S6 Avant - Red Tail Hawk *BAM* right into the grille!

**studioRS** · 10-16-2016 04:44 PM

A few weeks ago on a Friday, while driving home over the mountain I had a Red Tail Hawk smash right into my grille. Lights on and at dusk there is a section of road where the trees open up and fields on either side. Scooting along at about 38mph, instantly I see this bird dive bomb right into the front of my S6 from the left side — wham!— didn't even have a chance to flinch let alone react. Absolutely nothing I could have done. A HUGE BAM, I knew it was a direct hit on the front right light (just rebuilt my lights with EVO XRs...) or front bumper or grille. It hit so hard and fast it was done instantly. Flipped over the roof and off the side of the road. I felt so bad for the hawk...

Next Monday on my way to work I checked to see if the bird was there. Gone. Fox, Fisher or Catamount must have grabbed it. Although, someone from work did drive over the mountain on Saturday night and they confirmed it was a Red Tail. Poor hawk, rest in peace...

The carnage.

While pluck the remaining feathers out, I was absolutely amazed at how beefy and strong these S6 grilles are. Crazy tough. Thank goodness there wasn't any pieces stuck inside, just feathers. In a tributing moment, the feathers went to a Shaman and a fly fisherman.

So, off I set to source a new grille. I wanted to keep it original and new, no need for an RS6 grille or used. Not much selection, ECS tuning shows Genuine on backorder. Checked out eBay and there was a store offering some "Made in Germany". With a skeptical look, some slightly less than accurate spelling on descriptions, one would think it is a front. It was on eBay, I took a leap and ordered anyway. This is what arrived, the real deal, Genuine factory Audi part, shipped from Germany.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/142112070972...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These photos, wow, I need to re-polish my headlights, its been two years since the first session... ugh

Didn't get a chance to install, had honey-do's all weekend. Split four cords of maple and cherry and I'm freaking beat up. Time for an Oktoberfest Paulaner Bier.