Airbag Cover Removal and Installation on an Audi RS5

In our latest video, I remove the old airbag cover and install a cool new custom airbag cover on the Audi RS5. We'll have a full video on a custom steering wheel installation soon as well! Full visual details on each step with closeups.
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[@jaquannsylvester9713]

Super super super helpful the close ups and details perfect thank you man

[@slownb8145]

First, really great video, couldn't have done it without it. For the "gotcha" connector, I used two picks, one on each side, to pry the tabs inward, then with the picks still in place, the connector can be pried straight up (away from the airbag). This allowed me to remove this connector without damage.

[@leidencc]

Thank you for this!!! It’s like you knew I needed this video! Thanks again and cheers brother

[@TomMcCulloch-zs6xc]

The video is extremely clear and well explained.

[@michaelkeenan4008]

great video. thanks. I just completed this myself. As an fyi, you can swap covers out without removing the sensor that has the yellow string around it. You also only need to remove the ground that is on the center. so 1 ground and the two plugs. just wiggle the cover off and flip it by the yellow string. then pull the airbag out of the cover and place in the new cover flip the other piece back in place and connect up the ground and two plugs. secure the 8mm nuts and replace the horn actuators. you kinda place the yellow string at its limit of slack, but prob safer to do that than risk breaking that sensor as you did (that wing is cracked the way you removed it, prob still good, but if you don't have to remove it, all the better)

[@RS5Fanatic]

Great suggestion! Thank you for sharing. Yeah I tweaked mine a bit as I did the "shoot" several times to get the right angle.

[@mikekeenan370]

@@RS5Fanatic yeah. Figured you had it in and out a few times. Didn’t want to mess it up so I figured I’d try it. If I couldn’t get enough slack, I’d do it like you did. Thanks for taking the time to do the video. Helped out a lot

[@RS5Fanatic]

@@mikekeenan370 Most welcome and thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@darksaigon]

I am stuck at the connector where the string is. I am not a fan of prying it out, so I stopped. I will try your method of trying to wiggle it and put the new cover...there's definitively not enough room to disconnect the yellow connector as on the B9.5 airbag one of the horn actuator is in the way. It is a bit different.

[@unsilence]

Great video as always Michel!!!

[@XRP_RipperZ]

Thanks bro i did it by my self with help of your video👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@XRP_RipperZ]

Can you show us how you did the start stop on the stering thank👍🏼

[@RS5Fanatic]

@@XRP_RipperZ Haven't finished solving that issue yet :(

[@XRP_RipperZ]

I saw one day someone did it to a b9 i send you that video on instagram maybe that can help you

[@BlueNoseStudios]

Thank you for posting this!

[@dominiquegastaldi4298]

Thx now i can install 💯

[@AJ27__]

You know you are an absolute hero

[@RS5Fanatic]

Appreciate it Aleks!

[@treborm3925]

Like the slow and close up presentation and would ask, is there a torque setting for securing the 4 nuts?

[@RS5Fanatic]

Not really, just snug em down.

[@RS5Fanatic]

Just a bit more info for everyone on the torque, I was able to free the nuts using a handheld screwdriver style bit holder. So no ratchet, no additional leverage. I snugged them down with the same tool and I didn't "crank" on the nuts. If I had to guess, you're probably looking at 8-10 foot pounds (13Nm) at most.

[@treborm3925]

@@RS5Fanatic Thanks that’s really helpful to know 👍🏾

[@SpankMyFace]

Thanks for the video! I am rebuilding a Copart B8 S4 6MT, and swapping in a flat-bottom B8.5 steering wheel and air bag. I purchased both separately, and the the air bag I purchased is a slightly lighter black than the steering wheel. This may sound stupid, but all I want to do is remove the air bag trim so I can PlastiDip the airbag cover (paint doesn't have the need flexibility). It looks possible w/o removing the airbag cover given its a pin-in-hole mounting setup, but I cannot tell if they're also glued in place.

