Audi S3 Magnetic Ride Longevity?

[Teknic111]

Hi all,

I will likely be purchasing a new Audi S3 in the near future and am wondering about the longevity of the magnetic suspension. How long does it last before it needs to be replaced and what is the replacement cost? Also, are there aftermarket alternatives?

I usually keep my cars for 10+ years and am trying to get an idea of future repair costs.

Thanks!

[diztek]

i was wondering the same thing.

[PsiBlast]

I read up on this a while ago on an R8 forum, and it seems the magride shocks were priced around $750 (yes, each).

[jiannu]

I read up on this a while ago on an R8 forum, and it seems the magride shocks were priced around $750 (yes, each).

For that $$$$ I would just invest in a great aftermarket coilover kit. If ordering a new S3, I would avoid the magride.

[nothome17]

Just a guess, I'm thinking it might go out early since these S3's are riding on low profile tires. The shocks are working harder since their is less rubber to absorb the impacts.

[c0ld]

Just a guess, I'm thinking it might go out early since these S3's are riding on low profile tires. The shocks are working harder since their is less rubber to absorb the impacts.

Yikes you're making me regret going with 19" :(

At least my next set of tires will be 245/35/19 in order to get more sidewall if it isn't too much hassle on the 19" black optic wheels.

[949]

the car is not 10 years old yet. no real data available.

the one thing is if you put aftermarket springs in it while still having the mag ride shocks, they will go out much sooner.

most shocks in the market last around 4-6 years and need to be replaced, but that doesn't let many rebels to still drive on the blown out shocks years after that.

[XMetal]

Yikes you're making me regret going with 19" :(

At least my next set of tires will be 245/35/19 in order to get more sidewall if it isn't too much hassle on the 19" black optic wheels.

If you go the route of 245/35/19, make sure you never use your donut spare. The donut spare is design to have the same rolling circumference as the OE 235/35/19. Having a dissimilar tire rolling circumference can place additional stress on the drive train of an AWD system (differential, Haldex, etc). This is something that most people don't think about.

[rex_racer]

If you go the route of 245/35/19, make sure you never use your donut spare. The donut spare is design to have the same rolling circumference as the OE 235/35/19. Having a dissimilar tire rolling circumference can place additional stress on the drive train of an AWD system (differential, Haldex, etc). This is something that most people don't think about.

The spare tire is .6" shorter than the OE 235/35/19. The spare is actually closer in size to the OE 18" tire size than the 19."

The current gen of MR shocks are far more durable than what the R8 had. If we could only get DSC Sport to create a shock controller for this platform we could have a fully adjustable, dynamically reacting shock that surpasses any off the shelf available shock.

[Audi128]

Sorry for reviving this old thread but has anyone had their dampers go out? If so what mileage were you at?

I’m currently contemplating installing some aftermarket springs with the MR dampers but I’m at 85,000km (53,000 miles). I’m conflicted because I’d probably just replace the whole system with some coil overs if the dampers ever wear out.

Should I just risk installing the springs or wait and get some coils down the line?

[MikTip]

Sorry for reviving this old thread but has anyone had their dampers go out? If so what mileage were you at?

I’m currently contemplating installing some aftermarket springs with the MR dampers but I’m at 85,000km (53,000 miles). I’m conflicted because I’d probably just replace the whole system with some coil overs if the dampers ever wear out.

Should I just risk installing the springs or wait and get some coils down the line?

Once you see the price of each MAG ride shock...

Mine were at 103,000...

I removed and replaced them with a set of shocks taken of an RS3 with 16 miles on them...paid $200 for all 4 shocks and springs.

I like the RS3 shocks better. I also have 034 springs.

[lastig21]

Sorry for reviving this old thread but has anyone had their dampers go out? If so what mileage were you at?

I’m currently contemplating installing some aftermarket springs with the MR dampers but I’m at 85,000km (53,000 miles). I’m conflicted because I’d probably just replace the whole system with some coil overs if the dampers ever wear out.

Should I just risk installing the springs or wait and get some coils down the line?

If you can DIY the spring install (and don't mind the time), you can start with a set of springs. I just switched to coilovers. 34k miles on the MagRide shocks, and I think about 12k of that was with 034 springs. The shocks had plenty of life left in them. Hard to say how much life is left at 53k miles, but if labor isn't a factor springs are cheap and you can ride them until you need replacements.

If you are going to get a shop to perform the work, I would jump to coilovers right now. It's an expensive job, and coilovers are not really any more expensive to install than springs. If you put springs on the aged suspension, you don't know how much life you can get out of them before you have to pay for labor again. I'd replace it all now so hopefully you don't have to pay for the same job twice. Remember to get the MagRide cancellers if you go pull the MagRide shocks out.

[MikTip]

Yes...the isweep cancellers I have work perfectly.

The Golf R platform has ACC shocks...and Bilstein makes replacement for them...we need more MAG ride shock selections vise only OE Factory $$$$$$$

Also we need the secret to code out the MAG ride with VCDS so we dont have to buy cancellers!

[Audi128]

Once you see the price of each MAG ride shock...

Mine were at 103,000...

