Coilovers for the 8V

sounds very promising Steph , thanks for that. was there any extra feel through the steering wheel ?
 
I certainly 'perceived' more feel, but I'm not sure if it's actually possible to feel more with the electric steering? It could just be that I'm starting to trust that it'll actually go where I put it, and that I'm therefor starting to trust the limited level of steering feel that's there?

Either way, how I feel when driving it through the twisty bits is much better, more relaxed, certain and engaged. I really enjoyed hooning about in it all afternoon, was thinking I'd never get to say that :yes::yes::yes:
 
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More details more details ! :rockwoot:
Nice to hear that the first impression is positive and that the coilovers revived the fun in the car for you .

Got myself a nice offer for the B16 as well. I'm really really really tempted to buy them.
 
That's true Steph re electric steering I suppose. The only way I've found to enjoy twisty bits is to use efficiency mode where the steerng is slightly more natural. I've got a manual box so it's not too bad in that mode , get to use some much higher revs cos less boost.
 
Encouraging news re the ride improvement :)

(You could actually be feeling more, if now, the suspension is actually doing one of its jobs and keeping the wheels/tyres in contact with the road more of the time :p )
 
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Steph, got to drive mine installed (B14) and took her out for a drive for the first time today, and I can honestly say your spot on. The car handles like its on rails.
I have no problem keeping my food down tho, and honestly I feel like it will get me into some trouble. It inspires so much confidence now, i need to be careful not to end up in a ditch lol.
The handling is fricking fantastic. The damping is superb. The car responses are solid and predicatable. Feedback is actually there, you can feel exactly how, where and when the car shifts its weight in a corner. Its all very controlled now and well balanced. The haldex system just grips and goes, I'm in total awe and constantly have a grin on my face. Bilstein truly make a great product. Its still my first day but and this may be premature, but I'm totally stoked with the coils.
 
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So, why isn't it like this out of the factory :p


Grrrrrrr.
 
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Steph, what damping setting are you on right now?
 
Steph67 said:
I certainly 'perceived' more feel, but I'm not sure if it's actually possible to feel more with the electric steering? It could just be that I'm starting to trust that it'll actually go where I put it, and that I'm therefor starting to trust the limited level of steering feel that's there?

Either way, how I feel when driving it through the twisty bits is much better, more relaxed, certain and engaged. I really enjoyed hooning about in it all afternoon, was thinking I'd never get to say that :yes::yes::yes:
Click to expand...

Electric steering, esp at low speeds is still disappointingly light and very "disconnected".
Hadnt driven the car in a while, and as soon as i got back in after the coilover install i was instantly let down by the steering feel... Then i stepped on it into a corner. Smiles for days
 
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ndk83 said:
Steph, what damping setting are you on right now?
Click to expand...

Spent most of the day shifting between 4, 5 & 6. I reckon anything higher than 6 would be a bit much for everyday use on UK roads, but on a decent stretch of tarmac you could probably go up a couple of settings.

I'm going to try a couple of days with the fronts one setting higher than the rears to see how that works. Will try 5 & 4 and 6 & 5 and then decide on a final setting and stick with it.

Still undecided on final ride height, but reckon I'll likely to stick at 15mm lower than stock. I think that going all the way down would look great, but too low could mess with the handling, which would kind of defeat the purpose. Now thinking it'll be an absolute hoot finding the best combination. :racer:

I do think that you'll be proved right about adjustability though. The best road set up is going to be around the middle settings, and assuming that the 14s are mid range equivalent, they'll likely be spot on for road use. That said, I'm so far not regretting going for 16s. :positive:

How low did you go?
 
Gorillajebus said:
More details more details ! :rockwoot:
Nice to hear that the first impression is positive and that the coilovers revived the fun in the car for you .

Got myself a nice offer for the B16 as well. I'm really really really tempted to buy them.
Click to expand...

I'll put some miles on over the weekend, and post more detailed thoughts next week once I've decided on final set up. Got a good feeling though... :smile new:
 
Steph67 said:
Spent most of the day shifting between 4, 5 & 6. I reckon anything higher than 6 would be a bit much for everyday use on UK roads, but on a decent stretch of tarmac you could probably go up a couple of settings.

I'm going to try a couple of days with the fronts one setting higher than the rears to see how that works. Will try 5 & 4 and 6 & 5 and then decide on a final setting and stick with it.

Still undecided on final ride height, but reckon I'll likely to stick at 15mm lower than stock. I think that going all the way down would look great, but too low could mess with the handling, which would kind of defeat the purpose. Now thinking it'll be an absolute hoot finding the best combination. :racer:

I do think that you'll be proved right about adjustability though. The best road set up is going to be around the middle settings, and assuming that the 14s are mid range equivalent, they'll likely be spot on for road use. That said, I'm so far not regretting going for 16s. :positive:

How low did you go?
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Im very interested in what you decide on as ur final settings. Yea, i dont regret not getting 16s only cause of the price. I got a ridiculously good deal on the 14s, way too good to pass up. Otherwise the 16s would be the the way to go. Im already jealous that your tailoring the damping to your liking.
I've pretty much lowered it around 15mm as well, and i think its probably the best balance between looks and performance. I'd let the springs settle a bit before proceeding to lower it further.
 
