REVIEW: Bremmen Parts Belly Pan Kit from ECS

[imnuts]

I ordered the Bremmen Parts Belly Pan Kit from ECS Tuning as my belly pan was torn up and falling apart. It was actually missing most of the rear as I found out this weekend. I wanted to replace it, but didn't want to spend the $300 on a factory belly pan and installation hardware. I was missing some of the screws and fasteners that hold the pan in place since they fell off and got torn away never to be seen again. I decided to get the kit as the price was right, and it had free shipping.

First off, the new belly pan seems like it may hold up better than the factory pan. It is about twice as thick, and a more flexible plastic, although it is not fiber reinforced like the stock belly pan. The added thickness doesn't make me worry about not being fiber reinforced though. Overall, the pan fits nearly as well as the OEM one. However, there were a couple problems. First, two of the holes, for the quarter turn plastic fasteners do not line up well. I could only get one of the two installed as the other does not line up anywhere close to the hole in the fender liner.

Second, there are two clips that need installed towards the rear of the belly pan that the slotted holes are not wide enough for, at least not wide enough for the included clips. It was easy enough to fix with a pair of snips and pliers to open the holes up a little bit. The front of the belly pan also needs these installed, but again, the way it is molded, the included ones do not fit on the pan. Luckily, I still had all three for the front of the pan from my original belly pan. These are about ¼" narrower than the ones included with the kit and fit on perfectly.

The last issue is that the screws that go into the clips for the front of the belly pan don't seem to be included with the kit. The originals are shorter than any that are included with the kit, and the longer screws that are included didn't want to go in for me, they all seemed too long. I used the originals, and even after doing that, I only had one extra screw left, so it was missing some of the fasteners in the kit.

Overall, I think the kit is a great value. I am definitely happy with it, and feel that a few changes to the included fasteners from ECS would make it an even better deal. If you are looking for a replacement belly pan and don't want to pay for an OEM one, or add the weight of a metal one, it is a great option. If anyone would like pics, I could get some, though it may take a little bit as it's hard to get under the car to get all of the screws.

If ECS wanted to make the kit better, I'd suggest including 5 of these speednuts as well as 3 of the shortest screws that go with them, mine were ~10-12 mm long, but the shortest ECS has on their site is 18 mm. One would also need a few more of the rubber gaskets to go with the screws as well. Overall, I had 10 of the screws plus two plastic quarter turn screws, as well as the associated gaskets and mounting hardware.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

I ordered the Bremmen Parts Belly Pan Kit from ECS Tuning as my belly pan was torn up and falling apart. It was actually missing most of the rear as I found out this weekend. I wanted to replace it, but didn't want to spend the $300 on a factory belly pan and installation hardware. I was missing some of the screws and fasteners that hold the pan in place since they fell off and got torn away never to be seen again. I decided to get the kit as the price was right, and it had free shipping.

First off, the new belly pan seems like it may hold up better than the factory pan. It is about twice as thick, and a more flexible plastic, although it is not fiber reinforced like the stock belly pan. The added thickness doesn't make me worry about not being fiber reinforced though. Overall, the pan fits nearly as well as the OEM one. However, there were a couple problems. First, two of the holes, for the quarter turn plastic fasteners do not line up well. I could only get one of the two installed as the other does not line up anywhere close to the hole in the fender liner.

Second, there are two clips that need installed towards the rear of the belly pan that the slotted holes are not wide enough for, at least not wide enough for the included clips. It was easy enough to fix with a pair of snips and pliers to open the holes up a little bit. The front of the belly pan also needs these installed, but again, the way it is molded, the included ones do not fit on the pan. Luckily, I still had all three for the front of the pan from my original belly pan. These are about ¼" narrower than the ones included with the kit and fit on perfectly.

The last issue is that the screws that go into the clips for the front of the belly pan don't seem to be included with the kit. The originals are shorter than any that are included with the kit, and the longer screws that are included didn't want to go in for me, they all seemed too long. I used the originals, and even after doing that, I only had one extra screw left, so it was missing some of the fasteners in the kit.

Overall, I think the kit is a great value. I am definitely happy with it, and feel that a few changes to the included fasteners from ECS would make it an even better deal. If you are looking for a replacement belly pan and don't want to pay for an OEM one, or add the weight of a metal one, it is a great option. If anyone would like pics, I could get some, though it may take a little bit as it's hard to get under the car to get all of the screws.

If ECS wanted to make the kit better, I'd suggest including 5 of these speednuts as well as 3 of the shortest screws that go with them, mine were ~10-12 mm long, but the shortest ECS has on their site is 18 mm. One would also need a few more of the rubber gaskets to go with the screws as well. Overall, I had 10 of the screws plus two plastic quarter turn screws, as well as the associated gaskets and mounting hardware.

