DIY: Audi S6 install MkV R32

[isdereks]

Original: http://5thirtyone.com/archives/892

This is a rough DIY for installing the OE Audi S6 LEDs. Thanks to Josh at OEMPl.us for getting one of their last sets out to me last week.

Get the supplies, hardware, and tools

Requirements (or highly recommended items): OE Audi S6 driving lights acquired direct through Audi or online, Audi S6 LED harness, jack + suitable jack-stand(s), electrical connectors + tools, electrical tape, thin metal strips for custom brackets + hardware, Dremel + cutting tools, hex and torx bit set(s), and a second set of hands.

Front & lower grill removal

Start with the two lower grills. Mark the bottom edge of the last horizontal grill on each side. This will be the highest that you are allowed to cut (for bottom placement). Both are secured with two philips screws closest to the aluminum center grill. Once these are removed apply pressure near the top of the grill to unclip then pull straight out.

The center aluminum pieces slides off just as easy assuming you remove two screws from the top under the hood, two behind your license plate frame (towards the outer edges), and two (on each side) which are exposed once the lower grill pieces are removed.

Before moving on to the bumper delete, you'll want to disconnect the headlight washers from the bumper cover pieces. Do this by prying the bottom edges up to slip your fingers underneath. The washers slide out at ~45 degree angle. Unclip the covers and lay them to the side.

Bumper removal

Now comes everyones favorite part locating all the necessary screws to loosen and put aside. Start underneath the front of the vehicle and locate the two screws in directly underneath the middle of the bumper. Follow that with three screws on the underside (left & right). Then, remove three screws from the front edges of the wheel wells. The final two screws are at the top of the bumper piece behind where the aluminum grill used to be. With a second set of hands, the bumper will now slide straight off.

Before excitedly removing the bumper completely, unclip and unscrew the headlight washers from the bumper. You'll notice that a single hose feeds both washers [which is also secured in place with metal clips.

With the front bumper removed, you'll have one naked looking MkV R32.

Bumper trim + brackets

This next step requires a little more trial and error. Because the S6 LEDs are not a direct drop in solution for any Volkswagen, the process of fitting requires patience and small passes with a Dremel cutting disk. The process was tedious - a combination of cut and test fit, cut and test fit. Using the last horizontal edge of the lower grills as guides, I marked the lowers with a pen to give me a rough idea of where to cut.

Once both sides had been trimmed down enough to fit the LEDs, Kevin cut and bent a set of brackets to secure the lights do the bumper.

Electrical, wire as fogs or tap sidemarkers

Because I had already deleted my North American sidemarkers, I had a set of previously used harnesses to tap for power. Unfortunately, because the LEDs were not plug 'n play, I simply snipped the sidemarker harness and reconnected with to the OE Audi S6 harnesses. <strong>Remember, brown is ground.</strong>

Some individuals might decide to run the Audi harness directly to the fuse box and reprogram their light switch in order for the LEDs to act as fogs, I chose to reuse the sidemarker wires allowing me to run the lights full time or as parking lights.

Final results

With the lights properly tested and wiring secured, it was time to re-assemble the front end of the vehicle. The end result was well worth the frustration and sore finger tips. I imagine the total cost had I commissioned a body shop to install the lights would have been in excess of $400.


Modified by isdereks at 9:11 AM 4-14-2008

[r32-1163]

Nice DIY, I just did my Euro R-Line dash kit, got the dash cubby and euro cupholder. Hopefully doing the dash cubby tomorrow.

Looks great, I'm still weary about cutting up my bumper though. I'm gonna wait out for the JDM Axis HID fog light kit that someone posted on here.

[atombomb33]

Great job. Thanks for posting the DIY

[RafaGolfBr]

nice nice!

[crabpot]

Looks good Derek

[IamGoofy]

nice work

[atombomb33]

I vote that this gets puts in the DIY sticky at the top

[VW76R32]

Awesome job. Looks great. Im not a great DIYer so I'll buy the parts and drive out to you from PA and you can help me out. I envy you guys who are skilled at the more complicated mods. Peace.

[cksdayoff]

you rule.

i hope you come up with more threads like these when you add some other stuff to your R.

much appreciated.

