Best first mods??

[ED30Girl]

Yes, those are ALK. I'd choose the one from SuperPro. I have it in both my Golfs. The online feedback is that the SuperPro is more resistant to damage over time. There are a few cases of broken bushes from Whiteline especially from people who track their cars.

Ok Brill! Just to check, is this the complete set and there isn't anything else to buy?

[Shoduchi]

Yes, those are ALK. I'd choose the one from SuperPro. I have it in both my Golfs. The online feedback is that the SuperPro is more resistant to damage over time. There are a few cases of broken bushes from Whiteline especially from people who track their cars.

Ok Brill! Just to check, is this the complete set and there isn't anything else to buy?

If you want the car to feel really tight you'll like polyurethane bushes (I think SuperPro makes the best but Powerflex is good too and a bit cheaper). You'll lose comfort if you fit polyurethane bushes, so keep that in mind as well.

The ALK will only replace one of the front suspension control arm bushes, but it's the most important and the ride comfort isn't that much affected.

You can fit a front and rear bush kit but for road use and if you like comfort I'd just replace the OEM bushes.

Here you have all the polyurethane bushes for your Edition 30: http://www.superpro.com.au/find/superpro-bushing-vehicle-kit-for-a-superpro-suspension-parts-and-poly-bushings-for-vw-golf-mk-5-typ-1k1-fwd-2003-2009-/productnr-KIT5238K/cid-999500629/vid-

From Awesome GTI: http://www.awesomegti.com/superpro-f-r-front-and-rear-suspension-bush-kit-for-normal-road-use-a3-8p-2wd-quattro-s3-cabriolet

[pudding]

All I've done to my manual ED30:-

Remap to 1.4 bar (0.9 is standard).  All this 'stage x' is just marketing speak. It's just upping the boost pressure at the end of the day.
Helix clutch & new DMF
WALK

Just those 3 things have given me a daily usable 320hp car that has all the ride quality and refinement of the standard car, win win 

Next year I will be doing a chassis refresh to OEM spec.  New dampers & bushes all round to get it back to a new as possible feel.  I think sometimes people forget how good these cars were when new.  I went out in a GTI recently that was lowered and big brakes, big exhaust, all of it.  It was bloody awful.  Getting back into mine again was a breath of fresh air.

[Shoduchi]

All I've done to my manual ED30:-

Remap to 1.4 bar (0.9 is standard).  All this 'stage x' is just marketing speak. It's just upping the boost pressure at the end of the day.
Helix clutch & new DMF
WALK

Just those 3 things have given me a daily usable 320hp car that has all the ride quality and refinement of the standard car, win win 

Next year I will be doing a chassis refresh to OEM spec.  New dampers & bushes all round to get it back to a new as possible feel.  I think sometimes people forget how good these cars were when new.  I went out in a GTI recently that was lowered and big brakes, big exhaust, all of it.  It was bloody awful.  Getting back into mine again was a breath of fresh air.

I'd like to hear your opinion after you tried mine. Unfortunately I'm too far for it to happen easily. I think mine is a better daily driver than the OEM spec. I've done it 1st to my GT Sport, I just had to go up a notch for the Ed. 30.

[ED30Girl]

Haven't got the money to replace all the bushes on the car at the moment, on the MOT is was both lower arm bushes that were worn on the front suspension. Could i just buy these for now?  Sorry about being so clueless on the subject! With it being my first car to work on i'm still learning when it comes to stuff like suspension
http://www.awesomegti.com/car/vw/golfmk5/superpro-anti-lift-kit-mk5-mk6-golf-jetta-a3-s3-8p-leon-mk2-octavia-mk2

Yeh my plan was to keep my car pretty standard when i brought it but after having it a few months i've started to feel a little bit used to it and i want that same feeling again like when i first drove it! & i thought whilst i'm young and living with the parents still so i don't have much to pay out for i might aswell go for it ! 

[Shoduchi]

The SALK will replace the more easily worn lower control arm bushes.

