MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Performance Modifications => Topic started by: wattso on February 26, 2013, 10:55:36 am
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Hi All,
I've been reading so much lately about different coilovers my head is spinning!
Basically coming from a clio 182 to the golf gti one of the things I've enjoyed the most is the comfort and refinement on offer.
I want the car lower for cosmetic reasons mainly, I don't do track days ( although would really love to this year ) and aside from the motorway there's not much in the way of 'fast road driving'
I was originally looking at the bilstein b12 setup as I assumed I'll be able to keep lots of comfort and go lower at the same time. However reading around I'm not sure if I'll be able to achieve the same thing with coil overs, problem is it's such a subjective topic I guess and one mans 'comfortable but firm' is another mans spine breaker!!
From reading around on edition 38 most people say the fk highsports can give lows but the AP's are a good balance with comfort.
Basically what I want is to lose a bit of the arch gap and retain as much comfort as possible... has anyone achieved this?
On an extreme, there's a set of H&R ultralows for sale locally, I realise these are overkill for my needs but the price is ok and the guy selling them says they're comfortable, but again, not sure weather to believe him :P Plus for 200 less than the asking price I could get some brand new APs.
Perhaps H&R springs will do the job just fine?
Confused :scared: Anyone got any input would be great.
Thanks
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In your case id go for the bilstein B12 spring/damper kit. Best combo of ride/handling IMO :happy2:
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I have the AP's. They go low enough for me and give a comfortable ride. I think they actually ride a bit better than the standrd suspension as is less crashy.
Here is a picture of mine
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fab116%2Fbendy725%2Fsummer2012074_zpsd0dacdde.jpg&hash=b2c7680176904aa028f942fe7392d16fe7214255)
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B12 will be a good solution, or opt for the Bilstein B16 PSS10 best roadgoing suspension on the market :happy2:
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Weitecs are also very good. Every time i came off a speed bump the car was comfy, unlike my previous coilovers such as Raceland and FK. Harsh as foook they were!
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Thanks for all the input guys.
Bendy, I really like your car looks ace, and is plenty low enough for what I'd want. Encouraging to hear that you consider the comfort similar to stock!
Heavily leaning towards these second hand H&R ultralows, I won't be going 'ultra low' on them at all but I've heard they're well made and the price would only be a bit more than the APs ..... HRMMM
Hope they're comfortable and improve performance rather than just being for super duper lowness...
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KW V1's, I really think they ride better than standard!
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Iv got KW V1s waiting to go on
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H&R's UltraLows, are very comfortable and great quality and if you wanna go lower then H&R UltraLow Stilstatic specials
Thats what il be upgrading to soon. Little bit dear than entry level but theres no price on quailty
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For ride comfort I'd rate the weitec hicon gt coilovers i had on my old car over the bilstein b16's I have on the new one.
Btw weitec hicon gt has same spring and damping rates as kw v1 and they're made by the same company - only difference is the kw is stainless where the weitec is galvanised (and therefore cheaper).
:happy2:
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Another vote for the KW v1 or weitec gt (exactly the same and made by kw) the ride is great in my opinion it's better than standard as it seems less crashy I'm all the way down as well.
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I've been in a Golf with Weitecs and it amazed me. It was a good 20mm lower than mine but more comfortable. KW make some suspenders called Street Comfort which are like a softer V2 I'm led to believe.
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Koni coilovers get my vote when people get in my car they don't realise it's on coilovers and the backs are all the way down :jumping:
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Just fitted AP APX Coilovers, and like the KW v3's I had on my mk5 R32, they make the suspension firmer yes, but ALOT plusher and not as crashy as standard...
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In your case id go for the bilstein B12 spring/damper kit. Best combo of ride/handling IMO :happy2:
agree :happy2:
Preferably the B12 Pro Mk.VI version (softer).
Definitely better ride comfort than ANY coilover !!
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I have KW V2's on what i would call an intermediate setting with 18" 45 and 40 profile tyres.
Your welcome to visit me for a ride to see if you like them, the roads round here are awful at best so you will get a decent review at least.
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Hi All,
Thanks for all the advice, opinions and to Red for offering a ride.
I was really nervous about ruining my precious ride comfort with coilies but this thread convinced me to take the plunge!
I went for a second hand set of the H&R ultralows (although I'm not 100% sure they are the ultra low version or the normal ones due to a discrepancy in the advert...) Either way I'm happy for the price I paid ( £400 )
I've had them fitted and I'm amazed at the ride, I would definitely say the comfort is an unnoticeable difference to stock. And the looks!!! :drool: It looks awesome lowered.
I've not really had chance to test the increased handling capabilities yet, and in truth I'm a little fearful to on account of rubbing during turns if the road surface isn't perfect. Obviously I could bring the car up a bit but I wouldn't say it's ridiculously low. Is it just part and parcel of coilover ownership, will it wear the required bits in the first 100 miles and then not do it again? Or shall I just bring it up?
Also speedbumps are no longer my friend ( not that they ever were! ) I scrape my miltek back box on every speedbump that isn't approached at crawling speed, but the miltek back box does hang very low anyways.
Pics to follow :D
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Sounds like you got a decent brand and set for a good price in truth.
I was just going to mention (before I'd noticed you'd bought some) I run AP coilovers (on my A3 Black Edition) which I think are one of the most durable and practical coilovers you can get for around town. Over speedbumps (I hit around 40 of them a day :fighting: :fighting:) they're no harder or more uncomfortable than the standard springs I had for most stuff, pot holes and bad roads included.
I think your H&R's should be fine though. If I was more track focused, I'd have got some of those too I'm sure :happy2:
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I was just going to mention (before I'd noticed you'd bought some) I run AP coilovers (on my A3 Black Edition) which I think are one of the most durable and practical coilovers you can get for around town. Over speedbumps (I hit around 40 of them a day :fighting: :fighting:) they're no harder or more uncomfortable than the standard springs I had for most stuff, pot holes and bad roads included.
I had APs on my Octavia. loved them in Germany on high quality roads. When i moved back to the UK in Medway i reverted to stock suspension because they were simply terrible on rough roads.
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Blimey Sy, they must be bad roads. They'll do well to par or better around here for sh*t quality but the AP's don't feel bad at all even over the worst of crumbled and cracked speedbumps that you can't straddle :fighting: You could drive over one at 30mph though and through two pretty deep potholes after and it's no more back breaking than on the S-Line OEM springs in truth. I did do some comparisons :evilgrin:
Medway - that's Kent I assume?
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Good to hear you're happy.
I've just swapped my bilsteins for H&R and i'm very happy with the ride.
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KW Clubsports.....supremely comfortable and superb for track....the best out there IMO.
Will be going for these again soon with my new purchase!!
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Funny no-one said anything about JOMs..
Had them for 14 months and perfectly comfortable, disabled mother loved them and the guy who bought my car said "it's way more comfortable than i thought actually it rides really well!"
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KW actually make AP's and Weitec just cheaper brands to compete in the market. If you want to keep it as it is but drop low you need KW v3 as you can goe really soft but get your cheque book out :signLOL: