Finest CAR ART S-Line Valence Group Purchase...

[MiracleWhips]

Well done.......

[TheHeiko]

@Alex: Thank you for your continued support of us post-sale. Your efforts are appreciated but your loyalty to us is even more appreciated.

@BarEater: Can you write up a quick how-to to remove the rear bumper? I think that would indeed be the best and safest way to get this valence on.

[bshanna]

it's actually REALLY hard to get the valance off if the bumper is off as well. i had a freshly painted bumper that i cracked the paint on trying to remove the valance from. i'd suggest leaving it on the car but basically you have to pull (i think you start from the middle) like you're going to break it and the clips eventually pop off.

[Greg Nelson]

So we are all painted, went with the OEM L1RR. It actually looks great. Now I just hope that it fits. I am gonna put it on later today.

Looks very good, later installed pics look even better

Is there any tricks to remove the valence? I tried but I'm having some trouble removing the clippers. I'm afraid that they will break if I use too much force.

PDF explaining OEM valence removal steps:
http://flataudi.webs.com/downloads/r...structions.pdf
My shop used this when my Votex valence was installed 3 years ago. Bumper removal not necessary, however simplifies the removal/installation.

Stopped by my shop this AM, filling complete,sanding 90% complete, looked very good, will be primed this PM. Owner said about 2 hr. for prep so far - looking at 4.5 hr. max final paint & install.

[LoveMyA4]

Well after hearing all the nightmare stories about these valences, mine finally arrived today. Dreading what I would find in the box, I was pleasantly surprised to see the "decent" craftsmanship on my valence. There is one small area where there is a gouge that needs to be filled, but other than that it's fairly smooth to the touch and the lines appear straight. We'll see what my body shop guy says about it this weekend.

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[ttiikeri]

Hi !

Few tricks for removal and installation of the valence:

1. The original valence is very tight to remove, ask someone to press the bumper when you are trying to push the clips off on the other side. I used a long wooden/metallic arm to push the clips off one by one (under the car). The bumper is bending so much that you really need someone on the other side. Start from the exhaust opening and continue to middle and then sides
2. When installing, I checked carefully the clips that there is no extra plastic and I actually had to remove some of the extra plastic which was added there by Car Arts...
3. Then placed some grease to clips smoothen the installation
4. When starting to press the valence to its place I had another person pressing the valence to its place while I was pressing the the bumber to opposite direction under the car. This was done because bumper is bending so much while pressing valence to its place. It was very tight to remove/install but with extra person nothing got broken and it fits perfectly

[zjia]

@ttiikeri ,@Greg Nelson

Thanks

[MiracleWhips]

Stopped by my shop this AM, filling complete,sanding 90% complete, looked very good, will be primed this PM. Owner said about 2 hr. for prep so far - looking at 4.5 hr. max final paint & install.

Can you guage their interest in doing another?

Is this shop in MV?

[tgofsweden]

2. When installing, I checked carefully the clips that there is no extra plastic and I actually had to remove some of the extra plastic which was added there by Car Arts...

my shop never needed to remove any tabs from FCA valance when installing
have to say, I'm really a lucky one that only needed to pay xtra 35euro for painting by FCA, came out almost 99,8% perfect

[BarEaterB8]

Looking forward to seeing how some others came out.

Just had another one dropped off by a fellow AZer to begin his and to paint and install his side blades as well.

"LoveMyA4" yours looks to be in really good condition to start with, congrats you got lucky!

[Greg Nelson]

Can you guage their interest in doing another?

Is this shop in MV?

Been trying all morning to call shop owner about this. Will stop by Monday AM and let you know.
Shop is in MV on Old Middlefield Rd

Looking forward to seeing how some others came out.

Just had another one dropped off by a fellow AZer to begin his and to paint and install his side blades as well.

"LoveMyA4" yours looks to be in really good condition to start with, congrats you got lucky!

Here's my primed pics (was in paint booth, masking tape not removed):





As I said earlier mine wasn't too bad, some filling & sanding, likely 2.5-3.0 hours. Shop owner wan't in this AM when I took pics.
Getting close
Cheers

[LoveMyA4]

"LoveMyA4" yours looks to be in really good condition to start with, congrats you got lucky!

