Interior trim piece removal?

**biketsai** · 08-16-2008 11:34 PM

I want to DIY "brushed aluminum" look on my interior trim pieces and was wondering how easy they pop off? Some people say that you have to take out all this stuff etc and some people say you can just pop them out.

**SykoraA4** · 08-16-2008 11:45 PM

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/int21.shtml

**fred2ka4** · 08-16-2008 11:54 PM

Be prepared to have to take out your entire center console. I had to do it and it was a pain ........

You can get all but one of the clips and that's the one that is closest to the center vent. You can try to pry it off as some have tried but you might end up bending your trim or breaking the back tab.

The above link does not apply to 00-01 Audi's as the center console is different and harder to get to, but the clips are the same as is the rest of the interior.

**xraycer2012** · 08-17-2008 08:54 AM

i just swapped my trim and from my experience, be prepared for alot of frustration. The door pieces come off really easy, but the clips that hold on the dash piece are pretty hard to get off and there's alot of shit in the way of them. It is possible to get the dash piece off without taking apart the center console, but it's not easy. It takes a while, but it is definately worth it.

**mholme** · 08-17-2008 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by xraycer2012

i just swapped my trim and from my experience, be prepared for alot of frustration. The door pieces come off really easy, but the clips that hold on the dash piece are pretty hard to get off and there's alot of shit in the way of them. It is possible to get the dash piece off without taking apart the center console, but it's not easy. It takes a while, but it is definately worth it.

Yeah, the dash pieces take a while to get to all the clips. The door panels are easy. Do them first to build up your confidence. Here's the write up I use:

http://www.rnsdesign.com/estore/install_guide.htm

**hoganalley** · 08-17-2008 12:55 PM

if you've taken out your center console before to install a stereo it's not that bad. I can get everything off in about 20 min. I got the clips off by taking a flat head screw driver and prying on one of the fingers that hold it on. It does take a little work, but I can get all the pieces off in about an hour. I wouldn't try to pry off the center clip.....too many things can go wrong

**xraycer2012** · 08-17-2008 10:13 PM

^^^I did the same thing, used a flathead screwdriver, use a longer one so that you aren't putting your hand way into the the dash around all of the various stamped steel brackets. I made that mistake at first and my whole hand got cut up from the little flathead I was using because it kept sliding off the clip and my my hand would slam into the sharp edges of the brackets. Don't pry off the dash piece either. I did it that way and looking back on it, I'm very lucky I didn't put a kink in my trim. Those little clips that hold it on don't just pop off, it takes alot of force and the trim bends really easy. All said and done, I can get it all off in about an hour. The work is definitely worth the outcome.

**djwimbo** · 08-18-2008 05:30 PM

I've been thinking about doing this, but I want to pick up a FronTrak's main piece. I like the Quattro badge, but I think it would look cleaner if it were removed. NTM I wouldn't have to worry about messing it up in the process and I can get the spare pieces done w/o having to have my DD apart.