Audi A3 / S3 8Y.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversThe 8Y looks sharp on a modest drop. Get the front clamp, rear axle and original damper equipment right before choosing the kit that will put it there.
The fourth-generation A3.
A larger wheel and a little less arch gap can change an 8Y without making it awkward to use. The useful starting point is the hardware already on the car: a front strut measurement, a look at the rear axle and a check for electronic damping. Trim and wheel size cannot answer all three.
The current selection covers specific A3, quattro and sports-model applications. Some references name both Sportback and saloon; others need a body check. Use the choices below to narrow the range, then confirm the engine, loads and equipment against the exact kit.
The fourth-generation A3 arrived in 2020, first as a five-door Sportback and then as a saloon. Audi gave the hatch more pronounced wheel arches and a strongly creased flank; the saloon kept a separate boot and a longer rear profile.
Inside, the 8Y moved to a touch-led dashboard with angular vents and a compact transmission selector on S tronic models. Underneath, Audi offered ordinary steel-sprung suspension, a lower sports setup and optional electronically controlled dampers. An S line badge and adjustable dampers are different pieces of information, so establish what is actually fitted.
The family also includes quattro, S3, RS3 and plug-in hybrid versions. Their drivetrain, axle loads and damper equipment need separate checks. Some current kits explicitly name a TFSI e Sportback; that does not extend the same approval to every hybrid or to the raised allstreet.
For a road car, decide how much ground clearance and wheel travel you are prepared to give up. Include passengers, steep driveways and the uneven roads you use regularly. A sensible finished height is one the car can use with its actual wheels, tyres and normal load.
Start with your A3 / S3 8Y.
Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.
Sportback: check the rear axle
The five-door 8YA can have different rear arrangements. Eibach’s 051 references here specify an independent rear, even where the engine list includes a familiar 30 or 35 badge. BC S-46 names a 49.5mm FWD application; S-47 uses 54.5mm. Confirm the actual front clamp and rear hardware for the chosen reference.
View Sportback references
Saloon: use the 8YS application
Match the four-door saloon’s own engine and axle-load row. The Eibach 051 petrol and diesel versions have different front limits, with separate 50mm and 55mm references. A platform name or a shared front component does not approve a different rear axle or electronic-damper specification.
View saloon references
S3 and quattro: match the exact row
PSS65-79-016-01-22 names particular 40 TFSI/TDI quattro and S3 applications. Its S3 lowering figures differ from the ordinary quattro rows. The -02 reference adds PRO-TRONIC for specified electronic-damper cars. BC’s S-47 table contains conflicting S3/FWD wording; ask for confirmation before treating that as an S3 approval.
View the S3 and quattro references
TFSI e: use the named hybrid application
Eibach’s -01 application includes particular 40 TFSIe and 45 TFSIe Sportback rows, with 55mm front struts and specific axle-load limits. Check the exact model and original equipment. Do not borrow a conventional petrol row or assume a newer hybrid carries the same approval.
View the named TFSI e reference
RS3: a specific installation check
AST and MOTON name the RS3 8Y in their 55mm application tables. Confirm the Sportback or saloon body, spring package, mounting work and electronic equipment before ordering. Include the car’s exact specification when asking about a circuit installation.
Check my RS3 application
Allstreet, imports and changed hardware
Tell us about a raised allstreet, an imported specification or any earlier changes to hubs, struts, springs, mounts and damping. Include wheel width, offset, tyres and spacers. The registration finder is a starting point; it cannot see altered running gear or establish an unlisted application.
Check my changed carWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Leave room for the roads and loads you use.
Read the buying advice
BC S-46 BR RS is the current 49.5mm example, with rubber top mounts in the listed configuration. Confirm the front clamp, rear axle and exact supplied package before ordering. Choose the height around tyre clearance and usable travel, then follow the kit’s own adjustment instructions rather than a generic click setting.
- Confirm the actual clamp and rear axle
- Keep travel and loaded tyre clearance
- Follow the supplied adjustment instructions
Choose controls you will use and a fitting plan.
Read the buying advice
AST ACT-V1903SD is the 5100 Street Performance example in the manufacturer’s 8Y table. It has rebound adjustment and an inverted front design. Confirm the exact body and rear arrangement, and resolve the manufacturer’s body-modification note where front top mounts are used. Plan tyres, brakes and alignment with the suspension rather than choosing on adjustment count alone.
- Confirm the body and 55mm application
- Resolve mounts and any required body work
- Record tyre, alignment and damping changes
Agree the complete package before adding controls.
