Has anyone done the front mesh/honeycomb rs3 style grille convertion from ecs?

**Danoloveskolsch** · 06-28-2017 06:21 PM

$150 shipped, looks nice but only one review on the ecs site. Just wondering if anyone here has done this and seeing what kind of reviews y'all might have.
Thanks.

**Das Ponto** · 06-29-2017 07:26 AM

Bronco has done it I believe, and a bunch of other peoples. The common complain is the rings that come with it aren't as nice and people usually make their own ring holder to the grill.

**bhyrman** · 06-29-2017 01:09 PM

Hi Danoloveskolsch,

yes, as Ponto mentioned, I have bought and installed the ECS RS style grille on my (pre-facelift) 2006 A3 2.0T.

I don't necessarily have a full DIY but I'll try to briefly describe what was involved and what my experience was. I actually did write a review on ECS but they must have decided against posting it because I wasn't throwing many compliments ...

PRODUCT:

- all in all, I am happy with the result but can't say it's a high quality product, made in China, original box packaged in an ECS box ;-). I bought the black grille with chrome trim
- the base for Audi rings is solid, I would prefer the one with little slats or just empty rings
- the grille is now showing some rock chips, I may plasti dip it when it's time

INSTALL:

- there is a DYI thread on changing the grille without taking the front bumper off but I would definitely NOT do it that way - take the bumper off !!
- you may find useful info in this B7 S4 grille DYI
- I'm sure there are other DYI write ups and/or videos ...

1) take bumper off

2) remove old grille (many tabs, hard to remove & easy to break)

3) cut a piece of bumper (bar) behind the grille licence plate
- cutting into the bumper was breaking my heart but this grille will not fit otherwise (other makes may fit without cutting the bumper ...)

4) attach the (Audi) rings emblem base and licence plate holder to the new grille

5) remove the rings from your original grille to the base on the new grille
- be very careful - many tabs want to break; ideally, you would have bought new rings for your new grille
- I bought these extra rings on eBay (haven't installed them yet so can't comment on the fit)

6) put the rings on the new grille

!! Important !!

7) Aluminum bumper crash bar
- paint it with plasti dip or better yet, wrap it in black vinyl - otherwise it will show silver through your grille
- you want it to be covered in something elastic so the rocks will not easily chip it as you cannot do this once the bumper is on

8) re-install bumper with your new grille

Here are some photos:

Before:

Bumper off, crash bar painted black with plasti dip:

This plastic bar across the grille opening has to be cut out otherwise the grille doesn't sit all the way in the bumper:

Out it goes:

Rings base and licence plate attached:
- I wanted the rings in the original position on the grille (lower or higher may just look wrong)
- I bolted the licence plate directly to the grille - I know, not the best idea as you cannot remove it (easily) but I am not planning to. Some suggested plastic tie wraps (may be illegal as it is not permanent and your licence plate may be stolen)

After:

Hopefully this will help, as I said, it could be a better product but I am really happy with the look.

Cheers,

**eyrah** · 07-20-2017 07:35 PM

Mine has held up well for ~50k miles on my A3

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

**abiley84** · 07-20-2017 10:49 PM

The closest thing to OEM would be the one from Rev Motoring, it has the mesh even inside the rings like the RS3 has. Not a fan of the ECS one, especially for the facelift version as the plate bar isn't removable. Here's a link to mine, after having a 2 stage paint correction and ceramic coating last month.

https://www.facebook.com/legendautod...type=3&theater

**bhyrman** · 07-21-2017 05:10 AM

Looks great !!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Danoloveskolsch** · 07-27-2017 11:14 PM

Bhyrman, Excellent write up, thanks for all the info!

**Danoloveskolsch** · 07-27-2017 11:17 PM

Abiley84, Do you remember what the cost was for the RS3 style grill from Rev Motoring? That looks really nice without the center bar. I couldn't find it on their website, but sent an email asking about it. Thanks for another option!

