This small plastic clip is used to securely attach the exterior plastic wheel arch trim or molding flares directly onto the metal body panels of the vehicle. Its primary job is to hold the trim snugly against the chassis to prevent it from rattling, shifting, or catching wind and flying off at highway speeds.
Important Service Notes
One-Time Use: Factory service manuals note that this component is designed to bend or lock permanently upon initial installation. When you pull an old wheel arch molding off, these clips almost always break or lose their tension, meaning they cannot be safely reused/reinstalled.
If you are replacing or removing a wheel flare, you will need to order new clips. Often Included: New factory wheel opening moldings sometimes come packaged with these clips pre-installed, but they are frequently purchased individually to replace missing or broken retainers.
This part is widely used across modern Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG) crossover and SUV platforms, most notably:
Audi Q5 & Q5 Sportback * Audi Q3 & Q3 Sportback * Volkswagen Atlas & Atlas Cross Sport
- Brand: Audi
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