Coilovers for the 8V

[vacant]

Did you get the Ride control version?

No, just normal B16s with the settings around the middle, with a 15mm ish drop. Will give it a couple of weeks and then decide if I want to tweak anything. If I do I'll probably let the garage do it, as adjustments look like a bit of a pain in the bum!

I was never of the opinion that the handling was particularly bad, but it does seem a fairly big step forward so far. Living out in the fens it only took about 5 minutes of driving to find that the "bounce" has gone too which is great!

 

[rcnacura]

No, just normal B16s with the settings around the middle, with a 15mm ish drop. Will give it a couple of weeks and then decide if I want to tweak anything. If I do I'll probably let the garage do it, as adjustments look like a bit of a pain in the bum!

I was never of the opinion that the handling was particularly bad, but it does seem a fairly big step forward so far. Living out in the fens it only took about 5 minutes of driving to find that the "bounce" has gone too which is great!

The adjustment isn't too difficult, just takes some time. I did the rear and raised it up to the highest setting and that took about 20 minues each side mainly because its so hard to get the wrenches in the proper place to turn. The fronts are pretty easy after the car is in the air, but will take some time too.

The measurements I did:
From the bottom of the lock nut to the lip of the body of the shock.
Front: 2.375” or 60.325mm
Rear: 2.125” or 53.975mm

Interested in your opinion of them after you have some additional seat time. My review is at: http://www.audiworld.com/forums/aud...b16-ride-control-review-2884481/#post24694004

 

[Steph67]

No, just normal B16s with the settings around the middle, with a 15mm ish drop. Will give it a couple of weeks and then decide if I want to tweak anything. If I do I'll probably let the garage do it, as adjustments look like a bit of a pain in the bum!

I was never of the opinion that the handling was particularly bad, but it does seem a fairly big step forward so far. Living out in the fens it only took about 5 minutes of driving to find that the "bounce" has gone too which is great!

If it's just the settings, you can actually change all 4 corners in about a minute by reaching your hand in. Fronts are a fumble until you find the adjusters (you can't see them) but once you find them the first time you'll be able to do it by touch in seconds.

Height adjustment is a fiddle at the rear, and pretty time consuming, but front is pretty quick and easy.

Be interested to hear your thoughts on settings, I'm finding it best with a front bias, have been flitting between 3 front / 2 rear and 4 front / 3 rear. I'm leaning towards 4 & 3 as my final day to day setting, though some may find that a bit firm.

 

[vacant]

So... After about 500 miles:

It's actually more comfortable than on the standard suspension.

I'm really impressed with the grip levels, it's fairly spectacular really. I'm confident that changing the settings slightly I could end up with pretty much zero roll, but the small amount on the current settings is fine.

Steering feel is improved slightly, but not massively. I feel I can be more accurate with it though.

So, really happy I randomly decided to drop a load of money on an already expensive car, as the results are just what I wanted. The car also looks miles better with its bum closer to the ground!

Worth mentioning that I changed to Michelin Pilot Supersports too, which has helped the above.

 

[Dandanfings]

So... After about 500 miles:

It's actually more comfortable than on the standard suspension.

I'm really impressed with the grip levels, it's fairly spectacular really. I'm confident that changing the settings slightly I could end up with pretty much zero roll, but the small amount on the current settings is fine.

Steering feel is improved slightly, but not massively. I feel I can be more accurate with it though.

So, really happy I randomly decided to drop a load of money on an already expensive car, as the results are just what I wanted. The car also looks miles better with its bum closer to the ground!

Worth mentioning that I changed to Michelin Pilot Supersports too, which has helped the above.

Which shocks did you get?

 

[vacant]

B16s, without ride control.

 

[Dandanfings]

Well it took a total of 2 months to source my B14's and find time to install, but i have to say the wait was worth it








The car is 90% as smooth and supple as stock, there is still some body roll evident but that might be down to me only have the car lowered about 15-20mm over stock.
What i am most happy about is the high speed confidence, before when traveling above 70mph i felt like i wasn't in control and that the car was floating and jittery..... that is all gone now and its solid as a rock!.

