Accuair vs Airlift

[Sftuner]

Just received a quote on the accuair full solution price and it really shocked me how expensive it is. Airlift is somewhat less expensive it seems. Anyone have experience with Airlift?

[bknewtype]

from what i read, accuair is only the management and does not make the bags/suspension itself. most that use accuair management goes with airlift bags. i have a full airlift setup. autopilot v2 to be exact. i love mine. no complaints at all. i guess the accuair management is more advanced to warrant the increase in price. my airlift management gives me 8 presets plus the ability to manually adjust each corner. @switchedstance would be able to help you out

do it.

Obligatory photo whoring

[switchedstance]

from what i read, accuair is only the management and does not make the bags/suspension itself.@switchedstance would be able to help you out

This was true when you bought your kit, but now Accuair makes a bag and bracket setup for the b8 platform. The front kit mounts to your stock struts (not ideal since they will be under dampened for the increased spring rate and lower ride height) or on any front strut with a removable OEM style lower spring seat. This means the Accuair front kit utilizes the OEM style strut bearing, where Air Lift uses their own proprietary setup. Accuair's are not adjustable for effective length like the Air Lift struts, which is necessary to properly balance ride height and pressure based on your preference.

Management wise, Accuair uses leveling sensors to determine height, Air Lift uses pressure. There are pros and cons to both, feel free to seek those answers for yourself. Accuair can also be used without leveling sensors as a "digital manual" style setup, as I am running.

That all said, I have had 2 sets of Air Lift struts on 2 different cars. 75k miles combined driving, mostly NYC roads, with the system being exposed to sub freezing temps every winter. The only issues I have ever had is a failed strut bearing from a monster pothole, which probably would have failed if it had been OEM anyway. I bought my Accuair management before Air Lift Autopilot v2 came out, but I mostly sell the v2's, since they are by far the most user friendly.

[ip428]

From my experience dealing with both. On my last car i decided on Autopilot (Airlift's management) solely on the fact that it was a small controller, which was basically a wire inside my car for the install. Both great systems, but I'm an engineer and I need to see pressure on all corners at all times, which is what Airlift controllers do. Now, Airlift is pressure based systems, vs accuair being a height based systems. They say Accuair is a lot more consistent on the presets, but to me both are the same. Only disadvantage I see in Accuair is the fact that you will need to buy pressure senders, and pressure gauges in order to monitor air on tank and all corners. If all pressures were shown on Accuair's remote, man it would have made my decision so much easier. And I wouldnt recommend going with a manual setup either, stay digital or digital manual, as switchedstance mentioned.

Now, thats management. Anything other than that you will need to research on your own. I rocked BC Coilovers with UAS bags and they worked like a charm.

So, look into what suspension you want to run, and then look into management, as it will be the heart of your system. Cheap route is coilovers paired with uas bags and brackets, then price goes up if you want to get air struts. So, all of this is only on forums and this is solely my own opinion through my experience being bagged. I will probably go with Accuair this time around, just to try something different, but if cost is key, then you cant beat airlift's package.

[John@Roc-Euro]

The V2 system is a universal application, a one-size-fits most scenario. It certainly requires the end user to be responsible for where to mount an air tank, how to secure it, where to put compressors and how to isolate the vibration from the car, where to run wiring, how to set up relays and whatnot.. this is all on you. Then how to doll that up to not be an ugly pile in the back of your car.

The AccuAir kit is more like a tailored suit.
Dedicated bracketry, dedicated hardware, robust components, and a minimally impacting install. Thanks to the eLevel system, its auto load leveling. So while the V2 guys have to sit there and adjust the car height based on passengers or gear, the SportKit does it for you.
The main perk of the AccuAir Sportkit is that it's as close to plug and play as humanely possible.

You get it, you assemble most of the kit off the car, and then spend a single day installing it per the extremely comprehensive and included instructions.
It is in fact, so mechanically well put together that we use it for additional platforms and trunk layouts, beyond the B8 platform.

