Blackout! Turning an Advanced into an A-Spec
 

Not sure if this is the right place, but....I saw DIY and figured give it a shot.

Has anyone found any answers yet into how we might turn an Advanced into a Blacked out, A-Spec looking vehicle? That one is so sharp looking and I know many are frustrated that its a separate trim vs an exterior option.

I would be willing to spend a little money to replace some of the key external chrome features with A-Spec-like accessories if thats doable, and I am curious if anyone has discovered anything interesting on this front?

well, you can buy the official parts from acura....www.acuraoemparts.com

or you can paint or wrap the trim to any color of your liking.

I'm gonna wrap mine and see how it goes...If successful, I will post some pics!

Please do!

How about a list with part numbers of what is needed if your going to go that route.....and you might as well make a DIY video when installing.

Sadly, that site doesn't list the option for 2019 parts just yet.

I believe I found them however not sure how hard it is to replace:

Grill and surround:

71122-TJB-A50

71121-TJB-A50

Bumper trim:

71104-TJB-A50

71109-TJB-A50

I just want to black out the front end and the parts aren't bad however dealer wants about $500 in install.

I will ask my dealer if these parts are the correct parts. I would love the A-SPEC look on an advance trim.
Any idea what the pedal part numbers are?

I completely agree. Keep me posted

I did ask a guy who works at a body shop I know and he said taking the chrome off the sides is very easy to do. They just pop in so that seems to be news. Getting the parts is the difficult issue currently.

I believe the parts I listed are easy enough. I am just worried about install. I am just looking to blackout the front end.....the doors will be too much of a pain.

Any news on how easy it would be to change the front grille and two front chrome pieces?

it's a car. most car's bumpers and grille's attach the same way.
for me; I can uninstall a bumper and grille in 30 minutes or less. just a matter of finding the clips and undoing the clips.

I cant get a straight answer on the parts yet. Dealer parts guy is saying Acura has not released the information just yet. I am not sure if that is true but surely hasn't showed up online yet.

Have you tried this? This is what my dealer provided me:

Grill and surround:

71122-TJB-A50

71121-TJB-A50

Bumper trim:

71104-TJB-A50

71109-TJB-A50

Did he quote any pricing for the items?

As any FYI, I bought and Advanced and am in the process of blacking it out.

I was able to get the 19" Glint Black Wheels for $1200 installed (they kept the Advanced rims as part of the deal).

A local detailed quoted me $500-600 to black out the chrome pieces on the car.

Will he wrap them to black them out?

Im not sure - I believe he was recommending wrap but I need to go sit with him in person to better understand the alternatives.
Is one method meaningfully better than another?

I honestly am not sure. I wanted to understand what process will work to achieve the look if I didn't buy new parts.

I had to get new exhaust tips after my accident.
For the Base/Tech/Advance, they were $77.04 for the pair.
I'm assuming the A-Spec tips are more expensive.

I'm guessing Plasti dip. I plan on blacking mine out as well next year! Please do share pics.

In terms of your question, a vinyl wrap would probably be the best option from an aesthetic and long term outlook point of view. The most cost effective way to "chrome delete" however is Plasti dip. It looks good if done right, but if done wrong it could look terrible (since its sprayed on like spray paint).

i have never seen a plastdip in person that I liked. This is why I am interested in replacement parts or wrapping the parts. I have been so busy lately I just have not had the time to follow up on asking about wrapping the items locally.

I am going to discuss with a guy here locally about vinyl wrapping my chrome pieces. I would only then need to purchase the rear exhaust tips and maybe the valence also to fit the exhaust tips. If I blacken the vehicle, then I will definitely change the rims and tires to something that will match and look better.

I spoke to the guy about wrapping the chrome and he is sure he can do it but needs to determine if he can find a wrap close enough to make it look near manufacturer perfect. He did not want to make it look like an after thought so he is getting some new samples and asked me to come back on Saturday to check again. He will want $550 to complete the task if we can get the correct look.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...7100a2c179.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...afacc9acc1.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...fef4724d3b.jpg

Vinyl wrapped

BAM!! You look good. Hopefully mine will get wrapped next week.

Did you have to remove the side view mirrors?
I'm going to do this project on my MDX.

Don't know.
i didn't do it myself.
I know they removed the trim pieces to wrap them but don't know about the mirrors.

Looks amazing!

