MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Veee-dubber on January 01, 2013, 11:34:46 pm
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Hey all :)
Wanting to lower my GT Sport on a budget that can stretch to £300 absolute max! Now I'm wondering for this price whether I should even be thinking about coilovers or just rule them out for a half decent set of springs with a walk kit & ARB's...?
Anyone with some more knowledge on this able to offer some advice on which to opt for and a rough price guideline?
Appreciated :)
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Lowering springs are about 150 quid... plus fitting.
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(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autorepaired.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F12%2Fwpid-vlcsnap-2011-12-09-09h07m59s991.png&hash=3dc104c89e5bc9e1dc5258c48d320a28f4c06fde)
:surprised: :scared:
:laugh:
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For decent quality ones? Don't want eBay specials lol
Anyone able to recommend a brand? Im running 18" CH's with 35 profile tyres and want a half decent drop :)
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If thast your budget I would avoid coilovers like the plague. Springs are perfect for what you need and allow for a decent damper upgrade in the future if you feel the need.
Maybe attempt to sweet talk vRSAlex from AKS Performance about the H&R Group buy that finished yesterday. That offered 25% discount on H&R springs. http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,55953.0.html (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,55953.0.html)
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My friend had an A3 and put a set of Joms on, it rode surprisingly nice! So if you want to slam it cheaply just for looks id look at a set of them, think they're around £200?
Obviously they won't last long, I had a set on my Bora daily and they lasted 12 months and they was knackered!
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For £300 you should be able to get some Eibach Sportline springs and have plenty of money left for fitting.
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Just buy stuff 2nd hand!!
I paid £300 for some 3 month old AP Coilovers and they're been perfectly fine :happy2:
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Or H&R springs
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.. and this is why you dont buy cheap sh*t JOM coilovers.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281630_117710898397585_1720854330_n.jpg)
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.. and this is why you dont buy cheap sh*t JOM coilovers.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281630_117710898397585_1720854330_n.jpg)
stuff of nightmares :surprised:
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
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Fk highsports can be brought for less than £300
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
X3 :happy2:
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
Over a half decent set of coilies even?
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
X3 :happy2:
X4 :drinking: sweet talk Graeme @ GNJ motorsprt on here
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Depends if you want "lowz" or just to lower it a little bit. Iv got springs and the rear sits too high now so got coilovers in the garage waiting to go on!
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
Over a half decent set of coilies even?
I wouldn't get coilovers unless I could afford decent ones like KW, Koni or Eibach etc
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I don't understand why anyone fits coilovers if they aren't going to track their car. It's not as if you'll want to adjust your offside front settings for that uphill bend on the way to work. :confused:
For road use and/or 'image' I'd just fit high quality (VWR/H&R/Eibach) lowering springs.
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
Over a half decent set of coilies even?
i have Weitec Hicon GTs which have been on my car about 2 years now. they have performed flawlessly. i got them 2nd hand for £400 which i was happy with as they were basically brand new and came with new top mounts
BUT since setting them i've not played with them at all and they are likely to be inferior in terms of handling when compared with B12s. if i knew then what i know now, i'd have B12s and not mid range coils
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I don't understand why anyone fits coilovers if they aren't going to track their car. It's not as if you'll want to adjust your offside front settings for that uphill bend on the way to work. :confused:
For road use and/or 'image' I'd just fit high quality (VWR/H&R/Eibach) lowering springs.
:signLOL: Made me smile!
I've read somewhere that different springs can affect the original shocks?
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I don't understand why anyone fits coilovers if they aren't going to track their car. It's not as if you'll want to adjust your offside front settings for that uphill bend on the way to work. :confused:
For road use and/or 'image' I'd just fit high quality (VWR/H&R/Eibach) lowering springs.
:signLOL: Made me smile!
I've read somewhere that different springs can affect the original shocks?
....I've heard the same. So not a wise choice in the longer term.
As for coilovers being only suitable for track, I don't agree. Your car reacts the same to the road and how it's being driven and it doesn't know if you are on a road or a track. My KW-V3's were setup by VWR for fast road use and occasional trackdays and I have never needed to alter their setup. There are plenty of fast twisty roads in my neck of the woods which are either tighter or more frequent than on a lap of most circuits.
However, if someone only wants the lowered look rather than a setup for handling, then coilovers are probably overkill.
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I have never needed to alter their setup
Hence the pointlessness of having adjustable coilovers on your car.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but coilovers are designed so that the suspension setup can be tweaked according to the specific demands of a particular racetrack.
There is no harm in fitting them to a roadgoing car, other than it is a complete waste of money. Quality dampers & springs is all that's needed.
