Removing S4 B6 front and rear ashtray cover (posted to death I know)

[Gurpreet94]

I've been searching on Google and all over Audizine on how to remove the front ashtray cover (and rear too I guess). I'm in the process of wrapping all of the silverish trim pieces in carbon and only have the ashtrays left.

I've tried all the advice - flat open, separate the cover from the base plastic clips, push the base and pull the cover up and towards me, down and away, down and towards, up and away, wiggle while pulling/pushing and none work. Theres about a 2cm gap between the cover and base plastic piece when stretched but I can't get the flipping cover off no matter what I try.

I know there's about 20 topics around about this but can anyone tell me how they got the cover off or post a quick video? I also tried to take the cover off while it was half open but that didnt help either

Also on the rear, it has small silver pieces that I can bend out to get the cover off, but it looks like they might snap? And even with those off the cover is still hooked onto the base plastic.

Any help is appreciated, cheers

[s4ski]

Follow Matt from O carbon's advice for removal of front ash tray lid. Don't do what I did and pull the whole ash tray out. Just remove the lid using your hands, grasping the plastic backing with your thumbs and the lid with your fingers. Push your thumbs forward while you pull your fingers backward. It will take a little force but it will pop right off. Don't worry, you won't break anything.

I was able to pull the rear ash tray cover off without breaking the tabs. Use a small screw driver and pry them out somewhat straight. Then pop each side free with the screw driver. As you mentioned, the cover is attached on one end full length, with the metal curling over the plastic backing, sort of like a hinge. Pry the metal on that end up slightly at several points along the length, enough that you can get the cover to slide freely, then slide the cover off in the opposite direction and you're done.

[Gurpreet94]

I checked that guide before and was the one I tried to follow the closest. Either I have weak hands or my lid is jammed on. I even separated the lid from the plastic clips at the rear (towards me), pushed the plastic backing down with my left hand and pulled the lid with my right hand and didn't budge at all...
I'll take a look at the rear ashtray soon, so just 'peel' the lid off the backing once the clips are free?

[s4ski]

I checked that guide before and was the one I tried to follow the closest. Either I have weak hands or my lid is jammed on. I even separated the lid from the plastic clips at the rear (towards me), pushed the plastic backing down with my left hand and pulled the lid with my right hand and didn't budge at all...
I'll take a look at the rear ashtray soon, so just 'peel' the lid off the backing once the clips are free?

You might try putting a screw driver in at the separation edge near the front to see if you can pry it a little. Rear ash tray cover comes off fairly easy. If you want to preserve the cover, use a light touch. You only have to pull the clips out a little, just enough to clear. Once you get the clips free, then you just need to free the "hinged" end enough to slide the whole thing off.

[2004B6S4]

I checked that guide before and was the one I tried to follow the closest. Either I have weak hands or my lid is jammed on. I even separated the lid from the plastic clips at the rear (towards me), pushed the plastic backing down with my left hand and pulled the lid with my right hand and didn't budge at all...
I'll take a look at the rear ashtray soon, so just 'peel' the lid off the backing once the clips are free?

mine had some old dried soda gluing the plastic clips to the cover so it was extremely hard the first time I did it. I used a trim tool with a hook on the end, like the third one in the pic below, by resting the hook end against the back side of the cover (with it tilted open), and pulling really hard

[Gurpreet94]

I just had another go at this, and it looks like something is wedged at the back or dried up goo (possible fizzy drink like you mentioned).

I've ordered the trim tool kit as I was meaning to do this a while back and I'll give it a go again in a few days when it arrives. Thanks for the suggestions