Audi A3 8L Bilstein B12: Manual, Automatic And Quattro Fitment Compared
Audi A3 8L, four part numbers
The Audi A3 8L takes four different Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit part numbers, and which one you need depends on the engine, the gearbox and whether the car is a quattro. Searching "A3 8L" gets you a shortlist, not an answer.
Cameron gets caught by the gearbox one more than anything else. Somebody has a 1.8 T, finds the 1.8 T kit, and the car is an automatic, which is a different listing with a different rear drop and a different front axle limit. Garreth’s summary is that on this car the transmission is part of the fitment, not a detail on the end of the description.
All four are fixed lowering packages of Bilstein dampers and Eibach Pro-Kit springs. None of them gives threaded ride height adjustment. Here is how they differ.
- Four B12 Pro-Kit part numbers cover the A3 8L, split by engine, gearbox and drivetrain
- All four are fixed lowering. None of them has threaded ride height adjustment
- The manual and quattro kits drop 30mm front and 25mm rear
- The automatic kit drops 30mm front and 30mm rear, and has a higher front axle limit
- Front axle maxima are 990 kg, 1,020 kg and 1,050 kg across the four
- All four are listed for vehicles WITHOUT self levelling suspension
- None of these four establishes fitment for an S3
What is on this page
The four kits, side by side
Everything that separates them is in one place below. Read across the row for the car you have, then open the product page for the full application dates and fitting conditions.
| Part number | Listed application | Front drop | Rear drop | Front axle max | Rear axle max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46-180148 | 1.6, 1.8 and 1.8 T, manual | 30mm | 25mm | 990 kg | 930 kg |
| 46-180155 | 1.9 TDI, manual | 30mm | 25mm | 990 kg | 930 kg |
| 46-180162 | 1.8 T and 1.9 TDI, automatic | 30mm | 30mm | 1,020 kg | 930 kg |
| 46-180179 | 1.8 T quattro and 1.9 TDI quattro | 30mm | 25mm | 1,050 kg | 1,120 kg |
All four are listed for vehicles without self levelling suspension. The front drop is 30mm on every one of them, which is exactly why it is the wrong column to choose from.
Do not select on the lowering figures
The manual petrol kit 46-180148 and the quattro kit 46-180179 both list 30mm front and 25mm rear. On the drop alone they are indistinguishable. Their engine applications are different and their axle limits are 990 kg against 1,050 kg at the front and 930 kg against 1,120 kg at the rear.
The automatic kit 46-180162 is the one that breaks the pattern, at 30mm rear where the manual entries are 25mm, with a 1,020 kg front axle limit to go with it. Matching the drop you want is one part of choosing correctly and it is not the part that decides.
The quattro carries the most weight
46-180179 covers the 1.8 T quattro and the 1.9 TDI quattro, and its axle maxima are the highest of the four by a distance: 1,050 kg at the front and 1,120 kg at the rear, against 930 kg at the rear on all three front wheel drive entries.
That gap is the drivetrain and the rear suspension that comes with it. It also means a quattro is never a candidate for one of the front wheel drive listings, whatever the engine badge says.
Check the car, not the model name
Match the chassis, the engine, the gearbox and the drivetrain to the product page, then compare both axle limits against the vehicle identification plate. Those two steps between them settle almost every A3 8L enquiry.
These four listings do not establish fitment for every A3 derivative, and they do not cover an S3. A car that has been modified, or that has had a suspension conversion at some point, needs its own application check and not an assumption.
Confirm the gearbox
Manual or automatic changes the part number on this car. Check it on the V5 and do not go from memory.
Check for self levelling
Every one of these four is listed for cars without it. If the car has it, stop and ask before ordering anything.
Book the alignment
Lowering changes the geometry. Have the alignment checked once the kit is fitted and the springs have settled.
- Lowering is approximate and depends on the original suspension fitted to the car
- Read the installation and approval documents supplied for the exact part number
- Both axle limits matter, not just the front one
- An S3 is not covered by any of the four listings here
Common questions
Does it really matter whether my A3 is manual or automatic?
On this car, yes. The automatic listing 46-180162 gives 30mm of rear lowering against 25mm on the manual entries, and its front axle limit is 1,020 kg against 990 kg. They are different part numbers for a reason.
Can I fit a front wheel drive kit to a quattro?
No. The quattro has its own listing, 46-180179, with much higher axle maxima at 1,050 kg front and 1,120 kg rear. The front wheel drive entries are rated at 930 kg at the rear and are not applicable.
How much will the car come down?
Roughly 30mm at the front on all four, with 25mm or 30mm at the rear depending on the listing. Those figures are approximate and depend on the original suspension the car is on now.
Can I adjust the ride height afterwards?
No. These are B12 Pro-Kit packages, which are fixed lowering: Bilstein dampers matched to Eibach springs. If you want to set the height yourself, that is a B14 or a B16 and a different budget.
What if my car has self levelling suspension?
None of these four applies. All four are listed for vehicles without it, so the car needs a separate application check. Send us the VIN and we will look.
Is there a kit listed for the S3 8L?
Not among these four. The S3 is a separate application and none of the part numbers on this page establishes fitment for it.
Technical reference: the Bilstein manufacturer application programme, cross checked against the current UK listings for these four part numbers. The rest of the range is on the Bilstein B12 category page, and if you want adjustment rather than a fixed drop, our B12, B14 and B16 guide covers the difference.
We will tell you which one the application actually covers, check both axle limits against the plate and confirm the current supplier lead time before you commit.
Registration or VIN, engine, gearbox and whether the car has self levelling suspension. That is everything we need to confirm the application and the current supplier lead time before you order, instead of after the kit arrives.