 

[vacant]

Yay for White Coilover'ered S3s! I'm still totally happy with mine, and havent felt the need to change any settings at all. I'm toying with going for some 19s when I can eventually afford it, but for now enjoying it

 

[Richy_C]

For the love of god I am looking at getting some of these now, felt like I hit a bouncy castle today and nearly went off the road, not even exaggerating! How much did you get charged to fit them? Seems DPM have the best price as always ;-)

 

[veeeight]

^ takes you by surprise, the first time it happens, doesn't it!

 

[Richy_C]

I'll say! Landed on the bump stops and started to rotate, until it bounced again and corrected. Got a quote from shark performance.

B14 £1,186.80 inc vat and installed
B16 £1,729.20 " "

Unless anyone can convince me otherwise I'm getting the B14.

 

[vacant]

Well my B16s are on the mid settings and I havent felt the need to make any changes, assuming B14s are set somewhere around there then I prob would have got away with them and saved myself some money if I'd found any

 

[Dandanfings]

I find it still rolls too much on my b14s, especially on the ring.
Have a anti roll bar coming this week that should solve that.

Should be a weapon after that!

 

[Richy_C]

ARGH!!!! no stock in UK or Germany anyway...

would have to wait until October for the next run. offered a KW kit instead? anyone any opinions on this. need to look it up, should have done that first actually.

 

[FBF01]

Has anyone come across the below. Quite cheap at 500. Presume they are cheap for a reason?
AP Coilovers - Audi S3 Quattro (8V),

 

[Don76]

Has anyone come across the below. Quite cheap at 500. Presume they are cheap for a reason?
AP Coilovers - Audi S3 Quattro (8V),

AP coilovers are a mid range offering. They have a good rep in the Golf/Mini tuning world.

Not the nasty bone shaker type, but for sure not up to the levels of H&R or Bilstein.

I'd consider H&R supersport springs with uprated dampers. For similar costs you'll achieve aggressive stance plus good comfort whilst eliminating that dreaded bounce from the standard set up.

 

[RobH_S3]

Just ordered some bilstien b14s from Germany £700 all in.

 

[visionthing]

Just ordered some bilstien b14s from Germany £700 all in.

Rob, can I ask where from. I ordered from one supplier and contacted another and was told earliest delivery would be December from Bilstein factory, and have since cancelled the order.

 

[Don76]

Just ordered some bilstien b14s from Germany £700 all in.

Great value

 

[RobH_S3]

Ego-autotuning.de was gonna get some a while back not sure on stock but they come when they come I guess said 5-15 days eu countries.

 

[visionthing]

I've given up with Bilstein for now, can't get stock anywhere.

Gone for these instead > https://translate.google.com/transl...28851-10.A3-8V-QUATTRO-INCL-SPORTBACK-QUATTRO

 

[Bradks3]

They look interesting... Let us know how you get on with them

 

[cpc_s3]

wonder if we could get a group buy going?

 

[visionthing]

From what I can gather the H&R coilover kit uses Bilstein dampers, got an email saying dispatching tomorrow.

 

[RobH_S3]

Some bilstien b14s landed today surprised how quick they came all for £700 bargain!!!

 

[visionthing]

Some bilstien b14s landed today surprised how quick they came all for £700 bargain!!!

That's impressive, the H&R's are leaving Germany today, hope they are of comparable quality to the Bilstein's.

 

[FBF01]

637 for H and Rs or 700 for the Bilstein...impressive! What website are the bilsteins from, and cost to fit approx with 4 wheel alignment, 300?

 

[Steph67]

637 for H and Rs or 700 for the Bilstein...impressive! What website are the bilsteins from, and cost to fit approx with 4 wheel alignment, 300?

Got mine fitted with alignment for £200, other price I was quoted was £210, both including VAT.

 

[FBF01]

Got mine fitted with alignment for £200, other price I was quoted was £210, both including VAT.

Ehhhhhhh?!?!?!? Guy I was emailing is trying to rob me then whilst I'm over a barrel. That's a great price. Do you think Audi would fit them or an independent garage? Guy I was emailing is a specialist so he clearly charges crazy *** prices.

