Review: C7 RS6 style“quattro” grille for B8.5 S4

[850tgul]

Ever since I picked up my B8.5 S4 a few months ago I was eager to swap my stock grille for an RS4 style mesh grille. While I was hoping to pick up a C7 RS6 style grille with the separate upper and lower sections, I couldn’t find any vendors offering one for the B8.5, so I picked up a typical RS4 grille from AliExpress. A few short weeks after I got my RS4 grille, I began to see the RS6 style grilles pop up from the UK and China. I contacted the UK company about the grille but they told me there would be a 6-8 week wait. At the same time I found a Chinese vendor on eBay selling what appeared to be the same grille as the UK vendor. I contacted the eBay seller and he was very responsive and open to my requests.

The original auction was for a chrome outer frame grille but I requested the following:
-matte silver/aluminum outer surround
matte silver/aluminum lower surround
-S4 badge rather than RS4 badge
-gloss black mesh
-Sensor delete

Current auction here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS-Style-Gri...RZUdgv&vxp=mtr

I purchased the grille on June 25th, it shipped June 27th, and arrived at my doorstep July 3rd. Very quick transaction for a “made to order” Chinese product.

I inspected it when it arrived and my initial impression is that it was perfectly acceptable for an eBay grille. Very similar to the grille I purchased form AliExpress which has held up great for the past 2 months. I am a bit of a perfectionist so there were a few things I wanted to alter before I installed.
One, the little connections between each letter of the lower “Quattro" badge were silver where I felt they should be black to make the fact that the letters were connected less obvious. Two, I don’t plan on running a front plate so I Dremeled out the 3 blank mesh “cells” where the license plate is attached. This was tedious and nerve racking but it came out nicely. If you always lost playing Operation as a kid, I wouldn’t recommend this step.
Third, and most frustrating, was coming up with a solution for the 2 awkwardly large mesh cells which were meant to hold the sensors which I opted to delete, initially. For some reason these 2 cells were larger than the rest of the mesh cells and stood out very obviously from certain angles without the sensors in them. Knowing this would annoy the piss out of me I decided to put the dummy sensor plates into the larger cells. The problem was that the sensor plates were much larger and not the same shape as the cells so I had to cut them to size. In the end, the cells stand out less now, even with dummy sensors in them, compared to what they would have looked like empty.

Install and fit was great. Only complaint I have is that the paint doesn’t seem to be super tough. I observed a few minor marks but I was maneuvering it around quite a bit doing all my alterations, careful as I tried to be. I am just a little dubious how well it will hold up given its right in front taking all the abuse. We shall see, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, here are the pics:

Taping up the quattro badge to paint the little connector sections black



Taping off license plate mounts before Dremeling



Grille after license plate mounts are Dremeled out and you can see the 2 large cells which would have held the sensors. Just too obvious to me.



Finished product with the sensor plugs re-installed

[robertstitt]

Just bought the same grill for my B8.5. Yup, this guy seems to be on the ball regarding shipping. Ordered on Sunday and he shipped yesterday. How was the bumper removal? Been trying to nail down a diy thread for this. Any tips? I asked if he would attach the S4 emblem. Did yours come attached or loose? What did you use to paint the inner silver bumper? Saw where someone used Rustoleum flat black engine paint but read some reviews that it dries more grey than black. BTW, looks good

[RWD2quattro]

Nice grill, do you have a T5R since you screen name is Tgul ?

[TheAsset]

I've been looking at doing this myself. I really like the look.

[Pared]

I honestly can't tell what I think about it because all I'm doing is staring at your placement of the S4 badge.

[Turbavanttro]

^^ I was thinking exactly the same thing.

[850tgul]

Just bought the same grill for my B8.5. Yup, this guy seems to be on the ball regarding shipping. Ordered on Sunday and he shipped yesterday. How was the bumper removal? Been trying to nail down a diy thread for this. Any tips? I asked if he would attach the S4 emblem. Did yours come attached or loose? What did you use to paint the inner silver bumper? Saw where someone used Rustoleum flat black engine paint but read some reviews that it dries more grey than black. BTW, looks good

Removal was fine. It was my 2nd time doing it. I used these instructions. https://www.uspmotorsports.com/downl...structions.pdf
I should have mentioned that I ended up using my oem S4 badge because the one he supplied, while it had the "S4" on it, used the backing plate for the "RS4" badge and was too big for the S4 letters imo.
For the crash bar I used Rustoleum professional grade spray truck bed liner. I think I made the right decision. It is has stood up great and has just the right look being a matte finish. I just don't think palatidip would hold up well at all, nor would any type of paint.

