APR CPS Cooler - to paint or not...

[BlackSVT]

Has anyone installed the APR CPS on an S/Q5 and left it bare (silver)? I see the S4 guys mocking up Lowe's black screen behind their grills, using Heater core paint on the CPS, etc... But wondering if anyone here has installed it, as-is, and is happy or unhappy with what they did.

I guess I can always do the install, mock up the bumper cover back on and paint it on-car if needed, but what fun is that?!

Thanks

[doady22]

Depends on taste really, I painted mine black because I have the RS Grille. I Used Eastwood Radiator Paint, needed to cans to get the finsh I wanted.

[bajan01]

Here is the AMS unit on my SQ5, with RS style grill. I have a screen in my garage to paint black and install...need to find some time. The screen I picked up is a hexagonal pattern that I am thinking about painting black and installing behind the front grill/bumper but in front of the crash-bar...however I haven’t even mocked it up yet. If you look closely at my front crash-bar you can see the chipped up black paint and understand that I am only wanting to install to protect from rocks that make their way through the front grill and back to the heat-exchanger.

[MSq5]

Subscribed. Probably will go this route for cooling with my Stage 2 tune. I would probably just want to use radiator flat black paint, but . . .

In for more info.

[SQive]

I left mine shiny, but I don't have the RS grille.

[chirish83]

Hmmm, this thread has me thinking what I should do with my CPS I'm about to have installed with my Stage 2 / DP tune set up. I'll also be installing an RS style grille...

[SQive]

It seems simple to me. If you don't want anyone to notice you've upgraded your intercooling system, then do what the Stones say and "paint it black."

[bajan01]

Only true VW/Audi guys/gals will know that it’s not a factory A/C condenser.

[BlackSVT]

Thanks for the opinions, guys. I'm going to just give it a shot unpainted this weekend and see where that goes...
I think what I'm always going for, and maybe should have explained, is not necessarily stock/sleeper, but more of a "clean", straight, understated and well-done/simple with all the details addressed...In other words, maybe it's OCD, but an obvious aftermarket look, not well integrated and/or done well ain't gonna fly. Stupid sh!t like black car, black license plate, no front plate, flush wheels (god the stock rear wheel over-tuck drove me nuts...), tailpipes lined up and fitting the cut-outs... Maybe it's all I have left because keeping a 15-20k mile/year, every day, black car clean is un-possible! ...but i know somewhere, that if I did wash it, it would still look good

Oh yeah, more power always equals more better regardless... so that's a given