Hello,I'm looking to install running boards (step bars) on my 2009 Audi Q7. Any recommendations on the brand that fits? How difficult is it to do it?

 

Are you sure you want to do that. Looks easy enough. My wife bought a ford escape several years ago that she ordered with running boards. I absolutely hated them. Back of pant legs got wet every time I got out in the rain.

 

FWIW:

First Q7 - No running boards. Still driving it. Love it. Have the roof rails/cargo bars; rarely use them.
Second Q7 - Factory running boards installed. Air suspension.

My impressions of the factory mounted running boards:

They do look pretty good mounted on the car, but unless you actually need/want a built-in step simply to help you reach up to get at something on the roof-rack (frequently), then the running boards on a Q7 are pretty much absolutely worthless, IMHO. These are mounted high up to keep decent ground clearance, and that makes them very poor as an actual step for entering or exiting the Q7, but a great place to stand if accessing the roof rack area.

They never helped me to enter the Q7, although I tried to use them multiple times, especially in poor weather situations, but I did find them useful to knock dirt/snow off my footwear when entering. Entering was actually more difficult due to the fact you have the standoff from the width of the running board to get over, and the door opening is too low and there's no proper A-pillar grab handle to make them useful for getting into the car. You'll end up pulling a muscle in your back or neck trying to use them for entering or exiting the Q7.

Also, and this is a really big problem with how/where these sit on the Q7; the running board is going to get your pants/dress/slacks, shoes, etc. dirty during ingress/egress; there's absolutely no question at all about that. In the end, I hated them because added extra time/steps to be able to access/work on the car's air suspension system, and they served no actual function for us at all since we didn't carry anything on the roof rails regularly, and they made getting in or out of the car significantly more challenging, and especially so if you were trying not to soil your finer clothing.

In summary; unless you frequently need to access/store items on the roof rails related systems, these Q7 running boards serve no purpose but to make your life more difficult that it ought to be, (and make a ton of $$$ for the Audi dealerships as an accessory item) They are not helpful for easing access or exiting the car; quite the opposite.

Likewise, if you have air suspension on car (ours did), then the running board installs below the air compressor mount, and so it completely blocks access to the air compressor/valve-controller/air lines, etc., and it also opens up holes in the underbody cladding/splash guards that aren't there otherwise, and so you end up with corrosion issues developing related to how you mount these running boards.

Definitely NOT recommended. If our '15 Q7 with the running boards had been my daily driver, then I would have removed the running boards from it. It wasn't, so I just lived with them. They were very high quality items (factory running boards), but just a poor execution, as if you do step on the running board during entry, then you have to duck and contort yourself to fit through the door opening, and you are doing greater damage to the outer seat bolster.

 

I have to totally agree with Prestige and Ed.
I have a 2010 Q7 with factory installed running boards, and apart from the aesthetics, the only time I actually put them to any use, is to stand on in order to get access to the roof/hood and the top of the windshield when she's getting a wash. Believe me, as Prestige indicated, they gonna result in lots of swearing and WDF's from dirtying your clothing or leg, mainly when exiting!! So reconsider carefully, or invest in something else, but at the end of the day, it's your choice..
Cheers!!

 

weird I don’t have any of these problems and i find mine extremely practical. They have also save me many times from damaging the car as in Europe there are very narrow roads and massive curbs waiting to scrape your car (and wheels).

be aware you can’t just bolt them on. I had to cut holes in the cable troth covers under the car to mount the brackets. Took me way longer than I thought it would but I love how they look. Mine are flush with the car and they run wheel to wheel sonit looks like they are from the factory. They also have a nice chrome finish on the sides and brushed aluminum with rubber on the tops. They are not as sturdy as I would like but i am really happy I put them on as they make the car look much better imo

 

Yes sir, it's like six of one, and half a dozen of the other!!
But...I am presuming that you installed after market running boards, hence the need to do additional works to have those installed. I would suffice it to say that the ones installed are probably shorter in width than the original. If so, you're good to go! What I can say with the original boards,and the original bolt on, are they are very very sturdy!! My son,my grand son, and myself can stand on them without even as much as a bow!!
Still gets my leg and pants dirty when exiting!!
I have attached some pics of my original extrusion from the body for comparison!!
Cheers!!

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. Spend your money the way you want to, and enjoy!!!

Drove my son's '17 Ford F-150 4X4 (rides higher) equipped with factory running boards today, and lo and behold...running boards done correctly!!! They are mounted well below the door sills, so you can actually get your foot up on there at a comfortable, intermediate height to step on, are wide, strong, supportive, and there's a well designed, strong grab handle specifically to stabilize/support you upon entry to help you get in/out the cab of the truck w/o breaking your body bits. Too bad the running boards are the best design feature on this oversized truck, but I digress. Ford did a great job on these.

Audi's running boards are just shiny eye-candy for the most part, and they are definitely NOT designed as rock sliders, or 'curb feelers'; seriously folks, it's only 8.5" of ground clearance on a steel suspension Q7...obviously it's an 'image' thing, as they get in the way a lot more than they are useful, IMHO.

Be sure to buy yourself a good set of mudflaps, which is also just good advice for any Q7 owner...especially for the front wheels. Do beware that mudflaps are molded either for S-line body panels or standard body panels. You want the OEM /aftermarket reproductions style that are fit to match the body panels exactly.