AWD, RWD or FWD: Why Drivetrain Changes the Coilover Kit You Order
AWD vs RWD coilovers are often two different kits for the same car, because the front struts, knuckles or mounts change with the drivetrain. Order the coilover kit whose listing names your drivetrain, not just your chassis code, and confirm it before you pay.
Here is a mistake that is easy to make. Someone has an E90 BMW 3 Series, finds a kit for the E90, and orders it. Then the box shows up and the front struts do not match the car. The kit was right for the chassis code. It was wrong for the drivetrain. This guide shows you how our listings handle the split, and how to check your car in five minutes.
Why AWD vs RWD Coilovers Are Often Different Kits
An all-wheel-drive car has to send power to the front wheels. That means axle shafts run out to the front hubs, through the same space the front suspension uses. Carmakers lay out the front knuckle, strut and mounts around those shafts. A rear-drive version of the same car has nothing driving its front hubs, so its front end can be built differently.
A coilover replaces the factory strut, so it has to match whatever the factory used. If the strut body, the knuckle clamp or the lower mount is different on the AWD car, the coilover has to be different too. Sometimes the change is at the rear as well. Sometimes only the front changes. The listing title is where the brand tells you which kit fits which car.
Front-drive and all-wheel-drive versions can split the same way, though plenty share one kit. Read the listing for your exact car.
What drivetrain does not change
A coilover works the same way on any drivetrain. The spring holds the car up, the damper controls its motion, and a threaded body sets ride height. Unsprung weight is the wheel, tire, hub, brakes and knuckle, plus part of the arms, damper and spring. Fitting a coilover does not lower it on its own. Drivetrain changes which parts bolt on, not how performance suspension works. If you want the basics first, read what are coilovers.
How Drivetrain Shows Up in a Listing Title
Every brand writes titles a little differently, so learn the words. Here is what you will see in our catalogue and what each one means.
RWD or 2WD. Rear-wheel drive on BMW, Infiniti and most rear-drive cars. KW often writes "2WD" on BMW listings, for example the 5 Series G30 Sedan 2WD.
FWD or 2WD. On a front-drive platform, "2WD" means front-wheel drive. The Ksport listing for the 2009 to 2016 Audi A4 2WD (B8) is a front-drive car.
AWD, xDrive, xi, quattro, x. All-wheel drive. BMW calls it xDrive on newer cars, and older E46 listings name the 325Xi and 330Xi. Audi calls it quattro. Infiniti adds an "x," as in G35x.
FWD/AWD in one title. One kit covers both drivetrains on that car. Read the rest of the title anyway, because other limits still apply.
Drivetrain is often not the only split. Listings also split by top mount bolt count, front strut diameter, rear spring style and factory electronic dampers. Read every phrase in the title before you add a coilover kit to the cart.
BMW 3 Series and 5 Series: The xDrive Split
BMW is where AWD vs RWD coilovers trip people up most. The 3 Series and 5 Series sell in both drivetrains and look alike from the curb.
E90 and E92 3 Series. BC Racing lists the 2006 to 2011 3 Series Sedan RWD (E90) as one kit. It lists a separate 3 Series xDrive Sedan and Coupe kit for the E90 and E92, and that title notes Swift Rear Only. Swift Springs SPEC-R springs are an upgrade option on most BC Racing fitments. The title tells you which ends can take them. Fortune Auto and Feal split this chassis the same way, with RWD and AWD kits listed separately.
F30 3 Series. BC Racing lists four standard F30 kits, plus Extreme Low kits for 3-bolt and 5-bolt cars. RWD and xDrive kits with 3-bolt top mounts cover 2012 to 2015. RWD and xDrive kits with 5-bolt top mounts cover 2015 to 2018. That is two splits on one chassis. Check the drivetrain, then count the bolts on your top mounts.
G30 5 Series. KW lists the G30 Sedan as 2WD or AWD, and each comes with or without electronic dampers. That makes four listings, for example the 5 Series G30 Sedan AWD without electronic dampers. The listings with electronic dampers on the factory car are a different part again.
E60 and F10 5 Series. BC Racing lists a 5 Series RWD kit and a 5 Series xDrive kit for the E60. On the F10, the BC Racing title reads Non-M, RWD Only, Swift Front Only. BC Racing lists a 2011 to 2016 5 Series xDrive kit, and Ksport lists the F10 xDrive/AWD.
Infiniti G35 and G35x, and Audi quattro
The G35 sedan came in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. BC Racing lists three 2007 to 2008 V36 kits. The G35 Sedan RWD comes with a separate-style rear or true rear coilovers. The third is the G35x Sedan AWD. For the older V35, Ksport lists the G35X Sedan AWD separately. "Separate Style Rear" and "True Rear Coilovers" describe different rear setups, and they are part of the fitment.
Audi shows every pattern on one make. For the 2009 to 2016 A4 (B8), Ksport lists an A4 2WD kit and an A4 Quattro AWD kit. Öhlins lists one Road & Track kit for the 2008 to 2016 A4, S4, A5 and S5 FWD/Quattro (B8). On the 2017 to 2022 A4 and S4, every BC Racing listing covers both FWD and AWD. The split is by front strut size (48.5 mm or 53 mm). There is also a separate 53 mm listing for cars with factory electronic dampers. Same car family, three different rules. That is why we read the listing, not the badge.
