Tacky or not?

[maxpayne]

Both the mirror covers of our 2005 A3 is somewhat scratched up, thanks to Deliveroo drivers and in one instance an old git who just casually hit the mirror and didn’t bother to even stop while I sat with our toddler in the car waiting for my wife to pick up something. Welcome to London.

Anyway, found a set of matte chrome mirror covers on AliExpress (none on eBay, at least for pre facelift 8P) and wondering if they will be tacky if fitted?

 

[samisnake]

With some things on Ali, you can't trust the sellers photos and have to go with the reviews and hopefully any user photos.
In my head they'd be OK quality, but things like that from China sometimes look cheap when fitted.

What's the difference in price between them and some decent used covers

 

[SootySport]

If you don’t like them, send them back. If the company is a decent one they will refund you i’m Sure.

 

[ch1z64]

What not give them a little sanding down and just give them a spray yourself or get them dipped nothing to loose

 

[paddy]

Most of these bits are made in China for Audi i expect anyway, chances are they are original.

 

[samuelh_888]

I think they look fine - worth a try.

 

[maxpayne]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

The concern for quality is valid.

However my question was more in the lines of will fitting a chrome looking mirror cover in a car like ours be a bit tacky/OTT?

Here are two links http://s.aliexpress.com/QZNfEnuY and
http://s.aliexpress.com/uYBbYjEZ

The former has good reviews and orders, the latter no reviews and a handful of orders but you can see the part no stamped on the body which makes me think it’s the real deal.

Correction: the latter is for facelift 8P. Seems like only a single seller does pre facelift mirror covers only :/

 

[samisnake]

I think they look outdated, like lexus lights back in the day, they were something that made certain audis stand out, now when I see them it's usually on 02 plate a4s. That's my opinion if it helps

 

[maxpayne]

I think they look outdated, like lexus lights back in the day, they were something that made certain audis stand out, now when I see them it's usually on 02 plate a4s. That's my opinion if it helps

Yeah, my feeling too. I know the S3 came with chrome mirror caps, but mine isn't one. I think I'll pass this experiment!

 

[KrisKrk]

Excuse myself here as not my section but story I experienced myself not so long ago.

Picked these type of mirror covers from Ali and came in quick.
Put them on and they were looking much better than plasti dipped one I had on.
See for your self

Plasti dipped

Ali matte chrome

Left old, right new (on the car)

Both new on

Still don’t have a daylight picture but they look brilliant on mine.

Oem ones in matte silver ended up in the boot, for the time being and before clean off and sale on.

What you might be missing on you car, tbh is newer wheels also to give it meaner look. Then, those mirror caps will match and look the part.
Only suggestion


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[maxpayne]

Excuse myself here as not my section but story I experienced myself not so long ago.

Picked these type of mirror covers from Ali and came in quick.
Put them on and they were looking much better than plasti dipped one I had on.
See for your self

Plasti dipped

Ali matte chrome

Left old, right new (on the car)

Both new on

Still don’t have a daylight picture but they look brilliant on mine.

Oem ones in matte silver ended up in the boot, for the time being and before clean off and sale on.

What you might be missing on you car, tbh is newer wheels also to give it meaner look. Then, those mirror caps will match and look the part.
Only suggestion


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Thanks @KrisKrk. You’re spot on WRT new wheels. I have been lusting after RS6 style alloys ever since I saw them in your build thread. Unfortunately I haven’t come across good 18” reps. The ones from WSP Italy start at 19”...

 

[niedzial1983]

I have s6 mirrors on mine , they look great !

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[Genius]

Yeah, my feeling too. I know the S3 came with chrome mirror caps, but mine isn't one. I think I'll pass this experiment!

I like them, in fact, I actually ordered a set as my one of my red ones is a bit scratched and both have a few stone chips. I do like the S3 look and they are so cheap worst case I'll leave em on until I can be bothered to respray the red ones then swap back.

Don't order from aliexpress comes from China, there's a UK based seller that's also quite a bit cheaper on ebay!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253699796695

 

[Genius]

I know it doesnt list the a3 but double checked model fitments for genuine parts and it should be identical to the 8p facelift ones

 

[Genius]

I'm an idiot those are facelift ones, I read the word facelift and not the "pre" before it

 

[Genius]

Mine have literally just come, I only ordered Yesterday, really impressed for the money, proper bargain really, hopefully, the weather holds out tomorrow and I'll be able to get these fitted along with my honeycomb grille!

When I think of the cost to get my old ones back to perfect, paint/filler/primer sandpaper etc wouldn't actually be far off the cost of these plus a ton more effort. But guess I could even sell my old ones on eBay they seem to be going not much different price to what I paid for these so could work out an even cheaper mod!

 

[Darren Ramsden]

I got mine from Aliexpress, took about a week to come. They were £50ish for 2007 8P. They are really good quality and I think they look great.

 

[Darren Ramsden]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Kib...833.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4ea74c4dQFTedR

 

[KrisKrk]

Mine have literally just come, I only ordered Yesterday, really impressed for the money, proper bargain really, hopefully, the weather holds out tomorrow and I'll be able to get these fitted along with my honeycomb grille!

When I think of the cost to get my old ones back to perfect, paint/filler/primer sandpaper etc wouldn't actually be far off the cost of these plus a ton more effort. But guess I could even sell my old ones on eBay they seem to be going not much different price to what I paid for these so could work out an even cheaper mod!

Aren’t they with indicators in the housing and you don’t have them?
Looking at the first picture of your A3 I cannot spot them.

If you install the mirror covers and the new grille, wheels won’t look that bad on the car.
Get them sprayed and you’re set

I still have my mirror covers in the boot, as have no time to remove plasti dip.
Once I do, will stick them on eBay. Money back should be similar to what I paid for these also so, as you said, cheap mod.


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[maxpayne]

I got mine from Aliexpress, took about a week to come. They were £50ish for 2007 8P. They are really good quality and I think they look great.


View attachment 164860

Yup. Those are the ones I linked to originally. Looks very nice on yours, stands out well against the red.
By the way there are two choices in the listing for the A3:

• A3 S3 8P 2002to2012
• A3 sportback 8P

Did you go for Sportback?