Transformed the front end of a stock A7 Prestige... [Archive]

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b7slineA4

04-21-2017, 12:30 AM

This is not a How-To, but a how-it-went.

A few weeks ago I finally dedicated enough time to pull the bumper cover off for some proper upgrades. Killed 3 birds with 1 stone- OEM RS7 Grill, Xpel Headlamp protection and APR SC pulley. Used all OEM parts for the grill swap from 2015 RS7 diagrams - front crash reinforcement cover, parking sensor mounts, hardware, etc. If you can find an aftermarket "RS look" grill that you approve of- go that route, not this one. I have OCD and had to have OEM unit. I had to cut, adapt, remove, you name it. With the APR SC pulley, my ticket for the slide-right-on experience was 30 minutes at 400 and I RAN the pulley out there. For the Xpel- this was my 6th time using their stuff, I'm a big fan. It protects from rocks, but most importantly- UV protection to keep my lenses crystal clear.

Final steps still in the works- finish installing the retractable license plate holder and an aftermarket front view camera in the OEM mount under the rings.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170405_004011_zpspjeym7bs.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170405_004011_zpspjeym7bs.jpg.html)

Removed this very thin cover up piece completely, it was not for support- the foam attached to it.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170405_190706_zpsc79oluax.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170405_190706_zpsc79oluax.jpg.html)

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170403_183115_zps7iqej6gs.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170403_183115_zps7iqej6gs.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170403_183818_zpsk43ogatp.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170403_183818_zpsk43ogatp.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170403_183827_zpscm0xliks.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170403_183827_zpscm0xliks.jpg.html)

Cut the edges off the parking sensors- these are just not compatible with an A7/S7 bumper cover

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170405_232540_zpsnuxx1wsh.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170405_232540_zpsnuxx1wsh.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170405_234052_zpscfq6jo1l.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170405_234052_zpscfq6jo1l.jpg.html)

Had to trim the sides of the bumper reinforcement cover

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170408_005644_zpsbtn97l0k.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170408_005644_zpsbtn97l0k.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170408_005659_zpszxxo0cyz.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170408_005659_zpszxxo0cyz.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170408_014142_zpsjgaqy1yj.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170408_014142_zpsjgaqy1yj.jpg.html)

Re-route parking sensor wires

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170412_191845_zpsj7goc0ux.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170412_191845_zpsj7goc0ux.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170412_191853_zpsqpgpfvti.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170412_191853_zpsqpgpfvti.jpg.html)

Test fit and needing to remove RS7 letters

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170406_004739_zpsxsvwrybt.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170406_004739_zpsxsvwrybt.jpg.html)

Incredibly worn, old horizontal grill

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170405_184833_zpswnklyfji.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170405_184833_zpswnklyfji.jpg.html)

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/20160908_171421_zpsvejb2ndo.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/20160908_171421_zpsvejb2ndo.jpg.html)

Finished product, well worth it. Just need the diamond covers for the 2 mounting screws.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170420_130928_zpso8hugc38.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170420_130928_zpso8hugc38.jpg.html)

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170420_130940_zpsaovmppmq.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170420_130940_zpsaovmppmq.jpg.html)

APR SC pulley, using AWE removal tool.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170407_194125_zpsjesi4eqi.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170407_194125_zpsjesi4eqi.jpg.html)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r158/t5rguy/A7/IMG_20170407_220701_zpsjji6yrg5.jpg (http://s143.photobucket.com/user/t5rguy/media/A7/IMG_20170407_220701_zpsjji6yrg5.jpg.html)

Forgot to take any pictures during the Xpel application since my fingers were covered in the alcohol/water mixture. Since the C7 headlamps have no 2 dimensional contours, just a nice flat surface, they are incredibly easy to do. No heat gun.

Kevin1

04-21-2017, 02:14 AM

Looks good. Nice job.

07S6

04-21-2017, 07:33 AM

Nice work! Did you get the APR stage 2 software yet to go along? Share your feedback please!

Djpeaksd

04-21-2017, 08:49 AM

gta7

04-21-2017, 10:33 AM

Nicely done!!!!

b7slineA4

04-21-2017, 11:57 AM

Looks awesome! I just painted my crash bar as I heard that black plastic piece didn't fit so good. Do you happen to have a part # for that? Now the only thing you need is the two little plastic pieces to cover up the front plate screws, yeah and they're only $30 bucks a piece![o_o]

Thanks a lot guys, appreciate the compliments.

I sure do, it's printed like this- 4G8.807.217.A. And yup i found out about the diamond covers last week. I'm just still laughing from the price, but everything on an RS7 parts diagram is incredibly expensive/marked up. They want around 200 for a standard front plate mount... Yea right-

Nice work! Did you get the APR stage 2 software yet to go along? Share your feedback please!