When One Kit Covers Both Drivetrains
Many front-drive platforms share parts across FWD and AWD. Our listings show it. BC Racing lists the 2019 to 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan/Hatch FWD/AWD and the 2015 to 2020 Acura TLX FWD/AWD as single kits.
A shared kit still has limits. The BC Racing listing for the 2015 to 2021 Audi TT (FV / 8S) covers FWD and AWD, but the title says Non-RS. Some shared titles also say Swift Front Only or Swift Rear Only. So "fits both drivetrains" never means "fits every trim." Read to the end of the title.
Shared kits also come with the same setup choices as any other kit. You still pick a spring rate, set ride height at the lower mount on full-length kits, and set damping from the manual's starting point. On BC Racing kits, the BR Series gives you 30-click simultaneous compression and rebound on one knob. KW V3 lets you adjust compression and rebound independently.
How to Confirm Your Drivetrain Before You Order
Do not trust memory or the seller's ad. Check the car itself.
Look at the badge, then doubt it. An xDrive, xi, quattro or "x" badge is a good first clue. On a used car, badges get removed, added or swapped. Treat a badge as a hint, not proof.
Look behind the front wheels. On an AWD car you will see an axle shaft with a rubber CV boot running into the front hub. A rear-drive BMW or G35 has no shaft there. Turn the steering wheel and use a flashlight.
Read the door jamb label. US federal rules call for a certification label, usually on the driver's door edge or door pillar. It shows the Vehicle Identification Number and the month and year the car was built. Build date matters when a listing splits partway through a generation.
Have the VIN ready. A VIN identifies the car and can help confirm options with a dealer or a decoder. A VIN alone often does not show the top mount bolt count, the strut diameter or factory electronic dampers. Confirm those from the car and the listing, or call us.
Check your paperwork. Registration, the original window sticker or a build sheet often names the drivetrain in plain words.
For more on choosing a kit, our guide to buying suspension walks through use, price point and setup questions. If you are still unsure, call 1-800-460-9106 with your VIN and we will confirm the listing before you order.
Common Wrong-Order Mistakes
Most fitment mistakes come from trusting one detail and skipping the rest.
Ordering by chassis code alone. "E90" or "B8" names a generation, not a drivetrain. Find your chassis, then find your drivetrain inside it.
Reading "2WD" as rear-drive. On a BMW it is. On a B8 A4 it means front-drive. The platform decides.
Stopping at the drivetrain. On the F30, the bolt count matters too. On the B9 A4, the strut diameter does. On the G30, the factory dampers do.
Missing an exclusion. Some titles rule a drivetrain out. The TEIN Flex Z listing for the 2014 to 2015 Infiniti Q50 (V37) reads Excl. AWD.
Assuming the install will sort it out. A wrong strut will not bolt up properly. Do not force a mismatched part, and do not drive on it. Our step-by-step install guide covers the checks to make before the old struts come off.
After install, set ride height and lock every locking collar before the alignment. Our guide on how to set ride height on coilovers explains the order of work. Any height change alters camber and toe, so book an alignment after the car settles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put RWD coilovers on an AWD car?
Only if the listing says the kit covers both. When a brand lists RWD and AWD kits separately for your chassis, the parts differ and the RWD kit will not fit the AWD car. Order the kit whose title names your drivetrain.
Are AWD vs RWD coilovers actually different parts?
On many cars, yes. AWD cars have axle shafts running to the front hubs, and the front knuckle, strut and mounts are built around them. That is why BMW 3 Series, 5 Series and Infiniti G35 listings split by drivetrain. On other cars, one kit fits both.
How do I know if my BMW is xDrive?
Look for an xDrive or xi badge, then confirm it. Look behind a front wheel for an axle shaft and CV boot at the hub. A rear-drive BMW has none. Your VIN, registration or window sticker also confirms it. Call us with the VIN if you want a second check.
Do FWD and AWD versions of the same car use the same coilovers?
Sometimes. BC Racing lists one FWD/AWD kit for the 2019 to 2022 Mazda 3 and the 2015 to 2020 Acura TLX. Ksport lists separate 2WD and Quattro kits for the B8 Audi A4. Read the listing for your car.
Can I lower an AWD car as much as a RWD car?
There is no single safe drop for every car. It depends on the chassis, wheels and tires. On an AWD car, lowering also changes the angle of the front axle shafts. Start with a modest drop and ask us about your chassis.
Does the VIN tell you which coilover kit fits?
It identifies the car, which narrows the list fast, and it can help confirm options with a dealer or a decoder. On its own it often does not show top mount bolt count, strut diameter or factory electronic dampers. Confirm those from the car and the listing, or call us before you order.
Do AWD cars need stiffer spring rates?
Not because of the drivetrain alone. Spring rate depends on the car's weight, how you drive and the ride you want. Each listing ships with the brand's chosen rates. BC Racing and Fortune Auto can build with custom rates. Ask us before you change it.
Not Sure Which Drivetrain Kit You Need?
Drivetrain is the split people miss most, and it is the easiest one to check. A few minutes with a flashlight and your VIN settles it.
Call 1-800-460-9106 with your VIN, and tell us what you drive and how you use it. We will match the listing to your car, whether that is BC Racing, KW, Fortune Auto, Öhlins, TEIN or another brand we carry. Free shipping across Canada on most kits.
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