No More Orange! Reflector Covers

[blackoptic]

Finally came across a solution for the hideous orange reflectors… ReflectorStyle.com has a kit specific to the A3/S3 that matches Audi’s aluminum-optic mirrors. I purchased these as a replacement to the original tint/smoke covers, as the orange was still too visible IMO. Overall, these look great on the S3 and match the mirror covers perfectly. Dry installation was a little trickier than the ones that use water to reposition, but I was able to get the placement and fit exact with minor trimming. I added the protection plan to cover rock chips, peeling, scratches, etc. For the price, I’m really happy with the results. Overall: 10/10.

[Thudux]

Sweet!

[TCHUN003]

Looks great

[BayLegend]

Looks pretty good. How does it look at night with the parking lights on? I might strongly consider this since my S3 is Florett silver and probably will contrast decently.

[Camryn64]

fantastic.. obviously batter than orange.. now looking gorgeous

[JimmyS3]

I was thinking about this the other day and was going to try to find film that color matched the paint. But this looks good, might have to give it a try. I just 3m scotch guarded my lights for added protection

[Civuck]

Do you have a side profile photo?

[blackoptic]

Looks pretty good. How does it look at night with the parking lights on? I might strongly consider this since my S3 is Florett silver and probably will contrast decently.

The parking lights show through at night. I emailed them about this and they said it has to do with the color of the film and matching the mirror covers. The black and grey options block almost all of the light...I think there were examples on the FAQ page if I remember correctly.
I also considered installing another kit/layer on top of these to help block the light, but I'm not sure if it's worth attempting-- it looks SO good during the day, I feel like I can deal with the parking lights at night (especially since they're rarely on after I'm parked and outside the car at night). Unfortunately, I just can't justify the cost of the only complete solution...buying Ecodes...

[blackoptic]

Do you have a side profile photo?

Here's another angle from today-- I'll have to take an actual side profile tomorrow. Hope this helps.

[diztek]

Looks good.

[A20V200]

The silver looks way better than the "tint" solution. E-Codes are silver on the reflector area and this mimics that. Looks good.
You could do a layer of black underneath the silver so the parking light doesn't shine through.

[VWVW]

To each their own...I respectfully do not think this looks good. It now looks like the headlights have been cut short as the solid silver strips cover the glass part and the thick black outline of the headlight units. So the strips now look like "body panels". In the case of E-codes, the shape of the headlights is still there as the glass part is not covered.




vs.


E-Codes

[markn1689]

sorry to sound like a jerk but it looks even more hideous now. just get the e-codes

[A20V200]

E-Codes are the way to go....but the tint or blackouts looks like crap..your telling me this doesn't have the same effect?
You could always back cut around the edge by the fender to reveal the headlight edges so it doesn't look solid.

E-codes or just leave it stock. tint < silver

[blackoptic]

Tough crowd. It was nice to see an alternative out there. Obviously it is difficult comparing anything under $50 to $2,500 E-codes.

[14S4GWM]

2500 for ecodes, no way

[Andrew@Dubfest]

i have the ecstuning one


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[blackoptic]

2500 for ecodes, no way

LED E-Codes are $2495.99 at both TAG and ECS....

[14S4GWM]

LED E-Codes are $2495.99 at both TAG and ECS....

That's where you're going wrong

[A20V200]

That's where you're going wrong

This^^^^

I found mine on German Ebay for roughly $550...money well spent for the real deal.

You just have to look and be patient

[bigxie]

I don't think anybody is questioning that e-codes look the best, but in the realm of $20-30 mods to hide the amber reflectors, I'm not a big fan of these. I prefer the tints because they're more subtle. This is just too obvious and to me it feels like it's "trying too hard" and not particularly successful at that.

Here are the $20 tints I have. I prefer the subtler approach (and if it really bothered me enough, I'd get e-codes but it doesn't so I didn't).





