In Review: B8 Audi Platform Air Lift Performance Kit

In Review: B8/8.5 Air Lift Performance Kit. A kit we know incredibly well from our personal stint with our own 2011 Audi S4 shop project. A car I personally revered as closely as my 2004 VW R32 that until the S4 skid into my life WAS the coolest car I have ever owned.

S4 Project: 2011 Audi S4
Air Lift Performance Suspension with Air Lift Rear Shocks
19×10 et31 Work Meister S1 with 245/35r19 tucked quite nicely
Factory Camber Adjustment: MAXED

Air Lift Kit Available Here
Work Meister S1 3 piece available here
102MM AWE Touring STUFFED into a factory B8 rear valance. Just had to share.
Photos via: Dario at YPAS

With so much seat time in this car we became experts quickly with the B8 community. This covers a VAST amount of cars which we had three as shop cars. The B8 S4 and B8.5 SQ5 and A4. So we essentially tested each kit 3 ways across a few B8 Platforms. The results were awesome.

Drive high, park low. Retain the same level of performance of a traditional coilover system. BC Racing essentially makes the body, internals and top mount to Air Lift’s specifications. So you truly get the performance of one of the most popular coilovers we sell the BC BR series.

Brendan our sales intern’s B8.5 K04 A4
Air Lift Performance x Rohana RC10 in 20×10 et33 with a 255/30r20
Photo Via: Melissa Curtis
Sam our international sales manager’s SQ5 on 22×10.5 Rotiform BUCs
Air Lift Performance x Rotiform BUC Forged
Photo Via: Mike Burns

This is just a platform we love and reverse as one of the best Audi platforms in modern time. Feel free to pick our brains anytime with personalized advice. All of these cars feature 3/8″ lines and the air lift performance rear shocks with the exception of the SQ5.

We wanted to test out a Bilstein adjustable and went that direction. We also had shortened spindles sourced from friends in the industry and some serious body mods done to get it this low. The SQ5 was a bit more involved than meets the eye. We will showcase more of this project at a later date.

These kits performed as expected. Stiffer than stock, but no bounce. Daily driving, Performance driving, traffic, terrible Boston roads… you name it we drove it. I would not have preferred any other set up in my car for suspension. Driving a lowered car otherwise static on treacherous northeastern city roads was just not an option for me with the S4. It was TOO nice of a car.

I personally rode my car around 80/60 PSI with a pressure based management system. This was my around town height on the works, 70/55 was pretty slammed and rode a little more harsh but still not bad. I set the compression 2 clicks up in front and 4 clicks up in back. I drive pretty hard. We did drag and road course days with this car and beat the ever living sh*t out of this air lift kit in testing. It took everything I could throw at it, and even turned an 11.93 at 118 MPH time at NE Dragway here in NH. On Air Lift.

My car at time time was running V2 (not my favorite) and by the time 3P was coming out, I was moving on to another project. My E46 M3 (story for another time).

The 3p/3h system is the management we recommend and mainly sell. Lifetime warranty, amazing weather testing, adaptability and ease of use. Those are the reasons we are borderline obsessed with selling this product. Its literally so easy and reliable its hard to want to recommend alternatives.

In closing, we do a lot of B8’s and Audi’s in general. If you have questions do not hesitate to contact us for a consultation! Email sales@wheellab.us or call 978-219-9060

Kit available for purchase here: Click to Shop B8 Air Lift

Story by James Curtis
Owner – Wheel Lab