Audi RS3 Black Optic conversion

[Brian@Unitronic]

I thought I'd create a thread for how I converted my car to black optics.

Last fall I had the alu-optic parts wrapped in gloss black vinyl and it looked great at first. However after winter I noticed it was pealing, and had a bunch of chips from rocks.

I decided to take off the front and rear bumpers to have the parts painted black

At first I was going to just take the bumpers to the paint shop and have them tape up and paint the parts on the bumpers. After some consideration this just didn't seem like the right way to do it so I decided to remove all of the trim pieces.

Once all trim was removed I took to my local paint shop and had them paint all the parts to match the lower rear diffuser. This was around $500

If you want to remove your old trim and just buy new black optics parts here is the list:

Front
front middle- 8v5807533bt94 $293
sides left- 8v5807717t94 $127
sides right- 8v5807718t94 $127

REAR
Center- 8v5807791 y9b $250
left- 8v5807731 y9b $273
right- 8v5807732 y9b $273

Grille
8v5853651R t94 (no acc) $937
8v5853651S t94 (with acc) $937

total - $2,280

This is a very tedious job, but can be done with the proper plastic pry tools and some patience.

I really struggled until i realize I could pry a tab away and slide in part of an old drivers license or credit card. By shoving in the card after prying the tab away I could work around the parts of the bumper and pry the whole part away without breaking any tabs!

Since I had the bumper off I decided to remove the black plastic behind the intercooler to try and provide more airflow






Here is where I used old cards to hold the tabs open while i worked around the part







Finished product!

[shivaswrath]

This is epic man!!
Thankfully black and alu optics is the only one that works, so I can spend the $2200 on some r888s *evil laugh *


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[Skunkwerx]

Very informative. Thank you for pulling all this together. Nice job!


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[Josey12453]

Thank you for this. I've been wanting to do this with my car and it's nice to know exactly what I need to order and what the process is.

[S3DUDE]

That is some work. I wonder how much a regular paint shop would charge, something generic like Maaco. I love my alu-optics but I did have the black optic on the S3 and now on my S5 Sportback as well and I also like it. The white car with black optics makes a good contrast.

[ILB8S4]

Nice job, definitely informative. Makes Audi's $1300 up front price that much more appealing.

[Brian@Unitronic]

Nice job, definitely informative. Makes Audi's $1300 up front price that much more appealing.

I agree, however with the limited production numbers some people didn't get the exact car they wanted so im hoping this helps 👍

[J.Tan]

Are you converting the wing mirror caps to black optic too?

[S4BB]

Impressive commitment to getting things just right.

[TheContrarian]

About Black Optics, I'm sure it costs Audi no more than silver (just like red painted calipers don't cost more than silver ones).

But they know most people want black optics and red calipers, so they make the standard silver and then upcharge for black. It's a back door way of raising the base price of the car. As a financial professional, I kind of admire that, as an owner I don't.

[jd_rs3]

I thought I'd create a thread for how I converted my car to black optics.

Last fall I had the alu-optic parts wrapped in gloss black vinyl and it looked great at first. However after winter I noticed it was pealing, and had a bunch of chips from rocks.

I decided to take off the front and rear bumpers to have the parts painted black

At first I was going to just take the bumpers to the paint shop and have them tape up and paint the parts on the bumpers. After some consideration this just didn't seem like the right way to do it so I decided to remove all of the trim pieces.

Once all trim was removed I took to my local paint shop and had them paint all the parts to match the lower rear diffuser. This was around $500

If you want to remove your old trim and just buy new black optics parts here is the list:

Front
front middle- 8v5807533bt94 $293
sides left- 8v5807717t94 $127
sides right- 8v5807718t94 $127

REAR
Center- 8v5807791 y9b $250
left- 8v5807731 y9b $273
right- 8v5807732 y9b $273

Grille
8v5853651R t94 (no acc) $937
8v5853651S t94 (with acc) $937

total - $2,280

This is a very tedious job, but can be done with the proper plastic pry tools and some patience.

I really struggled until i realize I could pry a tab away and slide in part of an old drivers license or credit card. By shoving in the card after prying the tab away I could work around the parts of the bumper and pry the whole part away without breaking any tabs!

Since I had the bumper off I decided to remove the black plastic behind the intercooler to try and provide more airflow

Great work. Willing to part with your front aluminum pieces? My front ones are dinged up.

[speeddemon69]

Great work. Willing to part with your front aluminum pieces? My front ones are dinged up.

lol did you read that quote very carefully? he just took off and painted his ALU pieces.

[jd_rs3]

lol did you read that quote very carefully? he just took off and painted his ALU pieces.

Dang! Thanks for pointing that out. Wish I would have read a bit closer

I will say, this job is not for the faint of heart. When I had my bumper off I tried removing the aluminum trim and it was a hard no-go. I commend him for getting this done. But now that he's given us some pointers, I may try again!

[speeddemon69]

Dang! Thanks for pointing that out. Wish I would have read a bit closer

I will say, this job is not for the faint of heart. When I had my bumper off I tried removing the aluminum trim and it was a hard no-go. I commend him for getting this done. But now that he's given us some pointers, I may try again!

[jd_rs3]

As much as I would love to do the Black Optics package, my OCD would require me to do the door trim and mirror caps. At that point, it's so pricey. That being said, I don't dislike the trim (I think it provides a nice contrast).