If you're after internet fame and just need photos of a car dumped on the ground, well, ok.
If you're after performance, quality hardware, not hacking into your car to do the install, and not have to figure out half the layout, and be able to just get in and go, every day, regardless of conditions or who's with you... AccuAir.

Aware that I come off gruff, that's pretty much the bottom line basics. And yes, it should be clearly stated that Airlift makes many components, and sometimes Airlift and AccuAir are combined - I have Airlift Performance suspension on my Mk7, powered by AccuAir management, because I like that.

We installed a sport kit on on a locals B8.5 last year. One day install, maybe 6hrs actually on the car. Awesome. I watched a local struggle on a multi-day install adventure of non-reversible cutting, stripped nutserts, power supply issues, and knuckle busting with a V2/Airlift setup. And that was absolutely NOT his first rodeo.
3 days labor vs 1 day? How much are you 'saving' in that scenario?

Dedicated hardware = always better than universal. Typically though, yes, it costs more. The A5/S5 is more expensive than a camry, but they're both just cars. Lol, there's always more to the story.

If you want to chat more, hit me up. Piles of both brands installs here, there is a reason we offer nearly free installs on the SportKits

[bknewtype]

so that means accuair is made for specific cars, but v2 can be put on any car? glad i went with airlift then, should i ever sell the car, ill salvage the parts and bag the next one (;

[Sgibb16]

The V2 system is a universal application, a one-size-fits most scenario. It certainly requires the end user to be responsible for where to mount an air tank, how to secure it, where to put compressors and how to isolate the vibration from the car, where to run wiring, how to set up relays and whatnot.. this is all on you. Then how to doll that up to not be an ugly pile in the back of your car.

The AccuAir kit is more like a tailored suit.
Dedicated bracketry, dedicated hardware, robust components, and a minimally impacting install. Thanks to the eLevel system, its auto load leveling. So while the V2 guys have to sit there and adjust the car height based on passengers or gear, the SportKit does it for you.
The main perk of the AccuAir Sportkit is that it's as close to plug and play as humanely possible.

You get it, you assemble most of the kit off the car, and then spend a single day installing it per the extremely comprehensive and included instructions.
It is in fact, so mechanically well put together that we use it for additional platforms and trunk layouts, beyond the B8 platform.

If you're after internet fame and just need photos of a car dumped on the ground, well, ok.
If you're after performance, quality hardware, not hacking into your car to do the install, and not have to figure out half the layout, and be able to just get in and go, every day, regardless of conditions or who's with you... AccuAir.

Aware that I come off gruff, that's pretty much the bottom line basics. And yes, it should be clearly stated that Airlift makes many components, and sometimes Airlift and AccuAir are combined - I have Airlift Performance suspension on my Mk7, powered by AccuAir management, because I like that.

We installed a sport kit on on a locals B8.5 last year. One day install, maybe 6hrs actually on the car. Awesome. I watched a local struggle on a multi-day install adventure of non-reversible cutting, stripped nutserts, power supply issues, and knuckle busting with a V2/Airlift setup. And that was absolutely NOT his first rodeo.
3 days labor vs 1 day? How much are you 'saving' in that scenario?

Dedicated hardware = always better than universal. Typically though, yes, it costs more. The A5/S5 is more expensive than a camry, but they're both just cars. Lol, there's always more to the story.

If you want to chat more, hit me up. Piles of both brands installs here, there is a reason we offer nearly free installs on the SportKits

@bknewtype .....burn

[bknewtype]

@bknewtype .....burn

ill take instafame over performance in nyc traffic anyday bruh

[John@Roc-Euro]

ill take instafame over performance in nyc traffic anyday bruh

lol I'm not aiming shit at anyone. And yeah f*ck NYC traffic.

[Boden AutoHaus]

Sftuner,

While I am not sure what your quote looked like or what the full specs of the kit you were looking at was, shoot us a message. We deal with both Accuair and Airlift on a daily basis and we can go over a few different options with you as well as pros and cons to make something work.