[850tgul]

Nice grill, do you have a T5R since you screen name is Tgul ?

Good catch. Yup, I had a cream yellow T-5R when I was a kid and have been using the name forever now. Car was totaled long ago but I do still have a 98 S70 T5 for my beater.

[850tgul]

I honestly can't tell what I think about it because all I'm doing is staring at your placement of the S4 badge.

Lol. I went for the C7 RS6 badge placement over the S4 placement since this is basically an RS6 grille. Unfortunately the mesh pattern doesn't allow for perfect alignment either vertically or horizontally but good thing is you can put your badge wherever you like it since it comes detached from the grille.

[-unSound]

Been trying to decide between this exact grill or the normal RS style for a few weeks now. Your review and pics on a similar color car pushed me over the edge, just placed my order. The fact that the CAD has been going up recently helps too. Looking forward to getting it on in a few weeks!

Thanks for posting.

[whiped]

For the crash bar I used Rustoleum professional grade spray truck bed liner. I think I made the right decision. It is has stood up great and has just the right look being a matte finish. I just don't think palatidip would hold up well at all, nor would any type of paint.

I think this is probably your best bet.

I've had mine plastidipped for almost a year and it lasted all through winter, drag racing etc.

Then I ran into a GT350 on the highway who tried to pull away from me... Sadly when I got close he activated his defense mechanism of throwing rocks off the road at my car chipping the crash bar in a few places.

I'll likely be peeling it off and hitting it with the truck bed liner when I'm not feeling lazy.

[darkstarghost]

The rustoleum is great! I put 2 layers of that and then dipped over it twice, the dip adds a puncture layer stopping silver from showing when rocks and other things hit the crash bar while driving

[Chris4Reef]

This grill is much better quality than any other RS grill I ordered. (I have owned 2 others lol).

This is the BO version



I do really like that mesh is more hexagon than circle style. Super fast shipping too!

[VenturiRS]

This grill is much better quality than any other RS grill I ordered. (I have owned 2 others lol).

This is the BO version

I do really like that mesh is more hexagon than circle style. Super fast shipping too!

Demanding more pictures please. Also, what do you have above your fog grills? Link please!

[850tgul]

I do really like that mesh is more hexagon than circle style. Super fast shipping too!

I agree, I also prefer this over the more rounded almost Bentley shaped mesh of the more typical RS4 grilles. Plus, it is a much closer design to the stock B8.5 fog light mesh style.

[Chris4Reef]

I will get more pics tomorrow. But also a BIG selling point is the rings. They don't stick out like a "pig nose" like on other RS grills. They are very very much like OEM

[absolutarin]

OP et al, I have recently ordered the RS4 style grille as well. How do I go about painting the front crash bar black?

[Pawan2013]

Can you get these for the B8's?!

[850tgul]

OP et al, I have recently ordered the RS4 style grille as well. How do I go about painting the front crash bar black?

There must be a step by step diy soemewhere but really it's just
1-remove bumper
2-thoroughly clean crash bar
3-rough up crash bar with sandpaper to prepare for paint
4-tape off the entire front of the car except for the crash bar
5-paint crash bar

I went with Rustoleum professional grade truck bed liner spray. I did mine about 2 months ago when I installed my first RS grille and I inspected the bar when I just swapped over to the new grille. It has held up amazingly well over those 2 months (no chips whatsoever) and I'm on the highway 1.5 hrs each day. From my experience with both plastidip and paint, I feel like the truck bed liner is much stronger than either. It does have a slight texture to it, almost like an undercoating, but it is thick and perfectly matte.

[850tgul]

Can you get these for the B8's?!

Yes, check out this thread
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ill-Group-Buy-!!!

[Chris4Reef]

Pawan, http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS4-Style-Gr...3D302348327075

[estorilblue8.5]

I really love this! Can you take a few pictures from a further distance and a few different angles. I am most likely going to pull the trigger.

[estorilblue8.5]

Do you have a link of the BO version. I haven't been able to find one and I really like it.

[Chris4Reef]

Do you have a link of the BO version. I haven't been able to find one and I really like it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS4-Style-Gr...53.m2749.l2649

[Chris4Reef]

If you were on the fence I would definitely recommend. Seller is really good super fast shipping. Easy install but I'm telling you, it's all about the rings!