For anyone looking for aluminum trim:

Front
front middle- aluminum 8v5807533bAP6 $159.78
sides left- aluminum 8v5807717AP6 $156.71
sides right- aluminum 8v5807718AP6 $156.71
grille - aluminum 8v5853651SAP6 $962.89

[Brian@Unitronic]

As much as I would love to do the Black Optics package, my OCD would require me to do the door trim and mirror caps. At that point, it's so pricey. That being said, I don't dislike the trim (I think it provides a nice contrast).

For anyone looking for aluminum trim:

Front
front middle- aluminum 8v5807533bAP6 $159.78
sides left- aluminum 8v5807717AP6 $156.71
sides right- aluminum 8v5807718AP6 $156.71
grille - aluminum 8v5853651SAP6 $962.89

I had extra mirror caps painted black yes. I did however have the door trim wrapped in gloss black vinyl and IMO you can't tell the difference.

[Potatohead_RS3]

About Black Optics, I'm sure it costs Audi no more than silver (just like red painted calipers don't cost more than silver ones).

But they know most people want black optics and red calipers, so they make the standard silver and then upcharge for black. It's a back door way of raising the base price of the car. As a financial professional, I kind of admire that, as an owner I don't.

The colors are the same way, 65k and one color option for free. Nobody is as bad as Porsche when it comes to that stuff though.

[Iceburg-V604]

As much as I would love to do the Black Optics package, my OCD would require me to do the door trim and mirror caps. At that point, it's so pricey. That being said, I don't dislike the trim (I think it provides a nice contrast).

For anyone looking for aluminum trim:

Front
front middle- aluminum 8v5807533bAP6 $159.78
sides left- aluminum 8v5807717AP6 $156.71
sides right- aluminum 8v5807718AP6 $156.71
grille - aluminum 8v5853651SAP6 $962.89

Hey JD_RS3, Where did you get your pricing from? My google search yielded higher pricing for those pieces, please do share

[jd_rs3]

Cars245.com

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[5_cyl]

I recently put black optics on mine as well. I think it looks a lot better then the aluminum ones. I paid the body shop to replace them for me and it was about 400 bucks and a day to have it done. IMG_0762.JPGIMG_0727.JPGIMG_0723.JPGIMG_0726.jpgIMG_0722.jpgIMG_0724.JPG


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[Brian@Unitronic]

I recently put black optics on mine as well. I think it looks a lot better then the aluminum ones. I paid the body shop to replace them for me and it was about 400 bucks and a day to have it done. IMG_0762.JPGIMG_0727.JPGIMG_0723.JPGIMG_0726.jpgIMG_0722.jpgIMG_0724.JPG


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awesome! did you buy all the black optic parts new?

[5_cyl]

awesome! did you buy all the black optic parts new?

Yeah I bought them all new from europrice.com


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[jd_rs3]

Looks great!

Are willing to part with your front aluminum pieces? If so, PM me $?

[jd_rs3]

Resurrecting - So the grille surround is not sold separately? The entire grille must be purchased?

Does anyone have front aluminum trim pieces they would be willing to sell to me?

Thanks!
JD

[ALLROADINGB9]

Love this thread- I recently did the same with my allroad, bought all new window trims, glasses for the C/D pillar windows, and RS4 roof rails in matte black. It makes all the difference to see it done properly, and I know how hard it was!




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[ALLROADINGB9]

...

[ALLROADINGB9]

..

[5_cyl]

Resurrecting - So the grille surround is not sold separately? The entire grille must be purchased?

Does anyone have front aluminum trim pieces they would be willing to sell to me?

Thanks!
JD

JD what aluminum parts are you looking for


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[jd_rs3]

Mint condition front end aluminum pieces

Grille surround
Lower /sides

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[5_cyl]

Mint condition front end aluminum pieces

Grille surround
Lower /sides

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Mine are in good condition but not mint, normal wear and tear for 20k


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[DanMPower]

Sorry to bump this thread back up but does the factory Black Optics appearance package ALWAYS include a rear black lip spoiler as well? There is an RS 3 I'm interested in buying, it has the black optics package and everything is black including the side mirrors but the rear lip spoiler is body-colored. Which kinda sets off some red flags as maybe it was possibly in a rear-end collision...

[Skunkwerx]

Sorry to bump this thread back up but does the factory Black Optics appearance package ALWAYS include a rear black lip spoiler as well? There is an RS 3 I'm interested in buying, it has the black optics package and everything is black including the side mirrors but the rear lip spoiler is body-colored. Which kinda sets off some red flags as maybe it was possibly in a rear-end collision...

I don't remember a BODY COLORED trunk lip ever being offered OEM body color. All were BLACK from my recollection.

[DanMPower]

I don't remember a BODY COLORED trunk lip ever being offered OEM body color. All were BLACK from my recollection.

Check this one out that I was interested in... possibly rear-ended and repainted?
https://www.autonation.com/cars/WUABWGFF1J1903669

[Skunkwerx]

Check this one out that I was interested in... possibly rear-ended and repainted?
https://www.autonation.com/cars/WUABWGFF1J1903669

OR the previous owner(s) had it painted for their own taste. Looks like it changed hands in 1/29/2019 @ 9713 miles in North Carolina before it made its way to TX.

[NBRS3]

Would it be possible to remove the front bumper trim pieces without removing the bumper. One of my pieces has some of the satin finish missing and I am hoping to not have to remove the bumper to replace it.

[o1turbo30v]

Would it be possible to remove the front bumper trim pieces without removing the bumper. One of my pieces has some of the satin finish missing and I am hoping to not have to remove the bumper to replace it.

Nope