Removing and installing C-pillar trim: Audi A6 C6

🧭 Before you start

Access work is the bulk of it: roof end trim, D-pillar trim, rear backrest, side padding and the rear shelf on the side concerned. The three bolts come out, the trim is unclipped, eased out from under the curtain airbag and lifted over the seat belt once the belt guide has been slid rearwards. Before refitting, old locking fluid is run out of the threaded holes with a tap and the clip inspected. The trim is fed under the airbag, clipped, bolted with new bolts to the specified torque, the belt guide pulled forward until it engages, and the stripped parts go back in reverse order with the door seal lip laid over the trim.

Fits: Audi A6 C6 (4F, 2004–2011)

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• Observe the curtain airbag safety precautions; the trim must not trap or damage the airbag going in.
• Run a tap through the three threaded holes to clear old locking fluid before fitting new bolts.
• The bolts are renewed and tightened to the specified torque; their washers sit below the metal plate.
• Check the clip is neither damaged nor deformed and is positioned correctly before the trim goes on.
• Slide the belt guide fully rearwards for removal, then fully forwards until the retaining tab audibly clicks.
• Where the steps mark bolts as set by the manufacturer, do not turn them.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ Note safety precautions for working on curtain airbags . — Remove roof end trim .
2. Remove D-pillar trim .
3. Remove rear seat backrest .
4. Remove side padding .
5. Detach rear shelf on the side in question.

6. Unscrew bolts (2) (3x).
7. Unclip C-pillar trim (1) with clip (4).
8. Carefully pull C-pillar trim (1) out from underneath curtain airbag (3).
9. Release belt guide and slide it towards the rear as far as it will go .
10. Pull C-pillar trim (1) out over seat belt.
11. Detach C-pillar trim (1).
12. Remove any residue of locking fluid from threaded holes for bolts (2) (3x). To do so, you can use a thread tap.
13. Check that clip (4) is not damaged or deformed.
14. Before fitting C-pillar trim (1) make sure that clip (4) is correctly positioned. [Note: Make sure that curtain airbag is not trapped or damaged when installing C-pillar trim (1).]
15. Carefully push upper section of C-pillar trim (1) under curtain airbag (3).
16. Secure C-pillar trim (1) with clip (4).
17. Screw in new bolts (2) and tighten to specified torque.
18. Pull belt guide forwards as far as it will go and make sure it engages .
19. Install rear shelf:
20. Install side padding .
21. Install rear seat backrest .
22. Install D-pillar trim .
23. Install roof end trim .
24. Fit lip of door seal over C-pillar trim (1). [Note: Under no circumstances turn the bolts (2). They have been set by the manufacturer.]
25. Disengage belt guide (1).
26. To do so, push retaining tab upwards (arrow).
27. Slide belt guide (1) to rear as far as it will go.
28. Pull belt guide (1) to the front as far as it will go.
29. Make sure you hear retaining tab (arrow) click into place. [Note: The washers of bolts (2) should be located below the metal plate.]

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