Black Grille Installed

[whartung]

For fear of getting a "this thread is useless without pictures" rant going, I do have one teaser of the entire front end of my car taken apart. I didnt have access to a reasonable camera today so i snapped one of my car half way through with my cell phone.



The grille had been sitting around my apartment at school for a couple days because I was waiting for my jack and stands to arrive. I did the install today because I woke up and there was sun out, which of course made me want to lay on my back under my car for extended periods of time.

With little DIY experience, disassembling the car that much was intimidating as hell, but it went pretty flawlessly. The only scary thing was how much the jack and stands messed up the pinch welds under the frame of the car. But I took my damn time, and was still only at it for about 2 to 2 and a half hours. The result looks good, which I will share with you at the first opportunity I have both sun and a camera. Now i just need to get the rear clips holding the valence off so i can paint that black as well, however i'm afraid of forcing something with those clips and I haven't done it yet. Credit to MOFSTEEL for his guidance and his car as an example in doing this. And as the human torch says in those crappy fantastic four movies, flame on.

-Will

[MOFSTEEL]

Woohoo Will!!!
I've been waiting for an update on your install.
Can't wait to see more pics.

[gpxluke]

wow....u know u actually don't need to remove the wheels in order to remove the front bumper?

Anyways, nice work done there...

[MOFSTEEL]

wow....u know u actually don't need to remove the wheels in order to remove the front bumper?

Anyways, nice work done there...

It makes things A LOT easier.

[whartung]

Trust me. I tried to see if i could do it without taking off the wheels. I had the car up on ramps and turned them left and right to check clearance. I frankly can't imagine doing it without taking them off while still maintaining a lighthearted attitude towards my car afterwards.

[mitchholmstrom]

More pictures...now... i need to do this

[whartung]

I'll get you guys all the pictures of the completed product you want, but I only took this one picture of the actual install itself. There are right ups all over the place on taking off the bumper, but essentially all that it is is the removal of a pair of bolts underneath each turn signal an three torx screws on top of the radiator and it literally just falls off.

www.audiworld.com/tech/ext67.shtml is what i used, only pretend he talks half as much. Ignore his advice about removing the reservoir. you don't need to remove the belly pan, only disconnect the three screws attaching it to the bumper. don't loosen mount "C." bolts "B" aren't really bolts at all so ignore that crap. What the goal of all your effort really is are bolts "A." Get to them and you're golden.

[mitchholmstrom]

Nice thats a good link, bookmarked for sure :)

[JOS4AUDI]

good info thanks! looking foward to the pics of the grille.

[whartung]

i'll have them for you tomorrow if it isnt raining. the car isnt the cleanest but it'll be my first pictures since the tint and grille so i'll look good anyway. just need shoes and a drop. and money to do that of course.

[JOS4AUDI]

hahahhahahahah ya the money thats always the hard part. anyway it sounds cool will check back on those pictures.

[beung]

Hmm, you have to take the whole bumper off to replace the front grill? Now I am having definate second thoughts on replacing the grill.

[MOFSTEEL]

Hmm, you have to take the whole bumper off to replace the front grill? Now I am having definate second thoughts on replacing the grill.

Dooooooooo it!!! The end product is worth it.

[RAudi Driver]

That looks great. i actually like it when the rings are left chrome.

[whartung]

The end result. I had to drive 100 miles this morning, so you guys will have to forgive the dead bugs and dirty condition in general. I think the effort of taking off the bumper was worth it entirely. And it was kind of fun.

[whartung]

MOFSTEEL's pictures only look better because of his schnazzy black border. geez

[has6]

Nice Will,
Why'd you have to drive 100 miles this morning,
messing around with the townie chicks in the S, eh?

[has6]

Drop and Wheels ASAP

[MOFSTEEL]

Now paint your valence!!!

[turbo4s]

I think S & RS4 models should come like that from the factory. enough of this chrome shit. I even like brushed alum, but black would be my first choice. Car looks great by the way.

[whartung]

Now paint your valence!!!

black borders are a cheap way of making any picture look fantastic.

And the valence is coming. I just have to get those plastic clips undone. I'm nervous about breaking them.

I think S & RS4 models should come like that from the factory. enough of this chrome shit. I even like brushed alum, but black would be my first choice. Car looks great by the way.

I agree. I think these grilles look a lot better. Then again, if i could have my way the only chrome on the car would be the mirrors.

I also want to get rid of those amber side reflectors. 50 bucks from ECS is pretty steep though. Question would be, the smoked black side reflectors or the clear ones?

[MOFSTEEL]

I also want to get rid of those amber side reflectors. 50 bucks from ECS is pretty steep though. Question would be, the smoked black side reflectors or the clear ones?

Paint them body color.

[whartung]

I could do that... thing is, what if the smoked ones looked sick? I'd never even know... I don't think they would though.

Where would I get the paint from? I have color matched touch up paint for rock chips and such, but I dont think thats exactly suited to the purpose of painting the reflectors...

[MOFSTEEL]

Here is a DIY.
I don't think they would be hard to pop out from the inside.

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext64.shtml

[SoCalS4Avant]

That looks really great! Now I want you to show up at our Pasadena GTG when you're out here to see it in person.

[JOS4AUDI]

yesss that looks awesome i love the grill. Good luck on the rear valence im doing mine tonight i just bought the stuff.

[whartung]

Here is a DIY.
I don't think they would be hard to pop out from the inside.

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext64.shtml

Yeah but it might require getting behind that wheel well lining again... I wish I had thought of this when I had my bumper off...

That looks really great! Now I want you to show up at our Pasadena GTG when you're out here to see it in person.

I will... The GTGs might have to continue into next summer thought because that might be the next time I'll be home again with my car. We're at school in upstate NY right now...