MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 05:04:28 pm

Title: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 05:04:28 pm
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated :smiley:

Im set on going for the VWR lowering springs when i get around to the suspension mods in the spring.
I have read on here a few times that the springs are made by AP and they can be bought cheaper elsewhere !!

After seeing photo's of cars with the AP springs I have noticed that the front seems to be lower than the rear, but the VWR sport springs appear to give an even drop.

Who has either of these 20mm spring kits fitted?
Any Photo's of them fitted?
How much are the VWR springs, as i cant find the prices on their website?
Are these the lightweight ones?

Thanks in advance :happy2:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: WT007 on January 19, 2012, 05:21:09 pm
I think it's kw that are  vwr but I might be wrong.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 05:44:53 pm
The coilies are KW and it looks like the ARB's are KW also.

I have searched the forum thoroughly and most info points towards them being AP but nothing concrete.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: the bruce on January 19, 2012, 05:56:10 pm
Well, the KW ARBs are made by Eibach (same shape and diameter - just different color).
26 mm + 23 mm. Eibach - red, KW - yellow, VWR - blue.

So I guess KW also gets the springs from Eibach. Fact is KW don't not make springs
on their own.

Aren't the VWR springs similar to the VW Driver Gear (Votex) springs? Both also blue
as well.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 06:06:30 pm
Well, the KW ARBs are made by Eibach (same shape and diameter - just different color).
26 mm + 23 mm. Eibach - red, KW - yellow, VWR - blue.

So I guess KW also gets the springs from Eibach. Fact is KW don't not make springs
on their own.

Aren't the VWR springs similar to the VW Driver Gear (Votex) springs? Both also blue
as well.

I think your right about the VWR springs being Votex. Our Local VW Dealer is advertising VWR springs supplied and fitted for the bargain price of £599 :signLOL:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 06:25:23 pm
My VWR springs arrived in a plain brown box but full of AP paperwork and TUV stuff  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 06:37:00 pm
Do you mind me asking how much VWR are charging for them? And are they the so-called lightweight ones?
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 06:42:17 pm
Mine cost £220 delivered 2 years ago, no idea whether they are lightweight versions or not though, box was bloody heavy though lol
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: gazon69 on January 19, 2012, 06:56:04 pm
Personally i would go for the h&r's, they are specially made for standard shocks and are the dogs. Sit perfect front and back imo.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 07:11:37 pm
I have decided on the VWR ones for a couple o reasons. If I can confirm the AP's are the same i will be going for them  :driver:

Thanks Beddie  :happy2:  I see yours sits nice and level front and back.

Just need some feedback from others to be sure!!
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 07:31:16 pm

Thanks Beddie  :happy2:  I see yours sits nice and level front and back.


No probs mate, was gonna say that i have put some pics up recently having been asked about the springs, guess you found them  :happy2:

Have a word with Pete (rdfcpete) as he has the AP springs sourced separately from VWR and he does think his sits a little higher in the rear than mine..
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 07:43:31 pm
I think it must be Pete's that i have seen pics of with the uneven drop. Im hoping there will be others who have fitted either VWR/AP so this can be cleared up. I know BMX has the VWR springs but his pics have been removed.

If it costs an extra £70 to get an even drop it will be money well spent i think. Even if it is lining the pocket of VWR

Or i could just pay the £599 to have them fitted at the stealers  :signLOL: I wonder if anyone has gone for this generous offer?
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 07:49:53 pm
Here's a pic of BMX's  :smiley:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv84%2Fbeddie%2FP1040948.jpg&hash=24b702084502d9c1a01aeec3eaedf381a396612d)
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 07:55:12 pm
VWR even drop  . . 2
AP even drop . . . . 0
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 07:59:26 pm
It's a pity i didnt have the foresight to make a note of the AP spring codes that were visible when they were all shiny and new, mine are defo 100% AP but wondering whether VWR somehow spec a different rear spring?
Thing is i can't imagine that rear axle loadings differ greatly throughout the range like front weights do?
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Russ_leeds on January 19, 2012, 08:13:42 pm
Can anyone tell me how long it takes for a set of springs to bed in properly? reason i ask is that i had some h&r's fitted at the end of december, but my front is still sitting slightly higher than the rear but i was told that they would bed in and drop a bit more.
Cheers
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 08:19:01 pm
Mine seemed to settle to the height they are at now after about 2 weeks  :happy2:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 08:20:06 pm
It would be nice to know for sure. Its possible VWR have requested for the springs to be matched and tested to higher tolerances than usual.

