Audi A4 / S4 B5.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversA modest drop suits the B5’s straight sides and small grille. Start with the drivetrain, build date and body, then choose a kit that leaves room for the wheels and the roads you use.
The first car to wear the A4 name.
The B5 works well as a restrained road build: a tidy saloon or Avant, a set of well-chosen wheels and enough clearance to use it properly. Before changing the suspension, have the existing arms, joints, mounts and bushes inspected. New dampers will not remove play elsewhere in the chassis.
Front-wheel drive and quattro have different rear structures. SPAX also divides its FWD applications at February 1999, while the BC references need their own body and specification check. Keep those details with the car when comparing the current kits.
Audi introduced the A4 in November 1994 as the successor to the Audi 80. The B5’s compact grille, rounded roof and clean flanks still suit period five-spoke or mesh wheels. A little less arch gap can finish the shape without needing a body kit.
The saloon and Avant give the same project a different purpose. An estate carrying passengers and luggage needs its normal load considered when the finished height is set. A saloon on wider wheels still needs room at the inner suspension and the outer arch as the wheel steers and moves.
The B5 S4 followed in 1997 with a 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6, in saloon and Avant forms. It belongs in its own application check. The wide-bodied RS4 Avant also needs an exact RS4 reference; an S4 mention on another kit does not establish that approval.
Decide what you want to keep about the car before choosing its ride height. For an everyday B5, include the uneven route home, the driveway and the people or luggage it normally carries. For a circuit build, agree the tyre, spring, damper and alignment plan with the person who will set it up.
Start with your A4 / S4 B5.
Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.
FWD: 1995 to January 1999
The early SPAX rows name A4 1.6, 1.8, 1.8T, 1.9Di and 1.9TDi, including Avant and excluding quattro. RSX551 and double-adjustable RSX3-1102 use this date range. Confirm the engine and build date against the exact reference; a registration year can leave the changeover unclear.
View early FWD references
FWD: February 1999 to October 2000
The later SPAX FWD rows name the same engine families and include Avant. They use RSX728 or double-adjustable RSX3-1456. Keep this February 1999 split when ordering; similar bodywork and the same advertised lowering range do not make the early and late part numbers interchangeable.
View later FWD references
A4 quattro: a different rear axle
SPAX’s B5Q rows cover the stated four-, five- and six-cylinder quattro applications from February 1995 to October 2000, including Avant. RSX819 and RSX3-1638 belong to that list. BC names A4 AWD under S-09; confirm the actual body and specification before choosing it.
View quattro references
S4: check the exact reference
The two SPAX quattro rows explicitly include S4 within their stated dates. BC’s current application table lists S-05 for the B5 S4 AWD, while the published S-05 product says ‘Use S-09’. Resolve that cross-reference before an S4 order; do not substitute the A4 AWD kit on the strength of the title alone.
View stated S4 references
RS4 Avant: ask for an exact application
Keep the wide-bodied RS4 separate from the A4 and S4 shortlist. Send the car’s identity and existing suspension specification so the correct reference and fitting conditions can be checked. A shared generation or an S4 application is not enough to approve an RS4 order.
Ask about an RS4 Avant
Imports, later dates and changed cars
An engine swap, changed running gear or an application outside the stated date range needs a closer look. Include the original identity, current drivetrain, body and existing parts. The next A4 generations and a mechanically related model need their own references.
Check my B5 projectWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Keep the height usable on your normal roads.
Read the buying advice
BC’s S-01 is the listed BR RS FWD example. Confirm the body and supplied mount arrangement for your car, then set a height that works with its actual tyres and normal load. Leave the adjustment procedure to the instructions supplied with that build; a generic click setting cannot account for every B5.
- Confirm the FWD body and specification
- Allow for luggage and everyday clearance
- Check the retained and supplied mounts
Separate controls need a setup plan.
Read the buying advice
SPAX RSX3-1102 is the double-adjustable example for the stated 1995–January 1999 FWD engines, including Avant. Its separate bump and rebound controls give you two adjustments to record and understand. Confirm the fitting details and intended use, and plan tyres, brakes and measured alignment alongside the suspension.