**abiley84** · 07-28-2017 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Danoloveskolsch

Abiley84, Do you remember what the cost was for the RS3 style grill from Rev Motoring? That looks really nice without the center bar. I couldn't find it on their website, but sent an email asking about it. Thanks for another option!

I forget, maybe $200 or so. I just noticed that also that it's not on their site. They use my car as on of their photos. Only thing you have to do it break off the parking sensor tabs on them. Hopefully you could still purchase it from them. It's much better quality than most others I've seen

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and like mentioned, make sure you paint the crash bar. I wrapped mine in satin black vinyl

**Danoloveskolsch** · 07-28-2017 11:57 PM

Well, Rev Motoring no longer sells the grill. I had my hopes up, that grill looks really good. I guess I will keep my eyes open for a similar product. Thanks again.

**dpmotley** · 08-06-2017 12:34 PM

British X-UK sells really good grills. They are more expensive than mentioned above, but the quality is top. I fitted one a week ago to my 2012 A3.

X-UK RS grille 2 by Dmitrij Motley, on Flickr

**bhyrman** · 08-07-2017 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by dpmotley

British X-UK sells really good grills. They are more expensive than mentioned above, but the quality is top. I fitted one a week ago to my 2012 A3.

dpmotley, did you have to cut the piece of the bumper that covers the crash bar (and prevents installing the RS grille in) like I had to ?

**dpmotley** · 08-12-2017 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by bhyrman

dpmotley, did you have to cut the piece of the bumper that covers the crash bar (and prevents installing the RS grille in) like I had to ?

Do you mean a styrofoam piece that should be mounted on the front bumper from inside between the bumper and the crash bar? I did cut this thing, yes. I removed the centre part of it, the one behind the grille, and kept the rest that stiffens the bumper. Also, I painted the crash bar black to make it invisible through the grille mesh.

**bhyrman** · 08-16-2017 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by dpmotley

Do you mean a styrofoam piece that should be mounted on the front bumper from inside between the bumper and the crash bar? I did cut this thing, yes. I removed the centre part of it, the one behind the grille, and kept the rest that stiffens the bumper. Also, I painted the crash bar black to make it invisible through the grille mesh.

Styrofoam ? I don't recall any styrofoam being a part of my front bumper ... I meant the plastic bar that goes across the opening for the grille. Look at my photos above.

**abiley84** · 08-16-2017 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by bhyrman

Styrofoam ? I don't recall any styrofoam being a part of my front bumper ... I meant the plastic bar that goes across the opening for the grille. Look at my photos above.

Mine had styrofoam which I completely got rid of. Maybe since yours is pre facelift it may have been different.

**bhyrman** · 08-18-2017 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by abiley84

Mine had styrofoam which I completely got rid of. Maybe since yours is pre facelift it may have been different.

That sounds like a possibility.

**dpmotley** · 08-23-2017 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by bhyrman

Styrofoam ? I don't recall any styrofoam being a part of my front bumper ... I meant the plastic bar that goes across the opening for the grille. Look at my photos above.

I didn't have that bar on a SE bumper, though there were signs that the bar was cut off. I had this bar on a new bumper too, a S-line one which is on the picture, when I received it from a dealer, but I thought that the bar was there for safety, in order to prevent the bumper from twisting during shipping. I cut the bar off. But anyway, the bar wasn't as solid as on your car. But I also had the styrofoam piece between the bumper and the crash bar. I have a facelift A3 and it's different from a pre-facelift.

**bhyrman** · 08-23-2017 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by dpmotley

I didn't have that bar on a SE bumper, though there were signs that the bar was cut off. I had this bar on a new bumper too, a S-line one which is on the picture, when I received it from a dealer, but I thought that the bar was there for safety, in order to prevent the bumper from twisting during shipping. I cut the bar off. But anyway, the bar wasn't as solid as on your car. But I also had the styrofoam piece between the bumper and the crash bar. I have a facelift A3 and it's different from a pre-facelift.

Good info dpmotley, thanks