At the moment Im more confident about getting an even drop with the VWR ones.

Lets see if any more info comes out the woodwork . . . . . .
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Russ_leeds on January 19, 2012, 08:21:17 pm
slightly off topic but did you get the exhaust sorted Jon? I heard the rattle you were on about as you drove up the street
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 08:26:54 pm
Not yet Russ, its stopped rattling by the time i got home  :signLOL:

Has not rattled since.!! Im going to try my luck with getting a new one under warranty, then swap it for the GTI zorst and keek the cupra one for when i sell it. Well thats the plan at the moment anyway
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Russ_leeds on January 19, 2012, 08:43:29 pm
haha sods law mate, if you didnt buy the zorst it would still be rattling :signLOL:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: GNJ_Motorsport on January 19, 2012, 08:53:54 pm
I sold some Eibach Sportlines to a member on here a couple of months back who spoke to a girl at VWR who blatantly told him the VWR springs were re branded Eibach Sportlines......

I'm not sure if this is true as Beddie says his came in an AP box. AP are KW though basically. Whatever they are, they will be re branded versions of something.

I still think the Eibach Sportlines sit perfectly on the GTI though  :signLOL: If I had a GTI and was fitting just springs I'd fit the Sportlines definitely. Eibach are top dogs when it comes to springs.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 19, 2012, 09:03:10 pm
I sold some Eibach Sportlines to a member on here a couple of months back who spoke to a girl at VWR who blatantly told him the VWR springs were re branded Eibach Sportlines......

I'm not sure if this is true as Beddie says his came in an AP box. AP are KW though basically. Whatever they are, they will be re branded versions of something.


Yeah i did notice that KW also do a -20mm drop and as both AP/KW are produced by the same factory it's another possibilty?

And the possibilty of the VWR ones now being Eibach could hold some truth as the red low mileage ed30 that sold on here recently (i forget the member) was apparently running VWR springs and was noticeably lower than mine and more in keeping with the drop that the Sportlines give...

It's over 2 years since i bought mine so maybe they have changed box suppliers?  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 09:16:41 pm
I had the sportlines on my last leon and it sat perfectly. I could not get away with the ride though, even on 17's. It could soak up the bumps no problem, i could even take the speedbumps at 30mph. But it just felt too bouncy.

Early on the sportlines were giving some uneven drops on the Leons too, with the rear being too high which i cant cope with it makes me cringe like fingernails on a chalkboard. This seems to be sorted now though.

I would love a 35mm drop like the sportlines but im going to stick with a 20mm drop for practicality. And the ride quality needs to be OEM as I'm a fussy fecker.

Here's a token pick of the last Leon with Sportlines;

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fww123%2Fjon-tfsi%2FIMGP2978.jpg&hash=c07f9077b988fe4a126d4590dc73249894f92757)

Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: GNJ_Motorsport on January 19, 2012, 09:57:06 pm
I had the sportlines on my last leon and it sat perfectly. I could not get away with the ride though, even on 17's. It could soak up the bumps no problem, i could even take the speedbumps at 30mph. But it just felt too bouncy.

Early on the sportlines were giving some uneven drops on the Leons too, with the rear being too high which i cant cope with it makes me cringe like fingernails on a chalkboard. This seems to be sorted now though.

I would love a 35mm drop like the sportlines but im going to stick with a 20mm drop for practicality. And the ride quality needs to be OEM as I'm a fussy fecker.

Here's a token pick of the last Leon with Sportlines;

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fww123%2Fjon-tfsi%2FIMGP2978.jpg&hash=c07f9077b988fe4a126d4590dc73249894f92757)



Well going off what I was told by the customer I mentioned, you will be buying sportlines with a different name on them and £60 added to the price if you buy VWR springs  :sick:

That Leon looks very nice mate  :happy2:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 19, 2012, 10:06:08 pm
Thanks  :smiley:

I know mate Im not liking the idea of throwing money away on something that could be bough just as easily elsewhere, and for less.

Hence the reason behind this thread. The waters are still muddy though. Hopefully more info to come out . . . .

Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: rdfcpete on January 19, 2012, 10:40:21 pm
I've always said my AP springs (20mm) sit a little high at the rear, which is a bit annoying but overall wish I'd purchased the VWR's from a cosmetic POV. Regards the ride and handling, for £160 the AP's can't really be faulted  :happy2:

Here's mine: (06' plate 3 door GTI)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv394%2Frdfcpete%2FSAM_0550.jpg&hash=7d300f3e648393ee98f707d3bf334bca152fda76)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv394%2Frdfcpete%2FSAM_0140.jpg&hash=60983582b5daa82d1dc60b50ff598252e42f52c4)
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 20, 2012, 08:51:24 am
Thanks Pete  :happy2:

The Handling and ride is the first concern. The AP's reportedly have a v comfortable ride on decent roads.
How it sits is my second concern. I know i can get a great stance with Eibach/HR but the ride is compromised.

