Laser Blue FSI - Coilovers have arrived!!

[b1ggsy]

I've posted in the welcome section but thought I would start a build thread for my car.

I've not long moved on from a Mk4 golf GTI 1.8t which I loved and had spent quite a bit on it but it was getting old and I want my wife on my insurance so I've had to downgrade on power for a short time. Here's the GTI;



So after searching the traded for a while I found a suitable car that ticked all the criteria boxes and bought this 1.6 FSI SE in Laser Blue.
It's a 2004 54 plate with only 53k miles, FSH (7 service stamps) and 1 previous owner. Here's the car when I got it;







I have plans for it but it may take a while for any of the things to happen.

[b1ggsy]

First thing I did was change the number plates for some pressed plates. Not an expensive mod but I think they look much better :)

Before;



and after;

[b1ggsy]

Next thing I did was try on my brothers 19" BBS CH's as I really don't like the 15's that on it. He said he would sell me them cheap but they're 9.5j wide all round and stuck out way too much on the front!!

[b1ggsy]

Following the trial of the BBS wheels I got talking to a friend and he still had his old 3SDM 0.05's he had taken off of his Edition 30. A deal was struck and these became mine. 18" staggered 8.5j & 9.5j



Just a quick sizing up against the car



No the saving for tyres begins :)

[b1ggsy]

Things had been quite for a while on the car front until the other day when a lorry driver decided to reverse into the front corner of the car!!

Scratched front bumper, bumper insert and also scratched the headlight. I took the car to Leeds VW body shop for a repair quote and it came to £475 so they company have paid for the repair rather than go through insurance.





I took it in on Monday, now just got to wait to pick it up.

[bluebert92]

Sucks about the lorry, at least its being dealt with relatively stress free!

[b1ggsy]

Sucks about the lorry, at least its being dealt with relatively stress free!

I know dude, I was stood at the window and watched it happen and couldn't believe it.

In all fairness it was a big lorry so it could have been a lot worse!! My headlights had started to get the infamous yellow fade anyway so at least I got a new headlight out of it and VW have even said they will polish the other one up to match for free so not too bad after all :)

[bluebert92]

A headlight refurb and a new one, isn't so bad after all!

[b1ggsy]

Go the car back from VW and happy with the result



The restoration on the passenger headlight is pretty good although its not as good as the new one (and never would be) it looks much better than before

Before (not the best pic but they were very cloudy);


After;

[b1ggsy]

So I have had tyres fitted to my 3SDM 0.05's. I have put 225/40 on the 8.5j fronts and test fitted a 235/40 on the 9.5j rear. I know a lot of people put 215's on 8.5j and 225's on 9.5j but I didn't want too much stretch as I'm not able to go low just yet. In my opinion the 235 on 9.5j is just the right amount of stretch.

225/40/18 on 8.5j:


235/40/18 on 9.5j:


So after that I decided to do a test fit for clearance purposes. The 235 tyre I fitted was a scrap tyre that the tyre place lent me for a test fitment. Looks like they're ok to me so I now have to buy a pair for the rear before I can swap them over for good. Here's some pics of fitting

standard rear:


3SDM rear:


Car looks to sit quite high but I think this is due to it being jacket up. I'm not deluding myself, I know there will be a pretty big arch gap but I think it will settle to be a bit less than this. I still think its a big improvement over standard.

Standard:


3SDM:


and here after driving it forward with the handbrake on to bring the gap down a bit to a normal ride height:


Here's a cheeky one mid way through handbrake run:


I know everyone is going to say it needs lowering and I agree but that won't be happening until my wife passes her test as insurance wont allow it with her as a learner.

Let me know your thoughts.

[Shoduchi]

Standard suspension is that high, don't delude yourself thinking about the jacking, I don't think it matters much to a settled spring. Sport suspension is 15 mm lower which isn't much either. For your wheels to look the part you need H&R -50 mm or Eibach Sportlines when you can fit them.

The staggered wheels will only increase the understeer. I prefer a bit of oversteer with wheel input.

Keep coming the mods.

[b1ggsy]

Standard suspension is that high, don't delude yourself thinking about the jacking, I don't think it matters much to a settled spring. Sport suspension is 15 mm lower which isn't much either. For your wheels to look the part you need H&R -50 mm or Eibach Sportlines when you can fit them.

The staggered wheels will only increase the understeer. I prefer a bit of oversteer with wheel input.

Keep coming the mods.

Thanks for your comments. I have considered putting sport or gti springs on for that little bit of a drop. I can't put shocks on though as I'm sure the 1.6 has 50mm struts unlike the 55mm gti ones. When I can I will more than likely go with some coilovers though.

I'm not too bothered about oversteer from the wheels, my car only gets used on weekends and I don't often get chance to drive it hard enough for it to make much difference.

As for the mods, they will come on bit by bit. I'm going to remove the rear badges next as I think it makes the rear look much cleaner. Also going to swap out the current boot handle as it has started to white worm.

[Shoduchi]

Koni and Bilstein make their shocks in 50 mm too. I haven't checked but I think you just need to ask for that size.

You can also get sport suspension from a GT Sport 1.9 TDI that's 50 mm too, but for -45 to 50 mm drop it's better to get Koni Sports for H&R springs or Bilsteins B8 for Eibach Sportlines (the brands are partners with each other but you can get a different combination if you want).

If you go for the coilover route you'll be able to choose the ride height, apart from that you'll need to spend a lot more to get better coilovers than a shock+spring combination.

[b1ggsy]

Koni and Bilstein make their shocks in 50 mm too. I haven't checked but I think you just need to ask for that size.

You can also get sport suspension from a GT Sport 1.9 TDI that's 50 mm too, but for -45 to 50 mm drop it's better to get Koni Sports for H&R springs or Bilsteins B8 for Eibach Sportlines (the brands are partners with each other but you can get a different combination if you want).

If you go for the coilover route you'll be able to choose the ride height, apart from that you'll need to spend a lot more to get better coilovers than a shock+spring combination.

Sorry, I know I can get aftermarket shock that will fit, what I meant is I cant just put standard gti shocks & springs on because of the different hubs. Its a shame really as I wouldn't mind doing that as an interim solution.

I've had coilovers on the last 3 of my cars as I much prefer to be able to set the ride height as I want. I've had various qualities of coilovers in the past Ta-Technix, Jom, Prosport, AP & KW. I preferred the ride of the KW's over all the others so would probable look at something like them but I don't think any of them were that bad. If I decided to go down the spring/shock route I'd probable go for the Eibachs.

[b1ggsy]

Had a little play around on photoshop and "lowered" my car. Bad idea, now I really want lows!!