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

Attachment 14203

Attachment 14204

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.

Attachment 14205

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.

Attachment 14206

Attachment 14207

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

Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)
 

Awesome thanks. Will be replacing my stock speakers sooner then later.

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.

Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)
 

Great guide! Thanks!

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

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.

Re: A3 Door Panel Removal DIY (with pics!)
 

Thx, This helped me a lot :)

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.