Can somebody explain the Air Suspension auto lowering feature? (RS7)

[socialpro]

Does anybody fully know about the auto lowering in the RS7 ?

1. What does the car do and when? So lets say you have it set to 'comfort' - does the car lower to 'dynamic' ride height at a certain speed? So only the 'height' is affected - but not the dampers or stiffness correct?

2. What is that speed when the car 'auto lowers'? I've seen 30mph mentioned , I've seen 70mph and I've seen 75/80mph. Does the car 'auto raise' when the speed drops below 30? So is the car constantly raising and lowering when you drive it in the city?

3. If you set the car to 'dynamic' - none of this auto lowering goes on correct? The car does not lower even further from dynamic mode?

4. I've read through some VCDS instructions where you can turn of auto lowering. Have any of you done that? No issues given?

Any help and insight is appreciated!!

[CanuckRS]

Does anybody fully know about the auto lowering in the RS7 ?

1. What does the car do and when? So lets say you have it set to 'comfort' - does the car lower to 'dynamic' ride height at a certain speed? So only the 'height' is affected - but not the dampers or stiffness correct?

2. What is that speed when the car 'auto lowers'? I've seen 30mph mentioned , I've seen 70mph and I've seen 75/80mph. Does the car 'auto raise' when the speed drops below 30? So is the car constantly raising and lowering when you drive it in the city?

3. If you set the car to 'dynamic' - none of this auto lowering goes on correct? The car does not lower even further from dynamic mode?

4. I've read through some VCDS instructions where you can turn of auto lowering. Have any of you done that? No issues given?

Any help and insight is appreciated!!

afaik auto/dynamic/comfort relate to the dampening/rebound of the suspension system. this translates into how firm the suspension is rather than height.

yes, the vehicle auto-lowers at 130km/h but that's it in terms of lowering at speed. it doesn't go up and down while you're driving as you mentioned. it will auto-adjust/level if you add/subtract weight from the vehicle as well. you can hear/see this when you park and people get out of the car or you take packages out and it'll lower back down to where it's calibrated.

you can also raise it if you need to when going over big bumps but you have to dig into the menu system to do this.

[socialpro]

afaik auto/dynamic/comfort relate to the dampening/rebound of the system. this translates into how firm the suspension is rather than height. yes, the vehicle auto-lowers at 130km/h but that's it in terms of lowering at speed. you can also raise it if you need to when going over big bumps but you have to dig into the menu system to do this.

So there is no change in height between comfort and dynamic in drive select / car menu?

[CanuckRS]

So there is no change in height between comfort and dynamic in drive select / car menu?

i don't believe so, but i could be wrong. :)

i think those settings only relate to dampening/rebound. i've never noticed a difference.

[socialpro]

i don't believe so, but i could be wrong. :)

i think those settings only relate to dampening/rebound. i've never noticed a difference.

OK - I was under the impression the car sits a tad lower in 'dynamic' mode. I might be wrong as well -- gonna see if anyone else can chime in.

I would also like to know the correct answer to this as this will/might affect my decision to lower and how much based on what mode I drive the car in mostly (dynamic at the current time).

[CanuckRS]

OK - I was under the impression the car sits a tad lower in 'dynamic' mode. I might be wrong as well -- gonna see if anyone else can chime in.

I would also like to know the correct answer to this as this will/might affect my decision to lower and how much based on what mode I drive the car in mostly (dynamic at the current time).

i'm lowered with vcds and links and i drive in dynamic 100% of the time. even >130km/h no issues although some report problems but maybe they are lowered too much.

[InvigR8]

In a stock RS7 while stopped, changing between comfort and dynamic absolutely raises and lowers the car (over about 10 seconds)

[arrivalanche]

The ride height is a 2 stage deal. You can raise and lower through the MMI and it will also do it automatically around 60-70mph. This is the majority of the ride height adjustment. It also has a secondary height adjustment going from dynamic to comfort. If you leave it in comfort, it wont go any lower than the first setting. Put it in dynamic and it will go a little lower.

[Rez90]

In a stock RS7 while stopped, changing between comfort and dynamic absolutely raises and lowers the car (over about 10 seconds)

I literally tried this two days ago. nothing happened.

[mihneagabriel]

On my s6 it definitely lowers when putting it in dynamic mode compared to comfort. I can tell a big difference when I park and look at it. The difference is so big I think something is wrong with the suspension when I park in comfort mode. As for the speed I don't know. The car doesn't tell you anything and normally it changes height over such a long period of time that you don't really notice it

Sent from my SM-G935V using Audizine mobile app

[Tidefan73]

On my s6 it definitely lowers when putting it in dynamic mode compared to comfort.

