So I've finally made the decision I want me car lower because it make it look a whole lot better, but I don't have the money to spend on coilovers. It is quattro and has te sport suspension already installed.My budget is around $300, I've come up with 2 options:
1. H&R Sport springs, 1" in back 1.25" in front, $250

2. Audi B5 A4 Quattro 1.8T > Search > Springs > ES#2432 ECS Coil Over Kit - Complete Kit (Front & Rear) - B5FRCOK

I'm confused about #2 though, I have (i think, they are black) sport bilsteins on my car, do I literally just take them off and put the "coilover" on? Do I have to buy new springs?

Let me know what you guys think, I think 1"-1.25" in the back should be fine and maybe 1.25"-1.75" in the front. I have the stock 16" 7 spoke sport wheels and I really don't want to go super low where my axles and everything else starts breaking or to low that it would look like **** on 16"s. just enough to remove some of the space between the tire and wheel well

 

Let me just add a little firmer ride is ok, but I don't want it to ride like a rock

 

I'm not an expert, so dont take this for gospel... but I think those ECS Coilover kits only work with aftermarket shocks, like Bilstiens. I dont think they work with your stock sport suspension.

 

Bryan is correct. If you could lay an OEM sport shock next to an aftermarket Bilstein Sport shock you'd be able to see why. The lower spring perches on OEM shocks are fixed to the shock body. On Bilstein Sports they slide over the shock body and rest on a small lip machined into the shock body. The coilover kit you linked works by replacing the non-adjustable spring perches with threaded sleeves and adjustable spring perches. Essentially turning your shock/spring combo into adjustable coilover shocks. The sleeves will not work with OEM shocks.

Based on your budget concerns and the fact that you don't want to go SUPER low, I would suggest Raceland Coilovers. They're only a little bit more expensive than the H&R springs and it will be worth the extra cash when you don't have to replace your shocks after a few thousand miles on lowering springs blows them out. (ask me how i know )

EDIT: I run Neuspeed Race springs and Bilstein Sport shocks, if you want to go for a ride sometime to see what they're like I'd be happy to do that.

 

You sir are a boss, I have searched hours for coilovers under $750. I would go race springs but the ride is too form for my liking. Looks like ill probably go for those race lands, thanks again!

 

No worries man. If you look around on Audizine there's several threads started by people when Raceland first came out with these and the only real problems seem to be from people riding dumped on them. The ride gets very harsh and bouncy, which is to be expected IMO. Not like they're a $3k set of H&R ultra lows or something. Keep them at a decent ride height and you should be very happy with them, especially for the price.

 

When I lower my car, should I take it to a shop to get a wheel alignment? I feel like it would be a good idea but I have also heard an alignment on our cars is a big task that most shops either don't take up or just end up screwing it up even more when it's lowered

 

Yeah I would. I took mine to Sears to have an alignment done when I bought new tires two years ago and they wouldn't even touch it. Take it to NGP or Eurowerks in Falls Church. I had an appointment at NGP for earlier this month but I blew out both rear shocks and a couple of front control arms doing rally cross at Summit Point, so I postponed the alignment until I've replaced all the broken **** lol

 

Alright cool sounds good, ill ask my local shop if they can do it (its a euro garage) if not ill call ngp

 

What's your local shop? I'm looking for a place a tad closer than NGP but cheaper than Funktion Auto (who quoted me $3k+ for a clutch job last year).