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Fk highsports can be brought for less than £300
Buy nice or pay twice. The GTI is a great handling hatch. Fitting pump coilovers like JOMs or FK is fine on something that is crap as standard, but it just begs belief that people would do it on a GTI which is essentially a high end hot hatch.
I don't understand why anyone fits coilovers if they aren't going to track their car. It's not as if you'll want to adjust your offside front settings for that uphill bend on the way to work. :confused:
For road use and/or 'image' I'd just fit high quality (VWR/H&R/Eibach) lowering springs.
I say this to many people. Too many guys ask about lowering their cars and the first response is always stick coilovers on!!!! Coilovers ruin the daily ride.
I partake in trackdays but after my experience of coilovers on my own cars and in others i still prefer my current non coilover setup. Its so much more usable on the road where it lives 99% of its life.
TFSI_Mikes Cupra is an example of this. His car is immense and on a smooth circuit id bet its unbelievably good and not much would stick with it at all, but on the road its horrific. I think even he is considering moving away from his KWs to the ASTs which seem to handle the road/track better
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I have never needed to alter their setup
Hence the pointlessness of having adjustable coilovers on your car.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but coilovers are designed so that the suspension setup can be tweaked according to the specific demands of a particular racetrack.
There is no harm in fitting them to a roadgoing car, other than it is a complete waste of money. Quality dampers & springs is all that's needed.
....I'm afraid that you are wrong. Yes, coilovers can be tweaked according to a particular circuit for a trackday. But the fact that they have the adjustability, which fixed dampers and springs don't have, allows good coilovers to be properly setup for fast road use - That's how I have mine and personally I find them suitable for my trackdays without adjustment. If I was racing on a track then adjusting them would be worthwhile. I don't do lap times, I just enjoy fast driving whenever safe circumstances allow whether road or track.
Bilstein are easier to adjust than KW.
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I say this to many people. Too many guys ask about lowering their cars and the first response is always stick coilovers on!!!! Coilovers ruin the daily ride.
I partake in trackdays but after my experience of coilovers on my own cars and in others i still prefer my current non coilover setup. Its so much more usable on the road where it lives 99% of its life.
TFSI_Mikes Cupra is an example of this. His car is immense and on a smooth circuit id bet its unbelievably good and not much would stick with it at all, but on the road its horrific. I think even he is considering moving away from his KWs to the ASTs which seem to handle the road/track better
....I don't know why, perhaps it's VWR's great setup of my KW-V3's, but my ride on the road is great - Hard but never harsh and no discomfort whatsoever. Most folks who have either driven or ridden in my car (unless they have a back injury or similar) all say it's a comfortable ride and I've done hundreds of miles in single journeys without feeling any after effects.
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I have never needed to alter their setup
Hence the pointlessness of having adjustable coilovers on your car.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but coilovers are designed so that the suspension setup can be tweaked according to the specific demands of a particular racetrack.
There is no harm in fitting them to a roadgoing car, other than it is a complete waste of money. Quality dampers & springs is all that's needed.
....I'm afraid that you are wrong. Yes, coilovers can be tweaked according to a particular circuit for a trackday. But the fact that they have the adjustability, which fixed dampers and springs don't have, allows good coilovers to be properly setup for fast road use - That's how I have mine and personally I find them suitable for my trackdays without adjustment. If I was racing on a track then adjusting them would be worthwhile. I don't do lap times, I just enjoy fast driving whenever safe circumstances allow whether road or track.
But you have had yours adjusted for the best all round road/track settings which is essentially what a KW V1 would be set at. So having a set of KW V3s that dont get adjusted begs the question that wouldnt you have been better off with the KW V1 instead?
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But you have had yours adjusted for the best all round road/track settings which is essentially what a KW V1 would be set at. So having a set of KW V3s that dont get adjusted begs the question that wouldnt you have been better off with the KW V1 instead?
....Quite possibly KW-V1 would have done, but I had the opportunity for a good deal from VWR and at least with the V3's I always have the option. Without VWR I probably would have bought Bilstein.
I don't alter mine because it works well for me all round so I don't feel the need to 'mend' it.
Bottom line is that well proven brands of coilovers are the wiser choice if you feel the need for coilovers at all. :happy2:
As usual, it's a choice between Show or Go but as you, Sy, very wisely advise, don't ruin a good car like the Mk5 GTI. Too many folks think that just by lowering a car they have achieved better handling.
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Buy my h&r springs £100 see for sale section :)
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So bilstein b12 would suffice?
Don't need different shocks or anything?
