View Full Version : SNOW + lowering = broken under panel?!! WTF
Tulman
03-24-2013, 06:38 PM
Car was a like a champ in the spring snow today...however noticed black broken plastic pieces on the driveway.. came to find out under panel half fallen off with snow shoveled in. WTF?! Anyone know the cost/fix i'm dealing with???
Some pics for enjoyment
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/Tulman/snowgrill.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/Tulman/snpw1.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/Tulman/snow2.jpg
toaster
03-24-2013, 06:47 PM
just look out for cracked oil pan...
the part you are talking about is the SKIDPLATE. it protects the undercarriage parts, but to be honest, it doesn't really do much.
when mine broke, i never put it back on...plenty of people ride without it.
Sasho
03-24-2013, 06:47 PM
Did you drive over hardened snow fast? I imagine you would have heard the undercarriage scrape like crazy for that plastic to have shattered and broken off. I am also lowered and drove the car in a big ass winter storm up here in Canada all the way to Mont-Tremblant in Quebec and unfortunately for me scraped in a bunch of places. Mostly entering and exiting driveways when the plows passed and built a little mountain of hardened snow. I just went extra slow and was fine. Checked the undercarriage a few times since and everything seems fine.
Tulman
03-24-2013, 07:15 PM
Thanks toaster for the fyi.
just look out for cracked oil pan...
the part you are talking about is the SKIDPLATE. it protects the undercarriage parts, but to be honest, it doesn't really do much.
when mine broke, i never put it back on...plenty of people ride without it.
Unleaded20T
03-24-2013, 07:17 PM
The plastic cover is designed to protect the breakcables and connections from corrosion, blah blah blah. On my old B7 it cost me about 300 getting the part from online in which I managed to saved 70 bucks from my local stealership.
The second time It broke I got it from a junkyard, and paid 65 bucks. Check locally first for audis that have been in accidents.
Tulman
03-24-2013, 07:20 PM
Yessir.. you nailed it Sasho. was getting alot of feedback from undercarriage scrapping. Did not know the underpanel is so "delicate". I have heard the plastic snaps that keep it in place can be easily damaged when reversing; triggering the whole issue. Acts like a shovel apparently when reversing in deeper snow. I have no choice but to go into dealership to get panel off now i guess?! it is still attached in the center, the sides have fallen down.. gonna be interesting drive tomorrow to the dealership. luckily only few miles from home.
Did you drive over hardened snow fast? I imagine you would have heard the undercarriage scrape like crazy for that plastic to have shattered and broken off. I am also lowered and drove the car in a big ass winter storm up here in Canada all the way to Mont-Tremblant in Quebec and unfortunately for me scraped in a bunch of places. Mostly entering and exiting driveways when the plows passed and built a little mountain of hardened snow. I just went extra slow and was fine. Checked the undercarriage a few times since and everything seems fine.
seanj130
03-24-2013, 07:23 PM
They actually say it helps with gas mileage and cooling the motor . Provides minimal protection
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's not a skid plate, it's a belly pan. Like others said it's there not so much for physical contact protection so much as to help with managing airflow in the engine bay and to manage noise. It also has an added benefit of keeping oil/liquids from hitting the ground if you're motor is seeping.
It's made of fiber reinforced plastics. It's possible to repair it but you'll likely need to do some fiberglass patching depending on how bad it is.
Hit a dip just a bit too fast when the car was a bit too low.
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/low_low_low_2.JPG
Did some fiberglass patching, sanded down the edges to not get caught in the future and called it a day.
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/1.jpg
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/4.jpg
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/5.jpg
Tulman
03-24-2013, 07:31 PM
Thanks Unleaded20T. I noticed the black brake cables running down center of car... appreciate the rought cost #
The plastic cover is designed to protect the breakcables and connections from corrosion, blah blah blah. On my old B7 it cost me about 300 getting the part from online in which I managed to saved 70 bucks from my local stealership.
The second time It broke I got it from a junkyard, and paid 65 bucks. Check locally first for audis that have been in accidents.
Tulman
03-24-2013, 07:33 PM
Thanks Sean.. appreciate the feedback. doesn't make me feel as pissed about the damage [headbang]
They actually say it helps with gas mileage and cooling the motor . Provides minimal protection
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tulman
03-24-2013, 07:41 PM
Damn paul.. u straight took care of business yourself. mine is not exactly something i could take on. as you said, it is not the skidplate, it is the plastic panel running down the whole middle of the car (b/w the front and rear wheels basically when looking under the car). emailing my tech at the dealership now to see what he says... thanks for the pics by the way!
