My apologies. I wasn't bashing the entire forum and the humble, helpful people here. And, by the way, I removed the old grille by taking off the six top screws on top of the bumper (just above the grille opening) very, very gently pulling it back to get a hand inside and snapping off the top clips. The rest of the removal was easy, since the bottom clips were already broken off when the unidentified person backed into my car. I then, again very gently, pushed the upper clips into the slots and pushed the bottom of the grille in until everything snapped into place.

This forum really is a great source of information, and very entertaining, especially when a loose cannon (like I) set off everyone.

Thanks for listening. Go, LSU Bengal Tigers!!!

 

Do you think this would this work if the clips weren't alreadybroken? Or did the clips make it possible?

Also which grill do you have? I think some may be easier to work with (through) than others.

 

Glad you figured it out, and as you said you didn't even have the bottom clips on it... so you can see why it would be logical to have to remove the bumper.

Removing just the top screws and bending the bumper does not sound safe... thats why I would have never suggested for someone to do it that way.

Any advice I give is usually what I have learned myself from having done that particular thing with the car... that way I know it can be done in a safe and correct manner.

 

Your original advice was sound. I could never, after three attempts to remove the bumper, figure out how to get to all the screws and nuts. I knew I was over my head, and none of the Audi mechanics I know would even give me a definite price on doing the work for me. I didn't have to bend the upper part of the bumper very much (skinny hands, I guess). The fact I didn't need to save the old grille made it a lot easier.

 

When I replaced my busted in passenger side headlight I put the new one in without taking off the bumper. I just loosened the top and pulled it out much like fireman. There is quite a bit of give.

Note: I would have removed the bumper but was unable to get a few torx screws out. It was middle of winter so I didn't mess around too long to try harder.