I also noticed your in CA, if your any where near Costa Mesa stop in and see us and can show you up close and in person what this stuff is all about. Photo below of a typical day at our shop.

Cheers

[bknewtype]

lol I'm not aiming shit at anyone. And yeah f*ck NYC traffic.

no worries. id idnt buy it for performance. i only bought it cause i was tired of scraping my bumper every time i pulled out of the drive way.

but to some of your points:

my v2 handles better than budget coilsovers, and better than my stock, and another memeber here quotes, "better than any coilover set up i ever ridden in". so there is def "some" performance aspecs there

as for install, my buddy did it, out of his garage, on jack stands. took less than 2 days.

[Boden AutoHaus]

so that means accuair is made for specific cars, but v2 can be put on any car? glad i went with airlift then, should i ever sell the car, ill salvage the parts and bag the next one (;

Accuair management and V2 management are both interchangeable between any car. It's the strut/bag that is application specific

[Boden AutoHaus]

no worries. id idnt buy it for performance. i only bought it cause i was tired of scraping my bumper every time i pulled out of the drive way.

but to some of your points:

my v2 handles better than budget coilsovers, and better than my stock, and another memeber here quotes, "better than any coilover set up i ever ridden in". so there is def "some" performance aspecs there

as for install, my buddy did it, out of his garage, on jack stands. took less than 2 days.

Also, V2 does not affect the way the car handles, it's the strut/bag that will make the difference. Check out this video of this B8 S4 (built by Tag) using the Accuair B8 Sport kit
For any B8 chassis we will always recommend going with the B8 sport kit since it is specifically designed and engineered for that chassis.

[bknewtype]

Also, V2 does not affect the way the car handles, it's the strut/bag that will make the difference. Check out this video of this B8 S4 (built by Tag) using the Accuair B8 Sport kit
For any B8 chassis we will always recommend going with the B8 sport kit since it is specifically designed and engineered for that chassis.

so if someone has accuair w/ airlift bags/struts vs accuair v2 w/ airlift bags struts, why would accuair b more considered performance?

[switchedstance]

so if someone has accuair w/ airlift bags/struts vs accuair v2 w/ airlift bags struts, why would accuair b more considered performance?

Id argue with the adjustable dampers and adjustable bodies Air Lift struts will perform better.

[Nastybutler]

The Accuair Sport kit has a huge tank that takes up trunk space. No bueno. I'll give up my spare tire, but I'll be damned if I'll sacrifice that much trunk space for variable ride height. Even if I could afford it...

[bknewtype]

The Accuair Sport kit has a huge tank that takes up trunk space. No bueno. I'll give up my spare tire, but I'll be damned if I'll sacrifice that much trunk space for variable ride height. Even if I could afford it...

one of the reasons why i went with airlift. i need my trunk space. i also gave up my spare, but then again, i never had it in the car to begin with since i was dropped on coils.

[Powderhound]

Now that airlift has introduced the 3H what do you all think...seriously considering it as an option.

[UroTuning]

from what i read, accuair is only the management and does not make the bags/suspension itself. most that use accuair management goes with airlift bags. i have a full airlift setup. autopilot v2 to be exact. i love mine. no complaints at all. i guess the accuair management is more advanced to warrant the increase in price. my airlift management gives me 8 presets plus the ability to manually adjust each corner. @switchedstance would be able to help you out

do it.

Obligatory photo whoring

Omg its so beautiful!

[bknewtype]

Omg its so beautiful!

thank you sir/ma'am. since then it has gone through some changes, and another change is coming this weekend. ill call it ver 3.0 (;

as she sits currently

20150829-IMG_3716 by Bknewtype, on Flickr

[Thudux]

Accuair management and V2 management are both interchangeable between any car. It's the strut/bag that is application specific

What would you recommend for an SQ5?