DIY: C7 A6 Front Bumper Removal & StoneCarbon2009 RS6 Style Grille Install (Video)

[2wookies]

Attachment 177440

Ok, this is what I was talking about. My script is clipped on but those clips have screws holding it to the script. The finish is chipping in some areas as well.

Excuse my crash bar appearance and filth. I have not had a moment during this quarantine to detail. I am working more than ever. Instead of painting the crash bar I wrapped it with some left over vinyl I had from doing the chrome trim delete. Lesson learned, I will be painting it as soon as I have time. I'm going to change those small screws out ensure they are covered with matching paint so they aren't visible anymore. Like i said, I would still do this again in a heart beat. I love the way it looks.

That’s awful!!! Couldn’t you just get some SS replacement screws?

[VR2V8]

That’s awful!!! Couldn’t you just get some SS replacement screws?

That's what other people with this problem were doing. That was my plan too before even installing the grille, but when I got it I noticed there were no screws....mine ONLY clips on. I posted pictures in another thread sometime last year.

[JonnyBravo!]

The crash bar looks rough - that's why I don't understand people wrapping it instead of painting it.

And the quattro script looks like a replacement. One of my clips broke so it doesn't hold the script in secure enough for my taste, so I looked at replacements and they all look like they use screws to hold it in place. I would just clean that rust off and paint the screws.

[gkott78]

Guys, don't think I'm sleeping on fixing this. The bumper is coming off for my upcoming dual pulley install, so I will address the crash bar and ensure it's properly painted. I plan on replacing the screws with some SS ones and using some matched touch up paint to hide the screws.

I never replaced the script, this is how my grill came out of the box. I'm going to review my ebay history, and ensure that I did buy this from Stonecarbon... I'm starting to wonder if I bought a different listing. The last thing I want to do is make a good seller look bad, so let me clarify that.

*** Confirmed that the grill I bought was in fact NOT SOLD by Stonecarbon. I bought the wrong listing, from a seller called CNPARTHOURSE. So if you are buying this grill, don't make my mistake. It appears Stonecarbon has a much better product***

[Blakkout]

First real post on Audizine after lurking here for the last 5+ years!

Ordered my grill from Stonecarbon this weekend, got an email from him last night confirming shipping. Sounds like things are a little delayed on that side of the world due to the COVID-19 stuff, but seller seems nice and responsive so far.

How are people's actual Stonecarbon grills themselves holding up? The eBay listing said all or part of the grill is "painted," which makes me wonder about durability over time. Has anyone considered or tried coating the entire grill with some kind of protective clear coat before installation? Don't actually have the thing in hand yet to check quality, so I might just be paranoid and overthinking this.

Huge thanks to KwikStix for the video tutorial. I've got a B8.5, but took a look at one of ECS Tuning's installation manuals for an RS style grill and of course the process is almost exactly the same as for the C7. The video is super helpful and I've already watched it twice.

[AudiC7Owners]

First real post on Audizine after lurking here for the last 5+ years!

Ordered my grill from Stonecarbon this weekend, got an email from him last night confirming shipping. Sounds like things are a little delayed on that side of the world due to the COVID-19 stuff, but seller seems nice and responsive so far.

How are people's actual Stonecarbon grills themselves holding up? The eBay listing said all or part of the grill is "painted," which makes me wonder about durability over time. Has anyone considered or tried coating the entire grill with some kind of protective clear coat before installation? Don't actually have the thing in hand yet to check quality, so I might just be paranoid and overthinking this.

Huge thanks to KwikStix for the video tutorial. I've got a B8.5, but took a look at one of ECS Tuning's installation manuals for an RS style grill and of course the process is almost exactly the same as for the C7. The video is super helpful and I've already watched it twice.

Glad you liked the video.

I've had mine on since I made the video and it still looks fantastic. No chipping or anything.

[silver3.8]

I def watched the video prior to doing mine and it helped a lot. I got lazy and didn't want to jack my car up so I did everything with the wheels on.

Big ups to OP!

[VR2V8]

I def watched the video prior to doing mine and it helped a lot. I got lazy and didn't want to jack my car up so I did everything with the wheels on.

Big ups to OP!

That's not lazy. That's just the easiest way to do it. This is my 4th Audi. I've removed the bumper on all of them as well as my VW before them, and I've always left the wheels on.

[silver3.8]

That's not lazy. That's just the easiest way to do it. This is my 4th Audi. I've removed the bumper on all of them as well as my VW before them, and I've always left the wheels on.

I agree with the easy part. I started to place the jack under the car and said "F" it lol. Quicker too I think lol.

[AudiC7Owners]

I agree with the easy part. I started to place the jack under the car and said "F" it lol. Quicker too I think lol.

I just found it was easier to have the extra room to work in the wheel well. But there are always more than one way of doing things

[silver3.8]

I just found it was easier to have the extra room to work in the wheel well. But there are always more than one way of doing things

Oh for sure, not knocking the way you did it. Your vid helped a lot of people, I views it and your other ones numerous times. Having more room def makes it easier. Yes, always more way to skin a cat. What is next for a vid?

[AudiC7Owners]

Oh for sure, not knocking the way you did it. Your vid helped a lot of people, I views it and your other ones numerous times. Having more room def makes it easier. Yes, always more way to skin a cat. What is next for a vid?

