Non ADS equipped cars permanantly in what setting?

[letS4nicate]

There is no question I will be getting the Sports Diff. but I'm not so sure about ADS- especially for the price. I can't really see myself adjusting the ride firmness on a regular basis- at least enough to make it worthwhile. If I don't get it, what "setting" is the car in permanently?
I did a search on this but couldn't find a conclusive answer. Thanks for the help...

[mcimiluca]

well you still have controls with the sport diff, comfort mode, auto, and dynamic. Its standard for all cars with the sport diff

[letS4nicate]

Why would one spend over $3K for ADS then? What else does it offer?

[mcimiluca]

i think it does just a little more with the suspension dampening... but to be honest. Its not worth it. You still get the main important customizable features with the sport diff package.

[Ozman07]

i think it does just a little more with the suspension dampening... but to be honest. Its not worth it. You still get the main important customizable features with the sport diff package.

I think some people would disagree with that statement. Having adjustable suspension would be heaven in pothole season. I'd pay extra for that. 3k hmm.. I tell you when it comes in if it was worth it.

[letS4nicate]

What are the comfort, auto and dynamic settings on the Sports Diff and how they are different than the same settings on the ADS?

[NWS4Guy]

You also get adjustable steering ratio.

[notjoefromnh]

i think it does just a little more with the suspension dampening... but to be honest. Its not worth it. You still get the main important customizable features with the sport diff package.

I have Drive Select in my car. With different dampening selections and steering ratio's it really feels like a different car when you switch the settings. Comfort is a must have for city driving. It is an expensive option but it is extremely useful, I use it everyday.

If you opt'd out for the drive select and the sport diff then your car isn't really "in a setting" because you really don't have any options.

[mcimiluca]

Yeah but my car just has the sport diff and when i put it on comfort... the steering wheel is looser and has more of an assist and throttle mapping is changed... the only thing it doesn't do is dampen the suspension.

[NWS4Guy]

Yeah but my car just has the sport diff and when i put it on comfort... the steering wheel is looser and has more of an assist and throttle mapping is changed... the only thing it doesn't do is dampen the suspension.

There is a difference between the boost that the power steering pump gives and the RATIO of the steering. Full ADS also adds adjustable ratio, meaning it takes far less turns of the steering wheel to turn the front wheels. You get this in addition to adjustable stiffness to the suspension for the additional 3K. Most of that cost is in the mangetoelectric shocks.

[xtrema]

http://imgur.com/1boAz.gif

[NWS4Guy]

http://imgur.com/1boAz.gif

OK you rock, just need to link that in everyone's sig with a tag saying "Click here for the differences between Sport Diff and full ADS!"

[letS4nicate]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[s-4man]

I have it and its worth it, unless you like driving hard all the time.

[mellow_sparky]

http://imgur.com/1boAz.gif

This is close - you need one more line item: steering boost. The sport diff only car gives you the ability to tweak the steering boost.

[zillmc]

This is close - you need one more line item: steering boost. The sport diff only car gives you the ability to tweak the steering boost.

Yup Mellow is right, add this line item and I will forever link that picture for the billion diff/ads questions lol.

[xtrema]

http://imgur.com/ytorG.jpg

[BKNYCS4]

Okay so this still doesnt answer the mans question about what setting will the suspension be if he will not have the adjustment option.... ?

[Zed 2.0]

It won't be any particular setting because it won't have the ADS variable struts. In my test driving experience, the non-ADS car felt slightly softer than the ADS car in dynamic. If ADS "comfort" is 0 and "dynamic" is 10, I'd guess the non-ADS cars are around a 7.

[NWS4Guy]

It won't be any particular setting because it won't have the ADS variable struts. In my test driving experience, the non-ADS car felt slightly softer than the ADS car in dynamic. If ADS "comfort" is 0 and "dynamic" is 10, I'd guess the non-ADS cars are around a 7.