True, mine does seem to be in better condition than some of the others. That being said, I took mine to my body shop guy who previously said it would cost $125 to prime and paint the valence. Of course, this was based on him seeing pictures of some of the other unfinished valences. When I took my valence to him yesterday, he wasn't impressed with the quality of work by FCA. My $125 quote is now $275. Hopefully it doesn't climb higher than that. I'll post pictures when I get it back from him.

[MiracleWhips]

Been trying all morning to call shop owner about this. Will stop by Monday AM and let you know.
Shop is in MV on Old Middlefield Rd

Awesome, thanks! Looks really good!

[A4B8ueg]

I think my valence doesnt look bad at all. Just need to find a shop to do the finishing touches:

[D2G]

Great work BarEaterB8, I am excited for mine now!

My dual outlet valence is in pretty decent shape, not ready for paint yet, but with a little TLC should be just fine. For folks going with the OEM L1RR color on the valence, is the honeycomb insert meant to be painted or left as-is from Audi?

[Greg Nelson]

My dual outlet valence is in pretty decent shape, not ready for paint yet, but with a little TLC should be just fine. For folks going with the OEM L1RR color on the valence, is the honeycomb insert meant to be painted or left as-is from Audi?

Overall, seems the dual outlet valence (Avants, '09 3.2L) came in better shape than the single outlets - as you say, some TLC should get you paintable, hopefully not too many hours work
From the many pics here, seems the honeycomb mesh insert should be as-is 'black'.
Been trying to get my body shop to attempt to paint my mesh (surface only, not background) in Monsoon Grey for 2 weeks now
Just got 2 spray cans of Monsoon Grey today from automotive touchup.com - about to try it myself.

[BarEaterB8]

I left my honeycomb insert black, the way it came.

[MiracleWhips]

Been trying to get my body shop to attempt to paint my mesh (surface only, not background) in Monsoon Grey for 2 weeks now
Just got 2 spray cans of Monsoon Grey today from automotive touchup.com - about to try it myself.

You mean just the face of the mesh? How, unless you use a roller?

[Greg Nelson]

You mean just the face of the mesh? How, unless you use a roller?

I ordered a second mesh piece on the group buy - attempting this at home on that piece, while waiting on my body shop.
Mesh face only - shot some of the rattle can paint into a 3" wide glass bowl, then applied carefully with a 1/4" wide artist brush, soft natural bristles.
Sanded and solvent cleaned the mesh first.
Second spray clear coat drying now - looking pretty decent.

Can't understand why some folks here think I'm crazy

[Highlander1010]

I ordered a second mesh piece on the group buy - attempting this at home on that piece, while waiting on my body shop.
Mesh face only - shot some of the rattle can paint into a 3" wide glass bowl, then applied carefully with a 1/4" wide artist brush, soft natural bristles.
Sanded and solvent cleaned the mesh first.
Second spray clear coat drying now - looking pretty decent.

Can't understand why some folks here think I'm crazy

I'm looking forward to seeing it Greg! I don't think you're crazy.

[MiracleWhips]

Can't understand why some folks here think I'm crazy

Nope, just thinking outside of the bun like an engineer!

[Greg Nelson]

I'm looking forward to seeing it Greg! I don't think you're crazy.

Nope, just thinking outside of the bun like an engineer!

Thanks guys - you've never met my wife - she'll tell you I'm certifiable

Here's a couple not very good pics of what I've done today


Monsoon Grey Metallic on mesh face. Plan to do valence Brilliant Black satin or matte.
Very soon hope to have this done/installed.
Cheers

[bsully1850]

That looks really good Greg.

[TheHeiko]

^ Agreed! It looks great and obviously took lots of patience. Thank goodness you're retired and can engage in such painstaking insanity.

[Greg Nelson]

Thank goodness you're retired and can engage in such painstaking insanity.

OMG you must be my wife's long lost brother
Retired - painstaking - insanity, her words and a few other in Spanish
Somewhat crazed, I admit, simply looking to get the appearance I'm hoping for - not sure if it will work
Cheers

[Highlander1010]

Great work Greg! I'm looking forward to seeing it on the car.

[jlaudio]

looks great Greg, i am just worried you won't really be able to see the monsoon grey once its mounted on the car unless the sun is shining on the back bumper.. now if it was say red or ibis white... i think that contrast would look sweet if done right

nice out of the box thinking though, i love it

[SoCalS4Avant]

looks great Greg, i am just worried you won't really be able to see the monsoon grey once its mounted on the car unless the sun is shining on the back bumper.. now if it was say red or ibis white... i think that contrast would look sweet if done right

nice out of the box thinking though, i love it

Yes, but he'll know it's there!

