serious thermostat issue

ok i have a 97 A4 2.8 Q 12v. i cant figure out how to change the thermostat. i have taken a couple pics of where i thought the stat was located but apparently its not there. i ordered a stat from a local automotive store and there is no way in hell it could go there. i was told that there are 2 bolts on the water pipe that i have to take out to get to the stat but i cant find any bolts anywhere. i have felt with my hand all the way til it hits the block and i cant find any bolts. and the stat is entirely too big around to fit in the water pipe where i have it shown in the pics. so does anyone have any idea where the stat is located if i am looking in the wrong spot? and if i'm in the right spot, then how does the new stat go in? do i have the wrong stat? please help me!!!! any info will help....thanks

even 12v.org cant answer this

come on gents/ladies show some pictures to help he lad

so any help at all???? this is kinda a pressing issue to me! any help at all would be nice

found some pictures at last


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it might be worth you v6 people making a note of this seeing as no one knows where it is lol

thanks alot for the pics. i have found the two bolts that i need to take out, but it looks like i have to take the timing belt off to get the stat out. is that right? cause i'm not really comfortable with timing yet. my timing belt jumped a couple of teeth on my other car that is currently sitting in the driveway! is there a way to change it without removing the timing belt?? the good news tho is that my timing belt looks brand new so they must have changed it recently before i bought the car.

"Though it's possible to remove the thermostat without removing the timing belt,
... Where is the Thermostat for 1993 Audi 100 S/// V6, 13-Jan-2005 ..."
http://www.12v.org/maintenance/repairs/tbelt.php