OEM Votex Skirts: the DIY

[fly300kts]

Hi,

Because some of you have purchased the OEM Side Skirts, you will find attached a DIY

Tools = Generic
Difficulty = 3
Time = 1.5 hrs per side
Manpower = 2 souls for final install

First, remove the door blades from the front and rear door. There are 2 screws holding them in place, front and aft of each door.
AFT


Front


Using a flat screwdriver and starting by one end, lift and pull towards the outside of the car, the doorstep rubber trim


Remove the 2 screws on the front wheel well


Remove the 2 screws on the rear wheel well. Remove also the trim under the chassis; you will need to modify it later. Remove it completely!


Now remove the wagon of screws on top and bottom of the existing skirt.
Don’t forget this one hiding behind the front door


Bottom


Skirt removed


Clean really well the areas covered by the old skirt, I used MEK.

My kit was manufactured in 2006 and I was not happy by the stickiness of the tape already installed. I decided to remove it, and after a little trip to home Depot, I bought a brand new roll of 3M tape, double sided and really sticky.

Old tape

Once the old one is removed, clean the area with MEK. CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE FRESH PAINT!!!!
Install the new tape and respect the cut off areas.


On the rear corners, my set had masking tape on them. Peel it off, clean with MEK and install a piece of tape on each cut off areas of the skirts

Cut off areas



Now with the tape installed


Equip and install the 3 brackets


Equip the new rear bracket provided with the 3 rapid nuts and install on the car.


Installed


This is when you need to call your Friend: Peel off the protective side of the tape on the entire skirt. Starting from the back, present the skirt and install the upper screw on the rear bracket while your Friend is holding the front part of the skirt away from the chassis

Top screw installed


Go to the front and clip the skirt to the chassis. With a clean rag, press firmly on the entire length of the doorstep and the result should look like this


With a razor blade, cut the rear trim as follow because it will not longer fit inside the new skirt
Cut off


Installed


For the front wheel well, you will note that now, the skirt goes on top of the plastic well while it was under before. This is why you need to use now the long screws provided.

Reuse also the same screws to secure the 3 brackets under the chassis to the car.

One side done, one to go.


Pictures of the car will come later...after a good bath
Let me know if any question

Phil

[cheemn]

Very nice! Cant wait to see finished install. You are a Jedi in the World of Audizine. LOLOL :-) Would be cool if ya had comparison pics of before and after of a side view of the car. I still cant tell from all the pics I have seen all over the web just how much lower thse things go than the original side skirts. If they look good I might buy a pair and keep them till I want to put them on later. My local Audi dealer still has a set. :-)

[Doctor]

Once more really helpful Phil. Thanks again for the input.
Are you running S4 Door blades, or S-line ones...?

I am thinking of going with S4 ones so just asking, thanks.

[fly300kts]

Here is an old picture of my car.
The skirts are about 1/2 inch lower than original, but still above any components under chassis


Phil

[fly300kts]

Once more really helpful Phil. Thanks again for the input.
Are you running S4 Door blades, or S-line ones...?

Always a pleasure my Friend
These are S-Line blades

phil

[cheemn]

wow thanks again phil. you are fast!!! :-)

[4ty-phive]

I have a question. Did you paint yourself, or did you pay someone? Either way, what did you pay (if you don't mind)? Great post.

[gpxluke]

nice mod~~~

where did u buy your side skirt? and how much did u pay for it

[fly300kts]

I have a question. Did you paint yourself, or did you pay someone? Either way, what did you pay (if you don't mind)? Great post.

I do prep and paint myself. I just borrow the paint both where I work. Base + clear cost me for a pint: $140. But I have a lot left for the rear DTM bumper once I get it
Phil

[fly300kts]

nice mod~~~

where did u buy your side skirt? and how much did u pay for it

Got them from the Dealer and paid $79.20


phil

[gpxluke]

.....holy crap that's fucking cheap~~~~

I am gonna drop by my dealer and check out the price...why it's so cheap -_-?

[fly300kts]

.....holy crap that's fucking cheap~~~~

I am gonna drop by my dealer and check out the price...why it's so cheap -_-?

Yes, it's really cheap and this price include the 2 skirts primed, all the hardware, the 6 side brackets and the 2 rear ones.
Not sure why they dumped the price but for your information, I have been really lucky that my Dealer had a set in stock so if I were you, I would hurry up because this Discount, is well known in the Cummunity
Phil

[gpxluke]

haha sure i'll definitely go check them out tomorrow

[europaisch]

Great write up. Thank you! I can't wait to install my set. I have a lot more confidence after reading this write up!

