Is it safe to drive without an undercarriage cover?

[SepangBlueS4]

Hey,

We got hammered with over a foot of snow in the PNW. I drove over some compact ice which impacted the bottom of my car.. When I got home, I looked under my car and saw that my undercarriage cover on the passenger side broke in half.

Is it safe to drive without the cover. Theres tons of snow, gravel, and debris on the road still due to the snowstorm.

Thanks

[Envy187]

Well done inspecting the area after the fact, man. A lot of people don't even bother to do that much, which is beyond sad.

Considering you live in a climate like I do, I'd get that sucker replaced as soon as possible. If it's your daily-driver/your only means of transportation...I'd just take extra caution until you get a proper cover back on.

Not only does more salt, sand, gravel and other debris get in there while the area is exposed, but those components are relatively fragile - hence the need for a cover.

Good luck!

[SepangBlueS4]

Well done inspecting the area after the fact, man. A lot of people don't even bother to do that much, which is beyond sad.

Considering you live in a climate like I do, I'd get that sucker replaced as soon as possible. If it's your daily-driver/your only means of transportation...I'd just take extra caution until you get a proper cover back on.

Not only does more salt, sand, gravel and other debris get in there while the area is exposed, but those components are relatively fragile - hence the need for a cover.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. Luckily the don't salt the roads here anymore.

Yeah, this is my daily driver so I'll most likely be driving the wife's car until I'm able to get mine to a shop.

[Maz_Audi]

If there is something that can do that to your cover, imagine what would happen to a fragile component without that protection. That and who wants all that salt and gravel getting all up in their under bits?

[doughboy17]

You may want to consider replacing it with a metal cover from ECS Tuning.

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[vitopat]

Same thing happened to me. I’ve been driving without one for over a month.


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[Robdukes]

Just did an oil change and noticed in the cover thats right in front of the main big cover ..there was alot of bits of road gravel and various bits of debris. Even found some beach colored pepples that must have gotten in there from the previous owner who lived next to the ocean. And thats with a cover thats not broken. Couldn't imagine how much junk would get in there with a broken or removed cover.

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[S4'ed]

The plastic covers are more for noise reduction and aerodynamics. You should replace it, but it is not critical.

[Envy187]

You should replace it, but it is not critical.

I'd love to see you remove whatever you have on your vehicle and go "nude". Especially in New Jersey with your adequate winters and snow-removal products they put on the roads? HOO-WEE!

[kashanova]

I got burned by this, I had some salt get in some crucial areas and it screwed me to the tune of $4000. I'd get it fixed asap.

[Envy187]

I got burned by this, I had some salt get in some crucial areas and it screwed me to the tune of $4000. I'd get it fixed asap.

Yikes, dude. That's beyond rough. Thank you for sharing!

[SepangBlueS4]

I got burned by this, I had some salt get in some crucial areas and it screwed me to the tune of $4000. I'd get it fixed asap.

Yeah, I'll get it fixed soon. Luckily they dont throw salt down in the PNW.

- - - Updated - - -

You may want to consider replacing it with a metal cover from ECS Tuning.

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Thanks, I'll look into that.

[A4x]

You may want to consider replacing it with a metal cover from ECS Tuning.

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Exactly this. If you are lowered, I highly recommend the ECS street shield. I had my plastic cover shredded by a huge chunk of ice one winter. Promptly replaced it with the Street Shield and havn't looked back. Have smacked the street shield a few times and glad I have it.

[Jayz691]

Exactly this. If you are lowered, I highly recommend the ECS street shield. I had my plastic cover shredded by a huge chunk of ice one winter. Promptly replaced it with the Street Shield and havn't looked back. Have smacked the street shield a few times and glad I have it.

Better yet, get the evolution Thor skid plate. Much thicker, and better design. ECS SS is ok, but its held in place by basically same hardware as factory plastic on. Have heard many people complain a nj out it, but no personal experience. I'm going with Thor when I lower in spring.

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[VroomTT]

Ohhh, my plastic shield was mia when I got my b8 recently. Luckily no snow in SFL, but I've been pondering the same question since buying it...

I can only imagine how much dirt/dust/sand kicks up into the bay without it

I've been on the hunt for a used one, but may go the metal ecs route seeing as I'm also missing the hardware (multiple zip-ties currently employed to keep everthing where it needs to be hahaha)

Also, not to hijack the the thread, but what about all the other underbody items, like the covers along botton all the way to the back. I'm pretty much missing a whole side and parts of one side (remnants of them are there, which I need to remove but it almost looks like they exploded off. Idk wtf happened there )

[mys4.org]

Thanks for the reply. Luckily the don't salt the roads here anymore.

Yeah, this is my daily driver so I'll most likely be driving the wife's car until I'm able to get mine to a shop.

