When ride quality is a priority, who makes the best coilover for our cars?

[M1ke]

I will be shopping for coilovers soon and I am really not interested in a harsh ride. I don't need/want to lower the car much and ride quality is a priority.

-OR-

Could should I just buy OEM sport suspension? How much lower does the car sit with this?

[OB1]

Stick with your OEM suspension if your prioritize ride quality.

[dennisA4]

I was so impressed with the KW V1's on my A3 (ride quality was better than the stock sport suspension) that I got them for my A4.
Being installed this week.

[BaysideS4]

Stasis but that is based on cross platform experience: B5 MTM, B6 Bilstein, B7 Stasis, B8 Bilstein.

Problem is they have to be disassembled and serviced and you've seen recent posts. When the Ohlins were working they were great.

[Dbrewer]

I will be shopping for coilovers soon and I am really not interested in a harsh ride. I don't need/want to lower the car much and ride quality is a priority.

-OR-

Could should I just buy OEM sport suspension? How much lower does the car sit with this?

I put on H&R OE sport springs. 1.2 in all around lowering. Not too much of a difference unless you're really on bumpy roads. I'm happy with the ride quality and I was really nervous about putting them on.

Little bump>big wheel gap

[Liquid Smoke]

if you don't care to go too low then i would go with the OEM sports suspension, make sure it's the sport springs and also the sports shocks/struts. the OEM sports suspension is 0.8" lower than stock. that's the S4 height too and IMO looks pretty decent still, and you'll still get a nice comfortable ride, nothing can top the OEM comfort. and for comparison, the H&R OE springs which give the mildest drop of lowering springs go 1.2" lower, so it's a bit more but the OEM sports still looks decent.

coilovers will be expensive but the cheapest is the solos and those are pretty cheap.

if you have the OEM non-sports shocks i would not get lowering springs, after a year or so the ride will turn pretty harsh, i have the H&R OE level drop springs and it happened to me, so if you do get that be ready to change suspension again in a year or two.

[M1ke]

Right on liquid smoke I was using this same reasoning with my purchasing. So where are you guys getting your OEM sport suspensions? Used, New etc? New seems like it would be super expensive.

[kwbdc]

If cost is not prohibitive, Bilstein PSS10 coilovers are great IMHO. Ride quality is very comfortable if you dial up the dampening.

[o1turbo30v]

KW Street Comfort Coilovers. Or any dampening adjustable coilover, that way you can set how soft or firm the dampening is.

[dennisA4]

Right on liquid smoke I was using this same reasoning with my purchasing. So where are you guys getting your OEM sport suspensions? Used, New etc? New seems like it would be super expensive.

I'll have a set for you this weekend with 10k miles on them.

[M1ke]

^^ PM Sent.

Are there any inherent issues with running the KW's? knocking, thumping, bouncing etc?

[VMRWheels]

+1 for KWs. They're pretty solid and they're relatively comfortable. Just keep in mind that in most cases, it's not going to feel exactly like an OEM option would.

[hoppy6698]

I would recommend avoiding coil overs altogether. After 3 years on ST coils, I found them too harsh. While others may be softer, they get more expensive as you improve in ride quality. I would offer a different option: Bilstein B12 pro kit (see my review here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...o-Kit-A-Review). They are FAR improved over both OEM ride and coils. They provide the drop I desired, while not going too low, and the ride is very compliant (read sporty, but not harsh and definitely not jarring).

End ride height is about 25.5-26 inches from ground to top of the wheel arch.

[Liquid Smoke]

yeah most coilovers will be harder than OEM because they're firmer and made for the track and performance. there are a few coilovers like H&R Street Comforts and Solo-werks, which have gotten great reviews and are cheap. for an OEM sports, cheapest is to get a low mileage set like dennisA4 just offered, otherwise new through the dealer would be a bit expensive. but yea if you can get that used set go for it.

[dennisA4]

Just had my KW V1's installed today and just as with my previous Audi, they feel pretty much as good as the OEM sport! Almost imperceivable, yet I'm quite a bit lower.
I wouldn't even say any of it feels worse, just "different".
But if you swapped them out while i was sleeping without my knowledge, i doubt I would have noticed a diff.

[r6_11b8]

no matter what coilover you get or try they are all going to be harsh on rough surfaces...smooth roads is whole nother story...my solos feel almost as smooth as oem..biggest plus for me is it took away that bounciness oem suspension had...rough roads and pot holes suck but that will be with any coilover you get

[dennisA4]

Our surface roads get pretty rough.
The V1's are VERY compliant.
That's why I went with them again.

