matt aluminium --> black styling

[hvm5]

If I were to buy a car that had matt aluminium styling and wanted to change it over to black styling pack properly(no wraps)..What's likely to be the cost?

- new front grille
- Paint diffuser trim and front spoiler to body colour?
- new window surrounds
- new roof rails (is this a headlining removal job?)

Is that it? Also, is the aluminium on the B8 easier to keep clean than the same on the B7, does it go milky in the same?

[miatang]

I know I'm stating the obvioous but why not just buy one with the black on already

[boff]

I think I know why : that might not be an option.....

[hvm5]

buying used so there's always a compromise on what my ideal spec would be and I'd rather make that compromise on something that's relatively simple to change, rather than something that's not, seems like retro fitting most exterior options has simpler than interior ones.

[miatang]

I see. Whats the must have interior option? Buckets?

[kmpowell]

New window surrounds is a complete mare to do, it's why everybody ended up wrapping them on the B7 (same basic premise on the B8). The front grille is circa £400 (supply only, then removal of bumper etc to fit). Body Shop will charge you another £500 min for the spraying, roof rails are Matt black, and are expensive to buy let alone the mare of fitting them (interior lining out!)

If the black pack is important to you, then IIWY I'd wait for one to come along with it.

[Vodkaking77]

I have just enquired at my local body Shop to do the window surrounds, roof rails, and only the border of the grill. Will let u know the cost

[Graeme4130]

a mate was looking at a used B8 in the dealer recently, and made a tentative enquiry through the parts department as to how much for that very thing
It wasn't exact, but they reckoned with parts and labour, you won't be getting change from £3k
I think as said above, the labour to do the roof rails will probably be 4-5hrs

I think a wrap could be a much cheaper option assuming you're not planning on using the rails for a rack

[kmpowell]

You might find this new thread in the B7 section interesting...

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=114805

[Jhcolling]

I have changed the silver trim to matt black by wrapping it. It was circa £300. The only issue I have had is that the roof bars mark the rails so I have double wrapped the rails where they meet the bars. The wrapping had been on for 9k miles and looks like new.