[ianmc]

Morning to one & all

This is my first post on this amazingly informative forum - so please be gentle

I thought I'd almost ordered my motor last week - but got a call from the dealer on the way home last night with a "problem". I've ordered a S-line 180 TFSi and one of the items chosen on the spec were the 20 spoke 19's (I do like split rims - fnnar :tumbleweed

As I'm sure most of you will know - the option on the S-line is to have either the sport or "S-line" GMBH suspension. Unfortunately just before submitting my order for build the dealer said he would recommend that I didn't have the 19's and the "full" S-line suspenseion as (I quote) "it would do my back in!:help:

Please, can someone give me an opinion - I've had a quick look through the specs of users cars on here but cannot spot anyone with an Sline and 19" wheels.

I've driven an A5 sport on 19's and liked the ride - can't help but think this is dealer B/S - I can't unfortunately locate an A5 S Line with 19's at a local dealer to have a play with

I do a fair amount of miles - so car needs to be sensible on the suspension, but I have been through various Audi's in the past with sport configs (and aftermarket rims) and have only had a problem on an A3 that I went a bit too far on!

Any thoughts always welcome

 

[mactrack]

S Line A5's are only now starting to arrive at UK dealers and there are 4 listed on Audi UK used car locator. Depending on how long you can wait before confirming your order will dictate whether you can find one with S Line suspension as well as 19" alloys.

Personally I will be ordering mine with 19" alloys and the standard sport suspension as I have just sold my A3 which had, as standard, the S Line suspension and whilst I did not mind it too much many of my passengers would complain bitterly about the quality of ride.

Ultimately it's your choice, and not the dealer's, and if it's a company/lease car you will never encounter any resale issues even if there are any.

 

[ianmc]

mactrack, really appreciate your input

The problem I'm trying to understand (and I will ask next week) is if they don't have a physical unit with S Line & 19's, how can he make these comments about the S-line & 19" wheels?

All a bit bizarre in my mind.

 

[Ageing Biker]

Welcome!
As far as I am aware, there are two versions of the "sports" suspension. On the S-line you get a standard "Sport" suspension. This has stiffer springs and is lower by approx 20mm than the standard car (same as the "Sport" version of the car). The optional S-Line sport suspension lowers the car even further (by 15mm, I think) and uses even stiffer springs as a "no cost" option. I have been advised by someone that has tried this setup to avoid it if I am spending a lot of time in the car/doing high mileage (which I do). His expression was "unless you want your fillings to fall out". I would suspect that this combined with the 19" wheels would just exaggerate the situation. I guess the whole thing depends upon how much time you spend in the car and how comfortable you want to be. Hope this helps.

 

[Highrisedrifter]

My first Audi was going to be an A5 S-Line with 19" wheels before I eventually caved in and bought the S5.

I was going to have the Sports suspension rather than the S-Line one too as comfort was a major factor and the S-Line suspension I think would have been just that bit too harsh for me.

 

[mactrack]

mactrack, really appreciate your input

The problem I'm trying to understand (and I will ask next week) is if they don't have a physical unit with S Line & 19's, how can he make these comments about the S-line & 19" wheels?

All a bit bizarre in my mind.

To be honest it is probably just a case of your dealer trying to do the "right" thing by you according to his own experience. Ask him whether they have encountered issues with resale i.e. used buyers specifically avoiding this set up on other models.

Also Audi UK themselves are offering the S Line with Sport suspension, a 20mm drop, as standard and you have to specify S Line suspension, a 30mm drop, if you really want it. As it is pretty much accepted that Audi cars do have firmer rides this appears to be Audi UK's way of acknowledging this fact by not forcing S Line buyers to have the S Line suspension like I had to with my A3.

 

[RGBArgee]

I have a Sport on Sport suspension running on 19in Y spokes. I certainly wouldn't want a harder ride! The 20 spokes are I believe a tad wider than Y spokes too.

 

[robb]

surely sline suspension is just the S5 setup? so wouldnt a test drive in that do? dont see why the sline stuff would be stiffer than the S5

 

[RGBArgee]

surely sline suspension is just the S5 setup? so wouldnt a test drive in that do? dont see why the sline stuff would be stiffer than the S5

I don't think so.... the S-Line is a specifically lower ride. Lower than Sport and S5..

 

[Garryt]

19" Wheels

I've recently taken delivery of a 3.0TDi Sport and was also advised not to have the 19" wheels. As I have had a BMW 3 series before with 19" wheels, I know what a firm ride is like and I swore I'd not do it again! It's OK on the BMW M3, as you really want the firm ride to feel the road, but if you are covering a few miles, I wouldn't have the 19" wheels!

