I'm being lazy. Help me out.

[old guy]

I decided it's time to make a few minor cosmetic changes to my beloved B6 just because I feel like doing it. My center upper and lower grilles have the standard chrome surround and I want to black them out for a while just to look at something different. I plan on leaving the rings chrome. I think it will look good with the black ecodes.

I can pick up both grilles from Rockauto for a total of $50 and then scuff up and paint the chrome. that may be the cheapest route. But I know I have seen black surround grilles in the past. Anybody have a link to some cheap blacked out grilles or am I going to have to do it myself?

Cheers!

[Furly]

I'd do the RS mesh grille from ecs / ebay or w/e.
Or a black or dark grey S4 grille. Might as well upgrade instead of getting a standard A4 grille.

[old guy]

Nope. I want to stay with the plane Jane A4 B6 stuff. I really like the simple, rounded lines of the original B6 as it came out in '02. At one time I had planned on going with the full Ultrasport treatment but over the years my tastes have migrated back to the original design with just a few basic changes.

The unpainted lowers had to go. they definitely dated the design. Then when I added the blacked out ecodes it was like giving it a face lift. Lowering it and adding 18" RS6 wheels also helped to give it a more aggressive look while staying with the OEM theme. Blending the front bumper sections also helped eliminate some of the pieced together look of the front end.

I know this will be out of the mainstream but I really like the rounded front bumper instead of the Ultrasport because it doesn't accentuate the front overhang that is inherent with a longitudinal all wheel drive vehicle. I really dislike that front end heavy look that results from having the entire engine forward of the front wheels. I prefer something that minimizes the overhang. I think it gives the vehicle a more balanced look.

This kinda shows what I am talking about.

[MoparFreak69]

Honestly I would just try plastidip as a trial. If you like the look then remove it and paint up some cheap replacement parts and swap them when the paint is fully cured.

[old guy]

Honestly I would just try plastidip as a trial. If you like the look then remove it and paint up some cheap replacement parts and swap them when the paint is fully cured.

That's probably what I will end up doing. but if I can find some blacked out replacement grilles for cheap I can switch back and forth without having to mess with the plastidip. As previously stated, I'm getting a bit lazy with the mods.

[Seerlah]

Not a b6 owner, but have been running a diy front setup for a while now. Seeing how it seems you just want black trim, just black plasti dip them. You may be pleasantly surpirsed by the outcome. Had black plasti dip on my oem rs4 grill trim since maybe 08. Same coating till this day.

[old guy]

Thanks Mitch. If I can't find a blacked out grille for cheap I guess I'll just have to break out the plastidip.

[B6A4Dave]

Nope. I want to stay with the plane Jane A4 B6 stuff. I really like the simple, rounded lines of the original B6 as it came out in '02. At one time I had planned on going with the full Ultrasport treatment but over the years my tastes have migrated back to the original design with just a few basic changes.

The unpainted lowers had to go. they definitely dated the design. Then when I added the blacked out ecodes it was like giving it a face lift. Lowering it and adding 18" RS6 wheels also helped to give it a more aggressive look while staying with the OEM theme. Blending the front bumper sections also helped eliminate some of the pieced together look of the front end.

I know this will be out of the mainstream but I really like the rounded front bumper instead of the Ultrasport because it doesn't accentuate the front overhang that is inherent with a longitudinal all wheel drive vehicle. I really dislike that front end heavy look that results from having the entire engine forward of the front wheels. I prefer something that minimizes the overhang. I think it gives the vehicle a more balanced look.

This kinda shows what I am talking about.

Did you Mold your OE bumper Fletcher???

Interested on how you did that..

[Seerlah]

And if you don't like it, just peel it off

[old guy]

Did you Mold your OE bumper Fletcher???

Interested on how you did that..

I did that a few years ago using a bumper repair kit from NAPA. I believe I posted a few threads on how to do it. Unfortunately I'm in bed posting with my cellphone right now and its a challenge for me to search for old threads. I'll see what I can find in the morning for you.

[eljay]

Try some 3M vinyl wrap on the chrome surround. You can even try carbon fiber look too. It goes on easily and the bends are easy with a hair dryer. No mess unlike spray paint.

Speaking of plastidip, I recently picked up a cheap RS4-look grill that has that shiny cheap plastic look, so I think I will be trying plastidip on it as I've never worked with it.

[texasboy21]

I have a stock surround or two I can send you if you are interested. The black surround on a silver car looks really sharp IMO. Here is mine:

[B6A4Dave]

I did that a few years ago using a bumper repair kit from NAPA. I believe I posted a few threads on how to do it. Unfortunately I'm in bed posting with my cellphone right now and its a challenge for me to search for old threads. I'll see what I can find in the morning for you.

Awesome!!! I'll probably do that to my new bumper...I got pushed into another car on the Highway.. I got rear ended which made me rear end the guy in front of me. blew my radiator, ac condensor, bent the FMIC, etc.. But that looks awesome!!

[19jdog]

Nope. I want to stay with the plane Jane A4 B6 stuff. I really like the simple, rounded lines of the original B6 as it came out in '02. At one time I had planned on going with the full Ultrasport treatment but over the years my tastes have migrated back to the original design with just a few basic changes.

