Best Audi R8 (Type 42) Coilovers: 2008-2015 Buyer's Guide

A coilover kit for the first-generation Audi R8 (Type 42) is a fully adjustable suspension system that replaces the factory struts and springs to lower ride height, sharpen handling, and let you dial in damping on a 2008–2015 R8. The Type 42 is a special car — an aluminum-space-frame, mid-engine supercar with a 4.2 FSI V8 (up to 430 hp) or a 5.2 FSI V10 (525 hp, and 550 hp in the V10 Plus) — and its suspension deserves the same care as its engine. Whether you want a track-ready corner-balanced setup or a cleaner stance without wrecking the ride, this guide compares the best Audi R8 (Type 42) coilovers and spring kits we stock at NLP Performance, with real specs, pricing, and the one detail most owners miss: Audi Magnetic Ride.

Why Upgrade the Suspension on a 2008–2015 Audi R8?

Upgrading the suspension on a first-generation Audi R8 lets you correct the factory ride height, replace worn or fading dampers, and add adjustability the stock car never offered. The Type 42 was built from June 2006 through August 2015 on Audi's Aluminum Space Frame (ASF), weighs roughly 3,439 lb in V8 form, and uses aluminum double-wishbone suspension at all four corners with permanent quattro all-wheel drive. It is a supercar chassis — but after 10-plus years, original dampers lose their composure, and the factory ride height leaves a visible gap over the tire.

Three things drive R8 owners to upgrade. First, stance: dropping the R8 20–35mm closes the fender gap and transforms how the car sits. Second, handling: adjustable coilovers let you stiffen damping and corner-balance the car for track days, where the mid-engine layout and 525 hp V10 reward a planted front end. Third, worn OE hardware: replacing 15-year-old dampers with a rebuildable coilover is often cheaper long-term than buying factory magnetic units, which can run thousands of dollars each.

What Is Audi Magnetic Ride, and Why Does It Matter?

Audi Magnetic Ride is a factory adaptive damper system that uses magnetorheological fluid — oil filled with tiny iron particles — whose stiffness changes in milliseconds when an electromagnetic field is applied. Many Type 42 R8s were ordered with it. The catch: the moment you unbolt those electronically controlled dampers and install conventional coilovers, the car's control unit loses the signal it expects and throws a persistent suspension fault code on the dash.

This is the single most-overlooked detail when shopping Audi R8 coilovers. If your R8 has Magnetic Ride and you fit any non-adaptive coilover or spring kit, you need an electronic damping cancellation module to shut down the factory damper regulation cleanly and suppress the error message. KW builds exactly that module for the Type 42 (covered below). If your R8 came with the standard passive suspension, you can skip it. Not sure which you have? Our team can check your build sheet before you order.

How to Choose Coilovers for the Audi R8 (Type 42)

Choosing R8 suspension comes down to four questions: how adjustable do you want it, does your car have Magnetic Ride, how much do you plan to lower it, and what is your budget. Full coilovers (KW V3, H&R RSS+) replace the entire strut and give you the most control over both ride height and damping. Height-adjustable springs (KW H.A.S.) reuse your factory dampers — the smart choice if you want to keep Magnetic Ride working. Fixed lowering springs (H&R Sport) are the budget path to a cleaner stance on the OE dampers.

Coilovers vs. springs on an R8

Coilovers replace the damper and spring as a unit and let you set corner-by-corner ride height plus damping stiffness — essential for track use and corner balancing. Lowering or height-adjustable springs keep the factory dampers and only change ride height. On a heavy, powerful mid-engine car like the R8, we steer performance-focused owners toward full coilovers; owners who mainly want stance while preserving Magnetic Ride are better served by the KW H.A.S. spring kit.

Audi R8 (Type 42) Suspension Kits Compared

Here is how the four leading ride-height and handling kits for the 2008–2015 Audi R8 stack up side by side. Full coilovers top the list on adjustability; the spring-based kits win on price and on keeping the factory dampers.