Mine does the same. When parked, changing modes, I can feel/see it moving.
As for at speed, I'll take people's word for it.

[zcd2.7t]

I literally tried this two days ago. nothing happened.

RS7s can be had with the standard air suspension or DRC - AFAIK, DRC-equipped cars don't raise/lower...

[Ze_Nardo6]

The air suspension absolutely changes ride height between comfort and dynamic settings. If you don't believe so, put your car in comfort, wait 30 seconds, put in dynamic and jump out of your car quickly and watch it adjust

RS7s can be had with the standard air suspension or DRC - AFAIK, DRC-equipped cars don't raise/lower...

The DRC setup is obviously spring loaded so it does not adjust ride height between settings. However, it does adjust dampening

[limeypride]

I literally tried this two days ago. nothing happened.

As I understand it, RS7s with Prestige alone have air suspension. RS7s with Performance Prestige have Audi dynamic ride control. While I can't speak to the former since I don't have one, I can to the latter since that's what my car has... so presumably no clever lowering trickery for me... bummer.

[InvigR8]

It's really easy to see it raise and lower if you just stare at a stationary object right in front of the hood (if you have the air suspension, per the OP's topic). You will see the object raise and lower as it will raise the front and back separately (and vice versa).

There was a second suspension option available which might be forced on you if you have the RS7 Performance, but I believe it was also an option with the 2014.0 RS7.

[InvigR8]

I think the non-air suspension is called the sport suspension with DRC or something like that. That is an upgrade option that gets rid of air but improves handling on the track and maybe also raises the top speed? A quick search shows a lot of this vs that threads.

That said, I am unaware how it chooses to raise and lower. Interestingly I hear the suspension doing _something_ usually about 20 seconds after turning off the car.

[socialpro]

Yes - I did confirm the car sits lower in dynamic. I am strictly inquiring about the air suspension - NOT the drc.

I am still puzzled on 'when' -- on what speed the car actually auto lowers - and if it happens in both dynamic and comfort mode.

[CanuckRS]

Yes - I did confirm the car sits lower in dynamic. I am strictly inquiring about the air suspension - NOT the drc.

I am still puzzled on 'when' -- on what speed the car actually auto lowers - and if it happens in both dynamic and comfort mode.

1. how did you confirm the car is lower in dynamic vs comfort?
2. it auto lowers above 130km/h. you believe it lowers at different speeds as well?

[Ze_Nardo6]

1. how did you confirm the car is lower in dynamic vs comfort?
2. it auto lowers above 130km/h. you believe it lowers at different speeds as well?

Mine was very visibly obvious. But I suppose to know for sure you can measure the gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well in comfort then dynamic

[KT88]

interesting read, might be helpful to some ... obviously air suspension operation does not apply to your cars with DRC ... i.e steel springs.

Adaptive air suspension is an electronically controlled air suspension system at all four wheels with a continuously adaptive damping system. It unites sporty handling with a high level of ride comfort. In addition, the air suspension allows for speed-dependent lowering of the body – a change in ride height that results in a low center of gravity and significantly increased directional stability. The vehicle’s aerodynamics are improved at the same time.

The vehicle has air suspension struts on all four wheels. The data from sensors on the axles and acceleration sensors on the body is evaluated in the adaptive air suspension's central control unit. This computer controls the adjustment of the individual shock absorbers in milliseconds, depending on driving situation. Provided no higher damping forces are required – for instance, when driving straight ahead on good roads – the damper settings remain comfortably soft.

Controlled changes to the damping force at individual wheels help to eliminate body movements at any time which could reduce occupant comfort. The adaptive damping system automatically reduces rolling or pitching movements when cornering, braking or driving off-road. Adaptive air suspension moreover offers the advantages of a traditional self-leveling suspension system. The vehicle's suspension height remains constant irrespective of the load it is carrying.

The adaptive air suspension generally also allows the driver to influence the suspension characteristic – and thus the operating dynamics – as individually preferred. The damping characteristics and ride height can be adjusted in a single process via the MMI "CAR" menu system.

