[Mbodewes]

Hey,

6 Months ago, me and my dad did a testdrive in an Audi Q5 with normal suspension. We thought it was a nice ride and a month later we went to the dealer to buy one. However we also liked the look of the S-line package so we wanted the Q5 S-line but without the S-line suspension. The dealer told us that this was impossible but that the S-line suspension was not much harder than the normal suspension.

A month ago we finally got the car and we love everything about the car, expect for the suspension. My dad and I think that the suspension is way too hard (he is 64). We went back to the dealer to ask if they could do anything, but the said they couldn't change anything.

Have you got any ideas on how to make this Q5 s line ride a whole lot more comfortable? It has the 19 inch alloys, so this i think it's not due to this.

So my questions are:
- Do you think the S-line sportchassis is not much different from the normal chassis? Did the dealer give us wrong information by saying so?
- What can we do to soften the car? We asked Audi but they don't really want to do anything (problems with garanty, etc..)

Thanks in advance for your replies. It would help a lot!

Maarten

 

[guyguyke]

the most sensible modification would be to return to 17"-rims with soft rubbers
you can test this very easily by asking the dealer to install a winter set for a test
when I bought my Q5 (normal suspension) I was aslo afraid that the 19" rims that were on teh car would be too hard, and I ordered a winter st on 17"; after testing for a while, I found the 19" acceptable and as they were so nice, I cancelled the winter set
But in your case, it could be a great part of the solution

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Maarten,

There are a number of options that are possible, but none are cheap and may have an impact on your warranty.

The changing of the wheel / tyre size's has been mentioned on an earlier post, so next to the suspension:

If the problem is a real issue and more than an annoyance you could change the dampers on the car. If my memory serves me well the Q5 Sports suspension on the S-Line does not lower the car, just firms it up via harder springs and dampers. So in theory by changing the springs and or dampers to the SE model, that would soften it up. There may also be numerous suspension set-up changes that are required. The work would have to be carried out by a suspension specialist or an Audi Garage. The former may impact your Audi warranty.

If I was in your position and it was a real issue, I would get ahold of Audi UK (Or your local Country) Tech Support and ask their advise for options / solutions. I don't believe the SE and S-Line basic chassis are different in anyway, so it should just be a cost V's problem to weigh-up - which only you can do.

Squirrel

 

[q5s]

The seats don't help either. They are hard unless ofcourse you are used to vag seats in which case they are fine or can even be considered as comfy.

 

[Mbodewes]

Thanks for your answers.

Do you know of any springs/shock absorbers that will make the audi Q5 more comfortable? Like a brand?

 

[nsm3]

Please don't take this the wrong way - but if it is that much of an issue, why don't you trade it in against a well speced, used SE?

As the cars are demanding top dollar at the moment, I am pretty sure the costs to change may well equate to the costs and possible warranty issues surrounding wheel, tyre and damper/spring changes?

 

[kcsun]

I have ordered my S line with Drive select. This alters all the suspension settings electronically from the dashboard. Could you connect a Vag com to the car and set the suspension to a softer setting?
I would imagine the suspension on all S lines would basically be the same?

kc

 

[Guest]

I have ordered my S line with Drive select. This alters all the suspension settings electronically from the dashboard. Could you connect a Vag com to the car and set the suspension to a softer setting?
I would imagine the suspension on all S lines would basically be the same?

kc

Unfortunately, I don't think it is as easy as that. The Drive Select dampers are different from the non-Drive Select ones.

If you are going to change dampers then you really should change springs as well, as springs and dampers are matched to one another. There is bound to be a plethora of spring/damper kits out there - try Eibach, Koni, Bilstein. If you don't get any joy there then try a reputable local suspension shop.

 

[Bill]

Hi Maarten
Should have gone for the Drive Select Damper option like my S-Line! it has a comfort position for Pensioners like me.

 

[stevepen]

Not sure it its possible but -

If there is anyone out there with an SE that now wants a more sporty ride (or couldn't stretch to a s-line for the sports setup), could you advertise on the forum that you will do a free swap of the springs/dampers from SE to S-line. Have it done at an Audi garage and just share the fitting costs.

 

[Guest]

You are absoluely correct with your comments on the suspension...The ride is terrible on the S-Line.
Spec-ing up an SE to look like an Sline would not be cost effective - the xenons cost a fortune by themselves.
Audi should admit they made a mistake and bring out a soft suspension conversion free of charge.
How could they get this so wrong?

 

[q5s]

The ride can't be that bad on the s line compared to the SE. I testdrove an SE on 20s in auto, comfort and dynamic and while I found the ride very harsh to what I'm used to I still ordered the s line on 20s (knowing it would be even harder). To my greatest surpise when it arrived I found it very comfortable in auto and even too much comfortable in comfort. Dynamic is shaky in the city but when pushing, the car stays flat through the corners, an absolute must. In comfort mode it would topple over. Comfort is great when wafting along almost limo like levels of comfort. When my initial shock of the test drive wore off I found the ride (considering this is an Audi on 20s) very, very comfortable indeed. I'd personally rate the suspension as 100/100. Oh, and passengers always comment on how comfortable it is (considering) so it can't be just me.

Did you check your tyre pressures? I've found cars from the factory/dealerhip sometimes to have over 1bar above the recommended pressure. It saves the dealers from having to pump up the tyres.

 

[Mbodewes]

Does anyone know what parts have been changed on the S-line?

 

[Mbodewes]

The thing is that the S-line drives brilliantly on good roads. However when the road has continuous bumps over the entire length of the lane (like up, down, up, down, etc.), sitting in the Q5 is like riding a horse! It really can't absorb the continuous shocks and transmits them to the driver. You get shaken up and down in a very short frequency.

So it's not the occasional bump that the left of the right wheel has to absorb, but the bumps that the entire car should absord, which are annoying. I also testdrove a Q5 with drive select and 20inch wheels, that was no problem!

 

[Mbodewes]

I'd like to have some more feedback from people who own an S-line (with the S-line sport chassis) but without the drive select. What do you think of the suspension? Johnny D already agrees..

 

[Hooplescat]

I have the s-line coming with 20's, but currently drive a BMW 330 with 19" wheels, msport suspension and evil spawn of the devil run flat tyres - I can't believe the s-line won't be a significant improvement on the boneshaker BMW...

 

[stevepen]

I have s-line without drive select and love it, best part of the car. I would of paid extra for the s-line just for the suspension.

 

[Guest]

See if you can make anything from this thread - might be just what you're looking for.

 

[Andy]

I also have an s-line with 19" wheels without drive select and I love the suspension.

 

[Guest]

I'd like to have some more feedback from people who own an S-line (with the S-line sport chassis) but without the drive select. What do you think of the suspension? Johnny D already agrees..

I have a 2.0L TDi S-Line, and I was concerned about all this talk of "back breaking" suspension. Having had my car for nearly 3 months and covered 5000 miles I really have no complaints what so ever.

The reason I chose the Q5 was because it was marketed as a "sporty" 4x4 with "car like" handling. Did no one else not notice that is one of the unique selling points of this car in this sector?!

If you've spent hard earned cash on a car that you now are having to resort to changing the suspension on, you really should have done more homework, you've landed yourself with an expensive mistake there i'm sorry to say. Sell it and move on, because I can assure you no one will want your "DIY soft Suspension Special" once you've finished with it!