8Y RS3 Coilovers Decision

**FSTSNAL** · 09-13-2023 08:42 AM

Trying to decide on coilovers. Originally was thinking KW but have had bad experiences with them in the past and after seeing the experience with the height adjusters many are having here may want something else. Was hoping to keep dcc but really keep my car on the stiffest setting anyways.

The two other options I am considering are bilstein pss10. I know they fit the mqb platform, many sites list them for 8y but Bilstein does not officially recommend them. Anyone running them and your thoughts? Spring rates look ok for awd with slightly stiffer in rear.

Other option which is leading the pack right now is ohlins mu21s2. They are listed by ohlins as their recommendation for 8y rs3. Spring rates of roughly 400 front 450 rear. I have had ohlins in the past and loved the ride. Anyone running these and your experience?

I know I’ll need dcc cancellers as well. Any recommendation. Have heard issues with the kw ones in the past. Either looking online which are on back order or isweep

**fzr100098** · 09-13-2023 09:28 AM

Bilstein for overall quality at decent price, Ohlins if you have deeper pockets and what "the best". How do prices compare?

**o1turbo30v** · 09-13-2023 09:54 AM

Ill try to help, since the 8V chassis is the same as the 8Y, weights and balance are similar.

1. If you want to retain the electronic dampening adjustability, KW is your only option, that being said, KW's arent perfect, rear spring perches suck to adjust, and with no helper spring on the front i had creaking/popping sounds with V3's even at a modest lowering amount.

2. Bilsteins for this platform are wayyyyyyy under dampened, i had both the pss and pss10's, terrible, just bounced off their bumpstops all day long, wayyy to soft, rear spring perches also suck to adjust

3. Ohlins for the 8V platform had issues, if you search in here, a forum member had to run them at max ride height and they still sat on their bumpstops, i believe ohlins removed the RS3 from their fitment (for the 8V), Ohlins used to be amazing but unfortunately they got bought by Tenneco (garbage)

4. The lesson i learned on the 8V is to go with a mild lowering spring and keep the stock shocks/struts, for me after trying both Eibach and H&R springs, i ended up very very happy with Vogtlands on the stock shocks/struts, 40k miles now, no issues.

Not sure if that helped or made it worse......

**MerakiAutoworks** · 09-13-2023 10:18 AM

I had KW on mine and didn't have any issues with them, ran KW on a lot of my other cars as well.

Realistically how often are you going to adjust the height of the car anyways.

Ohlins are a solid option as well.

I have KW and Ohlin coils in stock.

-Josh

**fzr100098** · 09-13-2023 10:20 AM

If Ohlins is garbage it's news to me, I've run their suspension on motorcycles for many years

**Jetdriver** · 09-13-2023 11:46 AM

Is there anyway to have Bilsteins revalved?

**RudyH** · 09-13-2023 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jetdriver

Is there anyway to have Bilsteins revalved?

They have Bilstein kits on their site, it looks like it's the same as the 8Vs when you look up what else it fits

B14 47-251588
B16 standard 48-254960
B16 sport 48-251570
Clubsport (without DCC) 48-274647
EVO S 47-309067

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default...8018001&12=100

**o1turbo30v** · 09-13-2023 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by fzr100098

If Ohlins is garbage it's news to me, I've run their suspension on motorcycles for many years

Im not saying Ohlins is garbage, im saying for the RS3 8V they didnt work, read through here https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ghlight=ohlins

**ECNMY R** · 09-13-2023 03:03 PM

I just put KW DDC coilovers on my Mk7 R and am blown away by the ride quality, handling, everything. On my 8V I was hoping to get away with V3s pretty much out of the box.

**FSTSNAL** · 09-13-2023 04:09 PM

I’ll keep the kw in mind. 5mm drop would not be the end of the world for me. I already scrape if not super careful on my driveway and when towed already have to use 2x4s to get car on and off without damage.

**RS3TP** · 09-13-2023 11:20 PM

I have a 2018 RS3 with the Fixed Ride Suspension. It is a fairly stiff ride, would coilovers be too stiff for regular road use?

**FSTSNAL** · 09-14-2023 10:52 AM

No. I have run coilovers many times. Even 700lb/in on a 2300 lb car and it was streetable.

**Flom Motorsports** · 09-19-2023 07:35 AM

an option that not many people go with, but I am a huge supporter of, is Fortune Auto. They are well known in the JDM market but have a few offerings for the european market. they're local to me here in Virginia and even used my car as the r&d vehicle for their 8V offering. their coilovers are assembled here in the states and they are starting to machine a lot of their own parts now. they have options to upgrade to Swift or Hyperco springs and you can choose your own front and rear spring rates. they currently offer their 500 and 510 series for the 8V, I run the 510 on my car.

on the topic of DCC cancelers, I am running a set of isweep ones, and have had zero issues

**coolwater** · 12-14-2023 08:46 AM

KW has has been pretty noisy on my 2023 RS3. There is clicking noises from the top bearing that is replaced. They sent me new bearings and I wasted install just to get the same noise again. I would not recommend the KW HAS for the 8y platform at all. Does anyone know if I can mix and match the B14/B16 or the HR Street Coilovers with Adaptive suspension cancellation kit form KW or others?

-cW

**o1turbo30v** · 12-14-2023 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by coolwater

KW has has been pretty noisy on my 2023 RS3. There is clicking noises from the top bearing that is replaced. They sent me new bearings and I wasted install just to get the same noise again. I would not recommend the KW HAS for the 8y platform at all. Does anyone know if I can mix and match the B14/B16 or the HR Street Coilovers with Adaptive suspension cancellation kit form KW or others?

-cW

Yes you can

**FSTSNAL** · 12-14-2023 11:09 PM

I ended up going with the dcc plug and play kw coilovers. Will be getting them, whiteline front and rear sway bars and need links, and vorschlag camber plates installed just after Christmas.

**PedroMogollon** · 04-07-2024 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by FSTSNAL

I ended up going with the dcc plug and play kw coilovers. Will be getting them, whiteline front and rear sway bars and need links, and vorschlag camber plates installed just after Christmas.

How di it go? I want to buy them.