DIY S4 sideskirt install

[biketsai]

Well I decided to make a separate thread in case someone wanted to refer to this...
I did the S4 sideskirt conversion with sideskirts I got from a junkyard.
I also utilized my stock door molding as well.
Install time about 30-60 mins
Ill try to make this a DIY/reference thread.
What you do need...
S4 skirts
(2) S4 mounting brackets
Razor blade ( to cut door molding)
Flathead screw driver (to remove door molding)
T25 Torx bit
Industrial Strength Velcro, long enough to go cover most of the skirt.


I started off with this.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/DSC00165.jpg
washed them and ripped the "clear bra" stuff off(it takes time, and DO take your time with this and slowly peel, paint thinner did help remove the goo)
Then I painted them =].
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/skirt.jpg
Then I went and got my razor blade and measured 1/2" on each door molding, traced the line then sliced through it like butter with teh razor blade.
For the end pieces of the door molding that are not on the door itself, I used a hacksaw/dremel to cut them.
I then cut these small tabs off.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC3973.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC3974.jpg


Then, remove the 2 Torx bits on the front of the skirt, and the 4 on the rear...then bolt the s4 brackets in.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC4024.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC4022.jpg

Clean off the side of the door sill that is now visible because you cut the door molding off, that is where the Velcro will go.
Lay a long strip down on each side, and have it placed corresponding to the skirt.It helps to have it somewhere in between the middle of the skirt to the top.

Then lay the skirt on and have a buddy help you.
Use the old 2 bolts from front for the front of the skirt, and bolt the rear on with the extra Torx screw left over from removing the stock one.
And basically, your done!
Things will make sense as you go along.
I didnt use any screws for the bottom because it felt strong enough, but if you want, just drill some holes into the bottom of the car.
I will probably upgrade to the s4 door moldings here in the near future.
But this will work for the next couple of weeks
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC4023.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC4025.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/volumebikec0/_DSC4904.jpg
If you have any questions, PM me or post here.
-chris

[Overboostin]

nice job!

[NK2007]

looks good! bookmarked for when i get my s4 sides.

[audiness]

nice install. how much did the whole setup cost?

[eakrob]

Man, that is a nice job.

[aaronamerica]

very nice man

[AudiLife]

Nice Job! I'll be doing this in the near future and this helps alot. Do you have or can you get a picture of how the skirts match up with the existing door sill? Did you just put Velcro on top of the old sills?

TIA!

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

nice job man! gonna try and get mine on next week

[biketsai]

It cost me about $200
$30 paint, 15 velcro, 150 skirts with brackets.

Audilife, i will try to get a picture soon

[VTAudiA4]

Can that lower door molding be painted or do you have to buy the S4 lower door molding? I have a Satorin car and they need to be painted that color.

[goody6691]

the rubber can be painted, there is a lot of prep work involved. and you need to use a flex agent.

[Russell2686]

nice work man

[VTAudiA4]

the rubber can be painted, there is a lot of prep work involved. and you need to use a flex agent.

Money wise do you think I would be better off painting the stock lowers moldings or get s4 moldings and paint those?

Thanks for the help.

[JumboBlack1.8]

did you paint those sides urself? What did you use?

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

I did the samething biketsai did for now, im gonna just shave the door molding.

[Nor_Cal_Driver]

It cost me about $200
$30 paint, 15 velcro, 150 skirts with brackets.

Audilife, i will try to get a picture soon


Where did you get skirts and brackets for $150?

[20A4Audi1.8t01]

^ Local junkyard

[jman8806]

[up] good job

[biketsai]

yea, i def cant wait to get the s4 door molding!

[kevin12]

did you paint those sides urself? What did you use?

Yeahhh I'm curious about this too. Did you use cans or do you have a spray gun?

[biketsai]

Yeahhh I'm curious about this too. Did you use cans or do you have a spray gun?

spray gun, booth, etc

[goody6691]

Money wise do you think I would be better off painting the stock lowers moldings or get s4 moldings and paint those?

Thanks for the help.




wait for the s4 parts. i never painted my stock parts and when i was getting work done the s4 parts were not in the budget. im kicking myself now for not doing it.

[biketsai]

wait for the s4 parts. i never painted my stock parts and when i was getting work done the s4 parts were not in the budget. im kicking myself now for not doing it.

yea you def need to get some. although it gives your car a little bumble bee taste, lol jk.

[VTAudiA4]

Anyone ever buy lower door moldings from this site?
http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B3B1204-B

[audinutt]

Can you mount the skirts without the brackets? i've got a pair my same color but have no brackets.

-richard

[biketsai]

yes you can Richard, but its a tight fit

[goody6691]

yea you def need to get some. although it gives your car a little bumble bee taste, lol jk.



i have lots of plans, none of wich will include any bumble beeism's. lots of things are in the works, body, paint, stereo, etc.

[kevin12]

spray gun, booth, etc

Yeahhh that's what I figured looked way to good to be rattle cans ha
But looks great man really turned out well can't wait til I get myself a set [up]

[audiFUEGO]

chris do you have any pics of your doors open? like a closeup of the sills?

[biketsai]

chris do you have any pics of your doors open? like a closeup of the sills?

Sorry no pics ATM. I can take some tomorrow when I get home. They literally just sit and overlap the stock stuff.

[audiFUEGO]

Sorry no pics ATM. I can take some tomorrow when I get home. They literally just sit and overlap the stock stuff.

Ok so then you definitely didn't remove your sills like the writeup on AW.

I feel like since I'm shaving the doors, I have to remove the sills to make the skirts more flush. Otherwise it looks like the skirts are stretched out and well look...

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/audiFUEGO/c5d02b4c.jpg

Even with the door closed you can still see the 1mm lip that the skirt has over the sills. Maybe the shop can epoxy those for me or maybe I have to remove my sills?? [confused] I hope not.

[PuntA4]

biketsai, what kind of suspension do you have on there?

[biketsai]

in that pic it was H&R PCS

[audienthusiest]

off topic... wats the et on those rs4 reps....?? ps... your car looks AWSOME (im doin this as soon as im home from college =P)

[PuntA4]

how much of a drop is it? and about how much did that run?

[biketsai]

ET is 35 on the wheels. The drop, Im not sure, maybe 2.5 inches? I paid around $1000 for coilovers.

[wesleyfbm]

Back from the dead..and I have questions.

So do I really need the S4 mounting brackets? And what about the bottom of the skirts, there are larger holes idk if anyone attached from the bottom at all?

[biketsai]

You really "dont" need them, however I highly recommend them for a nice finished look. What my friend recommended to do a long time ago was to just push the sideskirt over the rubber A4 bracket and screw it in with a wood screw (sounds a little ghetto though). On the bottom for a while I did not have them attached to any of those holes. Eventually I just removed the stock A4 rubber caps and fitted them over the holes on the sideskirts if that makes sense. Lmk if you have any more questions.

Chris

[wesleyfbm]

Yah that helps. thanks Chris.

[the_pirate]

You gots a PM Chris :)

[.Mad Hatter.]

What are you guys doing about the door sills on the inside? Does the S4 skirt wrap up and under the door and over the A4 sill, or did you guys use S4 sills?

[biketsai]

What are you guys doing about the door sills on the inside? Does the S4 skirt wrap up and under the door and over the A4 sill, or did you guys use S4 sills?

I leave the A4 ones there, there is enough room so my S4 skirt just sits on top of them, looks OEM still. If you really want to, you can always use the S4 sill, but those are a pain!

[.Mad Hatter.]

that was my concern...however, in the winter any chance of having salt and crap collect under the s4 skirts (for those of us up north)? :)

[biketsai]

Hmm, Im sure there is gonna be crap collecting underneath, but if thats a big issue, Id just remove them after it warms up and just clean it out and stick it back on. Mine are just held on by 2 screws on each end, and velcro along the side.

[.Mad Hatter.]

this is a good point. thanks chris!

[JJ.]

I know, topic kick [:D]

But where exactly do I have to cut those tabs of the skirt?

[B5 Quattro]

I got some skirts and they are just a little short. Anyone have that prob ???

[ray4624]

Did you remove the rear stock brackets?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[biketsai]

Yes. You have to replace the stock rear bracket with the S4 ones. The stock a4 one has the rubber molding I believe.

[ElSabio182]

Since this thread has been brought back from the dead in terms of conversation, I wanted to add to Mad Hatter's question about the stock door sills...

The last time I installed S4 skirts on my previous 2000 B5...I WAS able to lay the skirts on top of the stock door sills. However, on my current car (2001.5), I am NOT able to do this. There isn't enough clearance for the doors to close, the skirts sit too high on top of the sills. Not sure if there was some design tweaks made to the interiors in later B5 models, or if my doors are somehow sitting lower in the frame or something.

My plan is to trim the stock door sills with a blade all the way down the length of the car (I think a line just below the silver A4 logo should do it). Still working on how to ensure a straight cut, and how to cleanly cut in the tight spots under the mid column. I HOPE this will provide enough clearance for the doors.

Any insight or experiences with this might be useful to future readers.

[Articus]

On my 2001 car, the sideskirts don't fit over the door sills. Cutting the sills while still installed on the car isn't very fun but it's what I did. If you could be bothered to take your doors off, cutting them on the car would be very easy with a dremel (on low speed) and cutoff wheel. As for ensuring the straight cut, just take a ruler, measure about 3/8th of an inch from the outside edge of the stainless audi strip. Make a few marks along, then use a ruler and connect the dots. Then cut with whatever tool floats your boat.

[#MrAudi]

Any pictures of where exactly you put the velcro?

[Rmr1499]

So bringing this up again. Anybody have install photos since the original can’t be seen thanks to photo bucket. Picked up a set with brackets for $50 yesterday

[Blazius]

yes it does. Open the image in a new tab and delete whatever is infront of photobucket including the . like it says i6.photobucket, you delete the i6. and it will bring the picture up on the authors album.

[Rmr1499]

All I can do is copy or save image

[Rmr1499]

Ok figured it out but won’t work he is private on photobucket 🙄🙄