I removed and replaced them with a set of shocks taken of an RS3 with 16 miles on them...paid $200 for all 4 shocks and springs.

I like the RS3 shocks better. I also have 034 springs.

103,000 miles or kilometers? Were the RS3 shocks mag ride as well or were they just standard shocks? This is the first time hearing about an RS3 shock swap so I'm a little unfamiliar with this.

[Audi128]

If you can DIY the spring install (and don't mind the time), you can start with a set of springs. I just switched to coilovers. 34k miles on the MagRide shocks, and I think about 12k of that was with 034 springs. The shocks had plenty of life left in them. Hard to say how much life is left at 53k miles, but if labor isn't a factor springs are cheap and you can ride them until you need replacements.

If you are going to get a shop to perform the work, I would jump to coilovers right now. It's an expensive job, and coilovers are not really any more expensive to install than springs. If you put springs on the aged suspension, you don't know how much life you can get out of them before you have to pay for labor again. I'd replace it all now so hopefully you don't have to pay for the same job twice. Remember to get the MagRide cancellers if you go pull the MagRide shocks out.

I have to do a brake pad and rotor replacement pretty soon because I'm still on oem parts. I'm just trying to see if its worth it to do both brakes and springs at the same time since the car will be up in the air at the shop.

Thanks lastig and miktip for the advice. It definitely will affect my decisions on this car.

[Audi128]

@MikTip

Yup I'm quite aware of the versatility of the MQB chassis. I was just wondering if there was any differences between the S3 and RS3 dampers because although they are the same chassis, I wasn't completely sure if they will fit as the RS3 is a facelifted model. How do the RS3 dampers compare to the factory Mag ride ones?

[TheDude420]

I have mag-ride on my 2016 S3 and I'm using 034 Motorsport Dynamic Lowering Springs which provide a 0.75" drop. I like them but I've only owned the car since February 2019 so I don't have anything to compare it to. I don't know enough about suspensions to know whether my struts/shocks are blown. What is the lowest I can go on springs with mag-ride while avoiding H&R? If I was just 0.25" lower I'd be happy.

[Audi128]

I have mag-ride on my 2016 S3 and I'm using 034 Motorsport Dynamic Lowering Springs which provide a 0.75" drop. I like them but I've only owned the car since February 2019 so I don't have anything to compare it to. I don't know enough about suspensions to know whether my struts/shocks are blown. What is the lowest I can go on springs with mag-ride while avoiding H&R? If I was just 0.25" lower I'd be happy.

Usually blown shocks will make the car bouncy, or bouncier than it should be in our case. There should also be some audible differences when going over bumps and it may leak visually if you inspect the damper itself. Personally, I have not driven on blown shocks yet so I can be that specific about how they should feel.

On a side note since yours is a pre facelift, whats your mileage currently?

[MikTip]

@MikTip

Yup I'm quite aware of the versatility of the MQB chassis. I was just wondering if there was any differences between the S3 and RS3 dampers because although they are the same chassis, I wasn't completely sure if they will fit as the RS3 is a facelifted model. How do the RS3 dampers compare to the factory Mag ride ones?

I like the RS3 shocks over the MAG ride shocks...

They are made by SACH Germany...came off a first US version RS3...

I was going to buy a set of Sport Bilsteins...which I will probably do when these RS3 shocks go bad...

Most folks here buy coil-overs...which is good as the shocks and springs are matched and are fully adjustable to your individual tastes on suspension.

[TheDude420]

Usually blown shocks will make the car bouncy, or bouncier than it should be in our case. There should also be some audible differences when going over bumps and it may leak visually if you inspect the damper itself. Personally, I have not driven on blown shocks yet so I can be that specific about how they should feel.

On a side note since yours is a pre facelift, whats your mileage currently?

Yes it's a pre-facelift 2016 model. I bought it from the owner at 44k miles and is now at 62k miles. The car has been very well maintained.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Audizine mobile app

[Quantim0]

I have a 16 with mag ride. I bought the car with 31k miles and H&R super sports were on it already. I have 61k now and the car is starting to get pretty bouncy. They are going to need to be replaced soon. I may use the short Bilsteins or maybe some RS3 shocks if I can find them.

[Audi128]

I have a 16 with mag ride. I bought the car with 31k miles and H&R super sports were on it already. I have 61k now and the car is starting to get pretty bouncy. They are going to need to be replaced soon. I may use the short Bilsteins or maybe some RS3 shocks if I can find them.

Which Bilsteins were you thinking of? The bouncyness could be the dampers wearing out but maybe inspect them for any leaks to see how severe it is.

[Quantim0]

Which Bilsteins were you thinking of? The bouncyness could be the dampers wearing out but maybe inspect them for any leaks to see how severe it is.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...t/35-229919kt/

These since they are for lowering springs. The bounce isn't too bad, but it's definitely worse that it was a year ago. I can't imagine anything is leaking because that should create a clunk as the piston moves in the housing. Had it happen with another car, it's pretty distinctive.

[Audi128]

Ah I see which ones they were, I saw that they offered a B6 and a B8 model for those dampers but it was not specified which ones were in the set you linked. It appears that the part number for that matches up with the B8 model. If you do replace your shocks with these, please update us with your impressions.