Black Exhaust Tip Refinish

[Dan_DJT]

Got fed up with the flaky finish on the black exhaust tips so decided to refinish them. Upon close inspection it seems the stock coating is very thin and was flaking on the inner lip. There were also some stonechips on the outside.

Rubbed the bottom lip and inside down with brake cleaner, wire wool and some blue roll.

Masked up and painted with DEI hi temp coating which I've had good results with back in my Subaru days.

Touched up the outside surface with Hycote Satin black touch up brush, not a perfect match but can only see a difference up close.

For anyone who wants to tidy up their exhaust I can recommend doing it, I am pleased with the results.

 

[Ironman1125]

Looks good my issue is with the paint inside the matt stuff, I am seriously getting ****** off with Audi nowhere near as good as they used to be in respect of customer care.

 

[Ironman1125]

You know it wouldn't be so bad if the ends could be swapped rather than spot welded on, Its hardly environmentally friendly is it!!

 

[Dan_DJT]

Mine was flaky around the bottom lip and inside, it was masked slightly by carbon build up. When I cleaned it all off the coating was very thin. I painted the bottom lip and all the inside, looks much better now.

 

[Ironman1125]

Has it been ok with day to day use ie with the heat of the exhaust? At the end of the day though they should replace these under warranty and if they were such on as per previous S/RS models it wouldn't cost the earth ...in both ways

 

[Dan_DJT]

Yeah no problem with the heat, the DEI coating I used is good for temps far higher than tailpipes get too.

 

[betaone68]

In Italy, in some cases the exhaust has been changed as a guarantee. After all, you paid € 1,500 for a sports exhaust that does not have the sound of PFL ... at least that does not come off the treatment done ...

 

[no_idea]

I had both my tips replaced under warranty last March, I clean them fairly regularly and within 9-10 months the bottom edge is pitted. Basically from what I can see it is the exhaust gases causing the pitting on the bottom edge.
The black chrome is extremely thin and is not really up to the job.
I complained again and asked for them to replace them. They have supplied a new pair and I have sent them off to Zircotec to be ceramic coated. This should fix the issue. The finish will not be gloss black but more of a satin black. I have asked Zircotec to coat the whole tip. They mask up the inside as they cannot get in there to coat it.
I am waiting for the pictures confirming the masked off areas to make sure I am happy.
The basic turn around time is 10 working days, you can pay extra to get them done quicker.
As soon as I have them back I will post a picture.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Ironman1125]

Hi are the tips not spot welded to the whole exhaust system, mine are on both the RS3 & RS4

 

[AudiNutta]

I had both my tips replaced under warranty last March, I clean them fairly regularly and within 9-10 months the bottom edge is pitted. Basically from what I can see it is the exhaust gases causing the pitting on the bottom edge.
The black chrome is extremely thin and is not really up to the job.
I complained again and asked for them to replace them. They have supplied a new pair and I have sent them off to Zircotec to be ceramic coated. This should fix the issue. The finish will not be gloss black but more of a satin black. I have asked Zircotec to coat the whole tip. They mask up the inside as they cannot get in there to coat it.
I am waiting for the pictures confirming the masked off areas to make sure I am happy.
The basic turn around time is 10 working days, you can pay extra to get them done quicker.
As soon as I have them back I will post a picture.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

How have they just replaced tips? They are welded to the backbox?

 

[no_idea]

How have they just replaced tips? They are welded to the backbox?

Sorry should have been clearer my car is a B8 RS4. They are fitted into the bumper as a trim. They are not connected to the exhaust.
I was trying to hi-light it is not just the RS3 that has the problem with the black tips.
The finish is not durable enough across the range.
The boxes the new tips came in said 'Made in China'. The quality was not brilliant!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Ironman1125]

I had the RS4 B* and recall the set-up being like this, that's interesting though in that guise (B8) they could be described as trim but now with being connected to the rest of the exhaust system are they or can the be actually classed as trim???

 

[no_idea]

Just got the tips back from coating, so here are a couple of pictures.
Cost was £84 plus vat and carriage.
As you can see they come out a satin black finish. Hopefully this will be the last time I have an issue with exhaust tips!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Ironman1125]

They look good! Shame Audi in their wisdom decided to spot weld the tips to the exhaust system to the new RS3 & RS4 :-(

 

[DW81]

I agree there, most of audi cars you can buy the replacement tips for. Either way no exhaust should put this quickly Especially on the RS range