Wheel Arch Gap

[s4tokyo]

So, have had car for 2 months….& have recently come to my notice that Passenger side has 'tire to wheel arch' gap of 3cm while Driver side has 2cm. [I prefer the 2cm, but either works for me].

Speaking to my Dealer they say all Audi cars have +/- 1cm tolerance difference in this gap (wheel to arch).

From car to car (build tolerance variation) I can buy the argument e.g. one car is 2cm all round, another 3 cm all round. For same car, left to right, that seems a bit excessive on this grade car - we're not talking SUV or Corolla. 1cm difference left to right side on car 'stands out' on low profile wheel, once you've taken notice of it and decide it seems irregular.

Dealer says there's no Audi fix, except Aftermarket height adjustable shocks.

Ride is fine, no notable difference, …it's not that the suspension is unbalanced ride - left to right - if it was then ride would be affected, but that the body metal sits a little tilted on chassis (if I say that correct?)

I find it difficult to accept that different panel gaps (e.g. door / body, hood body, etc) can be adjusted / controlled to less than 5mm +/- 'almost unnoticeable tolerance', YET the body to chassis (wheel arch gap in this case) is +/- 'very noticeable' gap..this case 10mm ?? I don't expect 'zero' tolerance, but….. well interested to hear real world scenario other than my own.

Has anyone similar experience to this…can left to right 'wheel arch gap' truly not be corrected, so that they match?

TIA

[BMW2RS4]

Mine has the same issue. It was also an issue with every BMW that I have owned in the past. This is a well known issue with BMWs but I hadn't realised that Audis were also affected until I measured my wife's A3 and my RS4 which each show a 10mm height difference from passenger side to driver side. One theory put forward by BMW owners is that the passenger side is higher to allow for the weight of the European driver; i.e. the car will sit level once the driver (minus passenger) is onboard. Unfortunately, the problem is effectively doubled for UK drivers who sit on the right

I fixed the problem with the BMW by installing coilovers. MTM make adjustable springs for the RS4 http://www.mtm-online.de/en/Audi/RS4-B8 ... 3rs41045qd but this would invalidate the Audi suspension warranty.

If I'm being honest, I'm quite happy with the wheel gap in the RS4 on either side. Unlike the new M4 which resembles a 4x4

[s4tokyo]

Many Thx BMW2RS4.
When with Dealer last weekend he did say - having measured severe new cars in the Showrrooms and parked outside - that the variation 'side to side' is similar on all cars he measured (just on lower sprung cars it can be more noticeable …than say a Q3 which might have several cm of design gap).
The adjustable coilovers I understand are an option, but I haven't come to that bridge quite yet. I had been anticipating that some adjustment could be made - which it can't.

I guess your feedback - thx again - and what Dealer has told me, puts some closure on it for now. I did ask Dealer Tech side to confirm 'so what IS the tolerance spec'? …what is the band that they build to?' As example, IF one side had 2cm gap and the other 4cm, would that still be ok, by Audi? I couldn't walk away from that size variation IF it was so. I'll note back if I hear any further update.
s4tokyo

[Graeme4130]

I might be wrong, but I remember being told that the DRC system, by way of diagonally connected damper chambers, will effectively keep the position of the last weight transfer when parking (ie the driver getting out)
Therefore, if you were in a left hand drive car, it'd be lower on the other side if driver only
Not exactly scientific, but I measured my current RS5 earlier after I'd been driving and it was lower on the drivers side (by the finger test ) and then when I just got back from the cinema with my wife and youngest son sat on the left, who together weigh about 12 stone, so the same as me, it was pretty equal by the finger test