Eibach Sportlines or Pros?

[heyadamhey]

Hi folks
So after lots of deliberation and looking at pics of cars running each of the above springs, I still can't decide on which ones to go with.

I like the look of the sportlines (50/40mm drop) over the Pros (30mm), but I don't want to get a look that I'm happy with, but then have a harsh ride or scrape on every speed bump.

What are people's experience with the sportlines?

Thanks
Adam

 

[locost47]

Hi, I know your after info on the Eibach springs but I have used 35mm Eibach springs on my 04 TDI sport, the ride is great and the springs sharpen the car up a bit. I feel that the 35mm springs offer a good balance between looks and practicality as If the car were any lower the front bumper may ground on some dips etc in the road, I think a 30mm drop will not be noticeable. I would pay the extra and go with the 35mm Eibach, you wont be disappointed!

 

[heyadamhey]

you had me at "locost" (...one day)

did you mean 35mm H&Rs?

I'mn currently on SE spec, so even a 30mm drop would be noticable, but after seeing Paul C's car I really like the look of the sportlines. just don't want to regret it...

 

[Boydie]

Neither - go for H&R's!!!

 

[heyadamhey]

I'm gonna be doing the hybrid treatment on my turbo early in Jan, so would rather not spend the extra 60 pounds

 

[Boydie]

£60's worth of extra comfort, performance, quality and genuine lowerage IMO - money well spent!

Check out the prices on www.orange-tunning.de - I have bought 2 sets from there, numerous friends have as well and I will be getting my H&R ARB's from them as well

 

[-Ju-]

Definately Echo the comments about the H&R's. When you see the H&R's and Eibachs side by side, you can tell which are the better springs.

Eibachs on the left and H&R's on the right

 

[dan1973]

Ive just fitted eibach and i was a little disappointed with the ride height, so I've got some h&r on the way.

 

[heyadamhey]

Thanks for the comments guys. I was under the impression that quality-wise, they were pretty equal.
Regretting my choice of springs and buying a second set isn't an option. (I'm bringing them back to South Africa in my luggage)

 

[V6Pete]

Definately Echo the comments about the H&R's. When you see the H&R's and Eibachs side by side, you can tell which are the better springs.

Eibachs on the left and H&R's on the right

Not sure why you think the H&R's look better in that pic? Am I missing something?

For the OP, I certainly wouldn't think for a second that Eibach are not great quality - these guys have so many OE and tuning contracts and are the market leader for performance springs.

H&R aren't much more money in Germany - unfortunately the UK RRP's are a lot higher - possibly due to Eibach having their own base in the UK and H&R selling through a middleman.

 

[-Ju-]

What you think both springs look the same?
I know which ones to me look like they have been manufactured different for a reason.

 

[V6Pete]

What you think both springs look the same?
I know which ones to me look like they have been manufactured different for a reason.

No they look like they have a different paint finish. But I don't honestly think the H&R looks like a better product.

 

[-Ju-]

No they look like they have a different paint finish.

And a progressive spring rate!

The Eibachs shown have been fitted to a mates A3 3.2 whereas the superior H&R's are going on mine, just like my last A3

 

[V6Pete]

And a progressive spring rate!

The Eibachs shown have been fitted to a mates A3 3.2 whereas the superior H&R's are going on mine, just like my last A3

The only criticism I commonly hear of Eibach's is them not lowering enough. 2 of the lads at my work had Eibach springs on their cars, and both changed for coilovers as the Eibach's just didn't lower much.

In terms of ride quality and handling, Eibach are great - as are H&R. I just disagree that they're worth such a premium.

 

[dan1973]

The only criticism I commonly hear of Eibach's is them not lowering enough. 2 of the lads at my work had Eibach springs on their cars, and both changed for coilovers as the Eibach's just didn't lower much.

In terms of ride quality and handling, Eibach are great - as are H&R. I just disagree that they're worth such a premium.