[@RS5Fanatic]

If you're referring to the outer ring on the airbag which surrounds the Audi rings, I honestly can't remember if it was glued on or snapped in place. I didn't make a mental note when I had it apart. I have my OEM cover so I'll take a look when I get a chance and report back. The rest of the wheel trim snaps into place, no glue.

[@badgerprimeminister]

Great video mate. Bit over dramatic though, airbags have electric detonators. I've dropped, kicked and thrown airbags before, they don't just randomly deploy. Ex-army engineer also, its not an 'incendiary device' its an electrically detonated supplementary safety device.

[@RS5Fanatic]

Yep, I get it. It's called CYA! :)

[@rosshendry7298]

Great video mate looks superb! Well done. Keep saying I want to sell mine and upgrade to something newer and Turbo but then you start it and all that goes away

[@RS5Fanatic]

So true Ross, so true!

[@TruthBombTom]

On my S4, as I pull the tabs down, the airbag gets tighter to the wheel on that side. This is an absolute nightmare, I've spent 2 hours on 1 clip

[@GianfrancoAcciardi]

ciao grazie del video, non ho capito dove va il filo bianco white. ciao grazie

[@hbmotors8336]

hi, it's a pity you haven't been making videos in a long time, your videos are always very beautiful. can you make a video where you show how to change the service belt of an RS5?

[@RS5Fanatic]

My apologies, I have five more videos in production but I've been so busy I haven't had time to finish them! On the service belt, assuming you mean the front accessory belt. I "may" have a portion in my carbon cleaning videos where I address that very belt. The only way to service the belt is to put the car's nose in service position. From there it's quite easy. Just a matter of getting a long wrench on the tensioner, releasing the tension, sliding the new belt on and you're done.

[@trungho7781]

The steering wheel you have with ” start and stop” . Do have the install videos for it ? Thank The wheel look nice….

[@Dedsec499]

Can you take the airbag out and put the cover back on without the airbag in the wheel cover? Or is that not possible

[@zachf8158]

Where did you get the steering wheel? and When are you doing an install video of the wheel by chance? I know im late to the game but help us out coach!

[@RS5Fanatic]

I'm a dealer for them. I have everything shot for the wheel installation video but I just haven't gotten around to making it. Not enough time these days.

[@lukasjakab9330]

Hi, please any idea where to get the cover?

[@XRP_RipperZ]

Eh my friend i miss your videos

[@patriciaayala5509]

I question, the car turn off??

[@ericcassels6475]

Im assuming the video thumbnail image is your wheel, if so did the sattelite start and drive select controls come with that wheel? What did it take to install? Thanks!

[@RS5Fanatic]

Yes, came with the extra buttons but you'll have to wait for the 2nd part of this video. Spoiler alert, don't buy the remote buttons just yet!

[@ericcassels6475]

@@RS5Fanatic awesome cant wait!!

[@cameronclowers4861]

anyone know what the “gotcha connector” is actually called?

[@igorboyka4757]

nice rs bro, what you drive 100-200? and how much hp and nm?

[@rizzygeorge]

cheers mate.... 1 question.... have any ideea if îs The same airbag for flat steering weel and a normal one... like în your video... except The one ot two detonation... thank you

[@RS5Fanatic]

Hey Rizzy, most likely the same but may vary by year more than steering wheel style.

[@casgarage]

hey dude, can you give it a link to the steering wheel?

[@bootleg.rs5]

Casual AG plug.

[@DarkSession6208]

Hey there, my Exhaust Valves on my B8.0 are stuck. Did you have this problem before?

[@RS5Fanatic]

Are you referring to the valvetronic exhaust flaps in the mufflers? Known issue. Penetrating fluid overnight may loosen them up. Also make sure the vacuum line running to the valves is still intact.

[@DarkSession6208]

@@RS5Fanatic Yeah i mean those, tried to soak them .. nothing. They don't move even with the vacuum lines detached when i try to loose them with a screwdriver from inside the pipe.