[isdereks]

Quote, originally posted by VW76R32 »

Awesome job. Looks great. Im not a great DIYer so I'll buy the parts and drive out to you from PA and you can help me out. I envy you guys who are skilled at the more complicated mods. Peace.

Ha, for the price of driving (gas) I bet you could get the lights + have a body shop install them. When everything was buttoned back up I tried to decide whether or not it was worth the trouble, or if I should have just had someone else do it. I'm leaning more towards enjoying / being ok with something having been broken on my car when I am the one that does the damage, as opposed to someone else doing causing the damage.

[CedDoc]

agreed i would much rather do it myself...altough not having a garage kinda stops me in alot of areas

great install thanks for posting it up, at least i have an idea of what i face now

[Verist1]

Scarred to death of the Dremel!

[sohlman]

I can't wait to do this on my CW .:R too. Looks great. Thanks for the write-up.

[isdereks]

Quote, originally posted by CedDoc »

agreed i would much rather do it myself...altough not having a garage kinda stops me in alot of areas

I didn't have a garage. I had ask to use someone elses garage.

[Tourenwagen]

Great writeup thanks. Can we get a close up of the fitment? Would like to see how the edges look... thanks.

[xoxodr]

Thanks for the DIY, there goes $400 i was gonna make this week

[eurospek.]

Great write up!!!

[IamGoofy]

do you have the part number for the 3-pin connector housing? thx

[Air23h20]

Live it, Love it, dub it.

[IamGoofy]

okay, I got the right connectors, but where should I run the cables to? please note i have an euro R, so no bumper markers...

i know brown (1) is the ground, how about the other 2? can I just tap them on the parking lights wires? will that throw a code? errr... i guess this is the only time I wish I have a US bumper

[GTI017]

Quote, originally posted by isdereks »

I imagine the total cost had I commissioned a body shop to install the lights would have been in excess of $400. Modified by isdereks at 9:11 AM 4-14-2008

you had me until this... i wold so pay the shop, but that is me

were you in Magnolia this last week? I swear i saw you but was thinking to myself "Derek doesn't have LEDs"

[tr.:R]

dammit, now i want em

[BHB]

love the way that looks

[R32Girly]

i love it! nice DIY!!!

[UFC_Champ_Scott]

Great work, dude. Nice garage, too!

[Be_Liquid10]

Looks good, add another .:R with S6 lights

[isdereks]

Quote, originally posted by GTI017 »

were you in Magnolia this last week? I swear i saw you but was thinking to myself "Derek doesn't have LEDs"

I was in Magnolia. My family stills live there

IamGoofy, sorry I don't have the part number. Contact OEMPl.us. They should have that on file.

[xoxodr]

Looking for a white MKV .:R32 I install the S6 lights
ive done my car UG
ive done a DBP
and today i installed them on a TR
All im missing is the CW. im only installing them on each color and then thats it. I get alot of requests to do it but its not really worth it for me. SO if you have a CW .:R32 and live in NY Ill give u a good price. after that last car is finished Im going to do a big photo shoot, and ill give prints to all involved
Ill post pics of the 3 cars with the lights so far tonight

[tr.:R]

Quote, originally posted by xoxodr »

Looking for a white MKV .:R32 I install the S6 lights ive done my car UG ive done a DBP and today i installed them on a TR All im missing is the CW. im only installing them on each color and then thats it. I get alot of requests to do it but its not really worth it for me. SO if you have a CW .:R32 and live in NY Ill give u a good price. after that last car is finished Im going to do a big photo shoot, and ill give prints to all involved Ill post pics of the 3 cars with the lights so far tonight

hmmmm im in new hampshire. its not a long drive.

[Be_Liquid10]

Considering that you drove from Houston to New Hampshire....whats a few more miles.
I think you should hook up Jack.

[TANiK]

OP: are you a real estate agent?

[isdereks]

Quote, originally posted by TANiK »

OP: are you a real estate agent?

Nope. But someone in my girlfriends family is.

[0-60Motorsports]

You wouldnt happen to have the Part numbers handy for the S6 LEDs and plugs etc would you? Cheers.

[tWiStEd-tORqUe]

Holy Zombie Thread

4F0941067A Left
4F0941068A Right

[0-60Motorsports]

Holy Zombie Thread

4F0941067A Left
4F0941068A Right

Hahah thanks Bud and see you soon.