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  1. #1
    Veteran Member Four Rings dougyfresh's Avatar
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    DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

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    Remember when that dog hit me a while ago?

    If you recall, our fog lights (A4, S4, etc..) are held into the front bumper with two little round tabs that sit in a hole in the bumper (center of the car) and two screws that attach the fog light (outside of car).

    The impact of the dog sheared the two tabs on my driver side fog light. They were a few months old.

    I fixed them. How?



    1) Find yourself some R/C Car nylon body posts from your local hobby shop. I used my good fog light as a reference to get the right diameter body posts. Purchase some two-part plastic welder/epoxy from your local hardware store. I found mine at Home Depot.

    Tools required:
    • utility knife
    • plastic welder/epoxy
    • R/C car nylon body posts
    • cardboard


    2) Sand down whatever remains of the existing tab with a nice fine metal file.

    3) Cut to fit the nylon R/C car body post. I used my passenger fog light as a template to get the right length 'tab'.

    4) Trim bottom of tab to conform to the rounded fog light housing on the broken fog light.

    5) In a location with adequate ventilation, mix up the two-part Plastic welder/epoxy on a piece of old cardboard. Note: The welder/epoxy has some nasty fumes.

    6) Spread the epoxy on the location of the tab on the broken fog light. The stuff I used sets up within a minute and is very, very durable (it eats Lexan as soon as it touches it).

    7) Position new 'tab' accordingly.

    8) Add more epoxy around the tab to create a 'fillet' of epoxy to help glue the tab onto the fog light. The theory here is that you're creating a flush glue joint that will be loaded up in shear when the fog light is in the car. Building up a 'fillet' helps reinforce the glue joint.

    9) Move onto the second tab. Work within a 3minute timeframe so you can still position both tabs relative to each other and perpendicular to the fog light. Use the good fog light as a reference to get the 'tabs' in the right orientation.

    10) Let the fog lights sit [overnight] for the glue to harden. Note: Its best to follow manufacturer's recommendation for permanent bonding before mounting the lights back onto the car.

    11) Replace bulb if broken (mine was shattered)

    This is a pretty strong glue joint. I pulled on the new tabs after them curing overnight and they didn't budge.

    Here are photos of the finished product:




    -Doug
    2002 A4 Avant EPL tuned 2.7T K04 6spd

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Four Rings absolutegtr's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    I had to cut those tabs right off, inorder for me to get the fogs to fit with the FMIC piping....lol

    The fogs are still aligned fairly well.....why did you need to fix these tabs in the first place?
    -Sami-

  3. #3
    Veteran Member Four Rings dougyfresh's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    Quote Originally Posted by absolutegtr View Post
    why did you need to fix these tabs in the first place?
    Read this:

    Quote Originally Posted by dougyfresh View Post
    The impact of the dog sheared the two tabs on my driver side fog light. They were a few months old.
    The impact also shattered the bulb inside.
    -Doug
    2002 A4 Avant EPL tuned 2.7T K04 6spd

  4. #4
    Veteran Member Four Rings absolutegtr's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    I realize that you hit a dog...but I am asking why did you fix the tabs? I'm just saying that I ran into no problems after cutting those tabs off.

    Those two torx screws seem to hold the light in place just fine....

    Just curious thats all
    -Sami-

  5. #5
    Veteran Member Four Rings dougyfresh's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    Oh, I didn't realize that is where you were going with your question.

    I fixed the tabs because they are there to help hold the fog light in place and I was worried about excessive vibration with them missing (esp with highway wind-loads acting upon and ultimate failure due to excessive vibration). Guess I wanted them back to their original design intent because I could. Its the Engineer in me

    The fog lights also fit in my bumper without any modifications and my FMIC is back there too.
    -Doug
    2002 A4 Avant EPL tuned 2.7T K04 6spd

  6. #6
    Veteran Member Four Rings AudiA4_20T's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    What cant he do?
    - Clint

    Current : 2013 Q5 3.0T Prestige S-Line - 11.6@117 - 034 Stage2+ FBO
    Gone : One of the first ever 2.7T Swaps - White '04 S4 2.7T - Stage 2+
    Gone : Fastest B6 A4 ever - 464awhp/12.1@116

  7. #7
    Veteran Member Four Rings
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    Quote Originally Posted by AudiA4_20T View Post
    What cant he do?
    eat a pony...

    '97 A4 1.8TQ, '02 A4 1.8TQ Avant, '03 A4 1.8TQMS, '04 A4 3.0Q Cabrio - Sold
    '18 S4 Prestige - APR Stage 1 ECU/TCU, APR Intake

  8. #8
    Veteran Member Four Rings B6Lovin's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs

    Quote Originally Posted by NyteEscape View Post
    eat a pony...
    dont put ideas in his head.

    the man already rides those crazy single speeds all day long... im a sure a pony is no biggie
    (no pun intended lol)
    GT3071R - 338awhp ... GT3076R - 361awhp
    12.5 best ET -- 113 best trap

    The Awesome™
    BetaAlphaTau Member #42

  9. #9
    Veteran Member Four Rings dougyfresh's Avatar
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    Re: DIY: B6 A4 / B6 S4 - How to fix broken fog light tabs


    Fits like a glove. Not to be confused with a tight virgin's p&&&y
    -Doug
    2002 A4 Avant EPL tuned 2.7T K04 6spd

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