[@RS5Fanatic]

@@DarkSession6208 Some people have had success with oven cleaner. But they may be toast. I can def get you a deal on either the JHM or Kline exhaust systems. Not sure if the valve itself is replaceable, Audi may not sell it separately.

[@DarkSession6208]

@@RS5Fanatic Sadly i need to get the original exhaust again ... Everything else is banned in Germany.

[@DarkSession6208]

@@RS5Fanatic So i got a original exhaust with Mid Muffler delete for 180€ with working valves. Will arrive soon. Sadly the car died yesterday., the S-Tronic Gearbox won't let me put it into anything else than P. Tried the Emergency unlock ... nothing. Guess i need a new gearbox.

[@daveanjorin1]

Off topic: have you come across coolant hose clamps becoming tear-drop shape?

[@RS5Fanatic]

No but send me a photo if you have it. Unless you're referring to ear clamps? If so those are constant tension one use clamps that are "pinched" with a special set of pliers and hence get the "ear" coming off the side. [e-mail]

[@daveanjorin1]

@@RS5Fanatic its at a shop right now, they seem to have fixed the issue, but I'll try to get some pics. Every time they replaced a coolant clamp, it leaked from somewhere else 😅

[@TheIzurex]

Nice video. How is the E85 conversion going?

[@RS5Fanatic]

I've actually decided it's just not worth the effort given the potential calamity it could cause.

[@bootleg.rs5]

Are carbon fiber airbag covers still safe enough for an airbag to deploy through it?

[@RS5Fanatic]

I am of the opinion that no they are not. I have friends, good friends, who have them and I tell them as much. Hence me going with soft, fuzzy Alcantara! Truth be told, if it's the outer ring on the airbag that's carbon, it probably splits and is forced out to the sides, not into your face. I'm not sure I'd risk it though. Even the stock airbag has a hard plastic Audi emblem and outer ring.

[@mastalee1776]

Personally I would not go with carbon fiber airbag

[@badgerprimeminister]

Carbon fibre airbag covers should NOT be used on the road

[@xrs5avagex467]

Hey man. I just bought a 2013 Audi RS5. it has 130K Km on it. I am conflicted if i should get the warranty or not? the warranty is for 6500 CAD and covers practically everything for 40K Km. Any feed back would be appreciated.

[@RS5Fanatic]

Kind of a tossup. Do you have any mechanical ability and willingness to learn about the car? Or would you rather just drop it off and have someone else do the work? Most RS5's are very reliable but there are bad examples out there. If you have the full service history and can see there weren't a lot of non-scheduled maintenance trips, you may have a good one. But major components are expensive to replace as is the labor. I have never had a warranty on my car and have never had anything major go wrong other than one bad injector. So as I said, it's a roll of the dice based on your own financials and ability to absorb a financial hit if something goes wrong with the car.

[@xrs5avagex467]

@@RS5Fanatic i do have the ability to learn. as for service the car has been at Audi Dealership since the life of the car as there is a log about every 5K Km. Also the DCT was replaced around 89K so the new DCT has about 41K Km.

[@RS5Fanatic]

@@xrs5avagex467 If anything is most likely to go wrong, it's the mechatronic in the transmission. Did they replace that or the entire transmission? As a reliability mod to prevent future calamities, get the RMR transmission cooler. redmistracing.com/ols/products/rmr-transmission-cooler-for-the-audi-rs5-b8b85-2010-to-2016 I'd probably gamble if you're willing to do some wrenching. Sock a few bucks away per week just for repairs. If you don't need them, well, you've just come out WAY ahead.

[@xrs5avagex467]

@@RS5Fanatic i am going to cancel the warranty if i can. and just buy the rmr tranny cooler and go from there. also my car has awe exhaust i don't know which one. but did your car have any vibrations at idle with AWE exhaust? i am trying to see if its the exhaust or the motor mounts.