- Match the early FWD engine and date row
- Record bump and rebound changes separately
- Agree fitting and track-day use beforehand
Specify the car, tyre and support together.
Read the buying advice
A competition B5 needs a specification built around the actual drivetrain, weight, tyres and use. Discuss the spring and damper package, mounting parts, available travel and rules with the fitter or preparation team. Agree what will be tested and who will make the adjustments before choosing the hardware.
- Describe the actual drivetrain and build
- Agree spring, damper and mounting requirements
- Arrange alignment and circuit setup support
A spring around the rear damper.
The rear spring surrounds the damper on a standard Audi A4 B5 factory rear.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.Both factory rear arrangements put the coil spring around the damper as a suspension unit. The front-wheel-drive car carries those units on a torsion-beam rear axle. Quattro has an independent rear structure with different arms, mounting parts and space around the drivetrain.
That shared spring position does not make the replacement units interchangeable. Choose the reference for the actual drivetrain and follow its mounting and adjustment instructions. The compact drawing identifies the spring and damper position; it does not show the complete axle or establish that a kit fits.
Understand spring seats and height adjustment
Leave room for the wheel to move.
A wheel that clears at rest can still touch the suspension or arch when the car steers, compresses or carries its usual load. Record width, offset, tyre size and spacers, then have the complete combination checked at the intended height through the required movement.
Include the condition of the car in the fitting quote. Worn joints, tired mounts or seized fixings can turn a planned suspension change into a larger job. Establish the parts to renew, the manufacturer’s height limits and the final alignment procedure before booking the work.
Wheels and arch clearance
Check the inner gap as carefully as the outer arch. Wheel offset, tyre shape and spacers all affect the room available. Include steering movement, suspension compression and the load the car normally carries.
Arms, joints and mounts
Have the existing suspension inspected before adding new dampers. Decide which worn parts need replacement and which mounts the exact kit retains. A lower ride height will not correct play in an arm or joint.
Drivetrain and build date
Keep FWD and quattro references separate. For the SPAX FWD range, establish which side of the February 1999 changeover the car belongs to. Match the engine and body as well as the date.
Finished height and alignment
Set the car within the chosen kit’s permitted range, with enough travel and clearance for its use. Complete the alignment appropriate to the actual axle. Do not assume the FWD beam and quattro rear offer the same adjustment.
The current A4 / S4 B5 range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
The current B5 application table separates A4 FWD S-01, S4 AWD S-05 and A4 AWD S-09. The listed builds here are BR RS. Confirm body, mounts and the exact supplied specification; resolve the S-05 product’s ‘Use S-09’ cross-reference before ordering for an S4.
View BC Racing A4 / S4 B5 kits
RSX551/RSX3-1102 cover the stated early FWD rows; RSX728/RSX3-1456 use the later FWD date range. RSX819/RSX3-1638 name quattro, including Avant and S4. The RSX3 products specify separate bump and rebound adjustment. Follow the exact application and supplied instructions for each reference.
