Koni FSD dampers, anyone tried them, if so , what's the verdict.

Charlie Farley · Jun 25, 2017

Well, still chomping on the best way to go on the suspension front, was prettywell set on AP coilovers but relised today that I don't really need to go any lower and the H&R 45mm drop works and looks fine, just need to sort the ride quality out.
So rather than throwing good money away I was thinking on using my current springs with better dampers , saw these on DPM site and was curious if they were any good and would work with my current springs.
any input would be good.

Baka · Jun 25, 2017

I was considering these for my last car as they seemed to be the 'best of both worlds' shock. All the press reviews I read were certainly positive. Especially about the clever valving that deals with high and low speed compressions differently.

But there were a lot of people in the states at the time, reporting that they popped after a few weeks and lost all dampening. I don't know if this has been resolved?

Charlie Farley · Jun 26, 2017

Seems koni FSD's wont really work properly with my 45 H&R springs so have opted to go with the Bilstein B8 dampers as they will go well with my H&R springs.
time to get the wallet out again....

Baka · Jun 26, 2017

Cool, let us know what you think of them Rob. I'll be doing my shocks and springs once the bank balance had recovered a bit.

Charlie Farley · Jun 26, 2017

I was allways planning on going coilovers then picked up the H&R 45mm drop springs and have been using them on oem s-line dampers , which has been ok but could be improved on a fair bit.
I am very happy with the ride height i have now so it just seemed logical to upgrade to better dampers and the B8's seem to be the ideal partner to the springs.
I was temped to go a bit lower by using coilovers but the speed bumps around my neck of the wood can be a tad problematic and the undertray scrapes on a few as it is let alone going lower.

Baka · Jun 26, 2017

Makes sense to just get some really nice shocks, your drop is pretty much spot on looks wise.

I'll probably go for some Eibach Pro's and B4's. Which will hopefully be a bit more compliant than the 'scaffold pole' S-Line factory set up.

Charlie Farley · Jun 26, 2017

i love that description of s-line setup, really spot on ..lol

Jasesapphy · Jun 26, 2017

i was advised B8's over Koni's by a few tuners including Damien on here

Charlie Farley · Jun 26, 2017

they seem to be a good choice, I read a few bad reviews on them but that was down to the spring choice more than dampers, I think if you combine decent dampers and decent springs together one will have a fairly good setup, i'll know for sure soon enough....well has to be better than the tired oem dampers fitted at present.

Jasesapphy · Jun 26, 2017

i am on H&R springs

Charlie Farley · Jun 28, 2017

well ordered a bilstein B8 damper kit for the old bus on Monday from Germany for a good price , just waiting for DHL to arrive with them, hopefully before Friday so I can get them fitted before it goes in Monday the 3rd for the wheel arch rust warranty work....just hope they are going to be better than the oem items.

MPP · Jun 28, 2017

Got a link for the shocks?

Jasesapphy · Jun 28, 2017

Haven't ordered mine as I want to wait for your review
I been offered full kit £490 delivered (UK)
That's for Bilsten B8 3.0 TDI Quattro convertible
Apparently they are slightly different (probably due to weight)

Charlie Farley · Jun 28, 2017

here you go, they have gone up £15.00 since Monday but still a good price.
I paid £439 inc shipping , they were shipped Monday from Germany and have just arrived at my local depot.
I double checked the part numbers aswell before I ordered them so I know they are correct.

Charlie Farley · Jun 28, 2017

above are fitment for the following.
24-119818
24-119825

Charlie Farley · Jun 29, 2017

well parcel force dropped off my B8's today , a bit surprised really as it was DHL shipping them , anyway turned up lunchtime and box still looked like a box and not a crumpled heap of cardboard...lol , probably going to put the rear dampers on tomorrow as that's a pretty quick and easy swap and do the fronts on Saturday as that is a bit more long winded...

Charlie Farley · Jun 29, 2017

look like nice bits of kit aswell, I've not had a new set of bilsteins for a long time...they were always top banana kit before so hopefully still as good.

Charlie Farley · Jun 30, 2017

well half way through and I am very pleased with them.
Now bearing in mind I have only done the backs today, took the old bus out for a short drive around roads that I know the feel of and the change already is very noticeable, the rear end feels much more planted and a lot less harsh, really nice to be honest over the same bump that were horrible with the old dampers on, I wouldn't have thought there would be have such a marked improvement, going to do the fronts tomorrow so hoping for and even better overall improvement.
rear end sits spot on now in the wheel arch's and the car now sits level from left to right, which before it was down a shade on the nearside.
The combination of Bilstein B8's and H&R springs works exceptionally well on my old bus, should have done a long time ago, I can highly recommend the setup, I cant wait to get the fronts done now and enjoy some better handling driving with a much better level of comfort....its a win , win situation.

Jasesapphy · Jul 1, 2017

thats good news Rob, think i will pull the trigger on these an purchase

Can you let me know when all 4 are in?

Charlie Farley · Jul 1, 2017

doing them this afternoon .

