Grille install price?

[legbend]

Those of you that have replaced your grilles, did you do it yourself or pay somebody? How much did you pay?

I got quoted $350 from the local dealer today... seems steep to me.

[Blake P]

That's crazy. I had mine installed at a local body shop and they polished some spots on my car that needed attention as well for a total of $150.

[sobz]

I did it myself in about a half hour without taking the bumper off. Not too hard of a job. I would say a body shop would probably charge around $100 for the install.

[ChrisMT79]

I did it myself in about a half hour without taking the bumper off. Not too hard of a job. I would say a body shop would probably charge around $100 for the install.

Any pics of your install?

[legbend]

That's crazy. I had mine installed at a local body shop and they polished some spots on my car that needed attention as well for a total of $150.

Did they remove the bumper cover?

[sobz]

Sorry, didnt take any pics during the install, but it is pretty self-explanatory. Unbolt the black plastic cover on top of the grill to gain access to the back of the grill. Take all of the bolts out from the back of the grill. T27 torx if I remember correctly. (Look at the new grill and see where all the bolts are). You also need to unplug the homelink module from behind the audi rings. After all the bolts are out slowly work work your way around the grill separating it from the bumper. Requires some force, but you can do it by hand. Pull it straight up and out. Transfer over the homelink module and the new grill slides back in and pops back into the bumper. Replace all the bolts you removed from the back of the grill, and plug in the homelink. Replace the black cover from on top of the grill and you are done.

[Blake P]

Did they remove the bumper cover?

I assume so, but didn't ask.

[Rabbit222]

I had mine replaced by a body shop and they charged me R400. Divide that figure by 8 to give you the dollar figure :P

[ddun]

free99, did it myself. pulled the bumper off, replaced grill, install takes me 45min

[ItsDubC]

Sorry, didnt take any pics during the install, but it is pretty self-explanatory. Unbolt the black plastic cover on top of the grill to gain access to the back of the grill. Take all of the bolts out from the back of the grill. T27 torx if I remember correctly. (Look at the new grill and see where all the bolts are). You also need to unplug the homelink module from behind the audi rings. After all the bolts are out slowly work work your way around the grill separating it from the bumper. Requires some force, but you can do it by hand. Pull it straight up and out. Transfer over the homelink module and the new grill slides back in and pops back into the bumper. Replace all the bolts you removed from the back of the grill, and plug in the homelink. Replace the black cover from on top of the grill and you are done.

I tried this and wasn't comfortable w/ the amount of force I was applying, the amount that the bumper was giving to accommodate the grille removal, and the amount of finessing I assumed I'd need to get the grille back in, so I stopped. It is much easier to just remove the bumper IMHO.

[legbend]

I found a shop to do it for $90. I'll check back in Saturday after it's done.

[ChrisMT79]

I should have mine in a few weeks. Ill give it a shot not removing the bumper. If its too tough then I'll remove. Ill try to get some pics up when im working on it.