Q5InDC

I bought my car 2 months ago and went to the tint shop to place tint on my car today. The tinter said im missing a piece on the bumber that goes around my tow package (which came from factory, not dealer installed). Is this true? It does seem im missing a piece on my rear bumper.

jimdolian

I have a 2016 SQ5 which was an ED purchase. The hitch was not installed at the factory but rather at the US POE. There is a panel that was removed from the bumper when the hitch was installed in San Diego. They left the panel in the trunk so I'll hang on to it. My rear bumper looks just like yours. It would appear as though there should be a panel, but there is not. Does anyone know of a panel that is available to cover the area around a factory-installed hitch? I suppose I could try surgery on the removed panel to see if I could get it to fit over the hitch, but I'd be willing to bet I wouldn't care for my workmanship.

Wrex2008

Yeah there's a piece missing there, but it does have to be modified to make it fit back in. A lot of people trim the factory piece to make it so they can have the hitch and put the panel back in place.

HZ60

Same problem here on a 2016 3.0T I bought yesterday w/ factory hitch installed @ POE except they didn't leave the panel in the car after they removed it. Just got back from the dealer who told me if you get a factory hitch you don't get a panel. I can buy one if I want for about $165.00 to modify and cover up the huge gaping hole. The sales guy threw out the famous "it's normal, that's the way they all are" Nice.

SYMAWD

The panel is usually left in the trunk.

jimdolian

Does anyone have a pattern that they used to modify the OEM panel to accommodate the hitch?

waninae39

this is what the piece looks like

under the bumber

one from the rear

Q5InDC

Is that piece painted?

Coolieman1220

+1

waninae39

not. it all black just the bumper was dirty