coolwater's Black on Black, Quattro Premium build thread

[coolwater]

Let me see what happens with this grille first.
Why not just platidip it? Only costs $20 and some masking.

-cW

[hanyoung]

Haven't been happy with plastidip propensity to peel. I spoke to ECS tuning, and it seems that the glossy black grill they sell does not fit S-line models (would have to be S4 grill). Thanks!

[NPuter]

Haven't been happy with plastidip propensity to peel. I spoke to ECS tuning, and it seems that the glossy black grill they sell does not fit S-line models (would have to be S4 grill). Thanks!

All b8 grills are the same. There are no size/mounting differences. So a regular A4 grille will fit sline/s4 and vice versa.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[coolwater]

^^^ agree with Nputer.
Unless you were looking in the A5/S5 section, then the mount points are different.

-cW

[hanyoung]

Hmm. I PM'd ECS and this is the response I got. They make it sound like it would be an issue with the S-line front bumper. If not, then that would be great as the options for me would really open up. Nputer, did you get my pm? If coolwater is going to keep his glossy black, I would be interested in the mesh/black/group buy. Thanks for your helpful and quick responses!:
Hey Eugene,

Fitment is OEM on all filler plates. We've never had any one experience any fitment issues to this day. Unfortunately they don't make a glossy black grille with chrome trim for the S-line bumpers. S-line bumpers use the same grille as the S model cars. We have a couple grilles on sale HERE

The grilles do not come with any installation instructions, but a simple search on the forums you can probably find a DIY.

I hope this helps!

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jason

[coolwater]

This is the one you want and the exact one i have:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/8K0853651T94/ES451520/

-cW

[hanyoung]

Thanks. That's the exact one I emailed Jason about. Good to know that it will fit an S-line bumper.

[coolwater]

Nputer has done sline conversion and has run the same grille on both.
You should be fine.

-cW

[Devilz173]

Cw your car stays looking nice. I'd say.. Go with the side blades and the grill..w/out the filler in the front

[coolwater]

Problem is I gotta run a plate...
Not keen on doing one of those tow hook mounts.

I will see what can be done with it.
Worse case there will be a nice glossy black mesh with silver surround grille for sale in the classifieds at the end of summer. :)

-cW

[NPuter]

Hmm. I PM'd ECS and this is the response I got. They make it sound like it would be an issue with the S-line front bumper. If not, then that would be great as the options for me would really open up. Nputer, did you get my pm? If coolwater is going to keep his glossy black, I would be interested in the mesh/black/group buy. Thanks for your helpful and quick responses!:
Hey Eugene,

Fitment is OEM on all filler plates. We've never had any one experience any fitment issues to this day. Unfortunately they don't make a glossy black grille with chrome trim for the S-line bumpers. S-line bumpers use the same grille as the S model cars. We have a couple grilles on sale HERE

The grilles do not come with any installation instructions, but a simple search on the forums you can probably find a DIY.

I hope this helps!

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jason

Like coolwater said, I swapped my non S-Line bumper for the S-Line version and used the same grille. All B8 A4/S4 grilles are 100% interchangeable. The ECS tuning guys deal with a lot of models; past A4s did have specific S-Line and non S-Line grilles that were not interchangeable.

I did receive your PM - sorry for not responding. I already have the sale pending with another member. I will be sure to let you know if that falls through.

[coolwater]

So I got the mesh grille from parts4euro.
Paint quality is a 7 out of 10.
Build quality of Grille is 7.5 out of 10.
Accessories are like craptastic plastic...

There are small blemishes on the silver surround.
Anyway, I wasn't expecting perfection for $123 shipped.
Will be working on adding an oem plate holder to this.

I definitely will have to wrap the surround in protective vinyl.
Also will paint the mesh glossy black.
If you look at some of the closeups, there seems to be an extra bevel on the transition from silver to mesh. Not sure how I feel about that. Thinking I will paint the bevel black....

Some quick photos:








-cW

[coolwater]

2 coats of primer
4 coats of glossy black rustoleum
3 coats of clear



Liking the silver/black combo.
Will just keep it this way and wrap the surround in 3m clearbra to protect the silver paint job.

Cleaned-up some of the overspray



Still have to order glossy black vinyl for the oem plate holder.
Also gotta get chrome audi rings.

-cW

[xbimmer06]

Nice spray job cW... Was going to comment that you should swap the chrome rings but I see that is your plan. Really want to see how it looks on your ride. Subscribed for mounted pics!

[coolwater]

Thanks! The honeycomb pattern is hard to spray due to the angles.
Was careful not to let the paint run so I had to switch the nozzle on/off every 2 seconds.
I was using the handle attachment and still very exhausting.

I have trimmed the oem plate holder with the dremel and sanded it smooth.
Decided to vinyl wrap it as it is stronger than rattle can paint.
With all the open holes in the grille, me thinks the surround and plate holder will take the most abuse.

-cW

Nice spray job cW... Was going to comment that you should swap the chrome rings but I see that is your plan. Really want to see how it looks on your ride. Subscribed for mounted pics!

[coolwater]

Getting rough idle on the car at 800 rpms.
Got a check engine light this morning on the car.
Will scan the car later this evening.

