Audi Spare Parts: Amazing Facts & Tips

Hello everyone,

I had an absolutely incredible experience today:

My rear bumper (on my A4 Avant, manufactured in 2000) was slightly damaged in a minor rear-end collision.
So, I went to the Audi dealer in good spirits to get a replacement part.

Firstly, I was informed that the rear bumper consists of several parts that must be purchased individually, but once assembled, cannot be separated.
Cost: approximately €500!! -- initial shock!

When I mentioned that my vehicle is equipped with a factory-installed tow hitch, the parts specialist, after a lengthy search in the electronic parts catalog (AKTE) and consulting with the workshop foreman, concluded that there is no bumper available for the A4 Avant with a tow hitch.
The part numbers I noted from the original part are not recognized by the computer system!

Suggestion from Audi (I'm not kidding):
Buy a bumper for a vehicle without a trailer hitch and hope it fits.

And then they wonder why they received a bad rating in the latest issue of the ADAC magazine!

'No comment.'
Jürgen.

If your AHK (Audi Honeycomb Grill) is removable, you don't need to install a separate bumper; it might just have a different lower lip. In my B6 model, there isn't a separate bumper either.

It's possible that the parts supplier doesn't know the part number, but it's unlikely for a commonly used component like the rear bumper. I would suspect errors in your description or typos when entering the information into Audi's system.

And... I don't find that so dramatic, if you think an Audi is too expensive, just buy a Panda. }

Hi Jürgen,

It seems your car's human component is a bit unsure. The trailer hitch (AHK) isn't listed as a spare part by VAG, but rather as an accessory. The bumper is the same even with the AHK installed (as Julian already mentioned). You'll need to cut the hole for the hook yourself (if it's even necessary).
It's quite possible that the part number from your old bumper isn't known. Sometimes, certain parts are used even though they aren't listed as official spare parts ("ET Teile"). Instead, "universal parts" are created that fit and serve a similar purpose. That's why you might find a different part number.

'...but weren't IT systems invented to handle exactly these kinds of tasks?'

The automotive industry puts immense pressure on every supplier and equipment provider. We should also put some pressure on them sometimes. I expect that a parts program should at least be aware of all the parts used in a vehicle.

I already find it embarrassing...

CU Gremlin.

It's embarrassing, though! But often it's just the incompetence of the parts departments. I've had a few experiences where they seem unable to read or think properly! Or is there a system behind this from the car dealerships, selling the correct parts but in completely wrong quantities?

Regarding part numbers:
I might make a typo when entering a part number, but I certainly wouldn't do it twice (bumpers and skirts are separate parts)!

Front bumper identical with or without trailer hitch.
That's not true!
1. In the aftermarket spare parts market, there are only bumpers available for the A4 Avant WITHOUT a factory-installed tow hitch (this is explicitly stated).
2. The (original) bumper has a reinforcement made of aluminum sheet metal, from which a recess for the tie rod is punched. However, this reinforcement cannot be removed without causing damage, making it impossible to cut it out.

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Regarding the Fiat Panda:'
It is precisely this arrogance that will eventually bring the German automotive industry down!

Best regards, Jürgen.

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Regarding the Fiat Panda:'
It is precisely this arrogance that will eventually bring the German automotive industry down!


My better half drives a Renault Clio... that's when you really know what can be truly expensive.
500€ for a multi-piece bumper... almost cheap.

@julian

When I tell my clients that a one-day service costs €510, they usually ask me why it's so expensive and where the value lies.

2 kg of mass-produced plastic cannot possibly be worth 500 euros!

Best regards, Jürgen.

2 kg of mass-produced plastic cannot possibly be worth 500 euros!


Hmm, yes, thanks to our unions and tax policies. Take a look at the bill from your last car inspection and pay close attention to the labor hours and their cost.

And that an A4 bumper weighs 2 kg... is it perhaps made of carbon fiber?

Sure, I think it's expensive too, but then you wouldn't be driving an Audi. I wouldn't buy a Jaguar myself and then complain about the maintenance costs.

Unfortunately, the sales brochure did not include a list of spare part prices!

I haven't checked the price in AKTE for Audi specifically, but I know from my Passat that a rear bumper shell costs around €300 plus VAT, making it about €350 total. I can't imagine that it would be 1.5 times more expensive for an Audi!

On the other hand, as Julian already wrote: you don't have to drive an Audi if the entertainment is too expensive for you!

joergs wrote:

I simply cannot imagine that it costs about 1.5 times more at Audi!

I have. We often find brochures from the VAG dealer in our newspapers, with spare part prices for cars like the Golf. The difference between those prices and Audi's is significant. A Golf 4 isn't that much lighter than an Audi 100.

According to AKTE, the estimated cost is around 350 plus 'fairy tale tax.'

The bumper alone costs 350 euros.
In addition to that, the apron costs approximately 100 euros, and there are also various brackets/holders needed.

According to the Audi dealership, the total cost is approximately 500 euros including tax (around 493 euros).

bumper 284 + spoiler 47 + small items!

Could it be that the friendly VAG dealer was just trying to rip me off?

The price is definitely close to 500 euros!