What's wrong here??

[em2evol]

Hey guys

So I finally got my car lowered yesterday - bought Eibach Sportlines as I loved the fact that they look so subtle... however, mine do not. I feel like I've inadvertently turned my pride and joy into a chav-mobile.

Why has this happened?!

My car standard:



What I was aiming for (the beautiful beast belonging to MIJ_JAGGER):



What I got:



I am clueless (hence why it's taken me this long to do anything major to my car) and now this happens! How come? I've never seen Eibach Sportlines so low 

In case it might make any difference, my nsf damper was found to be not fully fitted into the hub, causing a difference of 1.5 inches between the left and right (which can only have happened 5+ years ago when I had a crappy company change the front suspension arm coz it was bent) and this had caused the nsr spring to snap which I hadn't even noticed!  I know, I feel sorry for my car too 

[v4rley]

Imho I would say the two lowered photos look the same although the photo angle and all black (car/arches/tyres) doesn't help with judgement from a photo.

Bit shocking about the spring 

[rich83]

Measure from the floor to the arch, when the car is on level ground.

[fab5freddy]

I agree with the above, they look the same to me.

I remember feeling the same way many moons ago when i first lowered my car, i thought i'd ruined it. Give yourself a few days and you'll soon realise all is good 

[dronners]

no two cars will ever lower exactly the same height.  a car with newer shocks might not go down as low as a car with older worn shocks for example. or even other way round. it is sort of a lottery of what you get with lowering springs and your specific circumstances

[MartinGTI]

I think it looks great. Give it a few days to get used to it...

[AJP]

What's up with that? Looks a good drop to me.

[MIJ_JAGGER]

I'll measure mine when I can  from floor to arch and you can compare if you want?
I really think they look fine. As mentioned, give them a while

[DKREYZ_GTI]

Looks good from where I'm sitting 

[leebes]

Like others have said, looks good to me.

What was the drop of the springs? e.g I'm running H&R 35mm drop, so as a guide, standard springs between tyre and wheelarch was a fist hieght, with H&R's its now 2 fingers! Not an exact measuring guide, but gives an idea

[pudding]

Looks a bit low for my tastes but if you're happy with how it drives, I wouldn't worry about it!

Rear springs snapping on these cars is very common.  Both of mine went and I didn't notice!

Not fitting the front damper into the bearing housing fully isn't great though, and dangerous!  Not sure how they even managed that.  Probably didn't have the correct spreader tool and just whacked the strut in as far as they could get it.  Bodgers!

Is the Sportline a generic spring for the entire MK5 range, or are they GTI specific?

[addictivev8]

I agree they look fine. TBH i don't think a non enthusiast would even notice it's been lowered.

My H&R's which I believe to be 35mm are somehow even lower then yours I believe. Every car seems to vary even when running the same springs etc. I suppose this could be down to the age of the shocks etc.

[em2evol]

Thanks guys for your replies - I guess I should leave it a while and see how I feel once I'm used to it. Looks ok sometimes, too low others! We'll see. Drives great though

Glad I'm not the only one Pudding  The Sportlines fit all the mk5s I believe.

leebes, 25mm drop supposedly... 

Next week: wheel refurb... finally!! 

[AJP]

Thanks guys for your replies - I guess I should leave it a while and see how I feel once I'm used to it. Looks ok sometimes, too low others! We'll see. Drives great though

Glad I'm not the only one Pudding  The Sportlines fit all the mk5s I believe.

leebes, 25mm drop supposedly... 

Next week: wheel refurb... finally!! 

Have you measured floor to arch like Rich suggested? It'd be worthwhile. If it's miles out we'll be able to tell you and you can investigate why. I wouldn't mind knowing anyway, just to compare with my H&R springs.

Does look good though.

[em2evol]

Thanks guys for your replies - I guess I should leave it a while and see how I feel once I'm used to it. Looks ok sometimes, too low others! We'll see. Drives great though

Glad I'm not the only one Pudding  The Sportlines fit all the mk5s I believe.

leebes, 25mm drop supposedly... 

Next week: wheel refurb... finally!! 

Have you measured floor to arch like Rich suggested? It'd be worthwhile. If it's miles out we'll be able to tell you and you can investigate why. I wouldn't mind knowing anyway, just to compare with my H&R springs.

Does look good though.

Just been out - fronts are bang on 2ft, rear 1inch higher.