This is how to remove the center console trim

[dieatomic]

I was hoping there was an easier way but there isnt one. i had some extra time today and decided to take off my trim because i wanna wrap it in CF. the glovebox and door trim is a walk in the park to take off. the center console trim is not. so this is how i did it...

[dOubleO]

Wow...that's a lot to do just to take it out...

...but GREAT JOB! Now, people can complete their CF trim

[dieatomic]

BTW if any of u have access to etka i need the part # for the c-frame, its that cheap looking silver plastic piece that covers the left side vent and the nav screen. thanks in advance.

[a408]

this is great.
good write up

[aznpxdd]

Wow, thanks for the DIY. That does look like a lot of work though.

[TCHUN003]

nice write up!! oh and sweet on the 40min parking for $0.50....it's $3 for an hour in LA :-/

[NPuter]

Now we just need a picture with your CF completed...

[dieatomic]

Now we just need a picture with your CF completed...

Ill post that when its completed eta around 2 weeks

[inNout]

Thank you!
Please be sure that these pictures are hosted on a good server. This thread could be used for years.

[dieatomic]

i uploaded the pics to audizine.com i dont know if they store it on their own servers or if they they still rely on my pc??? but if u guys need any pics uploaded again let me know and ill upload them. REMEMBER , after u remove all the screws that hold the center console down, be very gentle as u lift it up, u could damage the center arm rest leather if not careful. take ur time and if u got a buddy to help out then it will be much easier.

[dieatomic]

ONE MORE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION. make usre when disconecting the center mmi pannel that THE CAR IS OFF. i had it in neutral and then put it in park and accidently started the car and since i had the pannel disconnected i got a parking brake malfunction and also i remover the C_FRAME and had the Passanger air bag on/off indicator disconnected, once the car started i got an airbag light on the dash and it does not reset by itself u gotta make a trip to the dealer to have it reset. so i kinda f"ed up and its gonna cot $130 to get that reset. if any one is in the NJ area and has a vag-com maybe u can help.....please????

[DobarDabar]

BTW if any of u have access to etka i need the part # for the c-frame, its that cheap looking silver plastic piece that covers the left side vent and the nav screen. thanks in advance.

Plastic around display:
8K1 857 186 trim, MODEL (PR-8UD, 8UM, 8YN, 8YR)

Air vent:
8K1 820 901 J FRESH AIR OUTLET WITH MOLDING, MODEL (PR-GS0)

[dieatomic]

Plastic around display:
8K1 857 186 trim, MODEL (PR-8UD, 8UM, 8YN, 8YR)

Air vent:
8K1 820 901 J FRESH AIR OUTLET WITH MOLDING, MODEL (PR-GS0)

Thanks

[dieatomic]

Turns out that there is a way to remove the center arm rest in order not to scratch up the leather while removing the center console. ill post pic up later today.

[MiracleWhips]

You are a brave sole dieatomic!

Thanks for taking one for the team.

Is the center console trim really held in by 7 to 8 torx screws? God help the person who thinks the trim can be pryed off with a trim removal tool.

[cory_can]

wow....that's quite the involved procedure.....I think I kinda like my OEM trim now.

[wtch_65]

I was hoping there was an easier way but there isnt one. i had some extra time today and decided to take off my trim because i wanna wrap it in CF. the glovebox and door trim is a walk in the park to take off. the center console trim is not. so this is how i did it...

Thanks for very informative text.
How many hours it took to change this panel?

[dieatomic]

Thanks for very informative text.
How many hours it took to change this panel?

around 2 hours to take off and around 20 mins to put back.

[dieatomic]

You are a brave sole dieatomic!

Thanks for taking one for the team.

Is the center console trim really held in by 7 to 8 torx screws? God help the person who thinks the trim can be pryed off with a trim removal tool.

Yep that many screws!!!!! good thing is that now i cnow exactly how to remove the console to put everything back once i get the trim wraped.

[dieatomic]

wow....that's quite the involved procedure.....I think I kinda like my OEM trim now.

cory_can dont be afraid, lol. there is a saying in Russian that basically say that ur eyes see and fear the task but ur hands still do the work, its not as difficult as it seems, besides u got the thread to rely on in case u get stuck or u can pm me and ill expain everything. if u want details pm ur # and ill call u and can walk u through the entire process.