The others are these:
http://www.awesomegti.com/car/vw/golfmk5/superpro-f-control-arm-inner-front-bush-kit-a3-8p-2wd-quattro-s3-cabriolet
http://www.awesomegti.com/superpro-front-camber-adjustable-ball-joints-mk5-mk6-golf-jetta-a3-s3-8p-leon-mk2-octavia-mk2

You can consider just replacing with OEM ball joints if needed. I'm considering replacing my OEM ball joints for the SuperPro version in the future.

[Adam0604]

@ED30Girl
Get hold of @vRSAlex regarding the Superpro bushes.

I've just ordered the full set for the rear from them, £335.00 for the lot. 14 bushes in total.
They quoted me £175.00 to replace the whole front end bushes (does not include Superpro ALK). Which I will be buying when funds allow.

[ED30Girl]

Thanks Guys ! Yeh i'll get intouch with him and find out. I rang awesomegti earlier and they said just buy the SALK as that was all that was worn on my MOT.

Thanks
 

[Andy]

Just replace the front bottom arm rear console bushs as you mentioned and get the tracking checked also,will make a difference

[ED30Girl]

Just replace the front bottom arm rear console bushs as you mentioned and get the tracking checked also,will make a difference

Yeh exactly what i think ill do, thanks! 

Thinking of fitting some H&R Springs aswell, am i best getting these done together and then the alignment aswell?

[pudding]

All I've done to my manual ED30:-

Remap to 1.4 bar (0.9 is standard).  All this 'stage x' is just marketing speak. It's just upping the boost pressure at the end of the day.
Helix clutch & new DMF
WALK

Just those 3 things have given me a daily usable 320hp car that has all the ride quality and refinement of the standard car, win win 

Next year I will be doing a chassis refresh to OEM spec.  New dampers & bushes all round to get it back to a new as possible feel.  I think sometimes people forget how good these cars were when new.  I went out in a GTI recently that was lowered and big brakes, big exhaust, all of it.  It was bloody awful.  Getting back into mine again was a breath of fresh air.

I'd like to hear your opinion after you tried mine. Unfortunately I'm too far for it to happen easily. I think mine is a better daily driver than the OEM spec. I've done it 1st to my GT Sport, I just had to go up a notch for the Ed. 30.

Would love to try one with all the nice quality bits.  Not sure what this car had on it but it was crashy, droney, too much intake and turbo noise and felt a fair bit slower than mine off boost.

What suspension have you got on yours?  Instead of refreshing all the OEM stuff, I was considering the Ohlins Track & Road setup but it's a lot of money to sink into an unknown entity.  At least with the standard stuff I know where I stand, and quite like it too 

[Shoduchi]

All I've done to my manual ED30:-

Remap to 1.4 bar (0.9 is standard).  All this 'stage x' is just marketing speak. It's just upping the boost pressure at the end of the day.
Helix clutch & new DMF
WALK

Just those 3 things have given me a daily usable 320hp car that has all the ride quality and refinement of the standard car, win win 

Next year I will be doing a chassis refresh to OEM spec.  New dampers & bushes all round to get it back to a new as possible feel.  I think sometimes people forget how good these cars were when new.  I went out in a GTI recently that was lowered and big brakes, big exhaust, all of it.  It was bloody awful.  Getting back into mine again was a breath of fresh air.

I'd like to hear your opinion after you tried mine. Unfortunately I'm too far for it to happen easily. I think mine is a better daily driver than the OEM spec. I've done it 1st to my GT Sport, I just had to go up a notch for the Ed. 30.

Would love to try one with all the nice quality bits.  Not sure what this car had on it but it was crashy, droney, too much intake and turbo noise and felt a fair bit slower than mine off boost.

What suspension have you got on yours?  Instead of refreshing all the OEM stuff, I was considering the Ohlins Track & Road setup but it's a lot of money to sink into an unknown entity.  At least with the standard stuff I know where I stand, and quite like it too 

I kept the OEM airbox, so no intake noise and I have a BCS Powervalve TBE Prestige system with 200 cell cat, so no drone and just great exhaust sound when on boost and pushing the engine.