I will go with this mine too is the same and they take weeks to settle, as too why ive gone too H&R's just waiting for them too arrive. When i oredered the H&R's the sales person told me that eibach are good quality but this is commonly known for there stated figures in how much lower. Apparently if H&R say it will go down 30mm it will go down 30mm.

 

[-Ju-]

Yeah, I agree the Eibachs only took it down 20mm but the ride quality is fine. I just prefer the H&R's after experiencing them on my last A3 3.2 for 18 months.

 

[NHN]

Pro all the way, proven by so many members who've fitted, I have & the change was seriously dramatic, plus ride height was perfect, no rse on floor.

 

[akash_sky1]

Those H&Rs are progressively wound at the end which provides more comfort mid travel but excellent resistance to bottoming out and a higher spring rate on increased compression...duhh! lol
I had Eibach Pro-kit -30mm on my last car which rode pretty high and made a very noticeble difference but not a massive one. The ride was pretty firm when combined with Billstein B4s dampers but body motions were almost non existant.

 

[V6Pete]

Those H&Rs are progressively wound at the end which provides more comfort mid travel but excellent resistance to bottoming out and a higher spring rate on increased compression...duhh! lol
I had Eibach Pro-kit -30mm on my last car which rode pretty high and made a very noticeble difference but not a massive one. The ride was pretty firm when combined with Billstein B4s dampers but body motions were almost non existant.

I would blame the harsh ride more on the dampers than a set of Eibach springs.

My car was on Eibach's when I bought it and it drove better than my previous S-Line A4 did on factory springs!

 

[Phase]

Has anyone replaced springs on a 2.0T FSI Quattro? If so, which springs did you choose and how do you find the ride and height?

Ta
Tim

 

[NHN]

I had Eibach Pro-kit -30mm on my last car which rode pretty high and made a very noticeble difference but not a massive one. The ride was pretty firm when combined with Billstein B4s dampers but body motions were almost non existant.

Eibach pro's High, I'd have to disagree tbh.

I would blame the harsh ride more on the dampers than a set of Eibach springs.

2nd that, the eibach's are superb overall & with the FSD's even better.

 

[akash_sky1]

Eibach pro's High, I'd have to disagree tbh.



2nd that, the eibach's are superb overall & with the FSD's even better.

I meant the car rode high BEFORE I put the Eibach's on and made a noticeable, but not huge difference in ride height.
And yes the Bilstein B4 sports will have affected the ride more

 

[NHN]

Aha bistro, but I'd disagree on height, but depends where you were before I guess, mine was a sport & the difference in height is very noticable & yes thats why I didnt go for coily's & namely bilsteins as didnt want hard rse ride, fsd's are best of both worlds.

 

[heyadamhey]

ok, so if I went with the H&Rs, what would be the recommended choice?
-35mm or -45/50mm ?

out of interest, how much lower is the S3 than SE spec?

 

[jb0o]

out of interest, how much lower is the S3 than SE spec?

This thread will help: http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=44434&highlight=lowering+30mm

Sport: 15mm lower than SE
S-line: 25mm lower than SE
S3: 35mm lower than SE

Though to the end of the thread, people seem a bit unsure, lol.

 

[dunk]

choice depends on whether you are looking at looks and /or performance

most brand-name springs are going to be of similar performance, and most will improve over standard although the oem harsh crashy ride is mostly due to the crap dampers.

if you are looking for road driving rather than track, then the dampers generally need to be softer in bump than the factory stuff

so generally, the choice comes down to ride height rather than a) is better than b), but getting a really good match of springs and dampers for a particular setup eg road, is what certain combinations get a good reputation for

the eibach pro -30mm springs and koni fsd dampers seem to have that reputation - reasonably low but not too low to be impractical, probably slightly softer than s-line but just right for the car, and the fsd dampers seem to manage the trick of extremely good control without being harsh or crashy, and no adjustments so just fit and forget.

most people who fit the eibach and fsd combination seem to get a much better quality ride as well as better handling and roadholding without any complicated setup of adjusting ride heights or damper settings.

of course convention seems to say that coilovers are magically better, but for most road users they are overpriced, overcomplicated to set up and ultimately often too hard for everyday road use.

springs and dampers are only 1 component of transforming the a3 suspension and spending twice as much on expensive springs/dampers isnt going to get you twice the improvement - you also need to look at ARBs, front and rear camber, caster, tyre pressures and wheel weights to make significant improvements.

 

[NHN]

the eibach pro -30mm springs and koni fsd dampers seem to have that reputation - reasonably low but not too low to be impractical, probably slightly softer than s-line but just right for the car, and the fsd dampers seem to manage the trick of extremely good control without being harsh or crashy, and no adjustments so just fit and forget.

most people who fit the eibach and fsd combination seem to get a much better quality ride as well as better handling and roadholding without any complicated setup of adjusting ride heights or damper settings.

of course convention seems to say that coilovers are magically better, but for most road users they are overpriced, overcomplicated to set up and ultimately often too hard for everyday road use.

springs and dampers are only 1 component of transforming the a3 suspension and spending twice as much on expensive springs/dampers isnt going to get you twice the improvement - you also need to look at ARBs, front and rear camber, caster, tyre pressures and wheel weights to make significant improvements.

100% there Dunk, coilys are an overkill for 99.999% of drivers, I didnt want or need them, so I went fsd & eibach pro 30mm & they are an absolute fantastic combi with ride height perfect & the improvement in drive is seriously dramatic over my previous oem sport suspension, a hell of alot, arb's are the other option I have fitted & seemed to turn alot better & overall felt great.

 

[N8]

IMO - coilovers are perfect and not overkill at all. The car is at the height I want, it rides the way I want, and handles the way I want with the anti roll bars. I've been in an A3 with uprated shocks and springs and was not impressed with the ride or handling whatsoever. Adjustable coilovers FTW

 

[Tommy]

If you have the money to spend on coilies then yeah, id have them every day of the week, but for £150 delivered the eibach sportlines are decent for the money...

 

[N8]

And if I didn't have the money, I'd go without and save up

 

[NHN]

IMO - coilovers are perfect and not overkill at all. The car is at the height I want, it rides the way I want, and handles the way I want with the anti roll bars. I've been in an A3 with uprated shocks and springs and was not impressed with the ride or handling whatsoever. Adjustable coilovers FTW

Thats why I said 99.9999% of drivers, if you IMHO compare how many people have uprated springs/shocks against coilys installed, you'd see the point I'm making which is why I consider them an overkill & tbh I have only heard a few people say coilys are more comfortable than a new set of springs/shocks & that I am doubting aswell considering the whole point of coilys, I mean they're not exactly fitted to have NASA suspension are they, so usually fitted so the return is small therefore the hardness of drive is much more IMHO, but EACH to there own.

 

[N8]

All of my friends with modded cars all run coils. So not 99% of people, anyway I have experience of both and don't

 

[NHN]

N8 think outside ur immediate friends & look at the bigger picture me old china, I meant overall people who have upgraded there suspension, I dont mean just the people you know.

Also 99.99999% of people dont want the car dragging on the tarmac do they, thats my point aswell, so in this context what I'm trying to get across would seem logical dont you think, Coilys are mostly specialised modding parts in the grand scheme of things, so overall they are an overkill for 99.999999999999999999999999999999% of all drivers.

Personally even with your coilys I've been told they're not like sitting on air, I reckon you've got some tempur implants in your butt

 

[N8]

I know what your saying, but the only thing I'm sayin is, I've known PLENTY of people who have bought springs and then the ride height is either to high or too low for them, hence coilovers being the better option....when we link up we'll go for a drive in mine, so I can shut that gob of yours up :Flush:

 

[heyadamhey]

Thanks for all the info guys. I liked the idea of coilovers, but my budget didn't allow for them.
I ended up going for the H&R -35mm springs. gonna have 'em fitted early in Jan when I get back from Canada. will post an update (and some pics) when they're on