[absolutarin]

There must be a step by step diy soemewhere but really it's just
1-remove bumper
2-thoroughly clean crash bar
3-rough up crash bar with sandpaper to prepare for paint
4-tape off the entire front of the car except for the crash bar
5-paint crash bar

I went with Rustoleum professional grade truck bed liner spray. I did mine about 2 months ago when I installed my first RS grille and I inspected the bar when I just swapped over to the new grille. It has held up amazingly well over those 2 months (no chips whatsoever) and I'm on the highway 1.5 hrs each day. From my experience with both plastidip and paint, I feel like the truck bed liner is much stronger than either. It does have a slight texture to it, almost like an undercoating, but it is thick and perfectly matte.

Thank you so much! Two more questions please:
1. Do you think there is any added benefit to give a top layer of plasti-dip on top of the Rustoleum bed-liner or would that be an overkill?
2. If I have to re-paint the grille for whatsoever reason (due to rock chips, gloss black to satin or matte black etc) what would be the best way to go about it? Call it preserving the look or damage control :)

[850tgul]

Thank you so much! Two more questions please:
1. Do you think there is any added benefit to give a top layer of plasti-dip on top of the Rustoleum bed-liner or would that be an overkill?
2. If I have to re-paint the grille for whatsoever reason (due to rock chips, gloss black to satin or matte black etc) what would be the best way to go about it? Call it preserving the look or damage control :)

1-I don't see any benefit to adding palstidip over the Bed-liner since the Bed-liner is much tougher than the plastidip is. Plus the finish of the liner is similar to the dip, both are matte black.
2-re painting the grille would be tough. But you can I believe separate the grille into pets (outer frame, lower frame, rings etc) to paint only what you need.
I would honestly just touch it up if need be. From my experience and from what I can see from the haw grilles, the black mesh should hold up well. It's the aluminum colored frames I am thinking will need to be touched up. every now and then.

[estorilblue8.5]

If you were on the fence I would definitely recommend. Seller is really good super fast shipping. Easy install but I'm telling you, it's all about the rings!

I think that version would look really good on estoril blue. What lip is on the car? Also, besides the lip and grille the bumper is a stock S4 grille right?


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[bizzy]

In for one, thanks for posting. Been looking for a good replacement RS grille as the rings on mine stick out way too much.

I think the inner frame also being aluminum is a bit much but I'll have to see in person. Might end up vinyl wrapping the inner ring if so.

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[850tgul]

I think that version would look really good on estoril blue.

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Funny, I would say that a BO grille on a darker color like Estoril just washes out any detail. I personally think alu accents looks f'n killer with Estoril but I'm a little biased of course.

[estorilblue8.5]

So I'm in a state where I need a front plate. Anyone have this grille with a plate in it below the audi symbol?


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[B18b1ex]

So we are gonna act the carbon fog accents are just the norm? Lol Sir where can I get a set? Thanks in advance!


Edit I just saw that ECS released them.


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[BeerBrent]

Appreciate the review and input from everyone.

[estorilblue8.5]

Ever since I picked up my B8.5 S4 a few months ago I was eager to swap my stock grille for an RS4 style mesh grille. While I was hoping to pick up a C7 RS6 style grille with the separate upper and lower sections, I couldn’t find any vendors offering one for the B8.5, so I picked up a typical RS4 grille from AliExpress. A few short weeks after I got my RS4 grille, I began to see the RS6 style grilles pop up from the UK and China. I contacted the UK company about the grille but they told me there would be a 6-8 week wait. At the same time I found a Chinese vendor on eBay selling what appeared to be the same grille as the UK vendor. I contacted the eBay seller and he was very responsive and open to my requests.

The original auction was for a chrome outer frame grille but I requested the following:
-matte silver/aluminum outer surround
matte silver/aluminum lower surround
-S4 badge rather than RS4 badge
-gloss black mesh
-Sensor delete

Current auction here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS-Style-Gri...RZUdgv&vxp=mtr

I purchased the grille on June 25th, it shipped June 27th, and arrived at my doorstep July 3rd. Very quick transaction for a “made to order” Chinese product.