I would agree with this. I feel the non-ADS suspension is a very good mix between auto and dynamic. It's soft enough in everyday to not rattle your teeth (well ok it's a LOT softer than that), yet when you toss it into a turn there is very little body roll.

[riegeraudi]

Non ADS basically is the same as the dynamic mode in an ADS car. I called Audi an they basically said the non ADS car uses sport springs and would equal the ADS dynamic mode.
Nws4 you mentioned magnetoelectric shocks, which uses a valve system and it is different from the magnetic fluid shocks correct?
The ADS car is IMO worth the $3k upgrade for a superior ride in the city and very sporty drive when put in dynamic mode as it stiffen the shocks so that it feals like you have coilovers set really aggresively damped and the steering ratio improved to provide an instant reaction to the turn of the steering wheel. If you are leasing your car for 4 years I say it would be a great feature to have for $3k but if you have the car longer the question is how much is it going to cost in maintenance or to replace the shocks etc. I assume in the long run it will cost dearly hence I went without it. Also with the steering ratio change that part will also cost more I assume if it also failed.
May want to find out how much a shock would cost if it failed before ordering. I had an E500 and each one of those airmatic shocks cost $1700cdn to replace plus labour, so 4 shocks would be $8k cdn. plus taxes. [eek]

[xtrema]

^ One of the reason I didn't pick ADS but keep the sport diff. I don't trust them.

[NWS4Guy]

Non ADS basically is the same as the dynamic mode in an ADS car. I called Audi an they basically said the non ADS car uses sport springs and would equal the ADS dynamic mode.
Nws4 you mentioned magnetoelectric shocks, which uses a valve system and it is different from the magnetic fluid shocks correct?
The ADS car is IMO worth the $3k upgrade for a superior ride in the city and very sporty drive when put in dynamic mode as it stiffen the shocks so that it feals like you have coilovers set really aggresively damped and the steering ratio improved to provide an instant reaction to the turn of the steering wheel. If you are leasing your car for 4 years I say it would be a great feature to have for $3k but if you have the car longer the question is how much is it going to cost in maintenance or to replace the shocks etc. I assume in the long run it will cost dearly hence I went without it. Also with the steering ratio change that part will also cost more I assume if it also failed.
May want to find out how much a shock would cost if it failed before ordering. I had an E500 and each one of those airmatic shocks cost $1700cdn to replace plus labour, so 4 shocks would be $8k cdn. plus taxes. [eek]

They are the same shocks, they have tiny ball bearings (basically) in an oil emulsion. When varying amounts of current is passed through this, the iron in the suspension group up closer to the magnet and cause the shock to get firmer and travel less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetorheological_damper

[drvolkl]

I thought "auto" was constantly changing? You're saying that it's between a "variable" and "stiff"?

Does the car in "auto" mode every get to "dynamic" level? I'm not sure if it does... it didn't feel like it to me the other day when I was on cork screw on-ramp.

[L0U]

auto to me feels like my previous 3 cars that were s-line. dynamic is a bit harse for full time driving, like an m3. I'd have to drive a non ads s4 to know for sure. I do know when friends drive my car, if i start them off in dynamic, then swith to auto or comfort, they allways say....put it back to whatever the first setting was. The beauty of the mmi extra mode is you can have it all in dynamic, but put the transmission/fuel map in auto.....so it handles great, but gas mileage is ok.

[sworksone]

When I was researching my car the below graph plus feedback from those who had ADS is what made me decide to get it. The ADS dynamic setting is stiffer than the S4 / A4 sports suspension, while comfort is softer than the regular (A4) suspension. It's like having three cars in one.



http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_ads_suspension.jpg

[sworksone]

They are the same shocks, they have tiny ball bearings (basically) in an oil emulsion. When varying amounts of current is passed through this, the iron in the suspension group up closer to the magnet and cause the shock to get firmer and travel less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetorheological_damper

This is the system that is used on the TT. The S4 uses a different system:

ELECTRONIC DAMPER CONTROL
Audi drive select with the sport differential can be combined with electronic damping control. The gas-filled hydraulic shock absorbers have an additional valve with a continuous opening action. The control unit computes the optimal damping force at a cycle frequency of 1,000 per second.

