Removed Those Unnecessary Front License Plate Holders From My 2023 S5 ...

[LYKUNO]

Note: I'm consolidating some content about this topic I've posted in other threads to get it together in one place. I've finally decided to take action to remove the front license plate brackets that came with my 2023 S5 Sportback. There are at least two different designs for these plate mounting devices, and the ones on my S5 are as shown here ...



As mentioned above, there have been several threads (e.g., https://www.audizine.com/gallery/dat.../s5sbgrill.jpg and https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...-finally-here!) mentioned here and elsewhere that mention removal of the plate holders. After reviewing them in greater detail, all mention removing the hood opening lever and then removing Torx T25 screws from the brackets before prying out the bracket pieces. However, this procedure is not viable for the type of brackets my S5 has installed as there are no T25 Torx screws on my brackets. Instead, the brackets are held together with 4 clips each, 2 horizontally oriented on the upper side of the brackets, and 2 oriented at ~45 degree angles on each end of the brackets. The clips on the outer half of the assembly have 4 "male" barbed prongs, and the inner half of the assembly have the 4 "female" equivalents.

I was unsuccessful in my initial attempts to separate the clips in order to remove them. I don't currently have the plastic trim removal tools that others have suggested using, and since the joined clips are "robustly" connected together, they defied my efforts to separate them by hand, without appropriate tools. To get a better idea of why they resisted my attempts to remove them, I used a small industrial endoscope to examine exactly how the clips are constructed and joined together. In the following pics, you can see that the barbed male prongs are seated tightly into the "ahem" clip receptacles.







I worried that attempts using trim removal tools, or small screwdrivers, etc might result in breaking the clips, or scratching the hexagonal grill openings, or both. Frankly, since my state doesn't require front plates, destroying the bracket clips is not a concern for me. However, marring or breaking the hexagonal opening of the grill is a major concern! I had considered using an oscillating tool (e.g., Fein Multimaster) with a narrow/sharp blade to cut through the barbs, or perhaps an Exacto knife with a very sharp blade. After thinking about it overnight, I concluded that using a Dremel tool could get those pesky plate holders removed. Hopefully this thread will be helpful for anyone contemplating removal of their front license plate brackets of the style pictured above. If you're contemplating removal of your front license plate brackets of the style pictured above, now you know what you're up against!

Prior to firing up the dremel tool to work on the grill this afternoon. I carefully blue taped the surrounding areas to protect against accidental contacts with the diamond wheel, and the other dremel attachments I used. The entire job probably took 1.5 to 2 hours, but it was worth it.

As noted in the pics above, contrary to the images in the other threads that showed the Torx screws and two-part plate brackets, with the ’23 model year, the S5's plate mounting part has been changed to a revised design that is basically a single piece with 4 “female” slots that 4 “male” barbs connect with. The kicker is that those barbs are actually molded into the back side of the overall grill. Apparently the factory assembly involves pushing the plate holder with the brass nut into the grill from the back side, locking the plate holders to the grill, before the grill is attached to the car. In my opinion, to use trim tools would be pretty difficult, given the fact that the trim tool would need to be inserted from behind the grill (blindly, by feel) and would need to separate 4 very tight snapped-together M-F connections for each of the two plate holder components.

So my approach was that after taping up the surrounding areas, I used the diamond wheel attachment and first cut off the front of the plate holder, so I could see where the interconnecting M&F connections were located. I then used a small cutting wheel and also a burr-type bit for grinding away the plastic that was in the way of removing those connection. I then used a pair of needle nose pliers that allowed me to gently bend the remains of the plate holder until the female slot holding the angled barbs cracked apart slightly, allowing me to remove the final pieces of the holder. After that, I could see the remaining portions of the barbs which I then cut off with the small cutting wheel. After a little clean up, I was done, and it looked so much better!

Here are some pictures that may help illustrate the process i used ...













fin

[LYKUNO]

Update! AZ member S5.56 has made an entry #1692 in the What did you do to your B9 A5 S5-today thread using the plastic trim removal to pop out the pesky plate holders. If you're not into Dremel surgery, his method would be more elegant approach to getting those plate holders off the grill! Click the link to go there! Also see his post #1690 for the final result. That method preserves the male tabs on the grill in case you (or a subsequent owner) would want or need to put a front plate on the car.