[Jerry1847]

I put st's on last month, the ride is great for me. Not rough but not floaty, nice and firm. The car does sit low for me but, I have big tires that probably makes the car look lower than it really is. I'm ~26in to the center of the fender.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Our surface roads get pretty rough.
The V1's are VERY compliant.
That's why I went with them again.

+1, they are comfy. I do not see how anyone could feel they are harsh. I found them to be too soft for my liking.

[notazombie]

If you've got the money, it sounds like you want remotely adjustable suspension.

http://www.carid.com/2010-audi-a4-su...-14868813.html

A lot of higher-end European cars have this where you can retain the comfort of ride height and some sway-bounce to help deal with rough roads and with the press of a button stiffen the suspension and lower it a bit. This way you retain the best features of both types of suspension. Unfortunately, the things that make rides comfy are the things that make the car slower and less aggressive-looking.

http://www.apikol.com/index.php/bils...-pss10-b8.html

The Bilsteins are $2,200 and offer an OEMish solution. Installation will probably be another $1,000 or more and the electronic component means I'd want certified shop work, but if you want comfort and performance, it's what you want.

[tinka]

Interesting thread, how are the spring kits, with aftermarket shock absorbers, I remember the Koni FSD ones, but I'm not sure if they are available for the b8, the seemed to be a good compromise.

[Beast]

go with air ride (accuair b8sportkit) set it at any height you want.

[ChornsYYC]

Interesting thread, how are the spring kits, with aftermarket shock absorbers, I remember the Koni FSD ones, but I'm not sure if they are available for the b8, the seemed to be a good compromise.

Currently I have H&R OE springs installed with Bilstein sport shocks. The ride is noticeably stiffer than OEM. However, the performance gains are significant and the drop is right where I want it considering the harsh winters we deal with where I live. I notice a lot of people simply swap in aftermarket springs without touching the shocks. This is a mistake in my experience. The OEM shocks will not last long on shorter aftermarket springs.

[M1ke]

Just had my KW V1's installed today and just as with my previous Audi, they feel pretty much as good as the OEM sport! Almost imperceivable, yet I'm quite a bit lower.
I wouldn't even say any of it feels worse, just "different".
But if you swapped them out while i was sleeping without my knowledge, i doubt I would have noticed a diff.

Glad to hear it dennis. Hear from you monday?

[kaklexicon]

Has anyone gone with OEM sport springs with aftermarket shocks?

[Stuke'ite]

I love my Bilstien's ride. You can not set them super low and they will be nice and firm, but very nice riding. Think BMW M car, or similar. Mine is a DD.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[hookahmaster]

I'm running Vogtlands in they are pretty comfortable, but as everyone has been saying, if you want maximum ride quality and don't wanna go that low, stick with stock suspension, or go to the SPort OEM, or just do springs, but of the most part Audi's seem to ride pretty smooth with coil-overs..

[Limey]

Bilstein PSS10's. Enough said


Later Gents

[BaysideS4]

The Bilstein B12 works good for me. OEM sport is outrageously expensive. I was looking at replacing mine and the dealer quoted some ridiculous price. The Bilsteins were less than $1000 shipped.

[M1ke]

I picked up the oem sport from Dennis. He will ship them Monday or Tuesday which is awesome but here's the rub: I am getting my hip replaced on Tuesday so can you imagine having that box sitting on the shop floor for at least 6 weeks all the while saying install me! Oh well I can't even drive for a few weeks.

[MAG76]

I picked up the oem sport from Dennis. He will ship them Monday or Tuesday which is awesome but here's the rub: I am getting my hip replaced on Tuesday so can you imagine having that box sitting on the shop floor for at least 6 weeks all the while saying install me! Oh well I can't even drive for a few weeks.

Hi M1ke. Hope the surgery goes well. The car and parts will always be there, just heal up soon. Take care.

[hoppy6698]

Has anyone gone with OEM sport springs with aftermarket shocks?

I did this for a short while - like others have said, I don't recommend it. Once the stock shocks go, you will be paying all over again just to replace them. Suggest a kit designed for a lower stance, either shock/spring set or coil over kits. I have done ST coils, but wasn't a fan - they went real low, but they were too stiff, not very forgiving, and only felt good on a track or nice roads. I recently moved to the Bilstein/Eibach B12 pro kit (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...o-Kit-A-Review). Sits about the same height, but smoother ride.

Like everyone has noted - almost no drop kit (coil or spring/shock) will be as soft as OEM kits. But most of us like the sportier feeling of our kits and the better appearances - so we are willing to tolerate the differences.

[dennisA4]

I have done ST coils, but wasn't a fan - they went real low, but they were too stiff, not very forgiving, and only felt good on a track or nice roads.

Yet another reason i don't believe the STs are the same as the KW V1's.