The unpainted lowers had to go. they definitely dated the design. Then when I added the blacked out ecodes it was like giving it a face lift. Lowering it and adding 18" RS6 wheels also helped to give it a more aggressive look while staying with the OEM theme. Blending the front bumper sections also helped eliminate some of the pieced together look of the front end.

I know this will be out of the mainstream but I really like the rounded front bumper instead of the Ultrasport because it doesn't accentuate the front overhang that is inherent with a longitudinal all wheel drive vehicle. I really dislike that front end heavy look that results from having the entire engine forward of the front wheels. I prefer something that minimizes the overhang. I think it gives the vehicle a more balanced look.

This kinda shows what I am talking about.

I see no rock chips!! So jealous!!!!! Silver is a good color for hiding imperfections.

[Furly]

Found this. It's OEM but pricy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2516435...&ul_noapp=true

[diagnosticator]

I decided it's time to make a few minor cosmetic changes to my beloved B6 just because I feel like doing it. My center upper and lower grilles have the standard chrome surround and I want to black them out for a while just to look at something different. I plan on leaving the rings chrome. I think it will look good with the black ecodes.

I can pick up both grilles from Rockauto for a total of $50 and then scuff up and paint the chrome. that may be the cheapest route. But I know I have seen black surround grilles in the past. Anybody have a link to some cheap blacked out grilles or am I going to have to do it myself?

Cheers!

What you want to do, is exactly how my A4 front end is setup, including the titanium headlight housings, except my lowers are not painted. I purchased my black grills.

[evo_ski]

I am going to try my hand at vinyl wrap this week. I vinyl wrapped my interior trim and was very happy with how it turned out. I had plastidip on my grille trim before and it was just never the "proper" black for my taste. I painted it last year and now it has a ton of rock chips. I would get the ECS blackout kit if it wasn't a million dollars and I didn't hate ECS, but I am not sure if it will just end up chipping like what I have now. I am hoping that the vinyl is more durable than my paint and will last longer without needing to be redone.

[old guy]

Let me know how the wrapping turns out. It sounds like the plastidip chips pretty easy on top of the chrome.

[old guy]

I see no rock chips!! So jealous!!!!! Silver is a good color for hiding imperfections.

It's easy! I just respray it every few years

[evo_ski]

Let me know how the wrapping turns out. It sounds like the plastidip chips pretty easy on top of the chrome.

My plasti dip lasted for like 2 or 3 years on top of chrome without a single chip. Lay it on real heavy and you should be just fine. When you think you have enough do another coat.

[B6A4Dave]

My plasti dip lasted for like 2 or 3 years on top of chrome without a single chip. Lay it on real heavy and you should be just fine. When you think you have enough do another coat.

Same.. My upper grille has been dipped for like 4 years now and no chips.

Dig up that bumper molding DIY Fletcher!!!! lol

[Jermunji]

Mine has lasted about two years as well. I'm about to peel it off & respray the grills to give them a fresh look. I prefer the blacked out grill with standard rings look myself. Basic.


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[old guy]

OK....I think you guys have convinced me to go ahead and plastidip the chrome.

Thanks for the input!

[B6A4Dave]

OK....I think you guys have convinced me to go ahead and plastidip the chrome.

Thanks for the input!

Cheap, effective, reversible.

What's not to like

[heywier427]

Always heat the plasti dip cans in hot water to approx. 70-90 deg.

Always use a heat gun on what ever your painting between coats.

Watch a few youtube vids from dipmycar.

Plastidip is awesome.

[FromS60toB61.8t]

just clean it good, spray, reapply after 5-10 mins while its still wet. Do 5-6 coats to make sure its a thick piece so its easy to peel after if you decide to respray or change it.

I do have one question though, I noticed that you molded your bumper on the sides. Why didnt you do the middle as well? Would give it a nice clean look.

Also, have you ever thought about s4 front bumper? Keeps the round front, just bigger, more pronounced, and aggressive grills.

its an old pic and im sure you've seen many before, but heres my s4 front on silver. I feel it is a classy aggressive OEM look. ( i really need to take pics with the new ecodes instead of those ugly black ebay ecodes...)

[old guy]

The S4 bumper does look nice!! But that is just more than I am willing to mess with, having to get a new bumper, grilles and all. I respray my front bumper every few years whenever the rock chips get too bad. The next time I respray it I will go ahead and blend in the center supports. I really should have already done that.

But for now I am happy with my $10 minor modding effort.

[Willënskraft]

^now that's a clean look!

[old guy]

^now that's a clean look!

Thanks! I've tried several different looks over the years. Here's one where I filled in part of the lower vents and fabricated some new fog light surrounds. I also blacked out the upper and lower center chrome strips around the grilles. Just something different to look at. I like the new look better. Ecodes make a huge difference. Getting rid of the chrome and opening the vents back up give it a more modern look (in my opinion).



Here's one with ecodes, blended bumper sections, full chrome surround and an ugly license plate in the middle.

[Jermunji]

Redipping mine tday og. i peeled off the old dip on the chrome part but left the dip on the grill. Mine was starting to curl in the areas where dirt had accumulated between the two sections. This time I'm dipping the whole thing all at once to hopefully prevent that buildup from occurring.


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[michgo]

bump for not visiting az in awhile and seeing "old guy" posting a thread saying "I'm being lazy"


I had to click..

[CyberPMG]

It's easy! I just respray it every few years

I have to do the same thing.