"Black optic" pack

[Casey]

After I get back from my seemingly never ending travel schedule, Ill finally be able to enjoy my new toy. Now I know this is just on the RS6 Plus that we didnt get stateside, but I have actually done this to a few of my last cars, blacking out the window and whatever other trim to get rid of the chrome. I know our RS6 trim isnt chrome, but sort of like a brushed look to match the mirrors, but im still thinking about blacking that and the grille and the trunk thing out.

My question is, what did those of you who did this use to do it? In the past I have used Blackout Tape from Trimbrite, and its worked fine, never worn off or anything, but the installation was somewhat messy. Are there better options out there?

[RS6Steve]

One of the guys here had them all painted, I don't think it was that difficult and it looks really good.

Mines not a Plus and has full Black Optics

[Casey]

I thought of having it painted, i just wasnt sure how to remove the trim pieces from around the windows.

Did any US spec RS6 have the blacked out trim?

[JSRS6]

Im thinking about blacking out my trim after all my traveling in the near future. Stopping by Hoppen while i am down in Florida, they are expecting me :-) Also considering doing the interior trim in satin Black, the same as i am gonna do the exterior, after i get done with all that...

[JSRS6]

And no, it wasnt a US spec option.

[SteveKen]

I had all my trim powder coated. Still finishing up some things and will post nicer pics later.

<img src="http://www.kendrish.com/galleries/S6/build/assy_20_mar/jj_rs6.jpg">

[JSRS6]

Did you already do under the headlights?

[SteveKen]

I had the pieces painted body color. They're plastic and can't be powder coated. Besides, I don't know why that piece of trim was added anyway. I think the car would be better served if it wasn't in the original design. Opeful the monochromatic look will blend in nicely. I haven't put them on yet, btw.

Also, both grilles are OEM and black plastic. I found the upper used in the other forum classifieds and had a friend in Germany buy me the lower. Cant get them in the US.

[JSRS6]

You can get the black optic pack(minus the window trim, of course!) off of oemplus. i think its $650. It includes: upper and lower grille, under the headlights, and trunk piece. All OEM of course, with a 3-4 week lead time, unless you want to pay an exorbitant amount for shipping...ill just paint mine...im also gonna do some detail work, the rear rs6 badge. Taking off the red sticker very carefully, painting, and reapplying said sticker. will post pics of course. next month ;-)

[SteveKen]

I had all my pieces PC'd for $125. The matte black is a common color for the shop I used, so they didn't charge me a setup fee. It would have been even cheaper if I would have cleaned up the rain gutter trim a bit better.

The rain gutter trim is much easier to remove on the Avant, since none of he windows have to be removed.

I'm not 100% sure on the C5, but on my old B5 S4, I had to cut out the C-pillar glass to remove the trim. Major pain.

Good luck with the emblems. I saw a Porsche Cayenne that had black emblems on it and thought that would be nice to have on an Audi. I guess paint is the only way to go since they're plastic.

[JSRS6]

This is very true. I am gonna get the rims refinished and PC'd sometime in the next month or two when i have some spare time. The emblems i did on my B5 S4, not too bad, just time intensive, and with the sticker its like you are playing operation with the tweezers! lol

[SteveKen]

I wonder if you could heat shrinky dink the emblems with vinyl? Of course, you'd be limited to just one color.

[JSRS6]

Lol, you could also always just dip them in black liquid wrench...

[Casey]

Are the windows trim pieces easy to remove? Thats why I used blackout tape in the past, because the other cars trim was such a pain in the ass to remove, that it was easier to just do the tape on the car. As long as taking them off isnt a huge project, I can attempt it when I get home. Im not sure if i want to do the mirrors though. I kinda like the silver, but then it wont actually match anything else either...

[SteveKen]

As I mentioned above, I'm not 100% sure, but you might have to remove the c-pillar glass to get the rain gutter trim off. The lower door window trim isn't bad, but it's very easy to bend.

BTW, my mirrors are just the plastic ones painted to match. I still have my solid aluminum ones and I actually have them advertised a few places for the greedy price of $500 shipped conus.

[Casey]

So its in my best interest to either just drop it off and have them paint it on the car, or go the tape method. the price you paid for P/C is a fraction of the cost of buying everything.