It's not a skid plate, it's a belly pan. Like others said it's there not so much for physical contact protection so much as to help with managing airflow in the engine bay and to manage noise. It also has an added benefit of keeping oil/liquids from hitting the ground if you're motor is seeping.
It's made of fiber reinforced plastics. It's possible to repair it but you'll likely need to do some fiberglass patching depending on how bad it is.
Hit a dip just a bit too fast when the car was a bit too low.
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/low_low_low_2.JPG
Did some fiberglass patching, sanded down the edges to not get caught in the future and called it a day.
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/1.jpg
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/4.jpg
http://cchanphotography.com/car/b8s4/belly_pan/5.jpg
Audacious
03-24-2013, 11:38 PM
cracked one of these last year, about $400 at the dealer. I'd love an aftermarket skid plate that actually protects the underbody.
unbiasedgnu
03-24-2013, 11:55 PM
Ever since I bought mine, I actually took off the front plate after I had to have a buddy tow me home, and the right plate is literally half gone and collecting. Just felt it was better left on to protect the lines that would be exposed otherwise
PitchS4
03-25-2013, 05:34 AM
I remember seeing someone who wrapped his in kevlar on here...but yes in my 3 S4s (all lowered) I have destroyed a few. It comes with the territory of being lowered. I ran without one on my B5 for years but that was because it didn't fit well anyway with the RS4 intercoolers. I do like that it provides protection from salt and water splashing up onto the lower motor, hoses, and belts.
ECS Tuning-Audi
03-25-2013, 08:49 AM
It's pretty common to have busted belly pan pieces from being lowered in the winter. Freezing temps and chunks of ice are a bad combo for already brittle plastic. being low and backing out of un-plowed driveways, parking spaces, etc can often rip the belly pan to pieces.
Pretty much everyone I know who has a lowered Audi that drives in the winter has had to replace pieces of their belly pan at some point.
Jason
achilleas101
03-25-2013, 08:52 AM
shoot, on B6 A4s, belly pans and even the side under carriage panels were very well known to get shredded. i had to replace the side panel once, and the belly pan was tied up in the back with zipties for the last 5 years of ownership.
very common, and don't even have to be lowered (i wasn't).
Patrick Bateman
03-25-2013, 10:03 AM
cracked one of these last year, about $400 at the dealer. I'd love an aftermarket skid plate that actually protects the underbody.
I believe it was a "Thor" skidplate i had on my B6 S4, built out of stamped aluminum. A bit heavy at 24LBS, but offered good protection for lowered vehicles, and was less $ than the crummy OEM plastic ones.
PB.
coolwater
03-25-2013, 10:03 AM
Can't the a4 allroad belly pan be made to fit?
It is metal right and should handle the abuse?
-cW
Patrick Bateman
03-25-2013, 10:14 AM
I just Emailed Evolution motorsport. They make the "thor" skidplate, with the suggestion of building a plate for our cars. When i bought mine for my B6 S4... it was specified for a A4, and needed to be retro fitted to fit properly. im guessing due to S4 suspension being more substansial.
PB.
Sjones630
03-25-2013, 11:06 AM
Some of you might find this link to PCHS4's DIY for reinforcing the belly pan with Kevlar:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/507204-DIY-Kevlar-Belly-Pan-Reinforcement
He did his with one layer of Kevlar, since he is in Southern California. I'm in the process of doing the same thing, but using two layers of Kevlar for the very reasons some of you have highlighted. I'm also planning on using a Graphite powder additive to the finish epoxy coat, which will impart some added abrasion resistance. I also cut an 1.5 inch access hole directly under the oil pan drain, which can be plugged with a metal plug purchased at the local Ace hardware. I used PCHS4's sources for the kevlar and epoxy. I'm waiting for the epoxy to arrive. The existing DIY pretty much covers what's involved, so I can add little to it, other than to say that the addition of graphite to the finish epoxy coat will give it a black surface, addressing one of PCHS4's concerns.
Tulman
03-25-2013, 06:15 PM
u nailed it audacious. just got back from dealer. the drive their (about 2.5 miles) was torture... i could hear the bellypans dragging. not an enjoyable sound [=(]
cracked one of these last year, about $400 at the dealer. I'd love an aftermarket skid plate that actually protects the underbody.
Tulman
03-25-2013, 06:20 PM
Appreciate the feedback Jason! Good to hear i'm not alone...