 

[visionthing]

Ehhhhhhh?!?!?!? Guy I was emailing is trying to rob me then whilst I'm over a barrel. That's a great price. Do you think Audi would fit them or an independent garage? Guy I was emailing is a specialist so he clearly charges crazy *** prices.

£200 inc alignment here when I had my lowering springs fitted, expecting to pay the same for the coilovers. A small part of me is considering DIY, but I usually get halfway through a job and thoroughly regret not paying a pro in the first place..

Audi dealership labour rates will be crazy. Probably upwards of £400.

Any indy garage should be able to change out shocks. The alignment is where the skill/knowledge comes in, and even then most garages rely on machines i.e Hunter/laser alignment.

 

[FBF01]

£200 inc alignment here when I had my lowering springs fitted, expecting to pay the same for the coilovers. A small part of me is considering DIY, but I usually get halfway through a job and thoroughly regret not paying a pro in the first place..

Audi dealership labour rates will be crazy. Probably upwards of £400.

Any indy garage should be able to change out shocks. The alignment is where the skill/knowledge comes in, and even then most garages rely on machines i.e Hunter/laser alignment.

Ok, 200 it is then. Il shop about then. Don't want to pay too much and not enough means they've been fitted by a cowboy.

I take it the lowering springs were just a temporary fix until you invested in coil overs? The springs clearly offer no improvement on handling but I'm amazed some people say there is a slight improvement. Anything you've noticed?

 

[RobH_S3]

637 for H and Rs or 700 for the Bilstein...impressive! What website are the bilsteins from, and cost to fit approx with 4 wheel alignment, 300?

There from ego-autotuning.de and yeah as said above around £200 to fit all in!

Top service surprised how quick they came with everyone saying no bilstien stock till December.

 

[visionthing]

I take it the lowering springs were just a temporary fix until you invested in coil overs? The springs clearly offer no improvement on handling but I'm amazed some people say there is a slight improvement. Anything you've noticed?

For a while I thought lowering springs (H&R) were great. However the honeymoon period is well and truly over. They offer a cheap solution for lowering the stance of your car and that's about it. The trade off is that you have a set of springs on OEM dampers that are completely mismatched. I feel at times like I am driving a pogo stick. Attacking a corner at speed can be unnerving if there is any hint of undulation in the road, it quite literally can throw you off course.

I don't know if using lowering springs is any worse than stock suspension, but it's certainly not any better. It's been a long time since I have driven an A3/S3 on stock suspension, but plenty on this forum will attest to the pogo stick like feeling with the stock suspension. The OEM dampers clearly aren't fit for purpose.

Hopefully a reasonable investment in coilovers will go some way to ridding the car of the "bounce", we shall see.

 

[veeeight]

Words fail me as to just how wrong Audi got the S3 dampers.

The previous generation S3 8P didn't have this issue in the magnitude of the 8V.

 

[cpc_s3]

my dealer has told me that mag ride isnt standard on s3 hatchbacks. £995 option. lol

 

[Dandanfings]

Words fail me as to just how wrong Audi got the S3 dampers.

The previous generation S3 8P didn't have this issue in the magnitude of the 8V.

Cutting corners, they use Sachs dampers which are pretty cheap.
Same thing with the turbos too, IHI are famously the cheapest and look what that's done...

 

[visionthing]

Just a heads up, if anyone is after a set of B14 coilovers part no. (47-229976) - then > http://www.fahrwerke-stossdaempfer.de/en/index.php has a set in stock, next set(s) were not due until December. Got an email this morning, however have already ordered H&R's from elsewhere.
Price is 785 euro plus 25.90 euro shipping which is a bargain.

 

[S3118]

Heads up...Just ordered some B14 from Deamon Tweakes £780 free shipping arrive Wednesday. Happy days.
Talk to Craig if interested.

 

[Dandanfings]

I'm glad everyone has gone for the b14s, they just make so much sense as a upgrade!
Under £1000 fitted and setup perfectly is money well spent, you won't regret it.

 

[visionthing]

Well they have arrived.

Note the Bilstein stamp on the dampers.

Fitting next Friday, so will give an update, good or bad once they are on.