Thank you! The final flash is next week on Tuesday at my APR dealer. I will without a doubt give some feedback versus Stage 1. The thing that sucks is, i bought the stage 2 kit (just pulley, belt and software token) back sometime last year for $500, now it's down to only $350. I feel the bump from stage 1 to stage 2 is going to be pretty minimal and not exactly worth 500 bucks. We will see, either way i'm not going back now. Once APR releases the TFSI coolant performance system for our C7's I bet i'll be going that route for my next upgrade- but mostly piece of mind, longevity.

07S6

04-21-2017, 12:55 PM

Thank you! The final flash is next week on Tuesday at my APR dealer. I will without a doubt give some feedback versus Stage 1. The thing that sucks is, i bought the stage 2 kit (just pulley, belt and software token) back sometime last year for $500, now it's down to only $350. I feel the bump from stage 1 to stage 2 is going to be pretty minimal and not exactly worth 500 bucks. We will see, either way i'm not going back now. Once APR releases the TFSI coolant performance system for our C7's I bet i'll be going that route for my next upgrade- but mostly piece of mind, longevity.

I assume you've been pleased with stage 1? Now that i'm out of CPO, i may pull the trigger during the next sale event.

b7slineA4

04-21-2017, 01:43 PM

I couldn't reccomend a better upgrade, than the stage 1. It transformed the car, just throws you back and keeps pulling and pulling. Back when I got it, it was much more expensive at I think $1500 and it was still worth every single penny. Now it's come down a lot, which is even better. And just like APR advertises- when you feel like getting good mpgs on a trip or something, you just drive it gently and easily maintain good mileage. I trusted APRs software over others because of the R&D they put into the development, and my speed shop gave me the inside scoop of why they only offer APR.

Sent from my Pixel using Audizine mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

RAF_S7

04-21-2017, 03:05 PM

Loving the carbon grill!

So is it a facelift RS7 grill onto a pre-facelift A7? Good job if it is as l didn't think the two were even comparable [drive]

A6sport

04-21-2017, 05:54 PM

Excellent!

b7slineA4

04-21-2017, 06:50 PM

Loving the carbon grill!

So is it a facelift RS7 grill onto a pre-facelift A7? Good job if it is as l didn't think the two were even comparable [drive]
Nope, just a preface lift RS7 grill onto preface lift A7.

Slickn

04-21-2017, 09:42 PM

jorgemachete

04-21-2017, 10:03 PM

b7slineA4

04-23-2017, 07:45 PM

Looks good Nick! Are you planning on stopping at stage 2? Or will you go on to double pulley? Stage 1 was a tease for me. Stage 2 is better, but I already crave more power. And I can't wait for apr to release the cps for our platform.

Any plans to head up to epping to run the c7 this year?

Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk

Thanks Nick! I'll take a break after upgrading to the cps system and double pulley. Hell yes I plan on heading to epping this year. Are you interested? I have a couple car friends that are confirmed to join in already.

b7slineA4

04-23-2017, 07:49 PM

Nicely done! Planning on going with a xenonz after market grill for my S7 when it comes in. Can't tell if your grill lacks gloss or if its just the lighting? Curious to know because I'm debating wether I want to go with xenonz all black gloss grill with the quattro insignia or wether to go with the same grill but with the chrome lip.

Thank you! Just the camera angle, it's the oem glass block honeycomb. I'll try and take another picture in natural light to show the gloss better if it helps!

Slickn

04-24-2017, 06:25 AM

Thanks Nick! I'll take a break after upgrading to the cps system and double pulley. Hell yes I plan on heading to epping this year. Are you interested? I have a couple car friends that are confirmed to join in already.
Yea I'm definitely interested... I can't wait to see what this car will run in the quarter.

Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk

zcd2.7t

04-24-2017, 07:53 AM

Looks great!

I gotta ask - how many hours in total did you put in on these jobs?

Burnt

04-24-2017, 11:50 AM

I sure do, it's printed like this- 4G8.807.217.A. And yup i found out about the diamond covers last week. I'm just still laughing from the price, but everything on an RS7 parts diagram is incredibly expensive/marked up. They want around 200 for a standard front plate mount... Yea right-

What are these diamond covers you speak of? 0.o

b7slineA4

04-24-2017, 11:05 PM

Looks great!

I gotta ask - how many hours in total did you put in on these jobs?

Good question, i'm sure it was 10+ hours. I took my time since it's not my daily driver, and had to wait in between parts orders. Like I said i wouldn't recommend someone try this, I did not expect so much custom fitting.

What are these diamond covers you speak of? 0.o

So also known as License Frame Cap(s) 4G8-807-156 + 4G8-807-155, they are black plastic diamond shaped covers, the same shape of the honeycomb that (will) cover the 2 torxs bolts shown in my picture.