OSIR Carbon Fiber Front Chin Splitter & Rear Half Diffuser from eBay Motors
Thank you to eBay Motors for sponsoring this post and helping me find these great parts for my TTRS. This post was written by me through an activation with eBay and Hire Influence. Although I received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
When modifying a car, I’m always on the lookout for high quality parts that look like they could have come from the factory, but didn’t…many call this the “OEM Plus” version of modifications, because everything looks like OEM plus a little more flair. It is with this mindset that I’ve been searching for small aftermarket upgrades I can make to my car that retain everything great about the factory design, but add my own personal touch. During my last track day I found myself more than pleased with the amount of power in the car, and felt comfortable switching my focus to aesthetic upgrades next…but after switching from a 2006 Audi S4 to a 2012 Audi TTRS, I’ve noticed it is harder to find good “OEM Plus” car parts for two reasons:
- The “RS/R8 Tax” – everything for this car is a little more expensive, because the car is a “RS” model and thus aftermarket part makers assume you have more disposable income and therefore can get away with charging more. It is especially difficult on the TTRS because it shares a lot of parts with the R8, so sometimes parts like the rear view mirrors (a $2,000 option) are priced for R8 owners rather than TT owners.
- The TTRS is already extensively upgraded – compared to base TT, the TTRS has an upgraded front & rear bumpers, side skirts, wing, steering wheel, etc., so a lot of the small touches have already been done. There aren’t really any further OEM upgrades to be had, and most parts already have more flair than a standard issue or even S-line TT, making it more difficult to find ways to subtly enhance the cars aesthetics without overdoing it.
While searching far and wide for available parts that fit that bill, I’ve found an unexpected source of inspiration and affordability: eBay Motors. eBay makes shopping for auto parts easy. Their Fitment technology and “My Garage” feature stores your car profile, so you easily see which parts are compatible with your vehicle. It also reduces returns. This past week I was able to get a great deal on a OSIR front chin splitter (FCS) and rear diffuser for $239 and $389 respectively, saving me $312 off the. The cheapest prices I could find anywhere on the web. These parts were the real deal, authentic OSIR parts that were completely brand new in box, and were shipped immediately to my door from the US – no gimmics or problems, and the process could not have been smoother. In fact, 81 percent of items on eBay are new. There are still several available on eBay if you’d like one yourself, and you can check out the links here:
The front chin splitter replaces the middle lower part of the TTRS front bumper. You simply remove four T25 bolts and then pull outward with a good deal of force to remove the factory piece. You will need to pull very hard, but no tabs broke for me and this is the same process many others have followed, so I guess it’s safe. The part fits very snug, so if a tab were to break it should still be very secure regardless.
Installed the part adds a nice subtle look of carbon fiber, while being virtually unnoticeable to the untrained eye. Unlike most front splitters, this doesn’t sit any lower on the ground either, so there is very little risk of scraping. The only downside is that it doesn’t provide any functional or aerodynamic benefit either, but for only $239 and 5 minutes to install, I’m okay with this being a purely aesthetic upgrade. I had the part wrapped in Xpel clear bra just to give a little extra protection over time, and I’m super excited with how everything came out.
The rear diffuser is also modeled exactly after the stock TTRS diffuser, but produced in gloss carbon fiber rather than matte black plastic like the factory. The upper half of the OEM diffuser is retained, so the bottom half being gloss carbon provides a nice but very subtle contrast (a full carbon fiber part is available, if you prefer that look). Much like the front chin splitter, the average observer may not notice anything has been changed or modified whatsoever, but gearheads will be able to spot the upgrade and appreciate it fairly easily.
This part required trimming two tabs on each side with a Dremel to get it to fit perfectly, but was otherwise very easy to install – just remove four T25 bolts (two on each side), two flat head bolts in the middle (rotate 1/2 turn to remove), and then tug to remove the OEM diffuser which comes off in two parts to prep the bumper. Next compare the OEM part and the OSIR part to see if there are any extra tabs you need to remove (pictured above), then trim them with a Dremel and fit the new part into the OEM mounting points. You will need to give the OSIR carbon fiber diffuser a few whacks to get it to go completely into the mounting points, as carbon is a lot stiffer than plastic so the fit will be very snug compared to the factory part. Once the OSIR diffuser is aligned to all of the holes & tabs, screw back in the four T25 bits and the two flat head screws and you’re all set.
Both upgrades, while subtle, gave a nice upgrade to the car’s appearance, yet still look factory. Best of all I was able to save a good chunk of money finding these parts on eBay, leaving me more money to buy more mods in the future. I’ve also recently used eBay to buy my Audi wheel totes for my track wheels, so the site has been saving me a lot of money and hassle with my new car.
