Can anyone clarify the difference between the two for me please...I'm looking to replace the chrome surround on my girlfriend's A3. Will I need to change the main grille as well as the surround (It's a 2009 A3 3 door SE)?
BE vs "Optics" grille
- Thread starter Vazza
- Start date
Do you mean Black Edition (grille)? If so there is no difference between BE grille and Optic both the same. Buy a complete grille there an 8P3 optic grille on ebay for £100 or best offer
Are you sure about that?
When I bought my Optics grille from Audi, they said that the Black Edition grille wouldn't fit my A3 and that I needed the Optics Grille. Handy as the Optics grille was £50 cheaper than the BE.
Farhan
Registered User
Ash the black optics grille is different to the black edition grille i think, Cant tell for sure myself. See pics below the grille looks a different shape ever so slightly
Black Edition Grille
Black Optics Grille
OP if your car is 2009, im guessing you will need the black edition grille
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S3RYE
Interior Next!!
i have an optics... they are the same.. The pictures you have posted are of a "S3" black edition/Optics grill and a "A3" Black edition grill. shape is identical.. The difference is the S3 has vertical slats :icon_thumright:
Black edition is the new term for optics grill.. (there never used to be a black edition) hence why it was called "optics"
Black edition is the new term for optics grill.. (there never used to be a black edition) hence why it was called "optics"
The two grills above are different as one is an 8P1 and the other is an 8P2!
As far as I know, BE and optics are the same. There is a difference if you go for standard, S-Line or S3 though. S3 has double vertical slats, S-Line (1st pic above) are sinlge vertical slats.
My reasoning is based no my S3 BE and my mates S3 with optics package. Both our cars are 8P2 and the grills are identical. My tuppence.
As far as I know, BE and optics are the same. There is a difference if you go for standard, S-Line or S3 though. S3 has double vertical slats, S-Line (1st pic above) are sinlge vertical slats.
My reasoning is based no my S3 BE and my mates S3 with optics package. Both our cars are 8P2 and the grills are identical. My tuppence.
As Ry said really. 8P2 a black grille was called optics grille which you would need as its a 56reg A3. And a black edition grille wont fit yours as its an 8P3 2008+.
Ash the black optics grille is different to the black edition grille i think, Cant tell for sure myself. See pics below the grille looks a different shape ever so slightly
Black Edition Grille
Black Optics Grille
OP if your car is 2009, im guessing you will need the black edition grille
As Ry said fella. The photos of the 8P3 has a A3 BE grille ( A3 Optic grille standard on BE A3's) and the 8P2 one has an 8P2 S3 grille.
The two grilles would look different as one an 8P2 grille and the other an 8P3. Both different shapes.
To be able to tell the difference from an A3 and S3 grille. S3 has bigger and less vertical slats.
And the A3 has smaller and more slats 8P2 that is. And the 8P3 well you can see look different S3 vertical slats and the A3 S-line/BE slats going a cross.
Standard A3 Optic grilles are different again for the 8P2s.
8P3 S3 BE Optic Grille
8P3 A3 BE Optic Grille
8P2 S3 Optic Grille
8P2 A3 Optic Grille
8P2 Standard Optic Grille
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Farhan
Registered User
Cheers ash i was a bit confused about this myself, Something tells me to change the silver bit on mine but i dont want to change the whole grill because i like the titanium finish on the slats.
Need to see yours at some meets, You going to ED38 would be good to see a nicely upgraded lava grey in the flesh.
Need to see yours at some meets, You going to ED38 would be good to see a nicely upgraded lava grey in the flesh.
No problem fella
i was getting myself confused thinking about it had to keep looking at the photos lol. I'm sure some said you can just buy the outer surround 
Yeah i know fella, hopefully i'll be down your ways next month or june. So will drop you a message, already spoke to a three members on here about arranging something. So should be a laugh. Yeah i'll hopefully be going if i've sorted things out with the car and have a job.
Are you sure Ash? Again, I'm no expert, but 8P1 is your style (no facelift, no DRL's), 8P2 is my style, (facelift, DRL's, dumbo mirrors) and 8P3 is the final, most recent facelift (DRL's, revised mirrors).
The grills on these individual 8P models should be the same size, only differing in style from standard to S-Line to S3, BE is just an optics Black grill.
I may be wrong, but that's what I always thought.
The grills on these individual 8P models should be the same size, only differing in style from standard to S-Line to S3, BE is just an optics Black grill.
I may be wrong, but that's what I always thought.
1inchpunch
Registered User
This is a good guide on the confusing world of the A3 grille. I've been driving around looking at grilles for 7 days now as well as looking on line and had got myself totally confused. To throw another spanner in the works, isn't it the case that the S3 grille is shorter than the s-line and sport grilles? So that S3 grille on ebay would only fit an S3 bumper.
Correct the 8P2 S3 is shorter. But on all 8P3s the grilles are the same size. So the one on eBay would be perfect for the OP
Think so fella look at the photos shows you the difference with all optic grilles.
8P1 2003-2005 split grilles, 8P2 late 2005-2008 single grille, 8P3 2008-present led drls your model.
8P2 S3 grilles are shorter than A3 grilles. So an A3 grille won't fit an S3 bumper. But if you can glue or secure the S3 grille to the A3 bumper then it will fit. S3 grille about 2cm or so shorter.
8P3 grilles are all the same size S3 to A3
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ahh didn't know it was damaged thhata why it so cheap. Would you consider having a bodyshop spray the current grille?
Vazza- I had my standard grill sprayed satin black yesterday. Have got some pics up, have a look, might be the alternative route as Ash mentioned.
Found a few old photos on my photobucket. My old A3 s-line front bumper and S3 grille you can see the gaps where the grille too short.
And Black Optic grille
And Black Optic grille