I'm in the middle of moving right now, but I'm hoping a control arm/H&R spring video will be next.

[bozack]

Great job with the video KwikStix. I did the bumper on option but the video still helped alot (especially the zip tie trick)

Now that I have the grill updated the front bumper side grills don't seem to match (non gloss black)
Does anyone know how to remove those front bumper side inserts and if I can do it with the bumper on?

Thanks

[Vinng86]

Great job with the video KwikStix. I did the bumper on option but the video still helped alot (especially the zip tie trick)

Now that I have the grill updated the front bumper side grills don't seem to match (non gloss black)
Does anyone know how to remove those front bumper side inserts and if I can do it with the bumper on?

Thanks

You can pull them out with a little force starting from the side closest to the middle of the car. No need to take bumper off.

I did the same thing, my inserts weren't glossy so I painted them to match and now it's perfect. Pro-tip: Put several layers of clear coat, it's gonna get hit a lot with rocks

IMG_5597.jpg

[bozack]

Thanks Vinng! Good tip on the clearcoat too. I'm using the appliance epoxy spray paint so it's already got a level up of protection as that stuff coats well, should keep that crash bar black forever lol

[AudiC7Owners]

Great job with the video KwikStix. I did the bumper on option but the video still helped alot (especially the zip tie trick)

Now that I have the grill updated the front bumper side grills don't seem to match (non gloss black)
Does anyone know how to remove those front bumper side inserts and if I can do it with the bumper on?

Thanks

For sure!

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[esemes]

You can pull them out with a little force starting from the side closest to the middle of the car. No need to take bumper off.

I did the same thing, my inserts weren't glossy so I painted them to match and now it's perfect. Pro-tip: Put several layers of clear coat, it's gonna get hit a lot with rocks

IMG_5597.jpg

a thread from awhile ago...... gonna try this as I now have a need!

I just dont have those weird foglamp openings...



rsgril-02.jpg

[Vinng86]

a thread from awhile ago...... gonna try this as I now have a need!

I just dont have those weird foglamp openings...



rsgril-02.jpg

Yeah those are for the ACC radar modules if you have that option.

Also another thing I noticed but my lower grilles are actually two piece. The circle and bar part separates from the hexagon portion so if you want to you can do a two-tone look if you like. Not sure if it's the same on your facelift lower grilles, but I'd imagine it's probably the same.

[esemes]

Yeah those are for the ACC radar modules if you have that option.

Also another thing I noticed but my lower grilles are actually two piece. The circle and bar part separates from the hexagon portion so if you want to you can do a two-tone look if you like. Not sure if it's the same on your facelift lower grilles, but I'd imagine it's probably the same.

was kinda kidding about the "openings"..... There have been many asks from new owners about them.. I'll report back if these basement model garnishings are in fact a 2 piece component.

for the matter, why not dremel it all the way out? what are we hiding???


(pulls up Audithesia's pdf file)

[FLYNSHU]

Thanks for all the great info in this thread. I have watched Kwikstix video. Looking forward to tackling this project! I have a few questions. I have night vision on my car but I'm not clear if there is a specific grill from stonecarbon that I need to look out for, or is that option on all his grill listings? Is this the right one for my 2012 C7?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/294369912725...sAAOSwHtNciRti

Also, in reading through this thread, I am wondering if it is easy to add a front parking camera to my car? I see them on Amazon for what seems like a crazy cheap price but I feel like this is too good to be true. There must be a bunch more involved to get a front parking camera added to my car than this camera...? https://www.amazon.ca/Camera-Embedde.../dp/B07JPJ81M9

Thanks!

[FLYNSHU]

Thanks for all the great info in this thread. I have watched Kwikstix video. Looking forward to tackling this project! I have a few questions. I have night vision on my car but I'm not clear if there is a specific grill from stonecarbon that I need to look out for, or is that option on all his grill listings? Is this the right one for my 2012 C7?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/294369912725...sAAOSwHtNciRti

Also, in reading through this thread, I am wondering if it is easy to add a front parking camera to my car? I see them on Amazon for what seems like a crazy cheap price but I feel like this is too good to be true. There must be a bunch more involved to get a front parking camera added to my car than this camera...? https://www.amazon.ca/Camera-Embedde.../dp/B07JPJ81M9

Thanks!

[AudiC7Owners]

Thanks for all the great info in this thread. I have watched Kwikstix video. Looking forward to tackling this project! I have a few questions. I have night vision on my car but I'm not clear if there is a specific grill from stonecarbon that I need to look out for, or is that option on all his grill listings? Is this the right one for my 2012 C7?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/294369912725...sAAOSwHtNciRti

Also, in reading through this thread, I am wondering if it is easy to add a front parking camera to my car? I see them on Amazon for what seems like a crazy cheap price but I feel like this is too good to be true. There must be a bunch more involved to get a front parking camera added to my car than this camera...? https://www.amazon.ca/Camera-Embedde.../dp/B07JPJ81M9

Thanks!

There is a specific NV grille from StoneCarbon2009

And if your car doesn't have a front camera, it will be a nightmare to retrofit an oem camera.

You can add an aftermarket Camera easier, but you have to have a way to display it. To do that with your oem system then I'd look into the realsun/rsnav cockpit interface setup.

I'm going to have a diy on installing that soon.

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