Thanks for the write up and all the feed back!

We'll look into the hardware issues as this is something that could easily be corrected.

Jason

[SlickFix]

The last issue is that the screws that go into the clips for the front of the belly pan don't seem to be included with the kit. The originals are shorter than any that are included with the kit, and the longer screws that are included didn't want to go in for me, they all seemed too long.

Thanks for reviewing the belly pan, and for bringing up this point. Once upon a time, I ordered belly pan fasteners from ECS in an attempt to find just those specific little half turn screws. Like you, the ones I got were too long, and don't fit into the clips that line up with the holes in the bumper.

I hope Jason can work with his team and make those screws for the very front of the belly pan available for purchase.

[sarge1]

I've got the belly pan kit setting in my garage waiting for my next oil change to install. My front short fasteners are just rusted stubs, one of the reasons to get the fastener kit with the pan. Any chance ECS would swap out the ones in the kit for some that would fit?

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

We'll look into the hardware issues, although as far as getting a "smaller" stud we only have Vaico brand hardward and OEM. We probably wouldn't be making any pieces to this. All the hardware can be found on our website. Our "ECS" hardward kit is simply a copy of what is in the Genuine Audi kit just majority of the parts are aftermarket to bring the cost down. See the link below for all belly pan hardware.

Click HERE

Jason

[SJorge3442]

We'll look into the hardware issues, although as far as getting a "smaller" stud we only have Vaico brand hardward and OEM. We probably wouldn't be making any pieces to this. All the hardware can be found on our website. Our "ECS" hardward kit is simply a copy of what is in the Genuine Audi kit just majority of the parts are aftermarket to bring the cost down. See the link below for all belly pan hardware.

Click HERE

Jason

The cost is the same

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

The cost is the same

Refresh your browser now

Jason

[SJorge3442]

thanks for the update. heres another screen shot for everyone.

[imnuts]

Jason, If someone got you a picture of the short screw that is needed, do you think you may be able to find it? I've looked through a couple parts catalogs and can't find it either.

Sent from my Moto X

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Jason, If someone got you a picture of the short screw that is needed, do you think you may be able to find it? I've looked through a couple parts catalogs and can't find it either.

Sent from my Moto X

Tough to say. A part number would be better. I can only really go by what our OEM parts data base says. For example if I pull up a B6 A4 and search belly pan, then go to hardware, then the specific screw it will give me the most current and available OEM part number. Which 95% of the time is already cataloged on our site. Sometimes Audi will supersede part numbers so chances are if the OEM part that came on your vehicle is different than what is available it was superseded and the old part is no longer made.

Jason

[imnuts]

Now, if only the screws had the part number written on them

[Molotov]

thanks for the update. heres another screen shot for everyone.

Should have ordered the OEM before the price was jacked up... haha

[evo_ski]

Decrease price by $1, then jack the other one up. I mean I guess technically that is a price "decrease" on the other kit. Wow.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Decrease price by $1, then jack the other one up. I mean I guess technically that is a price "decrease" on the other kit. Wow.

Acutally the OEM kit had a bunch of aftermarket pieces which screwed with pricing. As well as the aftermarket had an OEM piece or two in it. Went over each with a fine tooth comb so the ECS kit has all aftermarket pieces and the Genuine Audi kit is indeed all Genuine.

Jason

[Rabbit]

So the belly pan/hardware kit doesn't include all the screws needed to attach the pan?

[ShogunR32]

Decrease price by $1, then jack the other one up. I mean I guess technically that is a price "decrease" on the other kit. Wow.

Sales 101

[imnuts]

So the belly pan/hardware kit doesn't include all the screws needed to attach the pan?

No, but we also cannot find the screws it is missing, so it's as complete as it can be for now.

Sent from my Moto X

[Rabbit]

Bremmen doesn't make them or have a source for them? It just seems odd.

[imnuts]

Bremmen doesn't make them or have a source for them? It just seems odd.

We can't even find them on ETKA. Apparently you haven't read the rest of the thread, come back when you do.

EDIT: Jason, do you have part numbers 8E0805121A or 8E0805121B available? They look like they may be the short dowel pin that everyone is looking for based on the drawing I found. They are under the front bumper drawing, not the belly pan, which somewhat makes sense given that these hold the lower lip of the bumper to the belly pan. It may also explain why they aren't included with the factory belly pan kit as they are mean for trailing edge of the bumper instead.

EDIT 2: It appears you do have it. Adding 3 of these to the kit would be great.