The Best Audi R8 (Type 42) Coilovers and Springs

1. KW Coilover Kit V3 — Best Overall

The KW Variant 3 is the most capable coilover we stock for the first-gen R8, and it is our top pick. Its headline feature is 2-way damping: rebound is set independently from low-speed compression, so you can firm up body control for the track without turning street driving harsh. The struts use KW's inox-line stainless-steel bodies for corrosion resistance, and the kit carries TUV type approval — the same German testing standard that governs how far and how safely the car can be lowered. Ride height is continuously adjustable via threaded spring perches, so you set the exact drop and then corner-balance the car. For a 3,400–3,600 lb mid-engine supercar, that combination of adjustability and durability is exactly what you want.

2. H&R RSS+ Coil Over — Best Value Coilover

The H&R RSS+ delivers full coilover adjustability for about $2,900 less than the KW V3, which makes it our best-value pick. It uses a mono-tube shock design with externally adjustable damping — a single adjuster simultaneously fine-tunes rebound and compression, so it is simpler to set than a 2-way system while still letting you tailor the ride. The shock bodies are lightweight aluminum with a hard-anodized finish for corrosion resistance. Note the "w/o MRC" designation: this kit is built for R8s without Magnetic Ride Control, or for mag-ride cars once the factory system is cancelled. For an owner who wants adjustable ride height and damping without the KW's price tag, the RSS+ is the value play.

3. KW H.A.S. Height-Adjustable Springs — Best for Keeping Magnetic Ride

The KW H.A.S. (Height Adjustable Spring) kit is the best choice if you want to lower your R8 but keep Magnetic Ride fully functional. Instead of replacing the dampers, it installs height-adjustable spring perches over the factory struts, so all of the car's adaptive damping, driver-assistance, and comfort features keep working exactly as Audi intended — no fault codes, no cancellation module. Unlike fixed lowering springs, the H.A.S. lets you set your exact ride height with the KW adjuster even after installation. At $1,864.00 it sits between budget springs and full coilovers, and it is the cleanest stance solution for a mag-ride car that you do not want to convert.

4. H&R Sport Springs — Best Budget Lowering

At $424.15, H&R Sport Springs are the most affordable way to close the fender gap on a first-gen R8. They are a progressive-rate lowering spring that installs on the factory dampers, delivering a modest drop, a lower center of gravity, and a more aggressive stance without touching the car's damping. This is the entry point for owners who want the look and a slightly firmer feel on a budget, and they fit the full Type 42 range including the R8 GT and V10 Plus. Because they use the OE dampers, a Magnetic Ride car will still need the cancellation module to avoid a fault light after the ride height changes.

Do You Need a Magnetic Ride Cancellation Kit?

You need a magnetic ride cancellation kit if your Audi R8 was built with Audi Magnetic Ride and you are installing any non-adaptive suspension — coilovers or springs. The KW Electronic Damping Cancellation Kit for the Type 42 shuts down the factory damper regulation while keeping the rest of the control unit fully intact, which prevents the persistent trouble codes that otherwise appear the moment you remove the electronic dampers. Without it, your dash will show a suspension fault after installing the KW V3, H&R RSS+, or any lowering spring on a mag-ride car.

Installation, Alignment, and Real-World Ride Height

Any suspension change on the R8 requires a four-wheel alignment afterward, and coilovers should be corner-balanced for best results. Lowering the car alters camber and toe, so an alignment is non-negotiable to protect the expensive tires and keep the steering true. For full coilovers, we set the ride height first, then corner-balance the car with the driver's weight simulated, then align it — that sequence is what unlocks the handling those kits are capable of.

Most first-gen R8 owners run a moderate drop of roughly 20–35mm; going lower looks aggressive but shortens suspension travel and can catch the front splitter on driveways — a real concern on a low, long supercar. Budget a full day of shop time for a coilover install plus alignment. Our Tampa, FL team installs and aligns R8 suspension in-house, and we can confirm whether your specific car has Magnetic Ride before you order so you get the right parts the first time.