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Rear bumper removal/parking sensor issue

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Old Jun 5, 2026 | 04:44 PM
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Default Rear bumper removal/parking sensor issue

2020 A5 sportback......I noticed one of the parking sensor buttons is not sitting flush with the surface of the rear bumper. I was able to reach in from underneath and felt it, but not enough to diagnose why or to feel if something is broken. Anyone remove the rear bumper before and can offer advice?
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Old Jun 5, 2026 | 11:03 PM
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If you do it (remove the bumper), do not disconnect the wiring harness. AFAIK, that will mess up all the sensors and require a recalibration at the dealer to resolve.
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 03:02 AM
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Originally Posted by mashani9
If you do it (remove the bumper), do not disconnect the wiring harness. AFAIK, that will mess up all the sensors and require a recalibration at the dealer to resolve.
I’m not so sure about the wire disconnection requiring a re-calibration? While I’ve never had the rear bumper off, my front bumper has been removed multiple times, and had all the wiring disconnected from the sensors, without requiring a recalibration.

It may be different for the rear sensors, though I don’t know why it would.

— John
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 05:35 AM
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Many people view removing a bumper cover as daunting task, but it's really not, especially the rear. Doesn't hurt to have a second person though. Not heavy, just kinda floppy and awkward. I have not had a reason to remove the cover on my A5 yet, so I can't give you specifics although they are all about the same. This would really be a good time for you to spend the $35 for a 24-hour subscription on erwinAudi.com and take the 15 minutes or so required to download all the factory service manuals for your car. Best $35 you'll spend. I also doubt it requires any calibrations, but you can always disconnect the battery - then the car won't know you did it.
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 06:38 AM
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I already have the downloaded manuals, but real world experience can be much different than something printed on paper. I found a video of the process, and it doesn't look bad. Seems the brackets that the sensors clip into are affixed with double sided tape to the inner surface of the bumper, so I can probably just hit it with a dab of epoxy. Fortunately the sensor works fine as of now. Thanks
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Nikon1
I’m not so sure about the wire disconnection requiring a re-calibration? While I’ve never had the rear bumper off, my front bumper has been removed multiple times, and had all the wiring disconnected from the sensors, without requiring a recalibration.

It may be different for the rear sensors, though I don’t know why it would.

— John
There are dire warnings about carefully setting down the bumper without disconnecting the wiring from it in the stealth hitch install guides for B9 / 9.5 S5s. Directly says doing so will require a trip to the dealer afterwords.

Maybe they are wrong, IDK.

Maybe if so disconnecting the battery fully like mentioned above would work around that, again IDK.
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by mashani9
There are dire warnings about carefully setting down the bumper without disconnecting the wiring from it in the stealth hitch install guides for B9 / 9.5 S5s. Directly says doing so will require a trip to the dealer afterwords.

Maybe they are wrong, IDK.

Maybe if so disconnecting the battery fully like mentioned above would work around that, again IDK.
I think I can rest the bumper on a couple chairs and a furniture pad without disconnecting it. And still have access to the parking sensors. If not, I will disconnect the battery before I do anything further.
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 04:13 PM
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I had a loose sensor an a BMW 5 series, and it was as you describe - a holder affixed with 2-sided tape. The sensor just snaps into the holder. If they are indeed like a BMW, then you can probably just buy the holder with the two-sided tape attached. That's what I would do for sure. Very, very, very few glues stick to the plastic that bumpers are made of. I'm quite sure that any epoxy you can buy in normal stores would not stick for long, if at all. You'd be pretty unhappy if it was loose again right after going to the trouble to remove the bumper cover.
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Old Jun 6, 2026 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Cabbie57
I had a loose sensor an a BMW 5 series, and it was as you describe - a holder affixed with 2-sided tape. The sensor just snaps into the holder. If they are indeed like a BMW, then you can probably just buy the holder with the two-sided tape attached. That's what I would do for sure. Very, very, very few glues stick to the plastic that bumpers are made of. I'm quite sure that any epoxy you can buy in normal stores would not stick for long, if at all. You'd be pretty unhappy if it was loose again right after going to the trouble to remove the bumper cover.
I'll call the dealership monday when I have a minute, and see if they can actually get that part. I've seen pictures and others have had a similar issue. The part number molded into the part doesn't exist in the audi. parts website. Maybe something else will work ,or there is a superseded part, but I can't find it. JB Weld makes an epoxy marketed for automotive plastic body panels, so I think something will work. Whatever the case, It looks like I can remove the bumper and deal with the sensor bracket without unplugging anything. And if I have to, I'll disconnect the battery first.
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Old Jun 8, 2026 | 01:18 AM
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Originally Posted by edaniels6902
2020 A5 sportback......I noticed one of the parking sensor buttons is not sitting flush with the surface of the rear bumper. I was able to reach in from underneath and felt it, but not enough to diagnose why or to feel if something is broken. Anyone remove the rear bumper before and can offer advice?
Have a look at this video (A5 Convertible). Shouldn't be much different.
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