Audi Q5/Q7: Exterior Modifications

This article applies to the Audi Q5 and Q7 (2009-Present).

Love your Q5 or Q7 but tired of the stock look? There are plenty of ways to update its exterior to give it a fresh feel.

The Q5/Q7 is a beautiful car, but often, its owners want to give it an update or customization to make it not just noticeable, but worth a second look. The following are some of the more popular options to go with.

Starter

Add Mud Flaps

Mud flaps are perhaps the most subtle exterior upgrade you can make to your Q5/Q7. However, they do improve the look of the car, and also serve the obvious purpose of protecting the wheel well of your prized luxury SUV from dirt, mud, and grime. Debris like that over time not only become more difficult to clean out, but can wear away at some of vehicle’s more important components (e.g. brakes).

New Headlights

DIY Cost – $300+

Professional Cost – $450+ (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Easy; this task is relatively easy because it involves replacing a fairly easy-to-access part of the car.

The headlights often go overlooked as a worthwhile update for the Q5/Q7, but finding the right set can really make a difference to the look of your car. This is especially true when it’s driven during the dusk/evening hours. Also, many aftermarket headlights offer improved brightness of the roadway, in comparison to the OEM lights that it comes with off the assembly line.

Intermediate

New Rims

DIY Cost – $250+ x 4

Professional Cost – $1,500+ (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Moderately Difficult; this task is moderately difficult because it requires a broad array of tools, and a lot of physical labor.

Perhaps the quickest and most obvious way to update the exterior of your Q5/Q7 is to go with a whole new set of rims. There are several options to go with—whether it’s a shiny chrome look or a painted stand-out option—so it all depends on personal taste. One thing is for certain, though–this is not a cheap update. If you’re going to go with new rims, bite the bullet and pay a bit extra for a decent set–you want to avoid the cheaper sets, as they tend to wear/get damaged a bit more easily, and are also more difficult to get clean.

Window Tint

DIY Cost – $50+

Professional Cost – $200 (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Moderately Difficult; this task is moderately difficult because it requires a professional-level hand for the application of the tint material.

Besides giving the Q5/Q7 a sleek, uniform look, tinting the windows of the car has several benefits, including better driving (reduced sun glare), improved privacy, better upholstery protection, improved shatter protection, and a cooler interior cabin. While there is relatively cheap tinting material available, it pays to go with quality, as it’ll last longer, and be less susceptible to scratches/damage.

Difficult

Lower the Car's Height

DIY Cost – $250

Professional Cost – $750+ (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Difficult; this task is difficult because it involves expert knowledge of the vehicle’s inner workings, and familiarity with how lowering the car will affect how everything works together.

Q5/Q7 drivers like to lower the height of their car to give it more of a sport look. It also gives the car better aerodynamic which, in turn, improves the car’s fuel efficiency (just a little bit, but enough to make it worth noting). A lowered height also means improved traction and handling, reduced rollover risk, and greater comfort in terms of getting in and out of the car.

New Paint Job

DIY Cost – $3,500

Professional Cost – $5,000+

Skill Level – Difficult; this task is difficult because it requires a broad array of tools along with a facility in which to sand/paint the car and allow it to dry, without being affected by outside weather.

This is easily the most difficult job to do yourself, and truly is best left to a professional's hand. That's because painting your car, though it may sound easy enough, actually involves a TON of labor. First, you need to sand the old paint down, then the car needs to cleaned of debris. After that, the body needs to be primed and then painted with numerous coats of paint—and all evenly at that. Lastly, the car needs to be stored away from weather elements, to allow for proper drying.

This is, of course, keeping in mind that we are talking about doing this to a luxury SUV here.

If you are interested in updating the paint color of your Q5/Q7, your best bet is to call a few local body shops in the area and go by to see their handiwork before handing them the keys to your car.

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