Ecs tuning cup kit vs Bilstein cup kit

[A.C.]

Newbie here,

Wondering if anyone had a comparison on these 2 suspension kits and which is the better option. For the ecs kit I will opt for the oe sport spring kit. In Maryland we still have bad winters and wouldn't consider coils. I'm the type of guy to set it & forget it and I could use the remaining $$$ for an AK. Thanks in advance.

[boro92]

The b12 cup kit has the superior shock. Having owned and raced on both koni yellow and bilstein sports, my pick goes to bilstein. But koni you can set rebound stiffness to your liking. Your call on that aspect. Imo the bilstein is the more quality choice.

[jran76]

The b12 cup kit has the superior shock. Having owned and raced on both koni yellow and bilstein sports, my pick goes to bilstein. But koni you can set rebound stiffness to your liking. Your call on that aspect. Imo the bilstein is the more quality choice.

I think ECS offers their "cup kit" with the Bilstein B8 sport shocks with the difference at that point being the H&R springs in the ECS kit and Eibach springs included with the Bilstein Pro-Kit.

ECS "cup kit": https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...its/ES3010022/
Bilstein Pro-kit: https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...its/ES2983800/
http://cart.bilsteinus.com/product/46-183330/378343/AWD

There are probably 3-4 things to consider....

1. Can you get the Bilstein Pro-Kit? When I looked into it, it was at least a 3-4 month wait at every place I checked. ECS shows April 14th. There was a place on here the other day saying they could get them, but I don't know if they actually have them in stock. http://vag.excelerateperformance.com...i-1735908.aspx

2. Price- The Bilstein Pro-Kit looks like it runs around $800 where the ECS assembled kit runs around $1000.

3. Ride height- By all accounts the Eibach springs with the Pro-Kit is a pretty mild drop. Maybe around an inch on the S4 (they say 30mm/35mm, but by all accounts it is less than that in most cases). Obviously the ECS/H&R option gives you more ride height choices since you have 3 spring choices.

4. The B12 pro-kit was designed for the 3.2 A4, so you're likely to get spring rates better suited for the A4. At the end of the day, this probably isn't a huge difference. The H&R spring rates are basically the same as a stock S4 according to what they told boro.

[boro92]

Oh my bad. Didn't even click the link. Just assumed ECS cup kit was koni's. The old H&R cup kit was paired with koni's!
If both are on bilsteins, jran is right. The shock is going to work with either spring setup. Pick your chosen amount of drop!

If you are after a more dramatic increase in performance, you can get the bilstein shocks alone and RS5 springs. FWIW. But that will only get you about a half in drop.
Note that some bilstein shocks have adjustable spring seats--where the spring seat can move up and down -- the shock body has a few presets where the seat can clip into. If they have that on the S4 version, then you are able to play with the front ride height. FWIW.

see pic for adjustable spring seat:

[MrFunk]

I'm running HR OE's and Bilstein B8 shocks... very happy with the set up.
Can't compare with the other kit though sorry...

[fitzydude]

I ordered the B12 kit in early December from AWE Tuning, they had the kit on sale for less than $700 so I had to jump on it ($716 regularly). They said expect 8-10 weeks to get here, also mentioned they had one "on the boat" that was unclaimed so maybe I'm getting it a bit sooner than usual. I've always ran Eibach springs on previous cars and always loved them for the comfort and performance.

[A.C.]

Thanks everyone for the input. Essentially the pro-kit will have a "rake look " based on the measurements provided. I believe the census would prefer the ecs kit with h&r springs overall which I noticed the majority using here besides coils. I would love the drop on the sport springs but unsure how the ride would be for a daily driver . Including the winters in Maryland .


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[jran76]

Thanks everyone for the input. Essentially the pro-kit will have a "rake look " based on the measurements provided. I believe the census would prefer the ecs kit with h&r springs overall which I noticed the majority using here besides coils. I would love the drop on the sport springs but unsure how the ride would be for a daily driver . Including the winters in Maryland .


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I wouldn't necessarily trust the specs listed online. I'd recommend searching for a few people running the setup, and look at their pics. I've found the specs listed by the manufacturer to usually be off by a bit. I can tell you the Bilstein/H&R OE combo has a slight rake (there rear appears to be slightly higher than the front).

[A.C.]

I wouldn't necessarily trust the specs listed online. I'd recommend searching for a few people running the setup, and look at their pics. I've found the specs listed by the manufacturer to usually be off by a bit. I can tell you the Bilstein/H&R OE combo has a slight rake (there rear appears to be slightly higher than the front).

Good to know and thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards the H&R/Bilstien setup from what I've been researching online. I've heard pros and cons with Koni FSD Kit.

Sent from my mind

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

If anyone has any other questions regarding cup kits let me know, I'll be happy to help!

Jason

[AA S4]

Any difference if I buy the ECS kit vs buying the springs now and then upgrading the dampers when needed (unhappy with ride, dampers reach end of life, etc.)?

