which are indicated below.


Unclip these clips by gently pushing down with a small screw driver.


The grille will now become free from the bumper.


STEP 18: Turn the grille over and locate the 10 clips on the back of the Audi logo.


Unclip these clips by pushing the black clips attached to the grille, away from the chrome part of the Audi logo, using a small screwdriver.


Once these clips have been unclipped, the Audi logo will now be free from the grille. This can be easily attached to the emblem holder of the new grille.

Reverse these steps to attach the grille to the bumper and the bumper back onto the car.

The Finished Product:


 
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Excellent write up pal, grille does look good in gloss. How is the grille now it's on, some are a wee bit flimsy.
 
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Agreed.
Excellent write-up.
Can't believe how rusted all your screws are though. Not meaning anything by it as I understand UK weather is not the best.
 
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Again great write up, I will use this to remove my bumper for wrapping my grill. Car looks spot on with the new grill fitted.
 
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Thanks for the kind remarks. It's the first guide I have ever written. I just hope it can be of some use to other people.

Grille is solid and very well made. I avoided the all mesh grilles as I had heard they were very flimsy. Plus with the crash beam cover built in like this one (the same as the RS4 incidentally), I didn't need to paint the crash beam.

Some of my bolts are quite rusty and I'm in the process of cleaning up the visible ones in the engine bay and painting them. The salt used on the roads here in the winter, doesn't help things.
 
Thanks for the kind remarks. It's the first guide I have ever written. I just hope it can be of some use to other people.

Grille is solid and very well made. I avoided the all mesh grilles as I had heard they were very flimsy. Plus with the crash beam cover built in like this one (the same as the RS4 incidentally), I didn't need to paint the crash beam.

Some of my bolts are quite rusty and I'm in the process of cleaning up the visible ones in the engine bay and painting them. The salt used on the roads here in the winter, doesn't help things.

Cheers pal. trawling ebay as we speak lol
 
Excellent write up Ewan, it totally transforms the car. :) x
 
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****** hell that is cheap, just one thing what is that behind the top part of the honeycomb I can see some plastic behind the grill?
 
****** hell that is cheap, just one thing what is that behind the top part of the honeycomb I can see some plastic behind the grill?
That is built into the grille. The RS4 has it as well and as this is a copy of the RS4 grille, it has it as well. It might have something to do with airflow. You don't notice it when it's on the car. I think it's only noticeable because of the angle I took the photo at. The same with the crash beam cover built into the grille. You don't notice it when it's on, because of the gloss black paint,
 
Yeah true prob is just camera angle, looks good on the red car anyway, will u be wrapping the bottom grey bit on the bumper?
 
Haha get it done will just finish it off nicely, shouldn't be hard to do and the wrap to do it will prob only cost around £10.
 
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Excellent tutorial of great value to the audi modding community

+1 for it be sticky (or maybe a section for guides in forum :racer:)
 
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As the guys and girls have said mate fantastic guide, thank you for taking the time to put it together. It will most definitely come in useful!:) .. Should be a sticky!:)
 
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Just my 2p's worth... In fact, I'd have to see it first.

Could one of you Photoshop whiz kids see what it would look like with the four rings in black?

This could possibly make it that bit more aggressive.
 
That looks the mutts ......grille is on the ever growing mod list lol, very hard to find in gloss tho'
 
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That looks the mutts ......grille is on the ever growing mod list lol, very hard to find in gloss tho'

Thanks mate! Yeah it was really hard to find one in gloss. In fact that is the only gloss grille I have ever seen that with the built in crash beam cover. I have seen the all mesh ones in gloss from China but I have heard people say how flimsy they are.
 
Stunning write up. Think the job is beyond me but, as the bumper needs to come off for the timing belt change, can't think of a better time. Now the search is on for the same grill with chrome surround.
 
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Ok struggling to get a grill. Any ideas, tried you ebay link but they don't have them anymore. Black with silver trim with crash been cover preferred. Thanks.
 
Ok struggling to get a grill. Any ideas, tried you ebay link but they don't have them anymore. Black with silver trim with crash been cover preferred. Thanks.

He is the only seller with the gloss black grilles. Try messaging him on eBay. Remember to open your search options to Worldwide on eBay and you will get a lot more choice.
 
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Just read this thread - a ****** excellent step-by-step guide that! :applaus:
 
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RS4 grill received today from same seller as ScottishS3, must say the quality looks very good indeed, weather permitting I'll be fitting it within the next couple of weeks, haven't made up my mind whether to keep it gloss black or go matt plasti-dip. Got the chrome door surrounds wrapped matt black, so probably go matt, I can always peel plasti-dip off if I don't like it.
Cheers to ScottishS3 for the seller info and this gr8 bumper/grill removal guide.

JG :kissmyrings:
 
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RS4 grill received today from same seller as ScottishS3, must say the quality looks very good indeed, weather permitting I'll be fitting it within the next couple of weeks, haven't made up my mind whether to keep it gloss black or go matt plasti-dip. Got the chrome door surrounds wrapped matt black, so probably go matt, I can always peel plasti-dip off if I don't like it.
Cheers to ScottishS3 for the seller info and this gr8 bumper/grill removal guide.

JG :kissmyrings:
Cheers mate!

Make sure to post some pics up when you fit it! Any problems, let me know and I will only be too happy to help.

Incidentally, have you got any pics of your wrapped window surrounds? If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to get done?
 
Cheers mate!

Make sure to post some pics up when you fit it! Any problems, let me know and I will only be too happy to help.

Incidentally, have you got any pics of your wrapped window surrounds? If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to get done?

Will defo post some pics mate, undecided as to plasti-dip it now, may just put it on and take it from there, I've already plasti-dipped existing grill while still on the car, so shouldn't be any probs doing RS4 one.
Re. wrapped window surrounds, got it done for £50, bargain, as the guy who done it wasn't busy, time of the year and all that. I'll post some pics for you tomorrow after work mate. Oh and cheers for the offer of help if needed, if I get stuck, I'll be in touch.

Cheers JG
 
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John, car is looking sweet now pal, big difference from last year eh
 
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Been playing with mine today too lol this guide came in handy had the bumper off and grill changed in less than 30 mins
 

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