S6 - comments on air suspension - harsh?

[Silent Drone]

I'm hoping you guys can educate me about the air suspension. I've been in the A6 with sport suspension on 20" wheels for a while now. The dealer let me take a used 2013 S6 out for the day to compare since I'm thinking about ordering a new one. This loaner has the stock 20" also.

My question for you guys: shouldn't there be a more noticeable difference in suspension between comfort and dynamic in the S6? I thought just the air suspension would make more of a difference but it's not very noticeable, at least as far as this loaner goes. Is that the way it should be?



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[parkstr8]

It took me some playing to actually understand the Audi version of air suspension. It literally changes by setting and movement (lowers when moving or raises when slowing/stopping). I showed my friend the other day sitting in the garage. I had my lights on...and when thru all 4 settings. Each time i changed a setting the car adapted while standing still - meaning I could literally see and feel the car changing its level. I have found for everyday driving...I leave it in auto...for long cruises...comfort...for perfectly smooth roads or fun...dynamic. The personalized setting I have found is a blend - but when you mix it up in the setting you also get a mixed ride. For my dynamic i left most dynamic and then suspension to auto...but it still rides harder than auto or comfort...so i think there are combinations set by Audi.

So to answer your question...yes, there is a big difference in everything between settings.

[Silent Drone]

So to answer your question...yes, there is a big difference in everything between settings.

A6 vs S6 - It's such a completely different ride. Wasn't expecting it to be so different.



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[schaNYC]

I'm hoping you guys can educate me about the air suspension. I've been in the A6 with sport suspension on 20" wheels for a while now. The dealer let me take a used 2013 S6 out for the day to compare since I'm thinking about ordering a new one. This loaner has the stock 20" also.

My question for you guys: shouldn't there be a more noticeable difference in suspension between comfort and dynamic in the S6? I thought just the air suspension

I think your roads might be too nice to notice in the short time you have had it? Speaking solely on the suspension, imperfections in the pavement while in comfort mode have a softer/bouncier feel. While in dynamic mode, its certainly a harsher/quick to bounce back to ride height feel. I am 95% driving in Individual settings with all settings on dynamic, engine/transmission set to comfort (for fuel efficiency) and seat belt tensioner set to comfort. When I want that engine/trans setting in dynamic as well, its a quick pull on the shifter to jump into S mode (full dynamic). The remaining 5% of the time, I drive in comfort mode on long highway trips with the family but eventually I switch to individual when roads get curvy and want to tighten up the car.

I really can't get behind the Auto setting ever as I don't want/trust the car deciding when/where to go dynamic vs comfort.

[Beezer14]

I think your roads might be too nice to notice in the short time you have had it? Speaking solely on the suspension, imperfections in the pavement while in comfort mode have a softer/bouncier feel. While in dynamic mode, its certainly a harsher/quick to bounce back to ride height feel. I am 95% driving in Individual settings with all settings on dynamic, engine/transmission set to comfort (for fuel efficiency) and seat belt tensioner set to comfort. When I want that engine/trans setting in dynamic as well, its a quick pull on the shifter to jump into S mode (full dynamic). The remaining 5% of the time, I drive in comfort mode on long highway trips with the family but eventually I switch to individual when roads get curvy and want to tighten up the car.

I really can't get behind the Auto setting ever as I don't want/trust the car deciding when/where to go dynamic vs comfort.

I did the garage test also and there is a vast difference. I'm 95% auto with all setting dynamic other than engine set to comfort (efficiency), seat belt to comfort, and suspension to auto. The steering in comfort is way too loose for my liking.



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[zcd2.7t]

... I thought just the air suspension would make more of a difference but it's not very noticeable, at least as far as this loaner goes. Is that the way it should be?...

I feel a BIG difference from comfort to dynamic myself, and to answer your other question, I would never use the word harsh to describe the S6's suspension feel.

[Dasquade]

Body roll is effected a lot also between comfort and dynamic.

[Logtec]

I'm hoping you guys can educate me about the air suspension. I've been in the A6 with sport suspension on 20" wheels for a while now. The dealer let me take a used 2013 S6 out for the day to compare since I'm thinking about ordering a new one. This loaner has the stock 20" also.

