130TDI Highline Suspension too firm

[Cossor]

First, may I say I really love my Passat. Ordered a 125TDI, ended up with 130TDI.

My previous car was golf Mk6 TSI118 with Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC)
When ordering Passat, I was not interested in sports type extra firm shock assorbers.
So thought 125 TDI Passat would be similar to Golf with ACC set on Comfort, or perhaps just a little firmer
(Was not able to obtain test drive.) BIG MISTAKE
So now I miss my comfortable Golf ACC on these local crap country roads.
(Have a 20KG bag of Gypsum in the boot to help hold it down)

I wonder, of all those who were able to test 125TDI with or without ACC, how many thought it worth while?
(No fair comparing with V6 etc, as different size tyres)

Also, what would be chances of fitting more comfortable shock absorbers?
Perhaps fit ACC type shock absorbers, set permanently on "Comfort"
(So far notched up 1000KM)

[Dutch77]

I know KW do a set.. adjustable via iPhone as well I think.

KW DDC coilover kits /// with electronic damping control /// KW automotive GmbH

Sadly it's not cheap so not a sensible solution. I would think if you were that unhappy you should be able fix it up, although most after market shocks are geared towards firmer/sports orientation.

[The One]

First, may I say I really love my Passat. Ordered a 125TDI, ended up with 130TDI.

My previous car was golf Mk6 TSI118 with Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC)
When ordering Passat, I was not interested in sports type extra firm shock assorbers.
So thought 125 TDI Passat would be similar to Golf with ACC set on Comfort, or perhaps just a little firmer
(Was not able to obtain test drive.) BIG MISTAKE
So now I miss my comfortable Golf ACC on these local crap country roads.
(Have a 20KG bag of Gypsum in the boot to help hold it down)

I wonder, of all those who were able to test 125TDI with or without ACC, how many thought it worth while?
(No fair comparing with V6 etc, as different size tyres)

Also, what would be chances of fitting more comfortable shock absorbers?
Perhaps fit ACC type shock absorbers, set permanently on "Comfort"
(So far notched up 1000KM)

Your signature says "No ACC Previous Golf 118 TSI with ACC given to my son". Looks like a tradeback is needed . Or go aftermarket mate.

[wind]

Very odd that you find it too hard, I have the sports pack on my wagon and I find it just right (not too firm) - it really sticks the car to the road without much body roll or being too harsh (when I ordered it, I was a little worried that I was going to get kidney damage with sports pack!). The ride is very good even on very rough roads.

I have driven the base Jetta + Golf (dealer loaners while servicing car) and their suspensions while softer was not a wallowing soft/float experience you would expect after a sports pack (just more compliant/softer).

Reading these forums - I recall noticing in another post (non-Passat I think) that sometimes in pre-delivery they forget to take out the suspension transport blocks (?) that are in the springs from factory to dealer (to stop the car moving too much while on the ship and bouncing off the other cars in rough seas - which are centimeters apart on the carrier/ship!) - this would give you a very harsh ride since you have almost no suspension travel before hitting the blocks. Not sure if this may be the case with your car.



I ordered mine with ACC (had concerns of it being too harsh) and the dealer was kind enough to tell me that the factory could not deliver adaptive chassis control with the sports pack . . . shame that this was when I came in to pick up the car!! P-ss-d me off to no end as I suspect that they screwed up the order and covered their asses with that lame excuse! The V6 has adaptive chassis control + sports pack . . .

[Dutch77]

Reading these forums - I recall noticing in another post (non-Passat I think) that sometimes in pre-delivery they forget to take out the suspension transport blocks (?) that are in the springs from factory to dealer (to stop the car moving too much while on the ship and bouncing off the other cars in rough seas - which are centimeters apart on the carrier/ship!) - this would give you a very harsh ride since you have almost no suspension travel before hitting the blocks. Not sure if this may be the case with your car.

Always a possibility..

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f48/transport-blocks-front-suspension-80435.html

[pologti18t]

Checked the tyre pressures?

[vdubmotorworx]

I agree with the 2 above posts, check the front shocks for transport blocks still fitted and tyre pressures have been adjusted down at PDI!!

[dopey]

Have you tried checking the tyre pressures? Perhaps run them at the minimum of the recommended pressures (see inside your fuel flap)

I can understand what you mean, though. I went from MK6 Golf to Passat myself and I do find the Passat's ride harsher on some roads. I suspect perhaps that the tyres may have something to do with it, will be interested to see if it rides any different when I switch to something other than the OEM tyres soon.

[Cossor]

Thanks for all your suggestions
Yes, Initial tyre pressure was too high. Took it down to at first 20%, now running at about 10% below reccommended level.
(220 kpa versus 240kpa) for highway cruising.
Tyres are Continental sport. 17" Was told Continental tyre life rather short.So perhaps reduce tyre pressure to 200kpa and
get Michelin when tyres wear out?

Looked very carefully, no sign of any blockers in the spring coils.

Sales manager happy for me to take a test drive when he has a V6 (Or even better, a TDI with ACC)
Maybe arrange test drive with Mercedes C class? But Passat much better looking.

Car goes in for 1500 service next week. There IS a problem with rear suspension, giving a "KLONK' noise when
inside rear wheel passes slowly over a bump. Have provided a half round piece of timber as test piece for service dept!

[Cossor]

Had the 1500K service on Friday. Re the "Clonk" noise on some bumps, Dealer cannot find anything loose. Ran out of time, and have been
asked to bring it back again next week. (Noise similar to a boot lid not locked, or if the spare tyre bouncing in its well when driving on the road) (Wonder if it is a shock absorber?)

[Cossor]

Dealer has spent some time checking, and come up with the explanation that 'KLONK' noise is due to
fuel sloshing in the tank. Claims nothing to do with shock absorber.
Have agreed to run fuel level towards MINIMUM. But very find explanation hard to accept.
Noise is more like a loose fitting boot lid for example, but only on some types of bumps!

[wind]

Dealer has spent some time checking, and come up with the explanation that 'KLONK' noise is due to fuel sloshing in the tank. Claims nothing to do with shock absorber.
Have agreed to run fuel level towards MINIMUM. But very find explanation hard to accept.
Noise is more like a loose fitting boot lid for example, but only on some types of bumps!

Does this happen when you go slightly faster over a bump? Or is it the shape of the sped hump that does it? Or a bit of both?

On a previous car, the damper/strut would 'pop'/'klonk'/clunk when I would go over a speed bump above a certain speed . . . turned out to be a dodgy damper in that case - the valve would work OK in one direction (compression) but give up under the pressure of going the other way under full load (coming off a bump where the spring is giving the wheel a big push towards the other end of travel limit/s).


It can be very annoying when the problem is intermittent - my (admittedly frustrating) experience is that it will not 'perform on demand' when the dealer is looking at it but comes back as soon as you drive off!!

[nyc863]

it may be the adblue tank:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=passat+noisy+fuel+sloshing&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

[Guest001]

it may be the adblue tank:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=p...&client=safari

Does it have one. The 2011 certainly doesnt Models in other countries do and that thread seems to be a USA site and they have a different model to Australia

[brad]

Go down to 16" rims with 205/55r6

Koni Yellows are traditionally very compliant on initial bump but it would be a $1000 roll of the dice.

Is it shocks or springs that are too harsh? You could also get slightly longer springs of a slightly lesser spring rate done.

Sees odd you couldn't test drive a car. There's the local dealer in Moss Vale and Nowra, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Sutherland are all <100km from you. AT dealers aren't that far away either.

GL with it