[Afroman]

is this all the same procedure for mt? just wondering

[dieatomic]

is this all the same procedure for mt? just wondering

I believe it is, might even be easier sine u could just put the shifter into neutral and engage the parking brake

[dieatomic]

this is the extra step that i skiped. after u remove al the screws that hold the console down do the following...

[matt@oCarbon]

Great write up.

Looking forward to finally getting my hands on a B8 set of trim.

[Afroman]

I believe it is, might even be easier sine u could just put the shifter into neutral and engage the parking brake

alright thanks man. great write up

[dieatomic]

I just came back from the dealer after getting all the code cleared and WOW disconnecting that center pannel and accidently starting the car triggered around 15 different codes, Parking brake, airbag, etc. so if u guys are going to do that trim swap be careful and learn from my mistake.

[gtrab]

wow...



thanks for the DIY, but now I don't feel like I want to...

a cover for the central portion would be easyer

...

[dieatomic]

wow...



thanks for the DIY, but now I don't feel like I want to...

a cover for the central portion would be easyer

...

Well I thought about that but then i figured that if i lay vinyl or something else on top it might not look right because with the way the center trim sits its going to be impossible to tuck in the vinyl on the sides and make it look OEM. But thats my take on this...im OCD about things like this. My last car was a pathfinder and i did custom fiberglass door pannels and a and b pillars my self. it took me about 3 months to complete everything and i think it came out flawless. So im just crazy like that. there is a thread on B8 trim production that u may want to follow, here is the link
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321714

[aznpxdd]

Removed center trim with the help of my Audi Tech friend today (he removed it in about 5 minutes...!). The aftermath:



Will order some silver CF fabric soon and re-do my whole interior trim. Its pretty much impossible to do the center trim with my current vinyl as it doesn't bend/stretch.

Driving the car without the center console feels kinda weird.

[dieatomic]

i know the feeling. good luck. ,,,my trim is at ocabon getting wraped in cf.

[Flat]

Is it possible to change trim without removing ac control unit ? Or is possible loose control unit without loosening wires ?


i want to avoid control unit re-coding.....and wist to audi workshop. If i loose those wires, re-coding is required?

[dieatomic]

the ac/heat control unit should pop right out, no screws. The wire harness is long enought that it should allow the unit to hang to the side as you do your work.

[DavidB8]

Theres no recoding if you pull the AC unit. If there was that would mean the entire car wouldn't function properly if the battery went dead.

[dieatomic]

^^^ yep no recoding. if you unplug it and start the car ... there will be fault codes in the modules. if you hook up a vag com to get fault codes from the module that controls that unit there will ber plenty. as far as recoding the ac unit i dont think that will be necessary. the unit will function without a problem.

[Flat]

^^^ yep no recoding. if you unplug it and start the car ... there will be fault codes in the modules. if you hook up a vag com to get fault codes from the module that controls that unit there will ber plenty. as far as recoding the ac unit i dont think that will be necessary. the unit will function without a problem.

thanks for quick replies
so , i can safely unplug the ac control unit if I don't start car during that time. And no coding is required after plugging it again.

According to Elsa, coding is required, but maybe it means situation, when you are changeing contol unit to new one.

[dieatomic]

i just swappet out my interior trim and i didnt run into any issues. works fine. just dont start the car , lol

[Cabal_san]

Even if you do start the car and get a slew of HVAC errors because its unplugged, they should clear after a certain number of restarts once its plugged back in. So clear em if you have a VAG, or dont and let em clear themselves after a few days/weeks. When i swapped mine, i did and got a like 5 or 6 errors in a few places. Cleared them all and all is kosher.

Correct me if I am wrong David?

[DavidB8]

Nope your right, they will clear on their own after a preset number of faultless starts.

[ThePiombino]

I was hoping there was an easier way but there isnt one. i had some extra time today and decided to take off my trim because i wanna wrap it in CF. the glovebox and door trim is a walk in the park to take off. the center console trim is not. so this is how i did it...

Any pics of the final product?

[matt@oCarbon]

Any pics of the final product?

http://ocarbon.com/gallery/audi/a4/b8/roman