Audi A4 S-Line suspension ?

[HighwayTG]

Can anyone comment on the ride of S-Line suspension on 19'' wheels ?

I currently have sport suspension on 19'' and it's just about acceptable for my aging back.

Looking at getting the Black Edition and would be nice on a 30mm drop.


Thanks

[certacito]

I have an S-Line with 19" and the S-Line -30mm lowered suspension.

I can't say I've found it too hard at all, probably not as comfy as it would be without either but still very easy and comfortable enough to live with.

I did have one incident of the wheels rubbing with 4 up and on a back road in the west of Scotland, wasn't really hammering it either.

[Bratty]

I did not have a prob at all (even with 19 Inch 9J "A5"wheels on, NOT ALLOWED), the 30mm drop is an asthetic plus if you thats your bag.

I am quite surprised Certacito that you have had contact with you inner arches, because that has been "The" bone of contention from the start, obviously nothing has changed.

Dunk

[legendamongus]

As standard, on the S Line, you get the 20mm Sport suspension, with the 30mm available at no extra cost. When I was speccing my S-Line Special Edition with 19" alloys last September, I was told that I couldn't have the 30mm drop as well. The current brochure seems to disagree with this though...

The Black Edition that I subsequently received has 19" alloys as standard that are 9J and the sports suspension. Rides harder than the SE I had before but is still usable for everyday driving. I think it looks spot on with the 20mm drop personally.

[SunnyBard]

Can anyone comment on the ride of S-Line suspension on 19'' wheels ?

Not really ... I have the 20mm sports suspension on 18" instead, find it really hates speed humps and potholed roads ... I really wish I'd picked the adaptive suspension option ... I can justify the sports suspension as "firm", but would assume the 30mm s-line suspension would be tending towards "harsh", especially with less tyre wall to give too.

[Niko]

Sunnybard has hit the nail on the head, make sure you spec the Adaptive suspension, it is a must have. You get the choice of suspension damping and in Dynamic mode the car feels at least 20bhp quicker. The best option that I could have chosen and would defo insist on the next time around.

Nik

[SunnyBard]

make sure you spec the Adaptive suspension, it is a must have.

The real kicker is that I do have the ADS (required for the sports diff) but didn't notice from the price list that having ADS substantially drops the price of the dynamic suspension

[edit] supplementary question: does the S-tronic box ever use 7th gear when in dynamic mode?

[ScottyUK]

Sunnybard has hit the nail on the head, make sure you spec the Adaptive suspension, it is a must have. You get the choice of suspension damping and in Dynamic mode the car feels at least 20bhp quicker. The best option that I could have chosen and would defo insist on the next time around.

Nik

Not sure I agree about the 20bhp bit.

I'm a big fan of the dynamic suspension however ......

If anyone wants to have the modes enabled and they didn't order the Drive Select then they can do. It's just a few tweaks in VCDS



"Limited Audi Drive Select individual mode also for cars without Audi Drive Select: C99 reports at A5OC.com

( http://www.a5oc.com/forums/showthrea...568/index.html )

that even cars without Audi Drive Select buttons can be coded to adjust engine response and automatic gear-box, as well as Servotronic steering, like an ADS (without dynamic steering or dynamic dampening) would.

(See also AudiZine.com: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...GCOM&p=5020059 )

First 09 - Central Electric is coded to "Charisma engine only" byte 7, bit 5, change 0 to 1 (you may also have to change byte 7 bit 2 as well), byte 8, bit 2, change 0 to 1 and byte 17, bit 7, change 0 to 1.

In byte 8 bit 3, 4 and 5 from 0 to 1 will respectively switch steering, suspension and sports differential modes on in addition to the engine mode, although the latter two modes are undoubtedly of no use without such hardware in the car. Byte 7, bit 4 is apparently for active steering, again probably of use only if such hardware is in the car.

Then 09 - Central Electric, Security Access - 16, Adaptation - 10, change channels 63 to 66 to value 4 (individual mode).

(See here for more discussion on these codes: http://www.a5oc.com/forums/showthrea...68/index2.html )"

[SunnyBard]

In byte 8 bit 3, 4 and 5 from 0 to 1 will respectively switch steering, suspension and sports differential modes on in addition to the engine mode, although the latter two modes are undoubtedly of no use without such hardware in the car

In the case of adaptive suspension, does the relevant hardware consist of anything more than the magnetic shocks and a wiring loom? I assume it's not a realistic retrofit?

[troc]

Shocks aren't magnetic. The A4/S4 uses a more conventional adaptive system with valves controlled by solenoids to change the rate at which oil can flow rather than the more advanced (and way cooler) magnetorheological system in the R8 and (I think) RS6 etc.

John