It's pretty common to have busted belly pan pieces from being lowered in the winter. Freezing temps and chunks of ice are a bad combo for already brittle plastic. being low and backing out of un-plowed driveways, parking spaces, etc can often rip the belly pan to pieces.
Pretty much everyone I know who has a lowered Audi that drives in the winter has had to replace pieces of their belly pan at some point.
Jason
Tulman
03-25-2013, 06:23 PM
Thanks Patrick.. i will look into that [up]
I believe it was a "Thor" skidplate i had on my B6 S4, built out of stamped aluminum. A bit heavy at 24LBS, but offered good protection for lowered vehicles, and was less $ than the crummy OEM plastic ones.
PB.
Pretty much everyone I know who has a lowered Audi that drives in the winter has had to replace pieces of their belly pan at some point.
Damn straight.
westwest888
03-26-2013, 06:35 AM
cracked one of these last year, about $400 at the dealer. I'd love an aftermarket skid plate that actually protects the underbody.
The center of the car is steel and it can protect itself. This is just to lower coefficient of drag and ultimately improve fuel economy. It also helps manage downforce but not unless you are going over 100 mph :)
100Daily
03-26-2013, 11:45 AM
Damn straight.
+1 Lowering 101 if you drive in the snow.
achilleas101
03-26-2013, 11:55 AM
The center of the car is steel and it can protect itself. This is just to lower coefficient of drag and ultimately improve fuel economy. It also helps manage downforce but not unless you are going over 100 mph :)
that's probably what the audi engineers thought when they didn't think to protect the intercooler either. [;)]
there's been a lot of road construction near me, and i recently had a softball sized chunk of concrete bouncing around on the road in front of me as i was merging onto 495. Didn't see it in time since it came from the side and it smacked up against the undercarriage on my A4. the belly pan and then the side liner covering the brake lines took the blow. i know because i saw the damage from where it hit. i don't want to think about what would've happened if those pieces of plastic weren't there. those things do some good beyond lowering drag!
The center of the car is steel and it can protect itself. This is just to lower coefficient of drag and ultimately improve fuel economy. It also helps manage downforce but not unless you are going over 100 mph :)
Well the steel part on my sports differential couldn't protect itself.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/524083-Sport-Differential-Issue-Not-covered-under-warranty?highlight=Sports+Diff
I would have MUCH rather replaced a belly pan [;)]. I would love a skid plate for this car.
achilleas101
03-26-2013, 12:12 PM
Well the steel part on my sports differential couldn't protect itself.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/524083-Sport-Differential-Issue-Not-covered-under-warranty?highlight=Sports+Diff
I would have MUCH rather replaced a belly pan [;)]. I would love a skid plate for this car.
whatever came of that?
My insurance company said they would cover it with no issues, but I haven't had time to take my car in yet. I probably won't be able to have it fixed for another 8 weeks.
PaperishPlastic
03-26-2013, 12:20 PM
just look out for cracked oil pan...
the part you are talking about is the SKIDPLATE. it protects the undercarriage parts, but to be honest, it doesn't really do much.
when mine broke, i never put it back on...plenty of people ride without it.
Oil pans on these cars dont crack that easily if they did I would be on my 15th oil pan.
achilleas101
03-26-2013, 12:40 PM
My insurance company said they would cover it with no issues, but I haven't had time to take my car in yet. I probably won't be able to have it fixed for another 8 weeks.
nice... do premiums go up for a comprehensive claim?
FXcowboy
03-26-2013, 12:57 PM
That sucks. I was wondering how all this snow would effect lowered cars. I live in the Villas haha.
nice... do premiums go up for a comprehensive claim?
Yeah they will, but I'm currently sitting at the maximum possible discount so it will only be ~$150/year increase. I have a group rate insurance through the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers with 2 vehicles, 1 house and no claims.
achilleas101
03-26-2013, 01:01 PM
Yeah they will, but I'm currently sitting at the maximum possible discount so it will only be ~$150/year increase. I have a group rate insurance through the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers with 2 vehicles, 1 house and no claims.
thats annoying... but still better than 10k i guess!
Patrick Bateman
03-26-2013, 04:07 PM
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
Definitely.
theedge111
03-26-2013, 05:31 PM
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
I'm in also!
Audacious
03-26-2013, 06:11 PM
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
I'd be in too.
Tulman
03-26-2013, 06:27 PM
I would probably be interested...considering my recent 101 on lowered B8s [rolleyes]
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
dropshadow
03-26-2013, 07:47 PM
UPDATE: I wrote Evolution Import and received a response from Neil Thibodeau Stating that they are interested in bringing a "Thor" metal skid plate to the B8 Market.
