Audi adaptive dampers. Clarification.
Discussion
Good Morning,
I’m sure this question has been asked a good few times.
I was looking at R8’s and have read that adaptive dampers are a must have option. Cars without do not sell etc etc.
However I have also read that owners of B7 RS4’s change their suspension to a more reliable set up. Are these new dampers still adaptive or are they fixed? I was thinking a fixed set up should be more reliable if I was keeping a car for a few years.
I’m sure this question has been asked a good few times.
I was looking at R8’s and have read that adaptive dampers are a must have option. Cars without do not sell etc etc.
However I have also read that owners of B7 RS4’s change their suspension to a more reliable set up. Are these new dampers still adaptive or are they fixed? I was thinking a fixed set up should be more reliable if I was keeping a car for a few years.
Magnetic ride control (colloquially 'mag ride').
Can suffer from leaks and the dampers are in the ballpark of £500 each from memory.
They will sell without (priced accordingly) however mag ride is desirable; it is often the case that an R8 won't sell because the overall specification is very basic rather than it specifically missing mag-ride.
The RS4 dampers are unrelated to the R8 items (RS4s use DRC 'dynamic ride control' instead of the magnetic dampers).
They drive well with and without but back to back (and if you're sensitive to such things) a mag-ride equipped car isolates vibration and jittery surfaces better. If you plan to track it the turn in is much improved with the dampers in their sport setting (although on the road you wouldn't want to use sport).
Can suffer from leaks and the dampers are in the ballpark of £500 each from memory.
They will sell without (priced accordingly) however mag ride is desirable; it is often the case that an R8 won't sell because the overall specification is very basic rather than it specifically missing mag-ride.
The RS4 dampers are unrelated to the R8 items (RS4s use DRC 'dynamic ride control' instead of the magnetic dampers).
They drive well with and without but back to back (and if you're sensitive to such things) a mag-ride equipped car isolates vibration and jittery surfaces better. If you plan to track it the turn in is much improved with the dampers in their sport setting (although on the road you wouldn't want to use sport).
Mag dampers on the R8 are indeed popular as an option on the V8 and are standard on the V10. As already mentioned, however, they are prone to premature failure (I know because mine did) and with labour will set you back around £1000 - 1200 a corner. Even ones that look and feel fine can fail at any time. You should most definately have a PPI before commiting, and keep a slush fund for when, not if they fail. I replaced mine with passives and although the ride is a bit firmer its still acceptable and saved me at least £2K.
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