Audi Q3 8U.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversThe original Q3 suits a restrained drop and a good set of wheels. Match the 8U application, engine and damping equipment first, then choose a height that leaves room for everyday driving.
The first Q3, from Martorell
The curved roof and broad shoulders give the first Q3 a different shape from the smaller Q2 and later Q3. Closing the arch gap can bring the wheels into proportion, provided there is still clearance for passengers, luggage and uneven roads.
BC Racing lists the 2012 to 2018 Q3 8U in front-drive and all-wheel-drive form. Eibach’s shared product has named Q3 and RS Q3 rows with different lowering figures. Keep the exact engine, axle loads and fitted equipment with the enquiry.
Audi introduced the original Q3 in 2011 and built it at Martorell in Spain. Its swept rear pillars, curved roof and wraparound tailgate gave the compact five-door a rounded profile. Production of the second-generation Q3 began at Győr in 2018, so a registration year alone can leave the generation unclear.
For a road car, start with the wheel and tyre combination you want to keep. A silver multi-spoke wheel and modest lowering suit the original body without needing an extreme stance. The tyre sidewall, wheel offset and clearance under load deserve as much attention as the arch gap.
Audi’s original technical material shows a four-link independent rear axle on both front-drive and quattro cars, with the spring beside the damper. Quattro adds the rear driveline hardware; it does not turn the rear spring into a unit around the damper.
The RS Q3 brought a five-cylinder engine and its own suspension specification to the family. Treat it as a separate application when checking parts. The Eibach listing explicitly names RS versions, while BC’s general Q3 S-22 row needs a specific RS fitment check.
Start with your Q3 8U.
Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.
BC Racing: Q3 8U FWD and AWD
S-22 names the 2012 to 2018 Q3 8U with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Its current BR RA option lists pillowball front and rubber rear mounts; RM MA lists inverted front units and rubber rear mounts. The nominal spring rates are 7 kg/mm front and 6 kg/mm rear. Confirm the exact version and supplied hardware for your car.
Check the BC Q3 options
Eibach: named Q3 engines
PSS65-15-020-01-22 names Q3 8UB/8UG engines from June 2011 to October 2018, including listed TFSI, TDI and quattro versions. The Audi row requires 55 mm front struts without levelling control and lists axle-load limits of 1,200 kg front and 1,170 kg rear, with 30 to 60 mm front and 40 to 70 mm rear lowering. Check the engine row and current documents; the shared Tiguan figures are different.
Check the Eibach Q3 row
RS Q3 applications
Eibach explicitly names RS 2.5 quattro and RS performance 2.5 quattro, with 15 to 45 mm lowering at both ends and 1,200 kg front / 1,170 kg rear limits. AST also lists ACU-A2111SD for the RSQ3 8U AWD: its notes give 45 mm front and rear lowering and require a 10 mm front spacer. Check the exact parts, wheel clearance and current documents for the selected kit. BC’s general S-22 row still needs a specific RS fitment check.
Check my RS Q3 application
Damping controls and wheel clearance
Identify any electronic damping or levelling equipment. Eibach’s notes describe loss of electronic damping, possible wheel spacers even with original wheels and possible additional OE parts. Agree the complete parts and clearance plan before ordering; a warning-suppression provision does not retain electronic control.
Check my fitted equipmentWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Keep a usable height for the roads and loads the car sees each week.
Read the buying advice
The current S-22 BR RA example lists pillowball front and rubber rear mounts with nominal 7/6 kg/mm rates. Confirm the exact car and supplied parts, then agree the height with your fitter. Leave enough tyre clearance for steering, suspension movement and the load you normally carry.
- Confirm the exact 8U application
- Allow for passengers and luggage
- Check mounts and supplied rates
Choose the specification around your tyres and the time you spend on circuit.
Read the buying advice
Bring the wheel, tyre and brake details to the discussion alongside the car’s original damping equipment. BC lists an RM MA option with inverted front units, but that feature and its price do not establish the right setup for every track-day Q3. Agree the required hardware and settings for your car before selecting an option.
- Describe the tyre and brake setup
- Resolve the original damping controls
- Agree hardware before choosing settings
Have the completed car and intended events assessed before specifying suspension.
Read the buying advice
Provide the measured vehicle weight, mounting changes and full wheel specification. The people preparing the car should agree the spring and damper package, inspection requirements and event rules. The general Q3 and RS application rows do not settle the specification of a developed circuit car.
- Measure the completed vehicle
- Confirm mounts and control changes
- Plan inspection and setup work
Four-link rear. Separate spring and damper.
On a standard Audi Q3 8U, the rear spring and damper are mounted separately.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.Audi’s original Q3 technical drawing shows the rear coil in its own support on the suspension link, beside a separate damper. Both front-drive and quattro versions use a four-link independent rear axle; quattro also needs space for the rear differential and driveshafts.
Have the replacement rear spring supports and dampers checked against the exact kit. A complete package sold as coilovers can retain separate rear components. The package name does not establish a conversion to a spring around the rear damper.
Understand height and spring preload
Check the strut, controls and clearance
Give the fitter the build details, engine, driven wheels and permitted axle loads. For the listed Eibach kit, confirm the 55 mm front strut housing, levelling exclusions and electronic-damping conditions. Include any previous suspension changes in the check.
Inspect the mounts, bushes and rear spring supports before finalising the parts order. Wheel width, offset and tyre size affect clearance at the proposed height. Resolve any spacer or additional-parts requirement, then include alignment and affected equipment checks in the fitting plan.
Keep the wheel measurements
Record wheel width, offset, tyre size and any spacers. Check clearance through steering and suspension movement with the normal load aboard. Eibach flags possible spacer requirements even for original wheels; have the actual combination checked.