My question for you guys: shouldn't there be a more noticeable difference in suspension between comfort and dynamic in the S6? I thought just the air suspension would make more of a difference but it's not very noticeable, at least as far as this loaner goes. Is that the way it should be?



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S6/S7 air suspension is way too soft even in dynamic setting, in comfort its like big boat in the sea with lot of body roll.

[wwhan]

S6/S7 air suspension is way too soft even in dynamic setting, in comfort its like big boat in the sea with lot of body roll.

The ride depends on the road, on a really bumpy road, I would not say it is soft, but in comfort mode is it has a softer edge than a standard B8 S4. It rides much firmer than a 1960s land yacht.

[SilveR316]

After lowering my car in Dynamic mode with the Active Suspension Control module, it got quite a bit stiffer in dynamic compared to stock height in dynamic. Body roll is substantially reduced as well.

[Dasquade]

After lowering my car in Dynamic mode with the Active Suspension Control module, it got quite a bit stiffer in dynamic compared to stock height in dynamic. Body roll is substantially reduced as well.

Hm interesting to hear about the bodyroll reducement :) (Cete module is still on modlist).

[SilveR316]

Hm interesting to hear about the bodyroll reducement :) (Cete module is still on modlist).

Don't get me wrong. It still doesn't handle like a go kart, but it's better. There's still enough body roll that swaybars are on my mod list.

[Silent Drone]

Thanks for all the feedback. I count myself fortunate to have had the S6 for an all day test drive. Compared to my A6 with sport suspension 20" wheels and all season tires I found the S6 (with p zeros) to be quite a bit noisier and harsher. Weird, huh. I drove all over the place including my normal commute. When I got back into my A6 it was like I was gliding on butter. It was a used S6 with 40k+ so maybe something wasn't right. However I think I'm going to attribute a lot of the difference to the tires.

Anyway, it hasn't dimmed my enthusiasm for wanting to upgrade to the S. Some other driving notes:

1. I tried to find places where I could feel the sport diff doing its thing but I didn't have much success. The difference felt from the power of the V8 was readily apparent and I think that overpowered any difference I might have noticed from just the diff.

2. The dual clutch tranny was certainly rougher in stop and go traffic than the 8 spd ZF tranny. I wonder what Audi will put on the C8? But I did like the quick shots and slight burble coming out of the dual clutch tranny. Very nice.

3. Throttle lag, if that's what it is-- the immediately available low end power on tap from the 3.0t is sure nice. The 4.0 had plenty of pull from 2k up, way more than the 3.0, but there was that little something missing in low RPMs after having been conditioned by the supercharger in 3.0 for so long.

4. Moar power! All in all, going back to my 3.0, I immediately noticed the lack of power and while there is still plenty for most situations I was left feeling lacking.

Now it's time to go have that discussion about price with the dealer.

One last question: how quiet is the sport exhaust when in comfort mode? My test drive was a 2013 so it didn't have the sport option. I'm on the fence about getting it. Certainly the car I tested didn't need it. I wouldn't want to get it if it is loud when in comfort mode. My wife will need to be able to quiet it down, or she will hate it. But I like the idea of having an option to crank it up for some fun when I'm riding solo.




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[schaNYC]

The ride also depends on tire pressure & often the dealers set the tire pressure on the high side. In comfort mode & 19" wheels/tires at normal (3 occupant) tire pressure, the ride is fine.

I purchased the the S6 with the sport option to get the sport differential, which can be felt in clover leafs and accelerating out out of a high speed turns. The sport exhaust turned out to be an interesting addition that came with the black exhaust tips and sport differential. It only produces a very minor rumble in comfort mode (wife acceptable mode), I did turn off (0%) the bourne structure fake sound with a VAGCOM, some time ago.

