COILOVER GUIDE ON P3 - GOOD READ

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:07 am

Been looking at coilovers, looking to buy end of month(payday)

so far its a choice of these 3;

1)FK HIGHSPORT(Â£370)
2) FK KONIGSPORT(Â£515)
3) EIBACH PRO STREET(Â£610)

Have heard a few mention Weitech, Bilstein and KW v1 but dont know much about these

and also the FK Silverline series

What are you experiences with any of the above

Taking into consideration I use my car on a daily basis to and from work(10-20miles a day) and the occassional trip on the motorway, which would be a suitable and non-regretable buy

I will be on 16' rims

Coilovers are something I will only purchase once, so its important that I get it right the first time around so all input kindly welcome

Cheers

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:32 pm

Come on I know most of you guys are on coilovers. Help me decide which to get.
What is the reason that the FK Highsports are so popular? is it because they are cheap (compared to the others)??? Or is there more to it?

Eibach offer the best comfort??

V800DUB · Post by **V800DUB** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:42 pm

I'm on the FK silverlines and the ride is absolutely f*****g brilliant compared to what some people say about other coilovers. Its never crashy, just don't expect it to be super soft the ride is firm but you'll love them! The TUV approved lowering won't get you very far on them though! you need to be taking them down nearly to the bottom at the backs to get decent lowerage, at the front only about a third from the bottom should get you a nice level! Mine are 15 threads up from the bottom at the front and 9 from the bottom at the back and i'd say its lowered about 55mm all round compared to the 50mm i had on springs which were s**t!! However due to the suspension set up on 9N's your not going to get a kit that'll take you much lower then 70mm in my opinion!

TimGti · Post by **TimGti** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:50 pm

I have FK silverline X (the best ones) and I like them. Comfy, adjustable go low etc. I never set them any different than the sofest setting though as the roads are not great where I live.

I used to have a Mk4 golf on KW variant 2's which were excellent (slightly more comfy than the FK's) but were more expensive.

I think you'll find everyone goes for FK's because they're a good balance between mid range price and pretty good performance.

I seem to remember someone saying that Eibachs dont go low enough so be weary of that.

If I had the money I would get KW variant 2's again without question but I know your looking at Â£200 more than the equivalent FK's.

I have no experinece of the non-damping adjustable ones (KW variant 1/FK highsport) so I cant comment on how firm these are set at?

Look at Weitec too, I hear good things about them

Hope this helps a bit!

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:27 pm

My KW V1s are very nice. I'm on 17s and need to avoid the nasty potholes but apart from that they are way way better than lowering springs. Very comfy around town and stiff when you need them to be.

With 16s you also can't go wrong with the V1s.

You will not regret buying a strut brace either, if you haven't got one already.

How much are the KW V1s? They don't have adjustable damping but that's it. Also bear in mind I've got the heavy TDI.

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:16 pm

Thanks for that guys.
Have started to go off the FK Highsport's now and focus my attention to the Silverline series or the Konigsports which have adjustable dampers.

The KW are extremly expensive, something like Â£700 plus. So they are not even an option unless you can tell me of a place where I can get them cheaper.

I dont have a strut brace yet and would consider getting one once I buy the coilovers.

Still struggling to make my mind up & need more opinions and suggestions.

I am not looking for extreme lowerage, just a sensible amount to make the car look good with the votex etc and dont want to sacriface too much ride comfort.

TimGti · Post by **TimGti** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:43 pm

If you dont want to go really low I would consider the fixed rate ones as the adjustables are useful for stiffening the car up to prevent rubbing issues when mega low (if they arise) but other than that I dont really adjust mine much. Guess thats just me though!

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:03 am

TimGti wrote:If you dont want to go really low I would consider the fixed rate ones as the adjustables are useful for stiffening the car up to prevent rubbing issues when mega low (if they arise) but other than that I dont really adjust mine much. Guess thats just me though!

Are the adjustable coilovers useful for any other purpose other than when you are considering going very low? and is it deffinately a feature to have considering its only like another Â£100 or so to pay? is it worth shelling out the extra and going the extra mile or simply not worth it if I am not considering extreme lowering?

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:46 am

You'll find that coilovers are usually a better design than the equivalent shocks and springs. not saying that this is always the case but you will get what you pay for.

out of those 3, I'd go for the Konigsports if you've gone off the highsports.

TimGti · Post by **TimGti** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:33 pm

shakt1 wrote:
TimGti wrote:If you dont want to go really low I would consider the fixed rate ones as the adjustables are useful for stiffening the car up to prevent rubbing issues when mega low (if they arise) but other than that I dont really adjust mine much. Guess thats just me though!
Are the adjustable coilovers useful for any other purpose other than when you are considering going very low? and is it deffinately a feature to have considering its only like another Â£100 or so to pay? is it worth shelling out the extra and going the extra mile or simply not worth it if I am not considering extreme lowering?

Any of the upgrades are going to be slightly stiffer than standard, having adjustables just gives that option of how stiff you want it? Mine on the sofest setting are stiff enough for everyday 'spirited' driving.

I like having the option and its something to play with also, if you can afford it and they're a long term investment get the adjustables... you wont regret it that way!

Just a word of caution though, you can only adjust the rear shocks off the car as you need to get to the top of the shock. So in effect you need to decide where you want them, fit them and then take em off every time you want to adjust them.

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:18 pm

Your right,it does sound like a investment, and if your going to do something you might aswell do it properly or not at all. for the sake of another Â£150 or so might aswell consider coilovers with adjustable dampers. I was tempted by the FK Highsports purely because they seem to be so popular amongst the 9n owners and the price is cheap compared to some of the others.
Considering the silverline series now or possibly the Weitechs.

2 guys I know have the Eibach coilovers and are extremly pleased with the comfort of their ride although the Eibach dont provide as low of a drop as the FK's.

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:52 pm

Anybody else with coilovers? what are your experiences with yours?

poloecosse · Post by **poloecosse** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:22 am

ive got fk highsports, and they are good, so much better ride comfort than springs

shakt1 · Post by **shakt1** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:09 pm

poloecosse wrote:ive got fk highsports, and they are good, so much better ride comfort than springs

Your picture looks good and you look low enough. How low are you exactly all around? What made you the Highsports and what factors did you take into consideration when deciding?

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:25 pm

I don't think adjustable dampers are worth the extra, IMO.