But they are looking for some feedback from B8 A4/S4 owners. I got tired of my old plastic pan ripping off my B6 S4, i ordered a Thor unit make of aluminum, and never looked back.
At least the added mass/weight of the plate was not rolling mass. The unit was right around $250 including all mounting hardware.
Anyone interested in a metal skid plate for their car?
PB.
YES. I'd preorder today. I know a couple other Minnesota guys would be interested as well.
Audacious
03-26-2013, 07:53 PM
time for a group buy [:D]
Definatly,ripped mine off as well this winter in the snow. Seems rediculous a car this capable in the snow has such a weak point like that. And it's been the same way on audi's for years. Used to just take it off but would not mind paying for a proper solution on such an expensive car
Update:
Our good forum friend and contributor Patrick Bateman contacted a company called Evolution Import in Prince George BC about potentially making a Skid Plate for our platform. He contacted me seeing if I would lend my car for them so they could get proper measurements and test fit everything. I thought he was joking since I literally have the only S4 in the north half of BC, but he wasn't. I called Neil today and am willing to drive (5 hours) for them to measure my vehicle and design a skid plate for the B8, but our schedules are quite out of sync and it wont happen for at least a month. He also said if there are other areas that need obvious protection they can make secondary skid plates as well (SPORTS DIFF!!!).
Nothing is official yet, but it probably wouldn't hurt to send a courtesy email to "Neil" at
[email protected] showing your interest and letting them know many people would be interested in the product.
www.Evolutionimport.com
dropshadow
03-27-2013, 03:13 PM
Emailed. Thanks for this. Let's hope a pan makes it to production.
theedge111
03-27-2013, 03:41 PM
I sent off a message also, thanks for doing this for us 13S4 and PB!
Update:
Our good forum friend and contributor Patrick Bateman contacted a company called Evolution Import in Prince George BC about potentially making a Skid Plate for our platform. He contacted me seeing if I would lend my car for them so they could get proper measurements and test fit everything. I thought he was joking since I literally have the only S4 in the north half of BC, but he wasn't. I called Neil today and am willing to drive (5 hours) for them to measure my vehicle and design a skid plate for the B8, but our schedules are quite out of sync and it wont happen for at least a month. He also said if there are other areas that need obvious protection they can make secondary skid plates as well (SPORTS DIFF!!!).
Nothing is official yet, but it probably wouldn't hurt to send a courtesy email to "Neil" at
[email protected] showing your interest and letting them know many people would be interested in the product.
www.Evolutionimport.com
Following up on this - I had also reached out to Evolution Import. Neil wrote me a similar reply; if there's anyone near Prince George BC interested: "We will need a donor car to take measurements on and it may be an opportunity for him to get some promotional merchandise."
I'm curious if there are any B8 S4 owners, as I'm not sure if the B8.5 will be the same.
Tulman
03-27-2013, 07:40 PM
Agreed. we need a B8 S4 measurement done. unless someone knows if the frame measurements r the same for B8.5 and B8
[confused]
Following up on this - I had also reached out to Evolution Import. Neil wrote me a similar reply; if there's anyone near Prince George BC interested: "We will need a donor car to take measurements on and it may be an opportunity for him to get some promotional merchandise."
I'm curious if there are any B8 S4 owners, as I'm not sure if the B8.5 will be the same.
brandon
03-27-2013, 07:44 PM
Email sent. Minnesota roads + low... Need this.
Audacious
03-27-2013, 10:24 PM
sent an email as well. probably won't need this till next winter, but the sooner the better!
TDIaholic
03-28-2013, 03:53 AM
A Russian company called KOY SHERIFF makes a steel skid plate for the B8. Been thinking about ordering one. It costs about 170EUR here in Finland and it's made of 3mm steel plate.
Patrick Bateman
03-28-2013, 08:51 AM
steel you say? Wonder what the weight of that beast would be? My old Thor plate was like 25LBS iirc, and was made out of 3/16" aluminum.
PB.
Spacecadet_CC
03-28-2013, 08:59 AM
Hah- I think the whole plastic underside of my Audi's lasts about - MAYBE - one winter! Generally I have not worried about it too much when it is snow but when deep snow turns to solid ice as it does where I live, some roads and back lanes get rutted and then you have to be careful. I am pretty sure those plastic covers were missed in any cold weather testing - they are nearly useless!
Limey
03-28-2013, 08:20 PM
I'm definitely in for one when these are made