How low should I go? A3 V6

[B120WNY]

Hey guys,

Im looking at fitting some 19" BBS speelines and dropping the car a bit to make it look a touch better.

There was a page on the rimz thread with some lovely looking motors but I couldnt tell how much they had been lowered!

Ive a 3.2 sportback, and I do about 200miles a week on main roads, just easy cruising no thrashing round corners. Im looking for a lowered look and a comfortable ride if possible...?!

Im thinking of a 35mm drop with Eibach springs, as they seem the better ones, altho im unsure about dampers. Is 35mm enough to notice a difference? Any suggestions on dampers for a comfortable street ride?

Any comments, suggestions and pics much appreciated!

Thanks

 

[smurfworth]

You won't get comfort with 19's.

Depends how much of a gap in the arches you want as to what setup to go for.

Is urs an se sport or s line?

 

[B120WNY]

Yeah true enough. I guess il after my cake and eating it, but the most comfortable as possible on 19"s really.

Mine is an Sline.

 

[smurfworth]

30mm springs make an s line sit 5mm lower.

Honest opinion, like I always recommend, a decent set of coilovers would be best.

Wouldn't go any cheaper than the basic AP's

 

[B120WNY]

Ok, so all the springs are based on reducing ride from the standard model.

Ive always though of coilovers as giving a stiff ride, for better handling etc?

Anyone lowered with both coilovers and a good spring/shock combination any can compare?

Il have a look at those AP's.

 

[Sevv]

18's with a 30mm drop, if you want dampeners then you need a coil over kit

 

[smurfworth]

Ok, so all the springs are based on reducing ride from the standard model.

Ive always though of coilovers as giving a stiff ride, for better handling etc?

Anyone lowered with both coilovers and a good spring/shock combination any can compare?

Il have a look at those AP's.

Yes the height is taken from SE spec. So 30mm springs are 30mm lower than the SE model.

I thought the same about coilovers only because my only experience before the AP's were JOM's. I see the reason why there are more expensive coilovers now.

I've had 50mm H&R's on mine and my AP's and I can safely say the AP's are miles better.

18's with a 30mm drop, if you want dampeners then you need a coil over kit

Stop talking balls, it's people like you who come on here, make up some bullshi that confuses everyone. You can get spring and damper kits just as much as you can get coilover kits.

 

[DPM]

A good quality springs and shocks kit will always give you more comfort over coilovers but with 19's on comfort is going to be very hard to achieve.

Damian @ DPM Performance

 

[leeds2592]

Feel like I say the same thing in every one of these types of threads.

First decision you need to make is how much you want to spend. Then decide whether you want springs or coilovers.

 

[B120WNY]

Im willing to spend up to 1k on a suspension setup to have it lowered on 19"s and attempt to keep the ride comfy.

Had a bit read, and the bilstein pss coilovers look a good bet.

Without lowering and big wheels, people are reporting there as comfortable if not better, than the standard setup!

Im going to look round for a good deal on them, im not after cheap ones just to make do. I maintain and upgrade the car regardless of budget.

 

[Ian a3v6]

Hi Guys
Long time lurker but decided to join in .For what its worth I have H and R comfort [35mm] drop on my 3.2 quattro with 19's and super pro bushes and it pretty comfortable .It rides better than a standard s-line , IMO .

 

[S3Alex]

Im willing to spend up to 1k on some suspension setup to have the lowered look on 19"s and attempt to keep the ride comfy.

Had a bit read, and the bilstein pss coilovers look a good bet.

Without lowering and big wheels, people are reporting there as comfortable if not better, than the standard setup!

Im going to look round for a good deal on them, im not after cheap ones just to make do. I maintain and upgrade the car regardless of budget.

The Bilstein and kW series are good setups(I've been using kW on mine since the start),and if set up properly,can be as comfortable as stock,but with much greater ride and body control.

The key is not buying anything too cheap,as the ride is often choppy.

 

[leeds2592]

If you're spending that much, look at the Bilstein B14/16 or KW coilovers, neither are cheap but both are highly rated.

 

[smurfworth]

Nobody ever mentions the H&R ultralow coilover series. Probably the most comfy coilovers you'll ever experience. Starts at 50mm and lowers to 140mm if you even need to haha

 

[leeds2592]

Nobody ever mentions the H&R ultralow coilover series. Probably the most comfy coilovers you'll ever experience. Starts at 50mm and lowers to 140mm if you even need to haha

140mm?! Be laying frame if you went that low

 

[smurfworth]

140mm?! Be laying frame if you went that low

That's the point of them mate haha. Look for pics on google. Looks like they are on bags ha

 

[S3Alex]

140mm?! Be laying frame if you went that low

I think I've told this one on another thread,but anyway....

Driving home one night,there's a Leon Cupra in front,with a hoooge exhaust,and the thing starts diving all over the road and going really slow,and I wonder what's up with the guy,until I realise he's so low to the ground that he simply can't go any faster or drive in a straight line without taking the bottom out of his car.

That's the definition of too low.

 

[leeds2592]

That's the point of them mate haha. Look for pics on google. Looks like they are on bags ha

I've seen some pretty low static cars and just think 'How the frig can that be a daily?!' The distance between the arch and stretched rubber is scarily close on some cars. Love that look but I couldn't have a daily like that.

I think I've told this one on another thread,but anyway....

Driving home one night,there's a Leon Cupra in front,with a hoooge exhaust,and the thing starts diving all over the road and going really slow,and I wonder what's up with the guy,until I realise he's so low to the ground that he simply can't go any faster or drive in a straight line without taking the bottom out of his car.

That's the definition of too low.

Don't worry mate, loads of ****ty Saxo's/106's etc round my way like that with ridiculous reverse rake.

 

[S3Alex]

The best handling car I've ever owned had a lot of suspension travel,as well as respectable room around the arches.......lowering is all very well until t gets in the way of driving the car.

On our crummy roads you need decent travel to allow for the potholes!

And on the subject of Saxos......yes exactly!

 

[smurfworth]

H&R Ultralows

All the way up:

All the way down:

See, the thing with these are, you could have them wound all the way up and still be 50mm lower than SE spec but with FULL suspension travel meaning lots of comfort, or have it all the way down where its impossible to drive. The whole point in the ultra lows is to be as comfy as possible.

As everyone should know, coilovers become uncomfier the further they are wound down due to the shorter damper travel.

 

[c_w]

All the way up looks good, just "right".

Bilstein B8 Sprint dampers are good out of the box.

The problem with coilovers as I see it just can introduce issues of setup, sometimes too much adjustability leaves the user confused and forever fiddling with them.

As long as the ride height works, a spring and good damper setup to fit and forget can be best unless its a track car.

 

[B120WNY]

Oh well a good few options there then!

So Ian, are yours coilovers? And are they 35mm from se or Sline height? Any pictures?

I like the idea of the bilsteins...!

On another note, got my full magnaflow system fitted today incl oem sports cats downpipe and it sounds great. Nice and quiet when needed too!

Got it for 820 delivered from the USA and 100 cash fitted! Well chuffed saying as audi wanted 2k for a supply only of a standard system!

The quality of the magnaflow is top notch, fantastic fit.

 

[B120WNY]

Yeah I'd take a spring shock setup of top quality with the right drop and ride quality. Just not sure what to choose!

Like you say, too much adjustment can be a bad thing.