Read the buying advice
MOTON M 532 007SD provides separate compression and rebound adjustment with remote reservoirs. Its 8Y table names specific A3, quattro, S3 and RS3 entries. Confirm the body, springs, mounts, rear arrangement and reservoir installation with the fitter. This is a different setup task from the road example and needs a clear tyre, alignment and testing plan.
- Specify the actual car and intended use
- Agree springs, mounting and reservoir routing
- Arrange measured circuit setup support
A separate spring beside the damper.
On a standard Audi A3 8Y, the rear spring and damper are mounted separately.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.The 8Y has torsion-beam and independent multi-link rear applications. In both factory layouts, the spring sits on its own seat beside the damper. Their axle structures, mounting parts and replacement hardware are still different.
The launch-era technical document assigns the beam to particular lower-output FWD applications and the multi-link to others. Identify the actual axle instead of relying on a badge or applying one market’s power threshold worldwide. The Eibach 051 kits listed here specify independent rear suspension. Some AST and MOTON packages also use rear-coilover hardware, which needs its own mounting and installation check.
Understand spring seats and height adjustment
Measure the room the wheel needs.
Lowering reduces the space available around a tyre as the suspension moves. Wheel width, offset and spacers affect both the inner clearance to the suspension and the outer clearance to the arch. Have the real combination checked through the required steering and suspension movement, including normal passenger and luggage loads.
Agree the fitting work before the car goes on the ramp. Establish which mounts and other parts are retained, how any electronic-damper warning is handled and whether a chosen package needs body work or a different rear mounting arrangement. Finish at the intended height with the correct alignment procedure and the checks specified by the kit manufacturer.
Wheels, tyres and spacers
Write down the complete specification, including tyre size and wheel offset. A larger diameter says little about inner-strut or outer-arch clearance. Keep enough movement for the car’s normal roads and load.
Original electronic damping
Check the equipment actually installed. Eibach’s applicable PRO-TRONIC package suppresses a warning when conventional replacement dampers are fitted; it does not retain electronically controlled damping. Other references exclude that equipment.
Rear axle and plated loads
Identify beam or independent rear suspension and use the vehicle’s actual axle-load limits. The independent-rear 051 petrol and diesel kits have different front limits. S3 lowering figures also differ from the ordinary quattro applications.
Mounting work and geometry
Front top mounts in the AST application table carry a body-modification note. Resolve that work and any rear conversion before fitting. The beam and independent rear do not offer identical geometry adjustment; use the procedure for the axle fitted.
The current A3 / S3 8Y range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
S-46 and S-47 distinguish 49.5mm and 54.5mm applications on 8YA/8YS. The currently listed builds are BR RS with rubber mounts and BR RA with front pillowball mounting respectively. Check the actual rear hardware and resolve the manufacturer’s conflicting S3/FWD wording before any sports-model order.
View BC Racing A3 / S3 8Y kits
The 051 references split 50mm and 55mm front struts and petrol/diesel axle-load limits; all four specify an independent rear. The 79-016 references name particular quattro and S3 applications. The -02 includes PRO-TRONIC for stated electronic-damper cars, while the -01 excludes those systems.
View Eibach A3 / S3 8Y kits
The 8Y 55mm table lists specific A3, quattro, S3 and RS3 model entries. Street, Street Performance, Clubracing and motorsport references differ in controls and mounting arrangements. Check the body, front-top-mount work and exact rear hardware; ACC-V1906SD explicitly describes rear-coilover components.
View AST A3 / S3 8Y kits
M 532 007SD and M 532 008SD are the listed two- and three-way packages. Confirm the precise 55mm application, body, spring and mounting specification and reservoir installation. Pick the adjustment you have a plan to use.