The electromagnetically controlled valve selects a damping characteristic to match the current driving situation at any given moment. Higher damping force may be needed to resist body movement when cornering rapidly or braking, whereas a lower damping force will be appropriate on potholed roads and a moderate setting on poor country roads.

14 sensors, 1,000 calculations per second
The central element in electronic damper control is the new high-performance control unit. It has the imposing data spread of 32 bits and operates at high speed. The computer analyses the signals from 14 sensors continuously, and calculates the current for the electrically controlled shock absorbers at each individual wheel a thousand times a second.

The so-called CDC shock absorbers (CDC = continuous damping control) are gas-filled hydraulic units based on the twin-tube principle, featuring an additional external valve and a connecting pipe.

An electromagnetically energized proportional-action valve opens against the force exerted by a spring and regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the inner and outer shock-absorber tubes. A smaller flow cross-section makes the damping characteristic firmer, a larger one makes it softer.

The control unit applies adaptive operating characteristics within the mode the driver has chosen via Audi drive select. Even from the comfort mode, the shock absorbers switch to a firmer setting at lightning speed if required. The control unit sets the optimum damping power for every driving style and for every type of road.

[riegeraudi]

They are the same shocks, they have tiny ball bearings (basically) in an oil emulsion. When varying amounts of current is passed through this, the iron in the suspension group up closer to the magnet and cause the shock to get firmer and travel less.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetorheological_damper

I don't think the S4 uses the electromagnetic fluid for damper control. Instead it uses a electromagnetic valve of some sort to control fluid flow. I think you are thinking about the corvette system not the audi system as it is a totally different system.
http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/2009-s4/
and in a little more detail.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/audi/2010-audi-s4-sedan-ar83825.html

[NWS4Guy]

Wow, leanr something never every day :) Thanks guys!

I figured they recycled the dsame system from the TT into the S4, not sure why they didn't though.

[riegeraudi]

Has anyone actually been in both systems and how do they compare? Wonder why also they don't use the electromagnetic fluid one since not too many moving parts to fail in that one. I think it is probably less adjustable.

[s4nAri]

I have tried to test drive a S4 with the Audi Drive Select for the past month but it seems as though they are never ordered by the dealers, just personal orders for the cars, so i have only driven the S4 with the rear differential option.
I am debating the ADS system on my new order but after researching numerous sites and reading plenty of personal reviews I still have one very important question: If I am looking for a ride that is the sportiest (mostly a firmer, tighter feel on the road, with the steering wheel and suspension) will the ADS option really feel more sporty than just going with the standard S4 sports suspension and rear differential? I am not too worried about bad road conditions (Southern California) so being able to use a comfort mode is not that high on my list of wants (I don't think, unless others out there also felt this way until they drove the ADS and use the softer setup more than they thought they would)
I know that I could use the $3000 savings (no ADS) and install aftermarket sway bars, shocks and springs and get a very sporty feel, but I don't want a car that I have to baby every time I pull into a driveway ramp or is too jarring as my daily driver. Is there a a great aftermarket suspension set up that handles better than stock (closer to the M3 feel) but doesn't make the car feel uncomfortable as a daily driver?


I have it and its worth it, unless you like driving hard all the time.
-Why would you say this?

I do not know the source of the following graph so I don't know how accurate it is.


When I was researching my car the below graph plus feedback from those who had ADS is what made me decide to get it. The ADS dynamic setting is stiffer than the S4 / A4 sports suspension, while comfort is softer than the regular (A4) suspension. It's like having three cars in one.



http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_ads_suspension.jpg