I inspected it when it arrived and my initial impression is that it was perfectly acceptable for an eBay grille. Very similar to the grille I purchased form AliExpress which has held up great for the past 2 months. I am a bit of a perfectionist so there were a few things I wanted to alter before I installed.
One, the little connections between each letter of the lower “Quattro" badge were silver where I felt they should be black to make the fact that the letters were connected less obvious. Two, I don’t plan on running a front plate so I Dremeled out the 3 blank mesh “cells” where the license plate is attached. This was tedious and nerve racking but it came out nicely. If you always lost playing Operation as a kid, I wouldn’t recommend this step.
Third, and most frustrating, was coming up with a solution for the 2 awkwardly large mesh cells which were meant to hold the sensors which I opted to delete, initially. For some reason these 2 cells were larger than the rest of the mesh cells and stood out very obviously from certain angles without the sensors in them. Knowing this would annoy the piss out of me I decided to put the dummy sensor plates into the larger cells. The problem was that the sensor plates were much larger and not the same shape as the cells so I had to cut them to size. In the end, the cells stand out less now, even with dummy sensors in them, compared to what they would have looked like empty.

Install and fit was great. Only complaint I have is that the paint doesn’t seem to be super tough. I observed a few minor marks but I was maneuvering it around quite a bit doing all my alterations, careful as I tried to be. I am just a little dubious how well it will hold up given its right in front taking all the abuse. We shall see, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, here are the pics:

Taping up the quattro badge to paint the little connector sections black



Taping off license plate mounts before Dremeling



Grille after license plate mounts are Dremeled out and you can see the 2 large cells which would have held the sensors. Just too obvious to me.



Finished product with the sensor plugs re-installed

These pics are awesome. Can you take a few from a further distance. I am most likely pulling the trigger on this grille for my Estoril Blue

[-unSound]

My grill arrived today, specced the exact same as OPs. Very fast shipping and well packaged. Initial thoughts are that it looks good, the 'aluminum' silver paint is a bit more matte than the trim on the car but nothing even worth really mentioning. The black paint seems tough in the garage, we will see how the silver holds up to rock chips. Almost thinking of giving it a shot of clear coat for protection before i put it on, anybody have thoughts on that??

Also they must have changed the design slightly because the sensor mounts on mine were just held in with hot glue. Popped them out easily and was happy to see that the mesh is uniform throughout, doesn't have the 2 larger openings like the OPs did.

Hoping to get it on next week and take some pics.

[s4hype]

Good find OP! Ordered on a Monday and got it Tuesday, so 8 days, China to Connecticut. Very fast shipping, Almost Oem fitment and looks like a quality product. I got the full BO version on a Estoril Blue and it looks amazing!

[Dr GP]

I like it better than the other Rs4 style grills that I have seen. I think it makes the grill look somewhat smaller. I have a big dislike for the huge sucker mouth grills that Audi is now using. I don't like the 2 larger holes though. If I bought one, I would consider painting the lower section with the quattro graphic, the same color as the body. Not bad though.

[tlp5002]

My grill arrived today, specced the exact same as OPs. Very fast shipping and well packaged. Initial thoughts are that it looks good, the 'aluminum' silver paint is a bit more matte than the trim on the car but nothing even worth really mentioning. The black paint seems tough in the garage, we will see how the silver holds up to rock chips. Almost thinking of giving it a shot of clear coat for protection before i put it on, anybody have thoughts on that??

Also they must have changed the design slightly because the sensor mounts on mine were just held in with hot glue. Popped them out easily and was happy to see that the mesh is uniform throughout, doesn't have the 2 larger openings like the OPs did.

Hoping to get it on next week and take some pics.

I'm on the fence about going with painted silver vs chrome. Trying to match up w/ the chrome trim already on the car.

[-unSound]

Got around to installing this yesterday and I'm very happy with the grill, looks really good. After actually installing it on the car I have no regrets about the painted silver finish. Looked a bit off in the garage but it actually matches the wheels and mirrors very nicely. tlp5002 I say go for it if that is what you want. Also note the uniform mesh on the grill I received :)

[challenger]

Got around to installing this yesterday and I'm very happy with the grill, looks really good. After actually installing it on the car I have no regrets about the painted silver finish. Looked a bit off in the garage but it actually matches the wheels and mirrors very nicely. tlp5002 I say go for it if that is what you want. Also note the uniform mesh on the grill I received :)

The only reason why I haven't bought one of these yet is because of those sensor holes being bigger then the rest. How did you get the grill without it?? I contacted the seller and they said they only carry it with the sensor holes.