View SPAX A4 / S4 B5 kitsFind your A4 / S4 B5 coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
9 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
![BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A4 (95-01) [B5]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-S-01
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A4 (95-01) [B5]
Check the exact application
SPAX · RSX728
SPAX RSX Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX728
FWD: February 1999 to October 2000
BC Racing · BCR-S-09
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A4 (AWD) (95-01) [B5]
Check the exact application
SPAX · RSX551
SPAX RSX Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX551
FWD: 1995 to January 1999
BC Racing · BCR-S-05
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi S4 AWD (Use S-09) (97-02) [B5]
Check the exact application
SPAX · RSX3-1456
SPAX RSX Double Adjustable Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX3-1456
FWD: February 1999 to October 2000
All A4 / S4 B5 kit links and part numbers
- BC Racing · BCR-S-01: BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A4 (95-01) [B5]
- BC Racing · BCR-S-05: BC Racing Coilovers - Audi S4 AWD (Use S-09) (97-02) [B5]
- BC Racing · BCR-S-09: BC Racing Coilovers - Audi A4 (AWD) (95-01) [B5]
- SPAX · RSX3-1102: SPAX RSX Double Adjustable Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX3-1102
- SPAX · RSX3-1456: SPAX RSX Double Adjustable Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX3-1456
- SPAX · RSX3-1638: SPAX RSX Double Adjustable Coilover Kit for Audi A4 4/5/6 cyl -type B5Q Quattro (incl. Avant) (Incl S4) - RSX3-1638
- SPAX · RSX551: SPAX RSX Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX551
- SPAX · RSX728: SPAX RSX Coilover Kit for Audi A4 1.6; 1.8; 1.8T; 1.9Di; 1.9TDi -type B5 (excl. Quattro) (incl. Avant) - RSX728
- SPAX · RSX819: SPAX RSX Coilover Kit for Audi A4 4/5/6 cyl -type B5Q Quattro (incl. Avant) (Incl S4) - RSX819
Before you order.
Identify your car
Identify the B5 body, engine, drivetrain and build date. Record any imported specification, engine swap or changed running gear.
Match the kit
Match the exact manufacturer application. Keep the February 1999 SPAX FWD split, quattro references and the unresolved BC S4 cross-reference with the order enquiry.
Check what’s included
Agree the supplied parts, retained mounts and condition work. Have worn joints, bushes and mounts assessed before fitting.
Check your modifications
Record wheel width, offset, tyres and spacers. Check clearance through the required steering and suspension movement at the intended height and normal load.
Plan fitting
Confirm current timing before booking fitting. Arrange installation, the correct alignment procedure and the manufacturer’s specified follow-up 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 A4 / S4 B5 coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which A4 does this B5 guide cover?
The first A4 generation, introduced in November 1994, with separate A4, quattro and S4 application checks. Supplier model-year ranges vary. Confirm the actual body, drivetrain and build date; the next B6 and B7 generations need their own kit references.
Can I use the same coilover kit on FWD and quattro?
Use the exact drivetrain application. FWD has a torsion-beam rear axle and quattro has an independent rear structure. Their mounting parts and replacement units differ, even though both factory arrangements place the spring around the damper.
Is the B5 rear spring separate from the damper?
No. On both factory rear arrangements, the coil spring surrounds the damper. FWD and quattro still use different axle structures and hardware. Follow the correct kit’s fitting and adjustment instructions.
Why are there two SPAX front-wheel-drive date ranges?
The current SPAX rows distinguish 1995–January 1999 from February 1999–October 2000. The early references are RSX551 and RSX3-1102; the later references are RSX728 and RSX3-1456. Confirm the build date and exact engine row before ordering. A similar stated lowering range does not make those part numbers interchangeable.
Do these kits include the Avant?
The stated SPAX FWD and quattro rows explicitly include Avant. Match their engine, date and drivetrain conditions. BC’s B5 application rows need a separate body check. Include the estate’s normal passenger and luggage load when agreeing the finished height.
Are S4 and RS4 applications the same?
Check each separately. The stated SPAX quattro rows explicitly include S4. BC’s S-05 S4 listing says ‘Use S-09’, while its current application table still lists S-05, so that cross-reference needs clarification. An A4 or S4 application does not establish RS4 fitment.
Should I use the lowest advertised height?
Choose a height within the exact kit’s limits that leaves enough clearance and travel for your car. Include wheel offset, tyre size, spacers, passengers and luggage. Have the clearances checked through the required movement, then complete the appropriate alignment.
Is double-adjustable damping the right choice for my B5?
SPAX’s listed RSX3 packages give separate bump and rebound controls. Choose them with a plan to record and assess changes, and confirm the intended use with the fitter. The right body, drivetrain application, fitting work and usable height remain essential whichever controls you choose.
Let’s talk suspension.
Find your B5, then add its body, engine, build date and drivetrain. Include the wheel specification and any earlier changes so we can check the right reference.