Is active dampening suspension worth it? I've searched and read many posts>>>

[01northernS4]

but the opinions seem split... some say it make a difference you can actually feel, others say you can't feel a thing.

Some say don't bother if you lower but I've found threads saying otherwise (springs, kw adjustable's)...

So, what do you guys think, especially those who own the option... do you find it makes a difference, particularly in comfort mode do you find the ride smooth and potholes/pavment imperfections actually less harsh?


Thanks!

[doug97gxe]

Huge Difference .. many may not notice it and i can understand why.. but from my experience it was my pregnant wife's face that i knew there was a difference.. often times i forgot to switch to comfort and i could hear her wince then i would switch to comfort .. but i could understand why if you plan to lower the car don't bother

[B6UltraSport]

No question about it. In my '14 S5 there is a significant different "feel" between comfort and dynamic modes. I do plan to lower the car with the KW HAS kit to retain the ADS.

[CG3D]

Personally I'm really happy I held out for a car with ADS. I like the option of having the more aggressive car and then being able to dial it back when its not appropriate or road conditions allow. Each setting is noticeably different.

[JimWB]

I'm glad I opted for ADS, but I tend to keep it in dynamic. If I'm going for a longer drive I switch to comfort. Someone else said it's like having a car and a half, meaning the ride is smoother, but it's certainly not a Buick

[01northernS4]

Great replys guys, thanks!

I test drove an ADS but didn't find much of a difference myself... must have been because it was a smoother road and I really didn't put the car through it's paces so switching back and forth between dynamic and comfort wasn't really apparent to me... I did notice the crisper shifts, tighter steering and sharper throttle...

Any other opinions on ADS greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

P.S. Anyone here lower their ADS with kw adjustable springs or oe/sport h&r's and do you like it/how's it changed your ride?

[01northernS4]

Any other opinions on ADS greatly appreciated... Also, anyone here lower their ADS with kw adjustable springs or oe/sport h&r's and do you like it/how's it changed your ride?

Thanks again

[JamesRS5]

We have the DRC suspension over here, the difference between Comfort and Dynamic is night and day. Dynamic is pretty solid, would be fantastic to use on the track but possibly a bit too firm for every day road use. Comfort is great for cruising and normal day to day driving around the city.
I leave mine in Auto which seems to be a nice compromise between the two.

I think the only difference between the DRC and ADS is the oil lines linking the dampers to act in anti-roll, I'm not sure if the damping rates are similar but going off people's views on here I'd say not.

[The Outrage]

I ordered my S5 with the adaptive damping suspension. I enjoyed the ability to control the suspension damping rates on my previously-owned Lexus GS 350. It really is a "best of both worlds" scenario. Sometimes you want a softer configuration for better ride, sometimes you want a stiffer configuration for better handling. The option is fairly low-cost, with an MSRP of $1,000. The only downside I know of is if you plan on replacing the springs, and want to match the dampers to those springs, you'll have to remove the system. I don't have any plans to alter the suspension of my S5 so I wasn't concerned by this.

[doug97gxe]

I ordered my S5 with the adaptive damping suspension. I enjoyed the ability to control the suspension damping rates on my previously-owned Lexus GS 350. It really is a "best of both worlds" scenario. Sometimes you want a softer configuration for better ride, sometimes you want a stiffer configuration for better handling. The option is fairly low-cost, with an MSRP of $1,000. The only downside I know of is if you plan on replacing the springs, and want to match the dampers to those springs, you'll have to remove the system. I don't have any plans to alter the suspension of my S5 so I wasn't concerned by this.

not so

[banksc]

not so

How so? I am not aware that you can transfer the system to a new damper... (re-read what was said)

[doug97gxe]

How so? I am not aware that you can transfer the system to a new damper... (re-read what was said)

I was a bit confused I thought u meant if u wanted aftermarket springs with the system u had to replace the system


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[Jimmy ny]

I wish i had it on my RS5. Had it on my M3, there was a difference. I would sill use HR OE springs and lower a ADS car. I would take the chance. Cheap upgrade if it is noticeable.

[GotRS?]

Meh. If any system only changes damping and not spring rate then you have a choice between under damped to over damped. True Adaptive takes motion sensor input into account.

[dseag2]

IMHO it is definitely worth it. I feel a big difference between Dynamic and Comfort in not only the transmission gearing but the suspension as well.

[01northernS4]

Meh. If any system only changes damping and not spring rate then you have a choice between under damped to over damped. True Adaptive takes motion sensor input into account.

so if you plan on lowering it, as good as the system may be, it's ultimately best not to have the adaptive dampening suspension?

[Ntense]

It depends on how you lower your car. If you choose a full coilover you have no choice but to remove the ADS portion and install a kit that will eliminate your fault light due to not having the sensors plugged in...i.e. you lose every part of your ADS since you are replacing the dampers with ones from whatever kit you choose. If you lower with just a spring it still has all the ADS part to it but now the dampers are 1" compressed due to the lowered spring height, and that will ultimately affect how it "feels".

[d1amund]

If you lower with just a spring it still has all the ADS part to it but now the dampers are 1" compressed due to the lowered spring height, and that will ultimately affect how it "feels".

In a positive or negative way? I'm on the fence to go with real coilovers or KW HAS to remain the OEM ADS.

[01northernS4]

I'm guessing negatively... as in perhaps a bit pogo-ish or waterbeddy? Maybe not too pronounced on new stock ads shocks but with the 1" less travel maybe they'll degrade quickly?!? Perhaps coilovers with mild 1.25" drop and set to comfort on the dampers is the best way to go for stock-ish ride and good performance?

In a positive or negative way? I'm on the fence to go with real coilovers or KW HAS to remain the OEM ADS.

[JamesRS5]

Keep the adjustability of the ADS dampers and just fit H&R OE Springs to retain the good ride quality that you'd miss if you go for coil overs.

KW HAS are nice springs but check the compatibility with ADS, I know some European guys had issues with them and the DRC system but DRC is completely different from ADS.
Also, if you're honest, how many times will you adjust the ride height? Is it worth paying so much extra for redundant adjustability?

[The Outrage]

A suspension's damping should be matched to its springs. Lowering springs typically use a higher spring rate and have a different travel length. Correspondingly, dampers which are matched with the higher spring rates and the different travel lengths should be used.

[JamesRS5]

But the nature of ADS is adjustable damping designed to be used on a single spring rate, the H&R OE spring is only a slight increase in spring rate compared to the sport spring so you will be perfectly safe fitting these with the ADS or standard Audi dampers. Ask anyone who has the OE springs fitted, they say they improve the ride over standard springs.

Lower springs do tend to have a shorter travel or you will be riding on the bump stops every time you hit a bump, they usually do this by having a varying spring rate which gets stiffer as the spring compresses, you can see this on the H&Rs where the coils are closer together is the softer part of the spring which compresses first.