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This has turned into a healthy debate I've had coilovers (good ones) and never once felt the need to adjust them so given the fact I can't afford them again I'm opting for springs... Don't have the dollar for a b12 kit... Advice on good spring set ups? :)
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This has turned into a healthy debate I've had coilovers (good ones) and never once felt the need to adjust them so given the fact I can't afford them again I'm opting for springs... Don't have the dollar for a b12 kit... Advice on good spring set ups? :)
You can make the B12 kit out of separate parts.
Get some H&R or eibach lowering srpings. Then when you have some more money saved up add the Bilstein B8 dampers and you then have a Bilstein B12 suspension kit.
So bilstein b12 would suffice?
Don't need different shocks or anything?
Bilstein B12 is just a suspension kit which incorporates both lowering springs and uprated B8 dampers.
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This has turned into a healthy debate I've had coilovers (good ones) and never once felt the need to adjust them so given the fact I can't afford them again I'm opting for springs... Don't have the dollar for a b12 kit... Advice on good spring set ups? :)
You can make the B12 kit out of separate parts.
Get some H&R or eibach lowering srpings. Then when you have some more money saved up add the Bilstein B8 dampers and you then have a Bilstein B12 suspension kit.
So bilstein b12 would suffice?
Don't need different shocks or anything?
Bilstein B12 is a suspension kit whcih incorporates lowering springs and uprated B8 dampers.
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Sounds like a plan to me! Any difference in the H&R/Eibach springs at all?
Out of curiosity how much are the dampners? Cheers all!
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Sounds like a plan to me! Any difference in the H&R/Eibach springs at all?
Out of curiosity how much are the dampners? Cheers all!
Spring wise probably not much that would be notable. You'll no doubt be happy with either option. Daniel GTI has his H&Rs for sale at £100. Thats a bargain. B8 Dampers are about £450 ish iirc
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Im going to have my springs up for sale in a few months aswell, H&Rs :happy2:
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Sounds like a plan to me! Any difference in the H&R/Eibach springs at all?
Out of curiosity how much are the dampners? Cheers all!
Spring wise probably not much that would be notable. You'll no doubt be happy with either option. Daniel GTI has his H&Rs for sale at £100. Thats a bargain. B8 Dampers are about £450 ish iirc
I've changed my user name on here so I'm not Daniel gti anymore just thought I would tell you just incase you tried to find me :)
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Fk highsports can be brought for less than £300
Buy nice or pay twice. The GTI is a great handling hatch. Fitting pump coilovers like JOMs or FK is fine on something that is crap as standard, but it just begs belief that people would do it on a GTI which is essentially a high end hot hatch.
I don't understand why anyone fits coilovers if they aren't going to track their car. It's not as if you'll want to adjust your offside front settings for that uphill bend on the way to work. :confused:
For road use and/or 'image' I'd just fit high quality (VWR/H&R/Eibach) lowering springs.
I say this to many people. Too many guys ask about lowering their cars and the first response is always stick coilovers on!!!! Coilovers ruin the daily ride.
I partake in trackdays but after my experience of coilovers on my own cars and in others i still prefer my current non coilover setup. Its so much more usable on the road where it lives 99% of its life.
TFSI_Mikes Cupra is an example of this. His car is immense and on a smooth circuit id bet its unbelievably good and not much would stick with it at all, but on the road its horrific. I think even he is considering moving away from his KWs to the ASTs which seem to handle the road/track better
i disagree with this. you're welcome to a ride in my car, and i think you'll probably agree. my ride is stiff, but it's more comfortable than the OEM S-Line suspension i had
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I've had a bit of experience with both and I'm currently running eibach sportline springs on stock dampers on my GTI.
Obviously every chassis is different, I had a VW Polo 9n3 on eBay special coilovers, then KWv1 coilovers and then finally on eibach sportlines with stock dampers. The polo was best on eibach sportlines in terms of comfort and driving feel in my opinion (but the KW's werent far off).
I went again with eibach sportlines on my GTI and have found them great for fast road driving on my 18" monzas.
However a friend has a mk6 GTD on 19's and FK coilovers. This is noticeably more comfortable than my car around town and is far lower than mine with lower profile rubber.
I'm probably going to buy an Ed30 or mk6 GTI at some point later this year and will definitely consider a mid range coilover or the b12 kit. Only thing putting my off springs and shocks again is that my sportlines at the moment seem to lower the car fractionally more at the back. If I had coilovers obviously I could tweak this - it annoys me at the moment each time I look at it side on!
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Sounds like a plan to me! Any difference in the H&R/Eibach springs at all?
Out of curiosity how much are the dampners? Cheers all!
