What to do with my AWE exhaust tips?

[Batman0424]

Hello,

I recently purchased a used AWE Touring with 102mm Chrome tips (thank you laakness). Since my B8.5 S4 is Silver, I would prefer black tips over chrome and now I am weighing two options.

Option 1
Sand and paint my chrome tips black (not sure if I would go matte, satin or gloss). The advantage is that this would not require much time and would be inexpensive. The disadvantage could be that the tips do not stand out much and become lost next to the diffuser (stock for now, but will be changing at some point).

Option 2
Purchase new Diamond Black tips for around $300 and sell my chrome tips (not sure that the market is like for used tips). The advantage I see here is that the tips are more of a black chrome look and might stand out a bit more than painted tips. The obvious disadvantage is the cost (assuming any resale of my chrome tips would not yield much). At this price, I am close to a purchasing an intake.

Normally, I am not this indecisive. However, our 1yo daughter does not sleep, ever so, my head is foggy and I don't want to pull the trigger on purchasing new tips just to avoid thinking about my options. Thanks for the help...

[amz]

Why not try to trade them for black tips?

Or, I think PlastiDip can take quite a bit of heat and abuse, so you have that option to try before doing anything drastic. If it doesn't work or you don't like it, just peel it and on to the next plan.

[Batman0424]

Why not try to trade them for black tips?

Or, I think PlastiDip can take quite a bit of heat and abuse, so you have that option to try before doing anything drastic. If it doesn't work or you don't like it, just peel it and on to the next plan.

Those both sound like better options than mine. :-). Thank you.

This sleep depravation is wearing me down.



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[LJO]

I had a Milltek exhaust on my old B7 A4 and had the tips powdercoated satin black, $20 for both. They looked great with a black diffuser and they required a lot less maintenance than the chrome tips. I will try to dig up a picture.

[hyetiko]

I wish I saw this a few days ago, there was a awe exhaust I wanted to buy but it had black tips and I wanted chrome :/ would of gladly traded!!


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[Batman0424]

I wish I saw this a few days ago, there was a awe exhaust I wanted to buy but it had black tips and I wanted chrome :/ would of gladly traded!!


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Was this the one with the 90mm tips?


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[hyetiko]

Yes


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[Batman0424]

Yes


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I was between that setup and the one I bought. I was torn because I wanted the 102mm and Black and couldn't find the combo - these exhausts sell fast used. I grabbed the larger tips bc I had a confirmed sale and figured that I could sort the tips out later.


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[hyetiko]

I was between that setup and the one I bought. I was torn because I wanted the 102mm and Black and couldn't find the combo - these exhausts sell fast used. I grabbed the larger tips bc I had a confirmed sale and figured that I could sort the tips out later.


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Yes they do sell fast especially with spring approaching, Oh well good luck!


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[GRUMPY-S4]

Just have them powder coated satin graphite

[Batman0424]

Thanks all for the input. Looks like I'll be searching for a powder coater in my area later today


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[amz]

Just have them powder coated satin graphite

Will a powder coat survive metal polish once the tips get gunked up with carbon?

[GRUMPY-S4]

Metal polish is abrasive and Powder Coating is supposed to be resistant to abrasive elements... So no idea

[amz]

Metal polish is abrasive and Powder Coating is supposed to be resistant to abrasive elements... So no idea

Isn't metal polish basically abrasive's and gasoline paste with a few other ethanol's mixed in? I would check with the powder coating place before going that route. Plasti-dip won't survive any better, but at least it's cheap to re-apply, and "cleaning" consists of just peeling the old layer and putting a new layer on.

MSDS for Autoglym Metal Polish, I suspect other metal polishes will be very similar:
http://www.autoglym.com/system/resou...L%20POLISH.pdf