How did you turn the fake sound off? Is that the soundaktor thing? Details on where to go in vcds for it? Thx

[wwhan]

How did you turn the fake sound off? Is that the soundaktor thing? Details on where to go in vcds for it? Thx

with Vagcom: From main menu, search/go to A9 (Structure Borne Sound)
Choose Adaption 10
At Channel drop down choose "Volume of structure borne noise actuator" (this is the only choice)
Enter a value in the box (0= off; 100 = full volume)
Close out with "do it"

reference: http://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showth...1558#post71558

Video.... 2016 Golf R Soundaktor Disable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeHWtE-N3-g

[FourRings115]

How did you turn the fake sound off? Is that the soundaktor thing? Details on where to go in vcds for it? Thx

In Audis the sound is all real, not like BMW piping engine noise through the speakers, or even other makes which use a tube connected to the firewall to pipe in sound.
There are valves in the sport exhaust that can be opened for the louder sound by setting exhaust to Dynamic in the MMI.

[SilveR316]

In Audis the sound is all real, not like BMW piping engine noise through the speakers, or even other makes which use a tube connected to the firewall to pipe in sound.
There are valves in the sport exhaust that can be opened for the louder sound by setting exhaust to Dynamic in the MMI.

I think the sound is real in the C7 platform, but it definitely is not in the B8 platform.

[schaNYC]

In Audis the sound is all real, not like BMW piping engine noise through the speakers, or even other makes which use a tube connected to the firewall to pipe in sound.
There are valves in the sport exhaust that can be opened for the louder sound by setting exhaust to Dynamic in the MMI.

I think the sound is real in the C7 platform, but it definitely is not in the B8 platform.

So does that mean the structure borne sound value set to 0 via vag com doesn't have much impact if at all?

[Dasquade]

I tought i read in the C7 platform the structure borne actuator was located behind the dashboard and causes 'additional vibration' in the cabin...not sure and haven't played with the values yet.
Also wonder what impact the noise canceling module has on exhaust sounds. Not sure i have came acrosse coding regarding % cahnges (only disable).

[wwhan]

So does that mean the structure borne sound value set to 0 via vag com doesn't have much impact if at all?

The default is set to 100%, so I changed it to 0%. It was one of the first modifications I did on the car.

From Audi SSP 920223:
"Sound Actuator System
The sound actuator system consists of the Structure Borne Sound Control Module J869 and Structure Borne Sound Actuator R214. Various sound fi les are stored on J869 that are played as a function of vehicle and operating data (load, engine speed, vehicle speed) and forwarded to the actuator. The actuator generates the structure-borne sound. The sound is then introduced via the body and the windshield to the vehicle interior. The actuator is installed using a special bracket on the left at the base of the windshield. The bracket is the “tuning fork” of the system. Different vehicles and engines require different excitation for a balanced engine sound. Information about the engine installed and the body are communicated on the CAN bus and are evaluated. J869 recognizes independently in which vehicle it is installed. The driver can select different sound settings through the MMI."

Structure Borne Sound Control Module J869 (under seat)

Structure-Borne Sound Actuator R214 (at the base of the windshield).

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post10007943

[SilveR316]

The default is set to 100%, so I changed it to 0%. It was one of the first modifications I did on the car.

From Audi SSP 920223:
"Sound Actuator System
The sound actuator system consists of the Structure Borne Sound Control Module J869 and Structure Borne Sound Actuator R214. Various sound fi les are stored on J869 that are played as a function of vehicle and operating data (load, engine speed, vehicle speed) and forwarded to the actuator. The actuator generates the structure-borne sound. The sound is then introduced via the body and the windshield to the vehicle interior. The actuator is installed using a special bracket on the left at the base of the windshield. The bracket is the “tuning fork” of the system. Different vehicles and engines require different excitation for a balanced engine sound. Information about the engine installed and the body are communicated on the CAN bus and are evaluated. J869 recognizes independently in which vehicle it is installed. The driver can select different sound settings through the MMI."

Structure Borne Sound Control Module J869 (under seat)

Structure-Borne Sound Actuator R214 (at the base of the windshield).

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post10007943

Interesting. This goes against what I've been told in regards to any fake sounds on the C7 platform. I'll have to give this a try and see if it makes any difference.