[CanuckRS]

Mine was very visibly obvious. But I suppose to know for sure you can measure the gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well in comfort then dynamic

That's what i'm thinking. To be convinced, i'd like to see a video of the height difference between the two with someone actually measuring it. Most accurate way is to measure from center of fender lip to the ground

[richib86]

That's what i'm thinking. To be convinced, i'd like to see a video of the height difference between the two with someone actually measuring it. Most accurate way is to measure from center of fender lip to the ground

not sure why you're so skeptical? i work for audi and am 100% confirming for you that comfort mode in all air suspension applications(not just the c7 platform) sits higher than dynamic

[socialpro]

1. how did you confirm the car is lower in dynamic vs comfort?
2. it auto lowers above 130km/h. you believe it lowers at different speeds as well?

You have air suspension - correct? It is a very obvious difference between the two when I looked at it. I will take pictures and/or measurements shortly and post back with the results.

[Ze_Nardo6]

That's what i'm thinking. To be convinced, i'd like to see a video of the height difference between the two with someone actually measuring it. Most accurate way is to measure from center of fender lip to the ground

Why the skepticism? It's a fact. Multiple people in this thread confirming

not sure why you're so skeptical? i work for audi and am 100% confirming for you that comfort mode in all air suspension applications(not just the c7 platform) sits higher than dynamic

This.

[mihneagabriel]

not sure why you're so skeptical? i work for audi and am 100% confirming for you that comfort mode in all air suspension applications(not just the c7 platform) sits higher than dynamic

Exactly. Like I said in my post, Its a large noticeable difference to the point where I normally leave it in Dynamic mode just for that. Even though I am lowered with VCDS, I still feel like its too high in comfort mode.

[KT88]

I've read it is a 20mm delta through the normal range though never measured. I've dropped 12 mm and Dynamic now gives me "one-finger" clearance. Auto and Comfort are about two-fingers so I'm thinking it probably is very close to 20mm.

[InvigR8]

That's what i'm thinking. To be convinced, i'd like to see a video of the height difference between the two with someone actually measuring it. Most accurate way is to measure from center of fender lip to the ground

I can 100% confirm because when sitting idle the car raises and lowers immediately after you switch between comfort and dynamic (although over about 15 seconds). As I said above, just look at a stationary object beyond the hood and you will see it go up and down as the front and rear separately raise or lower, depending on the selected mode. I've also measured from the tire and yeah, it raises and lowers :). In fact, some people have used VAGCOM to lower their cars over an inch vs DRC.

[TTGTOVR4]

Sorry about jacking this post, but with DRC, do I lose anything by installing coils?

[richib86]

Sorry about jacking this post, but with DRC, do I lose anything by installing coils?

ride height

[FourRings115]

I can 100% confirm because when sitting idle the car raises and lowers immediately after you switch between comfort and dynamic (although over about 15 seconds). As I said above, just look at a stationary object beyond the hood and you will see it go up and down as the front and rear separately raise or lower, depending on the selected mode. I've also measured from the tire and yeah, it raises and lowers :). In fact, some people have used VAGCOM to lower their cars over an inch vs DRC.

This is correct. I can also see the high speed ride height changes often driving home. My route is a highway that ends with a traffic light, so I go from the lowered/over 70mph height to stopping suddenly. I can see the ride height change compared to the stopped car in front of me. My two previous A8's did the same.

[CanuckRS]

To all the naysayers out there who don't think comfort/dynamic changes ride height, well think again ladies! ;)
Haha, i was way off base, doesn't happen often but i'll admit when i'm wrong.
Difference between comfort and dynamic. Looks like a 12-13mm difference. Wow!

Dynamic



Comfort

[socialpro]

To all the naysayers out there who don't think comfort/dynamic changes ride height, well think again ladies! ;)
Haha, i was way off base, doesn't happen often but i'll admit when i'm wrong.
Difference between comfort and dynamic. Looks like a 12-13mm difference. Wow!

Dynamic



Comfort

Yes - that def looks about right - I'm happy you put a number to it 12-13mm

So is that the same 12-13mm that the car LOWERS once at speed (70mph?) in comfort mode?

[Ze_Nardo6]

Nice ride!

PS looks better in dynamic

[CanuckRS]

Nice ride!

PS looks better in dynamic

Thanks and yes i agree although it is pretty low in dynamic ;)

[CanuckRS]

Yes - that def looks about right - I'm happy you put a number to it 12-13mm

So is that the same 12-13mm that the car LOWERS once at speed (70mph?) in comfort mode?

I would like to know if the car lowers below dynamic level when above 100km/h or whatever speed it does that.