Identify electronic damping
Have the fitted dampers and connections identified before choosing the replacement. Establish how the selected kit affects their controls and any warnings. Drive-select functions alone do not prove which dampers the car has.
Inspect mounts and spring supports
Check the condition of the front mounts, rear spring seats and suspension bushes. Confirm the supplied parts for the selected reference and which original items must be reused or replaced.
Align at the agreed height
Set a usable height with sufficient movement and tyre clearance before alignment. Include any affected equipment checks and the follow-up inspection required by the fitter and kit maker.
The current Q3 8U range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
S-22 covers the named Q3 8U FWD/AWD application. Its current BR RA and RM MA options have different front-unit descriptions; the listing gives nominal 7/6 kg/mm rates. Choose the exact specification after checking the car. BC also has a dedicated RS Q3 row in its maker catalogue, so S-22 is not automatic RS approval.
View BC Racing Q3 8U kits
Pro-Street-S PSS65-15-020-01-22 has separate ordinary Q3 and RS lowering rows, 55 mm front-strut requirements and Audi axle-load limits of 1,200/1,170 kg. Check the named engine, original equipment and current documents. The Tiguan row on the same product has its own figures.
View Eibach Q3 8U kits
The 5100 Street ACU-A2111SD is the named RSQ3 8U AWD application. The maker describes an NCO kit including springs and droplinks; the current product lists original top mounts and retains separate rear components. Its application note requires a 10 mm front spacer and gives 45 mm lowering at both ends. Confirm the complete supplied parts and clearance. The maker row does not offer 5200 or 5300 versions for this car.
View AST Q3 8U kitsFind your Q3 8U coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
3 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
AST · ACU-A2111SD
AST 5100 Street Coilovers for Audi RSQ3 8U - ACU-A2111SD
RS Q3 applications
Eibach · PSS65-15-020-01-22
Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for Audi / Volkswagen applications - PSS65-15-020-01-22
Eibach: named Q3 engines / RS Q3 applications
![BC Racing Coilovers - Audi Q3 (FWD/AWD) (12-18) [8U]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-S-22
BC Racing Coilovers - Audi Q3 (FWD/AWD) (12-18) [8U]
BC Racing: Q3 8U FWD and AWD
All Q3 8U kit links and part numbers
Before you order.
Identify your car
Identify the original Q3 8U, engine, build details and driven wheels. Keep RS Q3 and the later Q3 generation separate.
Match the kit
Match the exact kit reference and configuration. For Eibach, confirm the 55 mm front housing, engine row and permitted axle loads.
Check what’s included
Identify electronic damping, levelling equipment and previous suspension work. Agree the supplied mounts, reused parts and any additional OE items.
Check your modifications
Check the wheel and tyre combination through steering and suspension movement at the intended height, including any spacer requirements.
Plan fitting
Confirm current supply timing before booking fitting. Allow for alignment, affected equipment checks and the required follow-up inspection.
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 Q3 8U coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which Audi Q3 does this guide cover?
The original Q3 8U family, including the named 8UB/8UG Eibach applications and separate RS checks. BC’s S-22 row says 2012 to 2018; Eibach’s listed Audi rows run from June 2011 to October 2018. Confirm the build details because the second-generation Q3 also arrived in 2018. These rows do not establish a later F3 or Sportback application.
Does a front-drive Q3 8U have a torsion-beam rear axle?
Audi’s original Q3 technical material shows a four-link independent rear axle for both front-drive and quattro versions. The coil spring sits in its own support beside a separate damper. Quattro adds the rear driveline hardware. Match the replacement parts to the exact application and fitted equipment.
What is different between the listed BC BR RA and RM MA options?
The current S-22 BR RA option names pillowball front and rubber rear mounts. RM MA names inverted front units and rubber rear mounts. The listing gives nominal 7 kg/mm front and 6 kg/mm rear rates. Confirm the complete supplied specification for the exact option; the inverted-front description does not establish inverted units at every corner.
Can I use the ordinary Q3 lowering figures for an RS Q3?
Use the explicit RS row. Eibach’s shared product lists 15 to 45 mm at both ends for the named RS 2.5 quattro and RS performance 2.5 quattro. Its ordinary Q3 row lists 30 to 60 mm front and 40 to 70 mm rear. Check the original suspension, build details and current documents before estimating the final height.
What axle loads and strut size does the Eibach kit list?
The named Audi applications for PSS65-15-020-01-22 require 55 mm front struts and list axle-load limits of 1,200 kg front and 1,170 kg rear. Compare the car’s permitted loads, engine and equipment with the current kit documents. A shared product title alone does not confirm the match.
Will the original electronic damping keep working?
Eibach’s application notes describe loss of electronic damping functionality. Any warning-suppression provision must be distinguished from retaining the original control. Have the fitted system and levelling equipment identified, then agree the complete equipment plan for the selected reference before ordering.
Will I need wheel spacers after lowering?
AST’s listed ACU-A2111SD RSQ3 kit requires a 10 mm front spacer. Eibach also flags possible spacer requirements even with original wheels. Have the actual wheel, tyre and kit combination checked through steering and suspension movement, and resolve any required parts before fitting.
When should I book fitting and alignment?
Confirm the exact application, complete parts list and current supply timing first. Allow for worn mounts or bushes found during inspection. Book alignment and affected equipment checks at the agreed height, followed by the inspection required by your fitter and kit instructions.
Let’s talk suspension.
Find your original Q3, then include the engine, driven wheels, axle loads and damping equipment. Add the wheel specification and any previous suspension work so the exact kit and required parts can be checked.