Jasesapphy · Jul 1, 2017

keep us updated Rob

Charlie Farley · Jul 1, 2017

just having light refreshments now and then i'm on it..lol

J0N · Jul 1, 2017

Very interested in this thread, I love the height of mine with the Eibach Sportlines but it has to be said that the ride is harsh. The 'scaffold pole' description couldn't be more true and we hate speed bumps....

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Charlie Farley · Jul 1, 2017

all done and dusted, and very pleased with the end results.
So started at 3.00pm and all on done and tools away by 5.45pm allowing for more refreshments aswell, no major probs only the offside drop link was being a right pain to get the bolt back in without cross threading it....a few naughty words were shouted out for a few minutes..haha.

all I can say is , flippin brilliant, its a different car altogether now....its incredible the change that has taken place just by changing to a quality performance damper that's matched to the spring.
Its what audi should have fitted to start with instead of those so called s-line sport suspension jobbies fitted from the factory...
anyway, a very happy chappy again and I think money very well spent or invested even....i'm off for a bacon sarnie now..

J0N · Jul 1, 2017

Nice one Rob, a job well done.

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quattrogrip · Jul 12, 2017

Have you got a pic of the car on the ground as I need to order new springs and shocks myself but have a dilemma on either 30 or 45 drop. At the mo mine have sagged so much I'm prob near 45 anyway x thanks in advance

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Charlie Farley · Jul 12, 2017

I don't have the old bus at the moment as its still at the bodyshop , hoping to get it back Saturday morning so will update and put up some pics then, sorry cant be much more help today.

quattrogrip · Jul 12, 2017

That's ok won't order the bits till payday just got to make my mind up which springs to get

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8h3tdi · Jul 15, 2017

Jasesapphy said:
thats good news Rob, think i will pull the trigger on these an purchase

Can you let me know when all 4 are in?

Wish I done this since I swapped the springs out for some h&r's and Put on some koni srt. didn't have enough money at the time for the B8s. - ride is underdamped at times and a bit unsettled. If you go on eurocarparts get the part number and copy it onto car parts 4 less. You can order them off there. With the 12% discount code they are £473.

Charlie Farley · Jul 15, 2017

well got the old bus back today from body shop and here is how its sits on B8's with H&R 45mm drop spring allround, just right for me.

quattrogrip · Jul 15, 2017

Thanks for the pics rob that's perfect 4 me as I'm prob just about that with my saggy springs

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J0N · Jul 17, 2017

Just Rob. said:
well got the old bus back today from body shop and here is how its sits on B8's with H&R 45mm drop spring allround, just right for me.

View attachment 130947 View attachment 130948

How're you finding the Bilsteins Rob??

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Charlie Farley · Jul 17, 2017

good evening Jon, now funny you ask as I was just about to update the thread .
Now i'm not just saying this but they are excellent Jon, they have been on for just over two weeks but I have only been driving it for 4 days of that but thus far the improvement is really noticeable, I really don't know why I put up with the s-line ones for the last 3 years....
Handling is spot on , ride quality is so much better now , still sporty but with great comfort levels , even the wife likes the ride quality now...., ride height is just where I wanted it be so its a win win situation all round.
Are you thinking going the B8 route then Jon.

J0N · Jul 17, 2017

I need to do something Rob, while I still have my teeth. I love the ride height of my car, I think it's spot on but the ride is harsh over the bumps and I really have to slow down for the speed bumps. Just a reminder, I'm on Eibach Sportlines.

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J0N · Jul 17, 2017

235/30/19's too which is hardly going to improve things....

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Charlie Farley · Jul 18, 2017

I thought you were on 35's Jon , by somechance are yours a 9j rim aswell with those 30's on.

DieselJake · Jul 19, 2017

It'll still be fairly harsh but you should definitely be on 235 35 19 as this will be slightly more comfortable and make your speedo run a bit more correct (to be fair yours won't be too far out at the moment but it'll be reading a few mph under). Depending how wide the wheels are you could go for 245 or bigger too.

Charlie Farley · Jul 19, 2017

yep as above , I was about to say you really should be on 35's as they will be a more user friendly than the 30 profiles that will be a lot harder and feel much harsh on the roads, but all down to personal choice, don't forget though , as the tyre width increases the profile will change aswell so a 235/35 will have a different overall profile to a 245/35 , not by much though....

J0N · Jul 21, 2017

Just checked and I tell a lie, I'm on 35's. I'd still like a solution to my eyes wobbling every time I go over the bumps though and the B8's are sounding favourite. However, I'd hate to stump up the money and be disappointed. Also, it seems that they're not the easiest things to get hold of??

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Charlie Farley · Jul 21, 2017

where are based Jon, you're more than welcome to go out in my old bus and see what they ride like, then you can decide if you wish to change.
they are very easy to get hold Jon, I found getting them from a german outlet worked out a brilliant and by far the cheapest and most reliable service.

Koni FSD dampers, anyone tried them, if so , what's the verdict.

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