Spring wise probably not much that would be notable. You'll no doubt be happy with either option. Daniel GTI has his H&Rs for sale at £100. Thats a bargain. B8 Dampers are about £450 ish iirc
I've changed my user name on here so I'm not Daniel gti anymore just thought I would tell you just incase you tried to find me :)
PM'd :)
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From a labour costs perspective, it will be considerably cheaper to save up and get the dampers, anti-lift kit and springs done at the same time. As someone else has said, you'll only need to pay for 1 alignment. This is what I'm doing, and getting the brake upgrade done at the same time. Also only one visit to the garage.
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Very true indeed, bloody nightmare putting the car in the garage at the best of times.
I bought my brake upgrades today funnily enough! gotta get them on this weekend the joys....! This is why I want to lower it so badly as I need my new alloys for clearance and i'm nooo way putting them on without lowering the car!
this month = 4 new rubber bands, new brakes all round, powder coating, shocks and tax is to come.... The joys of motoring!!!
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How about a couple of bags of coal in the boot :signLOL:
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
X3 :happy2:
X4 :drinking: sweet talk Graeme @ GNJ motorsprt on here
You make me sound easy :signLOL:
My opinion on suspension is....
If you want a nice ride with a drop suitable for everyday driving with a big improvement in handling and are not massively fussy about the ride height then get a full fixed height suspension set up (Bilstein B12, H&R Cup, Weitec)
If you want to lower the car but not spend a great deal of cash in the process then get a spring kit (Eibach Sportline, H&R, Weitec, AP)
If you want to lower the car a lot then get some mid range coilovers (V Maxx, FK)
If you are fussy about a gap in the arch, want a decent ride for everyday and drive in a more spirited fashion more often then get a good coilover kit (AP, KW V1 Inox, Weitec Hicon GT, Bilstein B14, H&R Monotube)
If you are all the above and do the odd trackday then get a coilover kit with adjustable damping (KW V2 Inox Line, Weitec Hicon TX)
If you are a full on petrol head who spends many a weekend chucking your GTI round a track and going on driving weekends to deserted stretches of road then get a top end coilover kit (Bilstein B16, KW V3 Inox Line, KW Clubsport)
Not everyone will agree with me but the world would be a boring place if we all thought the same. I never advise people they need the latter unless I think it is necessary.
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Or keep the money in the bank, and save another 300 and then go for a Bilstein B12 Sportline kit which includes Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs.
this is what i'd do
X3 :happy2:
X4 :drinking: sweet talk Graeme @ GNJ motorsprt on here
You make me sound easy :signLOL:
My opinion on suspension is....
If you want a nice ride with a drop suitable for everyday driving with a big improvement in handling and are not massively fussy about the ride height then get a full fixed height suspension set up (Bilstein B12, H&R Cup, Weitec)
If you want to lower the car but not spend a great deal of cash in the process then get a spring kit (Eibach Sportline, H&R, Weitec, AP)
If you want to lower the car a lot then get some mid range coilovers (V Maxx, FK)
If you are fussy about a gap in the arch, want a decent ride for everyday and drive in a more spirited fashion more often then get a good coilover kit (AP, KW V1 Inox, Weitec Hicon GT, Bilstein B14, H&R Monotube)
If you are all the above and do the odd trackday then get a coilover kit with adjustable damping (KW V2 Inox Line, Weitec Hicon TX)
If you are a full on petrol head who spends many a weekend chucking your GTI round a track and going on driving weekends to deserted stretches of road then get a top end coilover kit (Bilstein B16, KW V3 Inox Line, KW Clubsport)
Not everyone will agree with me but the world would be a boring place if we all thought the same. I never advise people they need the latter unless I think it is necessary.
I think that covers almost every angle :) :happy2:
Think I am going to opt for the springs and work towards a B12... my next question is how low will this be on a GT sport with 18's? anyone running this set up able to post a pic at all? :)
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If you get the sportline it will sit the same as my GTI does on 18's.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fm534%2FGNJ_Motorsport%2F20121110_160816.jpg&hash=6e0b2b4d5f2fdbb101c712cfc9cb84ce614ad6e6)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fm534%2FGNJ_Motorsport%2F20121110_160736.jpg&hash=87a39d0b43c618f7345e3ae74c4c6b99eb78d6ae)
Excuse the crap pics
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Cheers chap, is it a nice ride? Don't want it to look like im sat on a scaffolding plank bouncing around in the cock pit lol :)
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Cheers chap, is it a nice ride? Don't want it to look like im sat on a scaffolding plank bouncing around in the cock pit lol :)
Yes it is, it had the sportlines on when I bought it but the ride feels OEM to me. That is just on springs.