[chaos2984]

Newbie here,

Wondering if anyone had a comparison on these 2 suspension kits and which is the better option. For the ecs kit I will opt for the oe sport spring kit. In Maryland we still have bad winters and wouldn't consider coils. I'm the type of guy to set it & forget it and I could use the remaining $$$ for an AK. Thanks in advance.

Hey buddy,
Let me know what you decide to go with. And where are you from in Md, if you want to PM me that just PM me. I want to do some sort of suspension but I don't want to go to low since im still in a new construction area for where I live. They wont put the finishing top coat of pavement until probably next year sometime. I don't want to have issues with hitting manhole covers and such.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Any difference if I buy the ECS kit vs buying the springs now and then upgrading the dampers when needed (unhappy with ride, dampers reach end of life, etc.)?

More labor/personal time. If it were me I would rather do everything all at once rather than remove the suspension 2 times. Not to mention if you don't have the ability to work on your own vehicle you'll be paying for labor to install the springs/alignment and again later on down the road for shocks/alignment.

Jason

[AA S4]

I'm typically a DIY guy - is this a difficult install? Do I need a spring compressor if I buy the kit?

When I did the STI swap on my Forester, the suspension drooped enough to slide the springs and struts in without much fuss.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

I'm typically a DIY guy - is this a difficult install? Do I need a spring compressor if I buy the kit?

When I did the STI swap on my Forester, the suspension drooped enough to slide the springs and struts in without much fuss.

Not the hardest thing in the world but I would definitely suggest a spring compressor.

Jason

[jran76]

I'm typically a DIY guy - is this a difficult install? Do I need a spring compressor if I buy the kit?

When I did the STI swap on my Forester, the suspension drooped enough to slide the springs and struts in without much fuss.

In general, the front is kind of a pain in the ass compared to other cars I've worked on, and the rear is super easy.

Getting the spring on the front really requires the spring to be slightly compressed. The rear either needs a spring compressor to fit it in, or you need to slightly lower the subframe or manhandle the spring bucket to get it in (use leverage to push it down while you put the spring in).

[o1turbo30v]

Bilstein with Eibach, end thread.

[A.C.]

Hey buddy,
Let me know what you decide to go with. And where are you from in Md, if you want to PM me that just PM me. I want to do some sort of suspension but I don't want to go to low since im still in a new construction area for where I live. They wont put the finishing top coat of pavement until probably next year sometime. I don't want to have issues with hitting manhole covers and such.

No worries I'll post here. I'm located in Waldorf. Let me know when you want to gtg. Looking to get the suspension before spring. I intend to include adjustable upper control arms. It seems to be the norm with the Audis. I'm quite sure someone will chime in to confirm.

Sent from my mind

[chaos2984]

No worries I'll post here. I'm located in Waldorf. Let me know when you want to gtg. Looking to get the suspension before spring. I intend to include adjustable upper control arms. It seems to be the norm with the Audis. I'm quite sure someone will chime in to confirm.

Sent from my mind

Yea sounds good. Im around BWI airport. We hang out on Friday nights at a local DD usually grab some dinner near by and head to DD for some coffee and chatting. There are a Few S products and 2 A4's bunch of Vw people. Yea I want to get suspension sometime but im worried for when the wife drives it home is all. I have heard that we need adjustable control arms to get the alignment correct again after lowering.

[A.C.]

Yea sounds good. Im around BWI airport. We hang out on Friday nights at a local DD usually grab some dinner near by and head to DD for some coffee and chatting. There are a Few S products and 2 A4's bunch of Vw people. Yea I want to get suspension sometime but im worried for when the wife drives it home is all. I have heard that we need adjustable control arms to get the alignment correct again after lowering.

Sounds like a plan. My son has a B7 A4 and probably would like to come as well. Funny is that we have the same color Quartz grey. Obviously we keep it in the family!

Sent from my mind

[chaos2984]

Sounds like a plan. My son has a B7 A4 and probably would like to come as well. Funny is that we have the same color Quartz grey. Obviously we keep it in the family!

Sent from my mind

Nice, Yea mine is moonlight and I have a son on the way so he will ride in the S4 lol. This is my 3rd S4. My friends have had A4's. Im tempted to buy an A4 avant as a beater and get rid of my civic

[A.C.]

Nice, Yea mine is moonlight and I have a son on the way so he will ride in the S4 lol. This is my 3rd S4. My friends have had A4's. Im tempted to buy an A4 avant as a beater and get rid of my civic

Sweet. This is my DD. My 99 GLX passed away with close to 500k on the odometer. Drive train was strong but not the body. This is my 1st Audi including my son. We're pleased

Sent from my mind

[chaos2984]

Nice, Yea I have enjoyed all 3 of mine. Don't really have anything bad to say. But I would like to have an audi or vw as a beater but when that deal for the Honda came up I couldn't pass it up. Ive had it for 4 years now and it owes me nothing anymore.