Im going to contact VWR to try and extract some info . . . . .
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: monte on January 20, 2012, 09:25:02 am
H&R's compromised ride???  :confused:

I think people who dont 100% love everything about H&R's must be buying the wrong Part number springs.

I have 29176-1 springs and they are the best mod ever!!!
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 20, 2012, 12:21:10 pm
Congratulations on your 1000th post monte  :congrats:

Is the ride quality not compromised what so ever monte? Its important to me that its not as fitting sportlines spoilt my enjoyment of the last motor. All other sportline owners claimed the ride was no worse with them but that didnt turn out to be the case.

The VWR springs are apparently more comfortable than stock on reasonable roads. Obviously all lowering springs need to be stiffer under compression due to their nature.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 20, 2012, 06:33:32 pm

Here's mine: (06' plate 3 door GTI)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fv394%2Frdfcpete%2FSAM_0550.jpg&hash=7d300f3e648393ee98f707d3bf334bca152fda76)


Looks lovely and level in that pic Pete!  :drool: :happy2:

Ride quality on mine is spot on, not as crashy as the stock springs and as they are not too low i've never had any problem with clearance etc  :smiley:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 20, 2012, 07:56:31 pm
^^^ Agreed. Pete's car looks spot on in the pic above  :congrats:

Nobody available at VWR today, so I rang KPM who can supply VWR equipment . . .  .

Graeme's customer was right, they are deffo made by Eibach. They are made to VWR,s spec so it appears they can't be bought elsewhere at the moment.

On the plus side they had some used ones on the shelf that i bought for a bargain price  :drinking: Happy Days !!
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Beddie on January 20, 2012, 08:29:51 pm
Was messing around with the jet washer cleaning the arches on the car earlier today and had a nosey at my springs, could just make out a partial number on one of them which looked like a '115', quick google and a bit of lateral thinking found these as 'FS80-115'..

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/ap-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-5-gt-14t-si-gti-20t-fsi-gt-20tdi-1204-p-5952.html

Another bit of googling found a few references to our very own SteveP having had the KW 20mm version of the VWR springs on his MK6, so possibly these?

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/kw-20mm-lowering-suspension-springsbr-golf-5-gt-14t-si-gti-20t-fsi-gt-20tdi-1004-p-764.html

Few references to the KWs having been discontinued so hence the switch to Eibach? VW driver gear springs available from the dealer are also Eibach, coincidence?
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 20, 2012, 08:45:27 pm
Yes i found a few refences to SteveP'smk6 having the KW version of the VWR springs.

So it looks like they have gone from AP to KW to Eibach?

I found a bit about the driver gear springs on the american forum's.
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: the bruce on January 20, 2012, 09:13:30 pm
VW Driver Gear springs:

See the Eibach-Logo on them:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golf5gti.com%2Fupload%2Favatars%2Futool_f_1327093942_3041.jpg&hash=b7c10fe377ffd4aa2c8004251aeb8be8a2606dc7)
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: Upperoilcan on January 21, 2012, 07:28:09 am
Well, the KW ARBs are made by Eibach (same shape and diameter - just different color).
26 mm + 23 mm. Eibach - red, KW - yellow, VWR - blue.

So I guess KW also gets the springs from Eibach. Fact is KW don't not make springs
on their own.

Aren't the VWR springs similar to the VW Driver Gear (Votex) springs? Both also blue
as well.

LMAO...My local stealers have just given me a price to fit springs.......A whopping £670:00 as im a loyal customer.... :signLOL:

And that wasnt even them providing the springs !!!!!!! 

I think your right about the VWR springs being Votex. Our Local VW Dealer is advertising VWR springs supplied and fitted for the bargain price of £599 :signLOL:
Title: Re: Calling all VWR/AP 20mm Lowering spring owners
Post by: jon-tfsi on January 21, 2012, 10:27:51 am
A closer picture of the Driver Gear springs for a Manual GTI. The part numbers are visible. Hopefully soon it can be confirmed if they are the same as the VWR springs.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fww123%2Fjon-tfsi%2F5333383061_921f42ed53_b1.jpg&hash=f32a4bf3a13b63ef15b6f2f4671aa493766d0b51)