how to remove the cover piece over the radiator on 2013 facelift models?

**audibmi** · 09-25-2012 09:05 PM

so in audi's effort to cut costs, they have replace the four metal torx screws with plastic rivets to hold the cover piece over the radiator. any ideas how to safely remove them without damaging rivets or more importantly, the cover? should i simply pry the head up or push the center rivet up/down to release?
thx!

**apexit1** · 09-25-2012 09:25 PM

pretty sure you push down. Similar style is used under the car but with a recess so you can pull the pin up. When the pin is pulled up the "teeth" inside are given freedom to move allowing you to pull the fastener out. I see no recesses allowing you to pull up so my best guess is push down.

**QuattroRocket** · 09-25-2012 10:28 PM

Yup push the center down then pull the whole thing out. Before reinstalling pull the center way out the other way, reinstall then push to flush.

Oh and dont ever sit them in the top left or right corner of the engine bay while you are working on the car

Of they "may" roll down into the fender and disappear forever!

**audibmi** · 09-25-2012 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by QuattroRocket

Yup push the center down then pull the whole thing out. Before reinstalling pull the center way out the other way, reinstall then push to flush.

Oh and dont ever sit them in the top left or right corner of the engine bay while you are working on the car

Of they "may" roll down into the fender and disappear forever!

thanks for the replies! will try again tommorow. did you get replacement rivets from the dealer?

**13S4** · 09-26-2012 06:36 AM

NOOOOOOOOOO don't... You put your finger or flat head screw driver underneath! The center circle thing will pop UP. It's a pop rivet.

**dm0ney** · 06-12-2013 12:55 PM

So have we come to a concensus regarding the proper way to take off these plastic rivets? I'm trying to plastidip my grill and want to protect the radiator.

**Creatre** · 06-12-2013 01:06 PM

These are very easy to take out. But it took me seriously about 15 minutes on the first one to figure it out. You need to push the long center piece up from underneath (this is just a slim longish cylinder). Just pop that guy out from the center. Once that is out, the surrounding piece should come right off as there is nothing holding it in.

**B8_Jim** · 06-12-2013 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by dm0ney

So have we come to a concensus regarding the proper way to take off these plastic rivets? I'm trying to plastidip my grill and want to protect the radiator.

I've taken mine off - with the center "pin" flush (as in your picture) it forces the sides out and secures it. To remove them, you can either push the center "pin" down -- slightly -- don't push down too far or you will just push the center part completely through and out - there is a 'stop you should be able to feel. If you can get to it you can get the center up, that also works. Either way from flush will let the sides deflect in as you pull it up and out of the hole. If you push down, you need to get the pins "up" before you reinstall so you can push them down to flush to secure them again.

The other tricky part are the tabs at the front - they can be tricky and don't want to release. I chose to get a long tool back in there and pull the "socket" part away from the "tab" to help them release to be safe from breaking anything...

**SASKCHAUCH** · 07-13-2013 06:39 AM

Sorry to bump an old thread, but is anyone pre-facelift noticing that plastic tray is getting warped around the screw/washer as the metal tor x screws are getting super hot during driving and melting into the tray. I'm thinking they switched to plastic for more then just saving a few bux

**V8Star** · 07-13-2013 07:36 AM

The plastic rivets are $0.90 each from Audi. If you lose them, no big deal.

**achilleas101** · 07-13-2013 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by SASKCHAUCH

Sorry to bump an old thread, but is anyone pre-facelift noticing that plastic tray is getting warped around the screw/washer as the metal tor x screws are getting super hot during driving and melting into the tray. I'm thinking they switched to plastic for more then just saving a few bux

if the metal is melting, that doesn't make me feel like the plastic is going to last any better.

**SASKCHAUCH** · 07-13-2013 04:50 PM

Sorry, causing the tray to melt/get too soft

**dygital** · 07-14-2013 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by V8Star

The plastic rivets are $0.90 each from Audi. If you lose them, no big deal.

In Canada they were $2.xx. Had to buy a set after I broke all 4 from trying to take them out the first time haha , but they only had 3
anyways, for the clips, they come with the centre part sticking out the top so I would assume to push them up from the bottom to get them out