Contacted a SA I know well and he checked my VIN.
Saw that it was flagged for TD1.
So depending on what's broke or in the process of breaking, this may force my hand.

Possible car shopping again....

-cW

[Pared]

Check your PM!

[coolwater]

Went to a friends shop and found out my front engine mounts are busted.
Dealer messed it up when my engine was rebuilt.
Needless to say I was irate and they are fitting me in tomorrow at dealer for repair....

-cW

[coolwater]

Test fit the hacked-up plate holder.
I am now not sure I like the glossy black.
Might go matte black with glossy black surround...

Saw a couple of B7 RS4 at the dealer and they all have the matte black mesh...




-cW

[Okan509]

nice work!

[AWDLover]

Looks nice! Can't really tell from the picture...is there any gap between the filler/plate holder and the mesh of the grill? Or does it sit flush against it? With my mesh grill on the way I can't decide if I want to do what you did or just use a basic plate mount that is the size of the plate.

[coolwater]

Thanks guys, there is still a slight gap 1/8 inch, but that will be fixed once plate is attached and top screws go thru to the holders.

-cW

[Pared]

Looks awesome... keep it up!

[coolwater]

Alright so this weekend I sanded down the gloss and sprayed a new coat of primer over it.
The ultra flat look is growing on me. Anyone know if you can just run primer without paint or would I have to coat it with flat paint again?

I also got some chrome aluminum krylon paint and refinished the surround.
The original paint job was already chipping from me attempting to put some clearbra on as a test.

Anyway the plan is Alu/chrome surround, matte mesh, chrome audi logos, glossy black vinyl ring/plate holder.
Will be cleaning up the edges and overspray...




Chrome rings and glossy vinyl to arrive in next two days.

-cW

[Okan509]

I say do satin interior, gloss exterior IMO

[coolwater]

Gloss on the mesh is too loud IMHO.
We'll see how it works out, I could always shadowline the surround afterwards.

-cW

[Okan509]

Gloss on the mesh is too loud IMHO.
We'll see how it works out, I could always shadowline the surround afterwards.

-cW

That's why I said satin mesh, and gloss surround... lol

[Bonger]

I have this one as well. Looks nice.

This is the one you want and the exact one i have:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/8K0853651T94/ES451520/

-cW

[coolwater]

So more progress. Cleared the aluminum surround and also sprayed some clear on the mesh to give a satin look.
Trying to decide between the Satin ring/plate holder or make it glossy black.
Excuse the messy table, it's like the project desk for my kids.. :)

Test fit everything:



-cW

[coolwater]

So I did more work this weekend.
Found out the chrome ring I ordered doesn't fit this aftermarket ring holder.
So I painted the black one it came with aluminum. Might get platidip clear to do my fog rings and rear to match.
Still need to do more polishing. Spray can clear is a PIA to work with.





-cW

[Okan509]

I agree with spray can clear is a PIA. The finish on the pate holder looks like you sprayed it. not an attractive look IMO. I say just use a glossy spray and wax it really well before you put it on the car..

[coolwater]

Well ignore the area where the plate goes.
I haven't started on that yet.

The rest is about 50% opaque.
So I need to do more sanding and polishing.

I tried just straight gloss black and the finish just doesn't have that shine like a true clearcoat....

-cW

[Pared]

This is coming out awe-some. Will have to take some pics of it when you're done!

[coolwater]

Thanks Pared.
BTW, you have any issues with CEL with your HFC?
Did you use an O2 spacer and which one?

-cW

[Bonger]

Not that you were asking me but I have a Stage 2 APR ECU Goodspeek DP w/ HFC, and have had no codes.

Thanks Pared.
BTW, you have any issues with CEL with your HFC?
Did you use an O2 spacer and which one?

-cW

[Pared]

Thanks Pared.
BTW, you have any issues with CEL with your HFC?
Did you use an O2 spacer and which one?

-cW

I've run on stock software just to check if the sensor worked or not and I have never had a CEL, even when pushing the car. But just know I run in APR 93 almost exclusively.

With that said, I purchased the 034 Spacer from Europa. It's as straightforward as can be.

[coolwater]

So I got the side blades installed yesterday.
The shop only used the dbl sided tape it came with on top and urethane adhesive on bottom.

The front of the blades look perfect, but could sit 1/4 inch closer to the front.
The rear is like 1/4 inch high so it swoops up a bit.

Anyway it can be redone at some point, but this is like 95% perfect and judging by the looks I got this morning, the car looks great.
Also had the front bumper resprayed. Waiting on fog grilles from my little manhole accident.
Front bumper spray job was $250 and the side blade paint/install was $150.
So here are some pics:






Swoops up a bit.


-cW

[eyrah]

looks great CW, was it 150 with the painting, or just for the install?

[coolwater]

$150 paint and install.
Not with clips, just with dbl sided tape and glue.
Feels solid though, I was trying to get the rear to move down 1/4 inch 1hr after install and it wouldn't budge....

-cW

[eyrah]

thats a good deal, thank you! im not going to do clips or bolts either. just the adhesive!