ECS Tuning RS4-style grille fitted
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:05 pm
Last week I installed an ECS Tuning RS4-style front grille. I've had a few requests for more information about it as well as photos, so here it is.
I sourced it through Awesome GTi: http://www.awesomegti.com/ecs-tuning-rs ... e-facelift. Excellent service from those guys, they can source anything from their partners at ECS Tuning, although it did take 5-6 weeks for it to arrive which was painful. Here's how it comes out of the box, complete with a fixed bracket for the four rings, a removable bracket for the number plate and removable PDC sensor mounts:
Quality is top notch I have to say. The whole thing is slightly lighter than the original but the plastic is strong and supple and all the brackets and tabs are exactly as per OEM so fitment is a straight swap. Detailed instructions from ECS here: http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3e01 ... rilles.pdf
There's nothing particularly tricky about the job, it took around 3 hours in total, but two people are essential due to the size and awkward nature of handling the bumper off the car. Here's a shot with the bumper removed and the crash bar having been painted with two coats of black Hammerite Stonechip Shield:
Before:
After:
I also painted the fog light grilles and rings gloss black to complete the transformation.
The S4 badge and chrome Audi rings is the trickiest part of the job. The tabs on the rings are brittle, we broke one which then had to be glued, and mounting the S4 badge is very much a bespoke job. The consensus is to glue it on but I wanted the option of potentially moving (or removing) it at a later date, so I bought a new S4 badge on eBay to experiment with and using my Dremel flattened off the raised corners before drilling two holes in the original mounting tab through which I sent a split pin to secure it to the new grille before fitting it to the bumper, much like the chap did on this thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthrea ... lled/page3
I sourced it through Awesome GTi: http://www.awesomegti.com/ecs-tuning-rs ... e-facelift. Excellent service from those guys, they can source anything from their partners at ECS Tuning, although it did take 5-6 weeks for it to arrive which was painful. Here's how it comes out of the box, complete with a fixed bracket for the four rings, a removable bracket for the number plate and removable PDC sensor mounts:
There's nothing particularly tricky about the job, it took around 3 hours in total, but two people are essential due to the size and awkward nature of handling the bumper off the car. Here's a shot with the bumper removed and the crash bar having been painted with two coats of black Hammerite Stonechip Shield:
I also painted the fog light grilles and rings gloss black to complete the transformation.
The S4 badge and chrome Audi rings is the trickiest part of the job. The tabs on the rings are brittle, we broke one which then had to be glued, and mounting the S4 badge is very much a bespoke job. The consensus is to glue it on but I wanted the option of potentially moving (or removing) it at a later date, so I bought a new S4 badge on eBay to experiment with and using my Dremel flattened off the raised corners before drilling two holes in the original mounting tab through which I sent a split pin to secure it to the new grille before fitting it to the bumper, much like the chap did on this thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthrea ... lled/page3
I used to be confused, but not sure anymore.