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A simple bumper repair on a modern vehicle may not be as simple as it seems. New technologies like blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) utilize sensors behind the bumper covers. The ability for these sensors to be able to see clearly, normally requires special caution when considering a bumper repair. Many OEMs have different levels of warnings when it comes to repairing bumper covers with ADAS. So, what does Audi say on the subject?
Per our contact at Audi, "On vehicles with adaptive cruise control (ACC), the trim in the right-hand corner of the front bumper must not be painted during a repair paint job or replacement. The ACC system located behind can become non-operational due to the thickness of the added paint layer."
Our contact went on to share that, "to avoid malfunctions in the radar sensors (lane change assist):
- The layer of paint before the sensors must not exceed 150 µ (microns)
- A repair of the plastic must not be carried out within 25 cm of this area.
- Filler must not be applied within 25 cm of this area.
- Three-coat painting of the bumper cover is not permitted. Before starting to paint, check if the bumper has already been subsequently painted by producing a sanding pattern in the surrounding area.
- A Spot Repair before the area of the sensors is not permitted."
Audi has added similar information about bumper cover repair with ADAS to manuals. These manuals are the General Information - Paint manual and the vehicle-specific Paint manual.
The General Information - Paint manual contains information such as the acceptable paint layering structure, repair material guidelines, and other considerations, including:
- "In the case of a repair, the entire radar field of vision must be sanded down to the plastic."
- "The entire radiographic area must be painted with a clear coat during the painting process in the radar field of vision!"
The vehicle-specific Paint manual shows sensor locations with a red-shaded area on the bumper corners indicating the radar field of vision.
These are just some examples of bumper repair restrictions from Audi. Always be sure to reference the vehicle-specific body repair manual and training materials prior to performing any repairs to help ensure a complete, safe, and quality repair.
For additional Audi information, check out the Audi OEM Information page.
Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:
- ADAS, Calibration, And Scanning Article Hotspot
- Bumper Cover Repair With ADAS
- Collision Information Website Access: Audi
- Locating ADAS Information: Audi
- Step-By-Step: Accessing Audi Repair Information