If you are in Western Washington I hate to give the bad news, but in this last storm most cities and WADOT did use a mix of salt and sand. They just don't use it all the time as we don't get hit with these 50 years storm often.

https://www.wsdot.com/winter/WinterOps.htm

In years past they tried to avoid salt but that effort mostly fail for high cost and effictiveness.

[studiobmx]

I’ve never had mine, and I detail my engine bay multiple times a year.... maybe I should get one 🤦🏼*♂️


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[SepangBlueS4]

If you are in Western Washington I hate to give the bad news, but in this last storm most cities and WADOT did use a mix of salt and sand. They just don't use it all the time as we don't get hit with these 50 years storm often.

https://www.wsdot.com/winter/WinterOps.htm

In years past they tried to avoid salt but that effort mostly fail for high cost and effictiveness.

Well damn. Looks like I'm keeping my car in the garage until the rain washes all the salt away.

[Joker S4]

You may want to consider replacing it with a metal cover from ECS Tuning.

I didn't like fitment of those street shields one bit. The front one is pretty legit, but I was never comfortable with the mounting hardware. And I also had the transmission plate, but that doesn't bolt up to the AK Brace.

Exactly this. If you are lowered, I highly recommend the ECS street shield. I had my plastic cover shredded by a huge chunk of ice one winter. Promptly replaced it with the Street Shield and havn't looked back. Have smacked the street shield a few times and glad I have it.

[TexasDfwS4]

Gorilla tape FTW

[bakedziti]

I lost all of mine in the first year or so of ownership, and finally replaced them all this past summer. They're expensive new, and pretty difficult to find secondhand from someone who will ship them. I picked up all 6 pieces from a part out for $200.

My caution to riding without them is that they also cover all of your fuel lines.

[AKO]

Anyone have part numbers for the covers??

[bakedziti]

Anyone have part numbers for the covers??

There’s 6 of them, 3 on each side. The two in the front and rear don’t appear to have been updated between the B8 & B8.5 MYs. Also, double check that the left middle didn’t get a revision.

Left (F;M;R): 8K0825201E ; 8K0825207C* ; 8K0825215J
Right (F;M;R): 8K0825202A ; 8K0825208H ; 8K0825216G

[Javier.san1993]

There’s 6 of them, 3 on each side. The two in the front and rear don’t appear to have been updated between the B8 & B8.5 MYs. Also, double check that the left middle didn’t get a revision.

Left (F;M;R): 8K0825201E ; 8K0825207C* ; 8K0825215J
Right (F;M;R): 8K0825202A ; 8K0825208H ; 8K0825216G

You happen to know which bolts/screws/fasteners secure the front-most left one (8K0825201E)?

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[bakedziti]

You happen to know which bolts/screws/fasteners secure the front-most left one (8K0825201E)?

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IIRC; you’ll need a plastic shoulder nut PN#8E0825265C, but you may be able to salvage one from your old piece, or a new oem one should actually come with one of these. The other fastener is PN#8E0825267 and is a spreader type plastic rivet.

[JBravo]

I didn't like fitment of those street shields one bit. The front one is pretty legit, but I was never comfortable with the mounting hardware. And I also had the transmission plate, but that doesn't bolt up to the AK Brace.

Yes I have the Alu Kbrace and I bought he ECS trans cover but it does not mount up. Any options as I no longer have the stock trans cover

[SteveYem]

Does anyone know of any aftermarket options for the transmission belly pan/cover (the one that covers the x-brace)? Mine has been MIA for a while but originally because damaged when a bunch of snow went up through the slot and turned into a heavy chunk of ice. Ultimately the plastic-felt construction could not hold up to the wetness and weight and it must have dropped off on the road at some point. An aluminum option to compliment the ECS Street Shield would be ideal. I should add that I have the Eurocode Alu Kreuz brace.

[SteveYem]

Yes I have the Alu Kbrace and I bought he ECS trans cover but it does not mount up. Any options as I no longer have the stock trans cover

What is it about the ECS transmission cover that prevents it from mounting to the Alu Kreuz? Is it a matter of having to modify or add holes to the shield to accommodate the mounting points on the brace, or is it just the wrong shape altogether?

[JBravo]

I don’t remember the specifics but I do know that it shares 2 of the stretch bolts of the alu kreuz and then the front cover had issues fitting together with it. Maybe if you used both ECS aluminum covers it might work better. But regardless, the only way to drop the Alum transmission cover is to always pull the Alu Kreuz stretch bolts.

[Joker S4]

Yes I have the Alu Kbrace and I bought he ECS trans cover but it does not mount up. Any options as I no longer have the stock trans cover

Buy a new one? ECS has OEM and an off brand aftermarket. Both will suffice. Or fabricate your own.

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