RS5-Style grills, difference between EMD and eBay Chinese products?
02-22-2019, 07:59 AM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
RS5-Style grills, difference between EMD and eBay Chinese products?
What's the difference between the $459 EMD Grill and the eBay version for $314? They both look like the same product.
https://www.emdauto.com/collections/...=8212522598488
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RS5-Style-G...5/292312671583
https://www.emdauto.com/collections/...=8212522598488
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RS5-Style-G...5/292312671583
02-22-2019, 08:39 AM
#2
Club AutoUnion
Personal experience:
1) EMD Product is outstanding. Every bit as good as the factory Audi grille.
2) EMD customer service is outstanding. They answer their phone and their e-mail.
3) They are willing to work with their customers. When I ordered my RS style grille, it came with the silver rings. This was in September of last year. Just this week I inquired about Black Rings via an e-mail. The next morning I had a response that they have the black rings to fit my grille — $20.00 shipped. They arrived 2 days later (EMD is in LA & I’m in NJ) and fit perfectly.
I cannot speak to the eBay vendors and their products and level of support. In my experience, The extra cost is offset by having USA based support.
As Always, YMMV.
— John
1) EMD Product is outstanding. Every bit as good as the factory Audi grille.
2) EMD customer service is outstanding. They answer their phone and their e-mail.
3) They are willing to work with their customers. When I ordered my RS style grille, it came with the silver rings. This was in September of last year. Just this week I inquired about Black Rings via an e-mail. The next morning I had a response that they have the black rings to fit my grille — $20.00 shipped. They arrived 2 days later (EMD is in LA & I’m in NJ) and fit perfectly.
I cannot speak to the eBay vendors and their products and level of support. In my experience, The extra cost is offset by having USA based support.
As Always, YMMV.
— John
02-22-2019, 10:15 AM
#5
I had the ebay version on my car for a year. Technically, mine was from a different seller so may not be that exact one ... but it's the same "version 1" style, with the different lower section.
Anyway, fitment was perfect and I had zero quality issues with it. The 'quattro' letters, already affixed prior to receiving, were a little wonky -- like a drunk put them on -- but you couldn't tell unless you were right on top of it and looking hard. Despite exact fit in place of the stock grille, mine required custom mounting of the camera (silicon and "plastic welding") as well as sourcing the OE right-angle sensors (to avoid cutting the crash bar, which I had to do anyway) separately. Back then late 2017/early 2018), shipping was more like $150. Sensors were $120 I think. All in, before install, I was near $600 into mine ... and that makes the EMD version a deal.
I've been asked elventy hundred times over the past year about the grille. I *always* point them to EMD. Their version (last I checked) included the sensors, has a proper camera mount (supposedly) and is all bundled up for one price. Oh, and it's the newer design, which is single hex pattern throughout, similar to OE RS5. I have *nothing* to do with EMD; the don't know I exist. I don't have any of their products, don't do business with them, don't know anybody there, etc. But I know they're the ones to get your RS5 style grille from if you want it as close to perfect from the start.
Anyway, fitment was perfect and I had zero quality issues with it. The 'quattro' letters, already affixed prior to receiving, were a little wonky -- like a drunk put them on -- but you couldn't tell unless you were right on top of it and looking hard. Despite exact fit in place of the stock grille, mine required custom mounting of the camera (silicon and "plastic welding") as well as sourcing the OE right-angle sensors (to avoid cutting the crash bar, which I had to do anyway) separately. Back then late 2017/early 2018), shipping was more like $150. Sensors were $120 I think. All in, before install, I was near $600 into mine ... and that makes the EMD version a deal.
I've been asked elventy hundred times over the past year about the grille. I *always* point them to EMD. Their version (last I checked) included the sensors, has a proper camera mount (supposedly) and is all bundled up for one price. Oh, and it's the newer design, which is single hex pattern throughout, similar to OE RS5. I have *nothing* to do with EMD; the don't know I exist. I don't have any of their products, don't do business with them, don't know anybody there, etc. But I know they're the ones to get your RS5 style grille from if you want it as close to perfect from the start.
02-22-2019, 11:30 AM
#6
AudiWorld Member
02-22-2019, 11:32 AM
#7
Club AutoUnion
Trending Topics
02-22-2019, 11:38 AM
#8
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Ah that's right, the correct grill has the same size hex grid throughout, glad you caught that on my link. EMD's pictures for both of their grills are Version 1 with the different lower section. All the EMD threads also show Version 1 in addition to all the sensor issues people have been running into.
Think I'll just get this Version 2. Looks to be the same as the one in this thread. I don't need a camera holder anyways since my car doesn't come with one.
Think I'll just get this Version 2. Looks to be the same as the one in this thread. I don't need a camera holder anyways since my car doesn't come with one.
Last edited by fettekatze; 02-22-2019 at 11:43 AM.
02-22-2019, 02:58 PM
#9
AudiWorld Member
From those links, it seems that the cheaper grille does not include sensors, but the EMD one does. That accounts for at least part of the price differential.
02-27-2019, 08:16 PM
#10
AudiWorld Member
the ones I have from ebay does. And if anyone that is local to the DFW area who wants a good deal on a RS5 replica grill, PM me I ordered it for my S5 but since I don't have an S5 anymore....