View MOTON A3 / S3 8Y kitsFind your A3 / S3 8Y coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
15 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
![BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A3 (Strut 49.5mm) (2021+) [8YA/8YS]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-S-46
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A3 (Strut 49.5mm) (2021+) [8YA/8YS]
Sportback: check the rear axle / Saloon: use the 8YS application
Eibach · PSS65-85-051-01-22
Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-01-22
Sportback: check the rear axle / Saloon: use the 8YS application
AST · ACT-V1903SD
AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - ACT-V1903SD
Check the exact application
MOTON · M 532 008SD
MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - M 532 008SD
Check the exact application
BC Racing · BCR-S-47
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A3 (Strut 54.5mm) (2021+) [8YA/8YS]
Sportback: check the rear axle / Saloon: use the 8YS application
Eibach · PSS65-85-051-02-22
Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-02-22
Sportback: check the rear axle / Saloon: use the 8YS application
All A3 / S3 8Y kit links and part numbers
- BC Racing · BCR-S-46: BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A3 (Strut 49.5mm) (2021+) [8YA/8YS]
- BC Racing · BCR-S-47: BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A3 (Strut 54.5mm) (2021+) [8YA/8YS]
- AST · ACC-V1906SD: AST 5100 Clubracing Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - ACC-V1906SD
- AST · ACT-V1903SD: AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - ACT-V1903SD
- AST · ACU-V1903SD: AST 5100 Street Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - ACU-V1903SD
- AST · RAC-V1903SD: AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - RAC-V1903SD
- AST · RIV-V1903SD: AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - RIV-V1903SD
- MOTON · M 532 007SD: MOTON 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - M 532 007SD
- MOTON · M 532 008SD: MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for Audi, Seat, VW Applications - M 532 008SD
- Eibach · PSS65-79-016-01-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Skoda / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-79-016-01-22
- Eibach · PSS65-79-016-02-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Cupra / Skoda / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-79-016-02-22
- Eibach · PSS65-85-051-01-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-01-22
- Eibach · PSS65-85-051-02-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-02-22
- Eibach · PSS65-85-051-03-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-03-22
- Eibach · PSS65-85-051-04-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-85-051-04-22
Before you order.
Identify your car
Identify the 8Y body, engine, market and drivetrain. Record hybrid or sports-model specification, original electronic damping and earlier running-gear changes.
Match the kit
Confirm the front clamp, actual rear axle and plated loads against the exact kit row. Keep the supplier’s model-year label separate from the car’s generation identity.
Check what’s included
Agree the supplied hardware, retained mounts and electronics solution. Resolve front-top-mount body work and any rear-coilover mounting conditions.
Check your modifications
Record wheel width, offset, tyre size and spacers. Check clearance through the required movement at the intended height and normal load.
Plan fitting
Confirm current timing before booking fitting. Arrange the correct installation, alignment and specified post-installation checks.
See what the adjustments do.
Choosing coilovers for road and track
Compare the kit against your roads, tyres and setup plans before counting adjusters.
Ride height and spring preload
Understand the two adjustments before choosing a lowering range.
What spring rate tells you
Compare force and movement, read the units and choose a spring with the damper in mind.
Spring rates and top mounts
Read the front/rear figures and check which mounts come with your kit.
Questions about Audi A3 / S3 8Y coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which A3 generation does this guide cover?
The fourth-generation A3, type 8Y, introduced in 2020. The main body applications are the five-door Sportback 8YA and saloon 8YS, with separate checks for S3, RS3, quattro and hybrids. Supplier year labels can differ from launch dates, so use the actual chassis and body identity.
How do I choose between the front strut sizes?
Have the actual clamp and exact manufacturer application checked. BC labels its listed references 49.5mm and 54.5mm; Eibach uses 50mm and 55mm conditions. Do not round one label into another brand’s fitment approval. Trim, wheel size and engine badge are not enough.
Does every A3 8Y have the same rear axle?
No. Audi documents torsion-beam and independent multi-link arrangements. Identify the axle actually fitted and follow the kit’s rear-suspension condition. The four Eibach 051 references listed here require an independent rear, even where their engine lists include badges also found on other specifications.
Is the rear spring separate from the damper?
Yes. The rear spring has its own seat beside the damper on both factory layouts. Their components remain application-specific. A rear-coilover replacement package requires its own mounting and installation check.
Can I order an ordinary A3 kit for an S3 or RS3?
Use an exact sports-model application. Eibach’s 79-016 references include particular S3 rows with different lowering figures from ordinary quattro. AST and MOTON name specific 8Y sports models in their 55mm tables. BC’s conflicting S3/FWD wording needs clarification before an S3 order.
Does PRO-TRONIC keep the factory adjustable damping?
No. In the applicable Eibach -02 package, PRO-TRONIC suppresses the error message caused by replacing electronically controlled dampers. The conventional replacement does not retain the original electronic damping function. Confirm the car’s equipment and the exact kit before ordering.
Are TFSI e and allstreet applications covered?
Eibach’s -01 application explicitly names particular 40 TFSIe and 45 TFSIe Sportback versions with specific limits. Confirm the precise version and equipment. The raised allstreet needs a separate application check; use a reference approved for that car.
Should I choose the kit with the most damping adjustment?
Choose the controls and hardware that suit the actual build and the support available to set it up. The road example, AST rebound-adjustable package and MOTON separate compression/rebound package involve different fitting and setup choices. Confirm tyres, clearances, mounting and alignment alongside the suspension.
Let’s talk suspension.
Find your 8Y, then add the actual body, rear axle, front strut size and damper equipment. Include the wheel specification and earlier changes so we can check the right reference.