Exhaust tip replacement

[erikm83]

Update: I requested that the tips be provided at no charge as this is a new CPO vehicle and dealer had no issue with that. Excellent customer service at Audi Centre Oakville in Ontario!

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Hi guys,

I can't seem to find a straight answer to this question. I am trying to replace the chrome tips on my exhaust. They are extremely rusted (not taken care of by previous owner).

I have seen the video below for removal/install of new tips, but I am certainly not able to just 'slide' my tips off. They are on there really solid (welded?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNptwNbwUHs

So my question is, whats the best way to remove the tips? Anyone done it? I have a friend who works at the local Audi dealership and can get me new tips at cost, so it wouldn't be too expensive and would fix my OCD about the rust!

[Project Quattro]

I was just given black OE Audi tips last night, and if that's what yours are then yes they should slide off. They're basically a pressure fit on there. If they aren't OE though there's every possibility they're screwed or welded on, but if you get under it you should be able to tell.


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[oascom]

Pbblaster, flamethrower, pry bar. All works wonders

[4ringnut]

Put on some gloves, and twist and pull. Also if you want to be sure that they are in fact OEM tips, post a close up pic.

[4ringnut]

Just get these for way less than cost.

[erikm83]

They are indeed factory OEM tips. They have the 4 circles and a part number as well.

I did the twist and pull stuff last night. No dice! I did not however try any pb blaster and my flame thrower is fresh out of napalm. :D

Perhaps some light tapping with a hammer from the back?

[erikm83]

I'm sceptical about buying ebay/amazon chrome. I've heard they rust as soon as winter comes.

[crash1121]

I'm sceptical about buying ebay/amazon chrome. I've heard they rust as soon as winter comes.

Totally agree. If you buy another set of tips, better make sure they are indeed OEM or you'll keep having to replace them. OEM tips are the highest standard and you're having to replace the set on your car, so I can't even imagine how badly lesser quality tips would fare in your area.

[oascom]

Buy oem or buy twice.
I have eBay ones in my garage they did not rust a lot but have some little rust dots.

Try spray a lot pbblaster on them and maybe wirebrush some rust if u see any / got access to it. U can definitely try to hammer it from the back if you do the care to save them.

[4ringnut]

I recently pulled off my original tips for a good cleaning. You just need to pull really hard. It's just 4 pressure tabs holding them in place. Pull like you mean it. They will pop.

[erikm83]

Alright well I am getting the new OEM tips this afternoon. Can we say 100% for sure that the tips are NOT welded on?

Thanks for all of the quick replies!

[erikm83]

I recently pulled off my original tips for a good cleaning. You just need to pull really hard. It's just 4 pressure tabs holding them in place. Pull like you mean it. They will pop.

This is what I wanted to see! LOL :D

What year? I have a 2012.

[Project Quattro]

I'll be installing mine in a minute, but this is the mechanism that holds them on.



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[4ringnut]

This is what I wanted to see! LOL :D

What year? I have a 2012.

2013. Take a picture before you pull them off, so you can line the new ones up the sane way. I couldn't get mine to look right for like 20 minutes. lol.

[BettaJetta]

I would not buy the Amazon tips. They corrode so easy and difficult to polish out. I cleaned them up and the polishing took several hours. I will probably buy some from 42DD or OEM but never again from Amazon.

[erikm83]

I'll be installing mine in a minute, but this is the mechanism that holds them on.

How was the removal of the old tips? Were you able to pull them off by hand?

[Project Quattro]

How was the removal of the old tips? Were you able to pull them off by hand?

Mine didn't come with them; I guess the '09 premiums didn't have them as standard equipment.


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[erikm83]

Ah ok. Well appreciate the replies guys! I'll give it a go with a hammer/pry bar once I get the new tips in hand and I'll update the thread with my results. Hopefully there are no weld spots! :D

[gdawg'05a4]

Get a piece of wood (like a 2x4 block) and a rubber mallet and tap from behind. Use some penetrating oil (PB Blaster, etc.) to soak first if there's a fair amount of rust.