If you like the height of your ride I'd recommend Koni FSD (the kit 2100-4001 is for normal Golfs so not as harsh as the kit 2100-4090 for GTIs) and Eibach Pro-Kit springs, that I've fitted in my GT Sport with the same sway bars as the GTI.

In my Ed. 30 I've fitted Koni Sports, H&R -30 mm (29176-1) and H&R front and rear sway bars (33258-1) 26/22 mm. The suspension was setup by my mechanic to be able to take bumps without being too harsh. The car can make fast turns really well and has a lot more grip than before with OEM shocks and Eibach Sportlines, that made the ride too bumpy over small to moderate road creases.

I'd love to get those coilovers for my Golfs too, but I've spent a lot less and I'm happy with the way they are at the moment. I hate harsh rides.

Koni FSD (kit 2100-4001): 539,50 € (local shop)
Eibach Pro-Kit: 135 € (ebay.de.)
GTI rear sway bar: 65 € (ebay.co.uk)
SALK: 250 € (ebay.co.uk)

Koni Sports (8710-1431; 80-2859): 464,40 € (local shop)
H&R (29176-1) -30 mm: 189,90 € (ebay.de.)
H&R sway bars (33258-1): 433,06 € (local shop)
SALK: 222,26 € (local shop)

[pudding]

Thanks for that mate, appreciate it.

I've had Koni Yellows and H&R springs in previous VWs (MK2s and a Corrado) and they were really good at medium to high speeds, but a bit harsh on rubbish roads at slower speeds.  Very nice dampers those Konis though, but I had leaking fronts a few times. Not a massive deal because of the lifetime warranty, but still a pain getting them replaced.  I hope the quality has improved since!  Maybe the spring rate of the H&Rs was a bit aggressive.

I am mega picky with suspension and the standard setup can be harsh enough at times with 18s.  I've read the Ohlins kit has special valving to soak up the harshness, which sounds cool, but big bucks!  Are the Konis sports a shortened damper?  Could I use them with standard springs?

I was toying with going up a size on rear arb only actually, so glad you mentioned those.  A bigger rear one definitely gives the car a tighter turn-in!  Do they sell them separately?

[Shoduchi]

Thanks for that mate, appreciate it.

I've had Koni Yellows and H&R springs in previous VWs (MK2s and a Corrado) and they were really good at medium to high speeds, but a bit harsh on rubbish roads at slower speeds.  Very nice dampers those Konis though, but I had leaking fronts a few times. Not a massive deal because of the lifetime warranty, but still a pain getting them replaced.  I hope the quality has improved since!  Maybe the spring rate of the H&Rs was a bit aggressive.

I am mega picky with suspension and the standard setup can be harsh enough at times with 18s.  I've read the Ohlins kit has special valving to soak up the harshness, which sounds cool, but big bucks!  Are the Konis sports a shortened damper?  Could I use them with standard springs?

I was toying with going up a size on rear arb only actually, so glad you mentioned those.  A bigger rear one definitely gives the car a tighter turn-in!  Do they sell them separately?

I don't know how the Konis handled back then. These are taking well the small bumps at slow speed, but they had to be adjusted or they can be harsh for what my mechanic told me.

The Koni Sports are shortened dampers but the brand states that you can only lower the ride up to -35 mm. The Koni Sport Kit that includes an H&R spring can lower the ride up to 40 mm. You leave it stock if you want.

Personally I think Eibach Pro-Kits are better in every aspect comparing to OEM springs and they don't lower a GTI more than 5-10 mm. Koni FSD go very well with them and the ride is more comfortable on bad surfaces. Try to test them. For me they are great for a family car, not just for fast road driving (for that the Koni Sports are superior).

You can buy just an H&R RARB if you ask AKS Tuning, for example. Not every seller can separate the kits. You can also consider other brands (Whiteline, Neuspeed, Autotech, etc.) but I like the H&R ARB bushes with their Teflon that avoids squeaking noises.