I got a PM from a user named SugarChev about my car.
SugarChev - I cant respond because your inbox is full.
For others who might want to know - it cost me ~$600 to get the wrap done and an additional ~$100 to get the needed "black logos" from Acura to replace those on the car.

Wow this looks amazing! I also have a quote for about $500. Did they have to pull the pieces off to do this? I am concerned with it being a new car for them to remove pieces and having them not fit properly.

And does rear window wrap match with the OEM blackout above the windows well? Or can you tell a difference?

They did take the pieces off - they insisted that was the best way to do it. They didnt have any problems.

I think the logos and trim match well but I havent looked super closely. To my eye it all looks very natural.

I have used plastidip on Accord and works great. Its been few years and still going strong. I would try it out first before thinking about replacing parts.

Anyone looked into swapping out the wood interior piece for the ones in the advance?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...6a70ae9961.jpg
Wrapped the side pieces finally! Gonna do the front when I have time!

That wrap looks good. Did you remove the trim pieces to do it or leave everything on the car?

Thank you!

Those are RTX Envy, pretty much TSW Nurburgring replica. They are the same size as the A-spec rims.

It would be nice to remove the trim pieces but I didn't haha. I wasn't quite sure how they can be removed and I was worried about scratching/breaking something if I do try to remove.

Did anyone try buying the Aspec trim accents from an online store and try replacing the chrome accent pieces with that? Please let me know if you did and how was that experience. I see that some of those trim pieces are available for purchase from an online store (Bernadi I guess), and I would be more comfortable doing that if those parts can be replaced without scratching the car.. Let me know guys..

BTW I ended up buying the Advance package (Black color) and trying to convert that to all black to match the aspec version.. I've grown to love the interior of the advance as well. Didnt think i would like the wood material on the inside, but it is growing on me.. love the car so far..

I have a blacked out A-Spec and am considering replacing the trim around the grill with the chrome just to add a bit more contrast to the front.

I'm wondering if you can work out a trade with someone...chrome for black out?

How do you feel about the headliner? The fact that I can't get a black headliner with Advanced is seriously making me consider going to the Germans. Petty, I know, just how I feel. Not that sold on the wood trim either, but I'm more interested in having an all black interior.

Just get an aspec, I know what you mean tho, almost everyone would of paid for an advanced + aspec package if it could be combined

I glad you said "almost" :thumbsup:

Acoustic glass, adaptive dampers, and the HUD far outweigh the Aspec interior and wheels for me.

Yes, that last part “for me”. Those features are not good enough for me in my decision making. Acoustic glass if I recall is that for the sides (passengers & driver only)? I think the windshield is acoustic glass on A-spec. Active dampers when they get old and broken repairs can be hefty. Plus the RDX is also quiet and smooth on well paved roads. I plan to keep the RDX for a long time. HUD is not so much important to me either. I can get an after market one if need be. Not fancy integration with the car Navigation though.

What turned me off on the Advanced was not the price difference. Smaller wheels, terrible looking rims and red interior. The looks is more important to me. If I could get A-Spec look and Advance features I would in a heart beat.

I'm looking at doing some chrome delete on my AWD Tech, including the chrome up around the door windows and the piece that is above the rear most small windows. However, I can't find a good online parts diagram really anywhere that gives me the A-Spec part numbers for the black replacement pieces. Does anyone know what the two part numbers are for these? Also, is there an online OEM parts site that actually has full and zoomable parts diagrams? I'm also not sure where I am going to get these parts. It seems like the savings from the online parts places just get money back in shipping vs. dealing with a local dealer. Here is the part I'm looking for in black for the L and R sides:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...b04187581.jpeg

Wow, so this gets interesting now as it appears that the chrome piece there is part of the actual glass, so the glass will have to be replaced if I do a chrome delete using A-SPEC replacement parts. That $135 each side.

Are you ok with wrap, or going el-cheapo with some p-dip?

Well, I've never messed with that, so probably will do a "partial" chrome delete. I am doing the front and the black sides with A-SPEC parts, but leaving above the windows. When I bought mine, it had the chrome roof rails, so I'm not going to physically replace those and there is also a touch of chrome still on the front badge and the rear badging. So, I guess my project, for now, will be a partial delete.

Well, the sides are done so far. These are the Aspec replacement parts...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...7c9fa9d09.jpeg