A3 DIY for A3

A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rating: Thread Rating: 1 votes, 5.00 average.
 
Old 01-06-2011 | 10:51 PM
  #1  
mksu19's Avatar
Thread Starter
Audi Forum - Posts like an A5
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 382
From: Republic of B.C.!
mksu19 will become famous soon enough
Exclamation A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

You asked, so here it is.
Note: This is for the fronts, I should have the back ones up some time this weekend and will update this thread with them.

What you will need:


1 torx driver (T-20)

1 thin stiff item to slide between the door panel and the door. for this i used a putty knife.

There are 4 torx screws that need to be removed. They are in the following spots:


2 - bottom of the door

1 - under the cover by the door handle

1 - at the top of the pocket on the door there is a small hole with a screw in there

Name:  IMG_1828.jpg
Views: 27046
Size:  49.7 KB

Name:  IMG_1829.jpg
Views: 14073
Size:  62.1 KB

Then from there you slide something thin but sturdy [I used a larger putty knife with some painters tape on it to help with scratching the paint] under the door panel at the bottom, I started from the outside corner and worked my way in towards the car.

Just slide it under and pull the panel out. You’ll more than likely be really afraid that something is going to break at this point but it all should pop off ok. Once the bottom is all pulled off the sides and top should come off real easy when you pull the panel outwards. Just be careful when pulling it out because there is a wiring harness and the door handle wire connected to the panel. Then slide it up and it’s off. From there you have a plug on the door by the speaker to remove along with the clip to take the wire off the door handle.

To unplug the wiring harness push the purple piece on it downwards and it will push out of the socket. To get the door handle wire off pull the little metal clip up and off and then slide the white piece on the end of the wire out. Tilt the door panel some and remove the wire from the door handle. Place the clip back on the panel so you don't lose it.

This is what the clip looks like on the panel. I wasn't able to get any pictures with the wiring harness or wire attached because the space was too small to get the camera in there.

Name:  IMG_1833.jpg
Views: 13118
Size:  30.5 KB

Before putting the door panel back on make sure that the round white discs that slide into the door panel are all on the panel. Sometimes some of them will pull off and remain on the door.

Name:  IMG_1831.jpg
Views: 14390
Size:  67.6 KB

Name:  IMG_1832.jpg
Views: 22834
Size:  92.6 KB

When putting it back on reattach the wire for the door handle and plug in the wiring harness coming from the door panel. Slide the panel into the top of the door then line up the pins in the door that pop into the door panel and give it a gentle push in the areas where the pins were working your way down from the top. Then put the screws back in and you’re done.

When I did mine I had the window down, I’m not sure which way is easier but you can give it a try either way you’d like.




SOURCE
Old 07-16-2012 | 09:52 PM
  #2  
jr8801's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
From: Savannah
jr8801 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Awesome thanks. Will be replacing my stock speakers sooner then later.
Old 03-14-2013 | 06:46 AM
  #3  
JFH's Avatar
JFH
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2
From: Ireland
JFH is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Thanks very much for this guide. I have a question:

My 2011 A3 Sportsback has the same door but its only got 3 torx screws (not 4) - the same molding is there for the fourth screw (left side in your pics) but there's no hole - hence no screw. So, I'm wondering what's going on? Was there a design change? Is there a fourth hidden screw somewhere else - any ideas?

Thanks again.

Last edited by JFH; 03-14-2013 at 06:49 AM.
Old 09-10-2014 | 12:01 PM
  #4  
Audiano's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 34
From: Home
Audiano is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Great guide! Thanks!
Old 01-25-2017 | 02:06 PM
  #5  
rick86's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1
From: Sussex, U.K
rick86 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Hi mksu19,

did you manage to do a guide to remove rear-door card?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Top job on the front door card removal guide btw.

Cheers,

rick
Old 06-21-2017 | 09:37 PM
  #6  
A3noob's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
A3noob is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Good info, thanks.

I'm having an issue putting the panel back on. The door handle doesn't work after putting it back on. I put the wire back on but it seems like it's pushing the handle out.
Old 10-21-2021 | 03:18 PM
  #7  
Oliver Hall's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
From: Ottawa
Oliver Hall is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Thx, This helped me a lot
Old 10-12-2023 | 07:34 PM
  #8  
MrG9002's Avatar
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
 
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 6
From: Delta, B.C.
MrG9002 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)

Excellent guide , thank you.. A question. I had to do some repair work on the wiring that leads from the front door and now it is very difficult to get the rubber boot back on correctly. After removing the door panel, if you remove the speaker is it possible to get to the back of the plastic piece that the rubber boot goes around? Thank you.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ArcherA3
2nd gen. A3 - (Typ 8P/8PA, 2003–present)
0
06-15-2010 08:28 PM
JonahB6
A4-B6 - (Typ 8E/8H, 2001–2005)
2
06-12-2009 09:41 AM
mrpete
Audi Mailing List
4
05-01-2008 12:22 PM
Avanteer
Audi Mailing List
0
12-23-2005 09:27 AM
Řivind
Audi Mailing List
0
08-11-2003 07:09 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 1 votes, 5.00 average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:40 AM.