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[14S4GWM]

Tint, tint, tint not tints, lol

[MkUrMark]

You get free tints, she gets a free tints, everyone gets free tints

[Cairo94507]

Do the E-codes or leave them alone. Anything else just looks sub-standard.

[blackoptic]

For those who asked for a side profile, etc.

[Tim W.]

Looks like they are sold out. Bummer

[blackoptic]

Looks like they are sold out. Bummer

Tim:
I received the email newsletter a few hours ago-- it mentioned they were restocked with orders shipping Monday 10/17.

[Tim W.]

Thanks man!!

[VWVW]

Tough crowd. It was nice to see an alternative out there. Obviously it is difficult comparing anything under $50 to $2,500 E-codes.

Sorry to sound like a jerk, but some of us are saying that this mod is worse than without the mod and not just worse than e-codes. Anyways...to each their own.

Do the E-codes or leave them alone. Anything else just looks sub-standard.

[blackoptic]

Sorry to sound like a jerk, but some of us are saying that this mod is worse than without the mod and not just worse than e-codes. Anyways...to each their own.

Without the mod, the orange reflector acts as a distracting focal point drawing attention away from Audi's design. IMO, the covers attempt to preserve a sleek unified exterior without complete modification or removal of the reflector itself. They follow the internal lines of the headlight and match the color of the mirror covers providing stronger visual balance. Like you said, to each their own...I feel as this solution is much more cohesive with Audi design when compared to leaving the orange reflector alone.

[VWVW]

Without the mod, the orange reflector acts as a distracting focal point drawing attention away from Audi's design. IMO, the covers attempt to preserve a sleek unified exterior without complete modification or removal of the reflector itself. They follow the internal lines of the headlight and match the color of the mirror covers providing stronger visual balance. Like you said, to each their own...I feel as this solution is much more cohesive with Audi design when compared to leaving the orange reflector alone.

On paper, I fully agree with your comments, especially matching the color of the mirror covers.

However, the actual execution came with a very severe drawback and that is the elimination of the headlamp outline. The section where all the lines merge together to the LED strip eye brow is now completely covered and so the headlamps now look chopped off and odd.

Anyways, I will stop commenting because design is very subjective.

[Karbon]

I've never disassembled a Audi light. But on the last 20 cars I've owned. We remove and bake the headlights,Then take them apart and paint them and remove reflectors. Is this not possible with the Audi lights or nobody has attempted it ?

There is a million other how to's. But this is a random one I found for reference for people who haven't seen it !?

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2514614

[TheDarkness]

^yea, curious to see if anyone has done this successfully

[Wr3ks_S3]

I've never disassembled a Audi light. But on the last 20 cars I've owned. We remove and bake the headlights,Then take them apart and paint them and remove reflectors. Is this not possible with the Audi lights or nobody has attempted it ?

There is a million other how to's. But this is a random one I found for reference for people who haven't seen it !?

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2514614

Back in my Subaru days, I actually use that thread to do my WRX headlights. But cracking open $2k+ Audi headlights is not something I'm willing to partake in...

[Karbon]

That's what i figured the case was. Spending $2k plus on e codes is insane and worse then cracking them open. I see some people are buying them from U.K. For $750 for the pair. That's more reasonable if so

[blackoptic]

ReflectorStyle.com just replaced the covers I had to their new blackout series for free. They look exactly the same from the top/silver side; however, the adhesive backing is black and appears to block all orange at night. I suggest anyone with the older style covers should contact them about the same upgrade.

[Tim W.]

Here are mine on my Silver A3

[blackoptic]

Looks great, Tim! I love the color against florett silver. How does it look outside in the sun?

[AnthonyA3]

This^^^^

I found mine on German Ebay for roughly $550...money well spent for the real deal.

You just have to look and be patient

Did you just search for ecodes? Or was their a part number that you used?

[blackoptic]

Did you just search for ecodes? Or was their a part number that you used?

Not sure if these are specific to ECodes....
LEDs: 8V0941033, 8V0941034
Xenon: 8V0941753, 8V0941754