[erikm83]

Thanks gdawg. Good call on the wood and rubber mallet.

When I was looking yesterday it was hard to get into a position where I could see inside the tips (from the back) to see if there is rust build up. I will try this afternoon when I am home.

[AllroadCorbin]

Does anybody know if the Allroad ones pull off too? I need to replace mine. They look like shit after 73k of driving in New England

[4ringnut]

All the OEM ones pull off. Twist and pull. You won't damage the exhaust if you get too aggressive.

[blbroo]

Does anybody know if the Allroad ones pull off too? I need to replace mine. They look like shit after 73k of driving in New England

Mine looked pretty poor too around the same mileage. Pulled them off and scrubbed with Brasso before selling and they looked great. The stock tips get black fast though, a lot more than the tips I had put on when I took off the rear muffler.

[nerv81]

I tapped mine from the back with a rubber mallet and got them off pretty easily without damaging them.

[erikm83]

Here is how the exhaust tips look after a clean/scrub/polish. This is a CPO car that I picked up last Saturday. I should have looked closer.. just thought the exhaust was dark because of normal turbo car soot. Do you guys think this is acceptable?

[AllroadCorbin]

[QUOTE=erikm83;10858710]Here is how the exhaust tips look after a clean/scrub/polish. This is a CPO car that I picked up last Saturday. I should have looked closer.. just thought the exhaust was dark because of normal turbo car soot. Do you guys think this is acceptable?

[/QUOTE

Christ it looks like the tips were soaked in acid

[4ringnut]

Mine look like that too now that I cleaned them for the first time in 2 years. That's why I wouldn't spend another $100 on OEM ones

[erikm83]

I think the cost price should be around $40. If it's a lot more, I am going to ask them to just replace them for me for free. Not going to accept having rusted exhaust tips considering how much I paid for this car :)

[AWDLover]

Mine look like that too now that I cleaned them for the first time in 2 years. That's why I wouldn't spend another $100 on OEM ones

If you clean them a little more regularly, they will hold up. 2 years in between cleaning is a LONG time. If you go with the knock off ebay ones, they will look like that in 3 months (I know as I went through 2 sets before I decided to pony up and get OEM).

Here is a before and after picture of mine. I would pull and clean/polish them every few months:

[4ringnut]

If you clean them a little more regularly, they will hold up. 2 years in between cleaning is a LONG time. If you go with the knock off ebay ones, they will look like that in 3 months (I know as I went through 2 sets before I decided to pony up and get OEM).

Here is a before and after picture of mine. I would pull and clean/polish them every few months:

I agree with on this. But the ones I posted from Amazon look identical to the OEM ones. And get good reviews. Mine still look good from a distance. I'm not really worried about it. I didn't even care about what my car looked like until I joined this forum. And now after all the upgrades I'm obsessed to the point where my neighbor across the street always comes out and ask me to please tell him that I'm not washing my car again. I never looked at my A4 as a "nice" car. You bastards changed that. Lol

[erikm83]

If you clean them a little more regularly, they will hold up. 2 years in between cleaning is a LONG time. If you go with the knock off ebay ones, they will look like that in 3 months (I know as I went through 2 sets before I decided to pony up and get OEM).

Here is a before and after picture of mine. I would pull and clean/polish them every few months:

The after photo looks great. Yep looks like mine weren't cleaned EVER.. they are too far gone to bother polishing/scrubbing.

[sidkneeeeee]

Do you guys think these are OEM, but from Germany http://www.ebay.com/itm/110929665140...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT pricing is pretty low compared to other sites.

[erikm83]

You'd need to see if they are logo stamped and have a part number on them. The one photo doesn't show that.

[erikm83]

I requested that the tips be provided at no charge as this is a new CPO vehicle and dealer had no issue with that. Excellent customer service at Audi Centre Oakville in Ontario!

[4ringnut]

I requested that the tips be provided at no charge as this is a new CPO vehicle and dealer had no issue with that. Excellent customer service at Audi Centre Oakville in Ontario!

Well played sir!