I like it, Greg. Very good work.

[LoveMyA4]

Absolutely amazing work Greg! Well done.

[xbimmer06]

Greg, you're indeed one crazy dude. Ha, settin the bar higher as usual eh? Great fn work. Subscribed for finished pics!

[Greg Nelson]

looks great Greg, i am just worried you won't really be able to see the monsoon grey once its mounted on the car unless the sun is shining on the back bumper.. now if it was say red or ibis white... i think that contrast would look sweet if done right

nice out of the box thinking though, i love it

Good thought - have no idea yet if it'll 'show up'. Volcano Red, I like that idea

Yes, but he'll know it's there!

I like it, Greg. Very good work.

Yeah I'll know its there, hopefully it will 'show up'

This whole group buy has taken so long, and being slow rolled by my paint shop, I'm hoping for the best at this point.
Cheers

[LoveMyA4]

Well my valence is nothing in comparison to Greg's, but it's much better than the nightmare I feared it was going to be. After much debate, I decided to paint my valence gloss black. The difficulty was finding a color that didn't clash with my teak brown exterior. Seeing how my RS4 grille and fog light covers are gloss black, I felt it would be best to maintain a consistent theme. Aside from the cost of the valence itself (including shipping), I paid $275 to have my body shop complete the job. Apparently it took them about 4 hours to prime and paint, and of course fix some of the workmanship done by FCA.

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[jaysen]

Well my valence is nothing in comparison to Greg's, but it's much better than the nightmare I feared it was going to be. After much debate, I decided to paint my valence gloss black. The difficulty was finding a color that didn't clash with my teak brown exterior. Seeing how my RS4 grille and fog light covers are gloss black, I felt it would be best to maintain a consistent theme. Aside from the cost of the valence itself (including shipping), I paid $275 to have my body shop complete the job. Apparently it took them about 4 hours to prime and paint, and of course fix some of the workmanship done by FCA.

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Looks good to me... is it just lighting, reflection, drool, or something else but that part above the exhaust looks flat/dull - other than that looks great.

[Greg Nelson]

[QUOTE=LoveMyA4;8676478]Well my valence is nothing in comparison to Greg's, but it's much better than the nightmare I feared it was going to be. After much debate, I decided to paint my valence gloss black. The difficulty was finding a color that didn't clash with my teak brown exterior. Seeing how my RS4 grille and fog light covers are gloss black, I felt it would be best to maintain a consistent theme. Aside from the cost of the valence itself (including shipping), I paid $275 to have my body shop complete the job. Apparently it took them about 4 hours to prime and paint, and of course fix some of the workmanship done by FCA.

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Looks great - gloss black IMO will look great on your very unique Teak Brown, mesh also contrasts well with gloss black.
Should be a good look & theme with your gloss grill/fog covers.
Looking forward to installed pics.
Well done

[TheHeiko]

That gloss black looks really nice! I agree that with Teak Brown you're safe with black. Now I'm confused as to which color to have mine painted. I though gloss black would be good for the same reasons as yours: unique body color (Meteor is not quite gray and not quite blue), gloss black RS4 grille, and gloss black honeycomb fog grilles. Then again, OEM Platinum Gray would be safe since it is OEM. Opinions welcomed!

Must see your valence on the car!

[Highlander1010]

The gloss black looks great, but I feel like now you need to do something with the "mesh" part to make it look nicer but in a contrast to the gloss black. What about color matching it to your Teak car?

[SoCalS4Avant]

Starting to come together, folks. Let's see some mounted up.

[A4B8ueg]

Ohhhhhhh, that gloss black is going to look great with your body color. Can't wait to see pictures of it installed.

Anyone have any color suggestions to go with Aruba Blue? I was just going to keep it the same color as the original valence (matte black)?

[Okan509]

Looks good to me... is it just lighting, reflection, drool, or something else but that part above the exhaust looks flat/dull - other than that looks great.

+1 on this. first thing I noticed..

looks great otherwise.

[MiracleWhips]

Starting to come together, folks. Let's see some mounted up.

+1. Especially since the initial cost of these was paid for so long ago, it is making the pill a bit easier to swallow budgeting for the next step if they all turn out as well as what we have seen so far.