My GTi with Bilstein B12 pro kit

[Panthera]

I have had my car for just over 3 1/2 years (the longest I have owned a car) and I have kept it standard thus far. I have been using a specialist for service work and when they said that my rear suspension was sagging on one side after having a 4 wheel alignment. Everything else was fine.  I asked what my options where, full OE, part OE and part upgrade or full upgrade.  As it was not urgent, I let it be.  So last month I said to the specialist lets book it in for the upgrade suspension kit - Bilstein B12 Pro.   

I have done about 700 miles since being fitted so the suspension has settled more or less.

P1020284e by Darren Hughes, on Flickr

P1020283e by Darren Hughes, on Flickr

However, it has softened up somewhat since day one, but my daily commute to work uses fast B roads and they are not smooth, and the ride is firm, like I am having a few rounds with Mike Tyson (not that I box). Yes it does handle better - it hardly pitches or dives under acceleration or braking, - but i think it would be better suited to a longer chassis  car - Audi A4  - and I don't think it fully suits the Golf platform personally.  I am half tempted to but a OE set on.

[AJP]

A thumbs down then?

Always a tricky one finding a setup that's balanced nicely between performance and ride quality, as it's so subjective.

What one person finds comfortable the next finds harsh.

I'm on OEM shocks and H&R 30mm springs and I don't find it more uncomfortable than with standard springs. That said, it was quite firm totally standard anyway in comparison to say a standard mk4 GTI.

I don't think there's a Holy Grail that nails that balance, just a case of trial and error. I've had cars that rode worse on sensibly dropped spring and shock kits than on coilovers 80mm down. Go figure!

[Shoduchi]

Try Eibach Pro-Kit springs, that don't really drop the ride but are more comfortable and have a bit less roll than stock, with Koni FSD shocks. This combo should suit more your needs.

[Dave J]

I ran my mk5 on VWR springs & OEM dampers for a couple of years. The springs took out a bit of roll, and then adding ARB's helped further.
The ride was ok, but noticed over time it got really hard, with no damping effect, and there was wandering - all signs of knackered dampers.

As said - suspension is so subjective, but I wanted a set of Bilstein B8's. Too hard for some, and the mk5 vs mk6 debate is just  . I had a set of Bilsteins after a set of Koni FSD's on my old mkiv, and the Bilsteins were so much better.
Maybe replacing OEM dampers every so many years might be the way forward for you, but for me the Bilsteins do seem harder than OEM, but better damped and controlled.

[Shoduchi]

I have Pro-Kits and Koni FSD (Kit 2100-4001) on my GT Sport and I find the ride quite comfortable for a sport suspension. If anyone finds this combo harsh I think they better forget about owning any sport car. It's much better than stock and I replaced the suspension before my original shocks were dead.

[Panthera]

The ride does not crash at the rear like the OE set-up did, but then if they where past their best - car is on 78k miles - that might have had something to do with it.  I can't recall what it felt like when I first got the car with some 43k on the clock.

 Shoduchi:  My belief is that the B12 pro kit consists of - B8 dampers with Eibach 30 mm lowering springs. So what would the Eibach pro kit springs being to the table?

According to the specialist, he said that Koni changed the damping characteristics in the FSD and made them worse?? thats another story. 

[Shoduchi]

What colour are the Eibach -30 mm? If they're red, they're Sportlines, if they're black, they're Pro-Kits.

-30 mm for GTI suspension, which is -20 mm compared to normal, is relative to Sportlines.

Pro-Kits are -5 or at best -10 mm compared to a GTI suspension. -30/35 mm compared to normal. That's the reason why it can be confusing.

Koni made a new FSD kit just for GTI because clients complained that it was too compliant. So, if you get the Koni FSD for GTI, you'll problably won't like their comfort either...

[Shoduchi]

Looking at the pictures of your GTI it seems you have Sportlines fitted, not Pro-Kits.

[Panthera]

What colour are the Eibach -30 mm? If they're red, they're Sportlines, if they're black, they're Pro-Kits.

-30 mm for GTI suspension, which is -20 mm compared to normal, is relative to Sportlines.

Pro-Kits are -5 or at best -10 mm compared to a GTI suspension. -30/35 mm compared to normal. That's the reason why it can be confusing.

Koni made a new FSD kit just for GTI because clients complained that it was too compliant. So, if you get the Koni FSD for GTI, you'll problably won't like their comfort either...

he springs are red fyi.

I read on the Bilstein website that the pro kit - that I have - drops the front my 20mm and the rear 20-25mm

[Shoduchi]

If your springs are red you have Sportlines, not Pro-Kits. Pro-Kits are black and don't really lower a GTI.

Just look at my GT Sport pictures (with Pro-Kits fitted) and then look at the 1st pictures of my Ed. 30 (with Sportlines fitted).

In the last pictures of my Ed. 30 it has H&R -30 mm fitted, that are pretty similar to the Sportlines, just a bit more leveled. Sportlines make the front a bit lower compared to the back.

[Panthera]

I thought I would up-date you all further.  I have done a lot more miles since this thread was created, and I can say that the ride has suppled up much more and is more comfortable.  Okay, it is still firm, but less so than before.   Also she handles a lot better now that, where I work - sell Hunter Engineering Equipment - it has been aligned properly on Hunter TD Elite aligner.   

[pudding]

Nice colour GTI!

I've used Bilsteins a few times over the years on my VWs and always found their high speed bump settings to be too harsh for UK roads.  They are consistent though, probably the most consistent dampers I've ever used.  Lesser dampers (like KWs) feel different over and summer and winter as the damper oil viscosity changes.  Bilstein take steps to reduce that issue.

Kind of got my eye on Ohlins Track & Road at the moment because of their secondary valving system to reduce harshness, and also their clever ride height adjustment mechanism which doesn't change the spring preload.

[flashp]

Yours seems like you have a bit of rake going on. Mine (in the photos at least) appears to be a little more level. I'm running a B12 Pro Kit with Eibach springs (red) and I reckon it's about 10/15mm lower.

[Shoduchi]

Yours seems like you have a bit of rake going on. Mine (in the photos at least) appears to be a little more level. I'm running a B12 Pro Kit with Eibach springs (red) and I reckon it's about 10/15mm lower.

The red Eibach springs are Sportlines, Pro-Kits are black. From your picture your car is lower than what Pro-Kits lower.

http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b12-sportline/

Mine with Pro-Kits:

[flashp]

I remember when JKM supplied mine Bilstein changed the spec of the springs shortly afterwards. It was a pro kit fitted though. I have red Eibach progressive springs.