[psiaddict85]

I'll be doing mine soon too... That will complete my full DTM Kit!

[Geoffafa]

dude 80 dollars only? wow thats awesome!! Phil you should swing by tomorrow night

[Tusin]

Great DIY! Thank you Phil!

BUT hmmmm. This was my concern with these. I think anything other than the non-sline door blades look a little funky. Which kind of makes sense as the votex kit was molded for a non-sline car. Phil do you still have your stock blades? If so maybe slap a side on to compare?

[SEXICÄN]

nice DIY, but i don't see a huge difference....

[psiaddict85]

nice DIY, but i don't see a huge difference....

Ohh but it is :)

[fly300kts]

dude 80 dollars only? wow thats awesome!! Phil you should swing by tomorrow night

Hey Boss, won't be able to. I am flying tomorrow night. I will call you next time I come, to make sure you are there (you know what I mean)

Phil

[fly300kts]

Great DIY! Thank you Phil!

BUT hmmmm. This was my concern with these. I think anything other than the non-sline door blades look a little funky. Which kind of makes sense as the votex kit was molded for a non-sline car. Phil do you still have your stock blades? If so maybe slap a side on to compare?

I won't be able to compare because I don't longer have my OEM blades. sorry

Phil

[fly300kts]

nice DIY, but i don't see a huge difference....

There is Sexican, believe me. To give you an idea, on the rear door, the edge of the door blade is flush with the skirt

Phil

[audimeister]

nice DIY, but i don't see a huge difference....

S line door blades are hiding the skirts. With stock blades, the effect is very RS4-like, especially in person.

If you look at a side shot of an S line or S4, the lower definition of the body (and front valence lip) is at the bottom of the doors. With DTM, Votex, and RS4, the line is shifted to below the doors, making the car appear lower and more aggressive.

Mixing the two (door blades plus skirts) just looks confused, IMHO. But hey, whatever makes people happy, I guess.

Nice DIY- way better than the included instructions...

[Geoffafa]

Hey Boss, won't be able to. I am flying tomorrow night. I will call you next time I come, to make sure you are there (you know what I mean)

Phil

No problem Phil, just give me a call. We are either at Moe's or at the shop, either way you're always welcome :) Have a safe trip!

[FASTONE]

Nicely done Phil.

[CleverA4Name]

Phil thanks for this write up! My order is supposed to come in today/tomorrow and I am getting them painted as part of an accident where someone hit me on my drivers door! I am wondering though if I should put them on now or wait for my DTM front/rear. Any ideas?

[fly300kts]

Your welcome.
I will put the skirts on now.
I found a rear DTM bumper as well. Should be here in 4 days

Phil

[SEXICÄN]

Your welcome.
I will put the skirts on now.
I found a rear DTM bumper as well. Should be here in 4 days

Phil

Sorry i couldn't get it for you sooner

I'm sure it looks good in person, but i dunno....

How much are they?

[audimeister]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ray+dtm+skirts

About halfway down the page, there's a lot of pics of a quartz gray car featuring Votex skirts. Probably gives a better idea of the effect.

[SEXICÄN]

So almost looks like the VOtex and side that come on the DTM. Are they the same?

[fly300kts]

Yes they are

Phil

[barro]

Looks amazing!! Again;)

Do you have any OEM numbers for that skirt kit?

Looks very clean with S4 door blades as well.

[audimeister]

Yes they are

Phil

Actually, no. Different part numbers, and it appears that Votex stick out slightly farther.

[Tusin]

Yup exactly the same.... Hmmm I have a decision to make. I have S4 door blades, and still have the stock OEM blades. My Votex skirts are not in yet. But I think either not use the votex skirts, and keep with the S4 blades. Or sell the S4 blades and put the OEM ones on with the votex skirts.

[fly300kts]

Or you compromise and get Sline blades with skirts. I think the S4 blades will be too aggressive and will way out the skirts

Phil

[SEXICÄN]

I have the CF S4 door blades and would consider doing this, but i would need a picture of these and S4 door blades on...

[fly300kts]

Looks amazing!! Again;) Do you have any OEM numbers for that skirt kit?

Voila: 8EC-071-685-9AX

Phil

[barro]

And these Votex fits with S-line or S4 door blades?

Even more interesting;)

[fly300kts]

And these Votex fits with S-line or S4 door blades?

Even more interesting;)

Yes they do

Phil

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

These are designed for A4 Sedans and A4 Avants as well as S4 Sedans and S4 Avants. We are running a sale on a couple of Votex items:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Spoiler-85-OFF