Yoshimura

Hello guys!

I'm ready to sign for a 2016 S5 and I need to confirm that the ADS (Adjustable Damping Suspension) option doesn't increase ride height which would be a deal breaker.

plat27265

No. The ride height stays the same. There is no indication in the detailed specs that ride height would be any different with the Damping Suspension.

Yoshimura

Specifications are often incorrect...

But I see that you have the Adaptive Dampers so am I correct to assume that you had the occasion to confirm this visually yourself?

Thanks!

plat27265

Yes, you are correct. My S5 with damping suspension does not sit higher. It's the same height as the other S5's in the dealer's lot. Wheel well clearance is the same.

Yoshimura

Great! And thanks again!

Alister

Springs are the same (and hence ride height) - it's just the shocks that are different plus the other requisite ADS components (module, wiring etc).

superswiss

I'm not 100% sure about the springs, but the roll bars are different, too. They are smaller in order for the suspension to be more comfortable in comfort mode than the fixed suspension. I'm pretty sure the springs have to be different, too. Generally the springs and roll bars have to be compromised in order to provide the spread between comfort and dynamic. I haven't verified this myself, but from pics I've seen and from other comments, the adaptive suspension sits higher to provide more suspension travel. Springs are also different for different countries. The EU S4 sits lower than the US S4 for example as far as I know.