SK-RCKRC

I was curious if this has happened to anybody else. While Driving on the highway the undercarriage panel that cover the majority of the Fuel Tank connected to the rear driver fender fell/blew down from the body and scraped on the highway. Due to highway speeds (110-120 km/h) at the time the panel created the parachute effect and took other fasteners off and pulled the fender well cover down as well that rubbed on the rear tire causing a small hole to melt through. This is frustrating as there was nil/minimal amount of snow and clear highway. I've never driven the Q5 on gravel or dirt roads. Also for the last half of this summer since my first service from Audi, I would get this whistling noise that I thought was from the driver mirror or loose Xpel body film. I read other threads that relate the whistling to missing, loose, or damaged undercarriage panels.

Has anyone been covered under warranty for this? Or know if this panel or the adjacent interlocking panels under the driver floor pan has to be removed for oil changes?

Transfer

I would think you have a pretty good warranty case and would bet they reinstalled the panel poorly after your service.

Jazzy

Same happened to my Q5. I was examining my pinch points and noticed the dealer service forgot to reattach two screws which was causing the undercover to hand down about 2".


Fortunately I caught it before going highway speeds. Good luck, m8ee.

spijun

Really strange because when changing the oil, removing the front part of anything on the side
From what I see in you is damaged side loader part


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SK-RCKRC

Thanks spijun, the exploded parts diagram helps out. I would agree that the rear panel would likely stay during an oil change.. I will have to talk to the dealership and see what I can figure out.. Thanks

john1r

Sorry for following-up such an old post, but I wanted to ask how important these Cd panels are. They seem to be breaking/missing on my car. In particular the ones closest to the tires. Thank you.

simplesez

They aren't important. it keeps the bottom clean and reduces noise slightly. I've been driving without one for years. When they are half attached and dragging on the road is when it is the worst. You might find one at a junkyard, the dealer prices for new pieces is outrageous.

john1r

Great, thank you very much. Just wanted to make sure it wouldn't cause any problems to not have them/have cracked/breaking ones (other than, as you said, the terrible sound when they are dragging on the road!)