[MacFady]

Been down this road, if you've had a problem why not just go with one of the aluminum options and forget about it; 5 bolt on attachment points. If you are so performance orientated that you need to worry about the few extra pounds it ads then maybe plastic is the way you want to go, but considering it only takes one snow fall to potentially put you right back in the same situation (ask me how I know) I think the aluminum option is the better investment.

[SlickFix]

EDIT 2: It appears you do have it. Adding 3 of these to the kit would be great.

Shazam! There we go, that's the one. They should really add three of those to the hardware kit.

Great detective work, imnuts.

[Rabbit]

We can't even find them on ETKA. Apparently you haven't read the rest of the thread, come back when you do.

EDIT: Jason, do you have part numbers 8E0805121A or 8E0805121B available? They look like they may be the short dowel pin that everyone is looking for based on the drawing I found. They are under the front bumper drawing, not the belly pan, which somewhat makes sense given that these hold the lower lip of the bumper to the belly pan. It may also explain why they aren't included with the factory belly pan kit as they are mean for trailing edge of the bumper instead.

EDIT 2: It appears you do have it. Adding 3 of these to the kit would be great.

I did read the thread, thank you, which is why I found it odd that there wasn't correct/needed hardware included, and was curious why it would be sold that way.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

We can't even find them on ETKA. Apparently you haven't read the rest of the thread, come back when you do.

EDIT: Jason, do you have part numbers 8E0805121A or 8E0805121B available? They look like they may be the short dowel pin that everyone is looking for based on the drawing I found. They are under the front bumper drawing, not the belly pan, which somewhat makes sense given that these hold the lower lip of the bumper to the belly pan. It may also explain why they aren't included with the factory belly pan kit as they are mean for trailing edge of the bumper instead.

EDIT 2: It appears you do have it. Adding 3 of these to the kit would be great.

You might be right. We have both on our site, one with a picture one with out.

The one with the picture seams like it is the one everyone is looking for no?

I'll see if I can get these added to the kit.

Jason

[imnuts]

Been down this road, if you've had a problem why not just go with one of the aluminum options and forget about it; 5 bolt on attachment points. If you are so performance orientated that you need to worry about the few extra pounds it ads then maybe plastic is the way you want to go, but considering it only takes one snow fall to potentially put you right back in the same situation (ask me how I know) I think the aluminum option is the better investment.

I'd rather not deal with the weight, or make the shop deal with the weight when taking it off for service. Sure the longevity will be great with a metal pan, but I'd hate to have to move it around for install or removal. At least the plastic one has flexibility, which is very helpful in positioning it.

I did read the thread, thank you, which is why I found it odd that there wasn't correct/needed hardware included, and was curious why it would be sold that way.

Because that's how Audi sells it. Go to the dealer and get the kit and you also won't get the short stubby pins.

You might be right. We have both on our site, one with a picture one with out.

The one with the picture seams like it is the one everyone is looking for no?

I'll see if I can get these added to the kit.

Jason

Correct, the one that I linked to seems to be the missing piece in the kit.

Sent from my Moto X

[sarge1]

Thanks Jason for looking into adding the short ones to the kit but where does that leave the people that already bought the pan and fasteners?

[SlickFix]

Thanks Jason for looking into adding the short ones to the kit but where does that leave the people that already bought the pan and fasteners?

I'm not trying to sound like a smartass, but I think that leaves you having to purchase those three shorter screws individually. If they add those to the kit, you can bet the cost of the kit is going up proportionally.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Thanks Jason for looking into adding the short ones to the kit but where does that leave the people that already bought the pan and fasteners?

You can always buy them separately. Technically our kit isn't wrong, if you were to go to the dealership and ask for a "belly pan hardware kit" they would look at you funny. They wouldn't have a "kit" readily available, they would need to pull up each part individually and tell you the quantities. We went ahead and did this and built a "kit" so its easier.

The belly pan hardware and the 3 dowel pins used to mount it to the front lower valance are in completely different sections of parts when you pull them up - probably why it got missed.

Since we are our own company we do have the ability to add these dowel pins to a Genuine or our own ECS aftermarket kit, obviously the price will reflect the added parts, but you wouldn't be "credited" these for previous orders for lack of a better term.

Jason

[imnuts]

EDIT 2: It appears you do have it. Adding 3 of these to the kit would be great.

Just to confirm, I got three of these from a local dealer and they are exactly what is missing. They are the short/stubby screws that hold the front lower bumper and belly pan together.

[customa4]

Did you pay $10? Ouch, that sucks!

[imnuts]

Did you pay $10? Ouch, that sucks!

They were like $7 each, but that is the cheapest I could find them. My old ones were rusty and the rubber washer was disintegrating.