My A5 Sport has the standard 18" wheels and the ride is firm enough for good handling and feel, but comfy enough to eat up the miles!

I am glad I stuck to the standard wheels, but to be honest, it's every one to their own. Some people prefer the firmer ride and there's nothing wrong with that....just personal preference!

 

[ianmc]

Thanks for all of you input - looks like I'll need to order the sport suspension and then maybe look at some aftermarket lowering (H&R etc) afterwards - if the sport on 19" doesn't sit right, oh yeah & the spacers, H11 replacement for the fogs and so on. Don't know what is more expensive, getting the new car or sorting out bits for it! Sanspeed Koch module already in hand to see what can be achieved out of the detuned 180ps TFSi lump

The ride in the S5 is like a good Grand Tourer (yet capable in the twisties), ditto the last gen M3 coupe (not been in the latest E92) yet it seems mad that the M Sport or S line derivative (ioften on wheels that are the same size or even smaller) give a harsher ride

 

[Simonthegooner]

Oh dear, I'm a bit worried now. Have ordered an S Line with 18" wheels and S Line suspension without driving one and it sounds like it could be a bit on the hard side. Anyone got an idea whether this would be harder than my current car which is a BMW 325i M Sport? I don't mind the ride in this, but passengers often comment that it's a bit "joggly" over poor surfaces.

 

[Rab88]

Don't listen to the golden oldies. Get that s-line suspension with the 30mm drop and whack a set of 20's on there.

If you find it too rough give me a shout and i'll swap my 18" sport wheels for your 20" wheels

 

[F1isbest]

you will love it regardless

 

[ianmc]

Finally got details form the dealer re different suspension setups, with reference to the Standard car:

Sport is 20mm down on standard
S-line is 30mm down on standard
S line "full GMBh" is 40mm down on standard

I've settled on the default S line suspension setting of 30mm drop with the 19" 20 spoke alloys - hopefully a sensible compromise. I was warned by the deaelr that the Sline GMBh - 40mm drop would give the nodding dog effect on the motorway - something that I need to avoid from experience of a previous modded A3 that used to make my eyes sooo tired on a loing journey.

Now I really can't wait for the delivery date in April!!

 

[mactrack]

S line "full GMBh" is 40mm down on standard

Are you sure about this further S Line option as I have never seen or heard about two S Line suspension set ups.

 

[ianmc]

Mactrack - really reitterating what the dealer told me. He was categoric that the default suspension setting on an S-line was 10mm lower than the Sport, and that if you specified the "full Sline" suspension - that this would lower the car an additional 10mm to 40mm down on the standard A5

To be blunt , it could be dealer B/S - but as I cannot find a physical S Line to compare point to point against a Sport - I'm having to "order blind" unfortunately.

Has anyone taken delivery of a S-line that can confirm thoughts on what "standard S-line" suspension consists of? Or indeed whether I'm in possession of the "full facts"? :mallet:

 

[Scouse5]

if the sport on 19" doesn't sit right

My5 is Sport & 19" Y's, and I love it Don't see or feel any problem :thumbsup: Different opinions I guess.

It is a firm ride, like some of my previous cars, but I'm cool with that. Did think about lowering with springs but wouldn't want it any firmer!! So that idea went out the window. Can't comment on S-line suspension as I don't know.

 

[mactrack]

Mactrack - really reitterating what the dealer told me. He was categoric that the default suspension setting on an S-line was 10mm lower than the Sport, and that if you specified the "full Sline" suspension - that this would lower the car an additional 10mm to 40mm down on the standard A5

To be blunt , it could be dealer B/S - but as I cannot find a physical S Line to compare point to point against a Sport - I'm having to "order blind" unfortunately.

Has anyone taken delivery of a S-line that can confirm thoughts on what "standard S-line" suspension consists of? Or indeed whether I'm in possession of the "full facts"? :mallet:

As far as I am aware the default suspension set up on a S Line is the same as the Sport's i.e. 20mm down from standard and you have to opt for the S Line suspension 30mm down from standard.

 

[Rab88]

As far as I am aware the default suspension set up on a S Line is the same as the Sport's i.e. 20mm down from standard and you have to opt for the S Line suspension 30mm down from standard.

That's correct. Sport suspension is standard on the S-Line, but you can opt for a S-line suspension (a further 10mm drop) for free.

Havn't heard of a s-line GMBH suspension. It's not even in the new A5 brochure.

I've said it before, dealers don't know as much as you think, or as much as they like to think.