[GoneQuantum]

Thanks for this! I feel like your recent posts (this, plus the center console phone mount) are setting me up with quite the initial set of things to do once my car gets here

I was just thinking the other day if there would be a bracket pre-installed on the grille for this, or if it was something that the dealer did during PDI (if needed). Indiana also does not require front plates, so I will for sure be removing this.

[LYKUNO]

Thanks for this! I feel like your recent posts (this, plus the center console phone mount) are setting me up with quite the initial set of things to do once my car gets here

I was just thinking the other day if there would be a bracket pre-installed on the grille for this, or if it was something that the dealer did during PDI (if needed). Indiana also does not require front plates, so I will for sure be removing this.

I am still working off the last items on my (clearly OCD) pre/post delivery checklist! I still have a couple of items left to accomplish, but really need to get through the break-in period. That's where the fun really starts!

The license plate brackets are not dealer installed to my knowledge. I suspect they come that way from the factory, as they're probably much easier to assemble the two parts together before the grill/bumper cover is installed on the car. The design of this latest generation of the plate brackets is fairly unobtrusive and well done, but if you don't need a front plate, the front grill clearly looks better without them. At a minimum, painting the brass plate bolt inserts black would be an easy improvement.

As noted on my checklist below, since it's just the wife and me, no kids, and never anyone in the rear seat, I've removed the rear headrests on this car (and my previous S4). The visibility to the rear is considerably improved. Obviously this step is not for everyone, but I like it. I still need to upgrade my HEX-CAN Ross-Tech cable to the HEX-NET version, and get the Sub Woofer polarity reverence cable (mentioned on other threads) and I'll be mostly done. I'm also waiting for the Tuxmat trunk mat to be back in stock -- which should be soon.



Enjoy your new car -- the wait won't be that long! Oh yeah, if you have an EZ Pass in Indiana, and don't want to stick it on the windshield or manually hold it up, the transponder will fit nicely behind the MMI screen. Even better if you have the latest smaller size transponder and the black silicone cover that's available to cover it. It doesn't slide around in turns and don't even think about it being there. Who needs an integrated toll module anyway?

[GoneQuantum]

I am still working off the last items on my (clearly OCD) pre/post delivery checklist! I still have a couple of items left to accomplish, but really need to get through the break-in period. That's where the fun really starts!

The license plate brackets are not dealer installed to my knowledge. I suspect they come that way from the factory, as they're probably much easier to assemble the two parts together before the grill/bumper cover is installed on the car. The design of this latest generation of the plate brackets is fairly unobtrusive and well done, but if you don't need a front plate, the front grill clearly looks better without them. At a minimum, painting the brass plate bolt inserts black would be an easy improvement.

As noted on my checklist below, since it's just the wife and me, no kids, and never anyone in the rear seat, I've removed the rear headrests on this car (and my previous S4). The visibility to the rear is considerably improved. Obviously this step is not for everyone, but I like it. I still need to upgrade my HEX-CAN Ross-Tech cable to the HEX-NET version, and get the Sub Woofer polarity reverence cable (mentioned on other threads) and I'll be mostly done. I'm also waiting for the Tuxmat trunk mat to be back in stock -- which should be soon.



Enjoy your new car -- the wait won't be that long! Oh yeah, if you have an EZ Pass in Indiana, and don't want to stick it on the windshield or manually hold it up, the transponder will fit nicely behind the MMI screen. Even better if you have the latest smaller size transponder and the black silicone cover that's available to cover it. It doesn't slide around in turns and don't even think about it being there. Who needs an integrated toll module anyway?

Nice tip on the EZ Pass - we have an IPass since we are on IL tollways more but looks like it's the same. I usually just hold mine up manually but will try sticking it behind the MMI screen for sure!

I was a tiny bit sad that the integrated one was deleted still but not a big deal at all.. especially compared to the '22s that were having blind spot monitoring deleted!

Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk

[GoneQuantum]

Just took care of this yesterday in about 20 minutes. I have a cheap pick set that I got at Northern Tool and has been super useful so far. It has a long, flat prying tool (think of a mix between a plastic trim tool and a flathead screwdriver) that made it pretty easy to unclip the tabs on the brackets without damaging the plastic on the grille.

I did take off the hood latch + plastic cover to get behind the grille, but it really wasn't necessary and I only did it to get a better feel for things.

For anyone else doing this, it's worth mentioning that the brackets are open on the bottom, so you can see your progress from underneath as you are working along. The brackets need to be pushed back INTO the grille when removing.

Definitely looks much cleaner now!

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