@Steph67,
Looking forward to your feedback. I would have thought the rear one setting higher than the fronts will act to dial out some turn in understeer but may end up making the rear too choppy.
Any plans for stiffer ARBs?
 
naughts4187 said:
So blooming excited about this news! Looking forward to seeing the pics @Steph67
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Sneaked away from work early to fanny about with the settings.

Have now gone back down to around the height I was at on the H&Rs, the place that did the fitting left it waaaaayy to high. That aside, Star in Kirkaldy were brilliant, slick outfit, quick turn around, decent cost, very performance car focussed, and I'd highly recommend them.

Playing with the height is a bit of a ball ache, and took a good couple of hours, although I reckon I'll be a lot quicker next time. Front is pretty simple, back right was tiresome and back left was an absolute b*stard. It's the lack of space for the spanner to the rear of the back strut that causes the problem, so the nightmare side will be reversed if you're going higher.

If you're only adjusting the settings, the back is an absolute piece of ****, you can just lie down and reach your hand in. Front is a bit trickier.

Current setting is 4 up front, 6 at the back, will try 5 & 6 from tomorrow.

Will get some photos next time I've got the wheels off, or I'll take some when it's up on the ramp getting a new exhaust on Wednesday.

Still all good, so far all the various setting combinations I've tried have much better than stock. I'm sooooo much happier with the way to behaves now. :cheerful:

Ride quality isn't too bad, but I guess that's pretty subjective, and depends what you're used to.

Will feed back again after a few days, when I'm closer to settling on a final setting. :dizzy:
 
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mroberte said:
Got my B16 Ride Controls in the mail today! Looking forward to the install!
Click to expand...

Really interested to hear how you get on with these, the reviews I read about them on various BMs and 911s and a mk 7 Golf were very good, seems the comfort setting is very controlled yet quite compliant, and the sport setting is pretty sharp. When are you having them fitted?
 
nervus said:
@Steph67,
Looking forward to your feedback. I would have thought the rear one setting higher than the fronts will act to dial out some turn in understeer but may end up making the rear too choppy.
Any plans for stiffer ARBs?
Click to expand...

No plans for ARBs, I was never that concerned over body roll, and it certainly corners flatter on just the new dampers.

You gotta stop somewhere.......... :haha:
 
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Looking forward to more reviews from both the B16's and B14's.

I did notice from the Bilstein online catalogue that replacement Bilstein dampers (on their own) are available for the S3 ...... I wonder how much of a difference these on their own will make.....
 
Steph67 said:
Really interested to hear how you get on with these, the reviews I read about them on various BMs and 911s and a mk 7 Golf were very good, seems the comfort setting is very controlled yet quite compliant, and the sport setting is pretty sharp. When are you having them fitted?
Click to expand...

Getting them installed this upcoming Saturday, the following saturday I'll be autocrossing so I'll report back and really looking forward to feeling the change. Will really give me more confidence when i'm aggressively driving or at higher speeds in the car. The stock non-sport suspension is incredibly floaty.
 
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veeeight said:
Looking forward to more reviews from both the B16's and B14's.

I did notice from the Bilstein online catalogue that replacement Bilstein dampers (on their own) are available for the S3 ...... I wonder how much of a difference these on their own will make.....
Click to expand...
Given the cost of Bilsteins down under I would also like that question answered
 
mfl said:
Given the cost of Bilsteins down under I would also like that question answered
Click to expand...

From what I have read, those that have fitted the B16 Ride Control on their Mag-Ride A5/S5, they said it was so much better after. The comfort mode was actually really like a comfort mode and the race/sport really stiffened up A LOT compared to even the mag-ride setup. If you fit with the optional IRC then it completely changes the car even more automatically. I can't wait to get this installed next week.
 
mfl said:
Given the cost of Bilsteins down under I would also like that question answered
Click to expand...


For UK/EU pricing, I've had a second look and the cost of 4 dampers isn't that much different to a B16 kit. So I guess in the UK/EU it seems daft not to go for the adjustable option.

I get where you're coming from re pricing down under though.
 
veeeight said:
For UK/EU pricing, I've had a second look and the cost of 4 dampers isn't that much different to a B16 kit. So I guess in the UK/EU it seems daft not to go for the adjustable option.

I get where you're coming from re pricing down under though.
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I noticed the dampers only option as well. I can't remember where I saw them, however I think they were a decent price. Certainly considerably cheaper the b16 kit. I'll have a search online again.. How much did you see them for veeight? My car is due to arrive in two weeks and I'm already looking at suspension options! :blink:
 
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Can anyone point me in the direction of the best place to buy either B14s or B16s at a sensible price and without a big scary wait? Thanks!
 
vacant said:
Can anyone point me in the direction of the best place to buy either B14s or B16s at a sensible price and without a big scary wait? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Here's where I got mine, arrived 3 days after ordering, albeit I was out on the day....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...=0&clk_rvr_id=838077139874&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true


And here's another German Ebay shop, where they're more than £110 cheaper, though I can't vouch for this particular supplier

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291248644...IT&clk_rvr_id=838066765862&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Best UK price I was quoted was north of £1,550, although I'm sure you could find a cheaper UK price if you hunted around.

Hope this helps :smiley:
 
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the b8s must be better than standard and loose the bounce
 
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Anything has got to better than the woeful standard dampers !!!

I noticed in your Revo S3 thread @paulk you mentioned you were thinking of changing your standard dampers.

What specifically didn't you like about them?
 
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Thanks Steph67, ordered. Now need to decide whether to Revo it at the same time.
 
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Anyone have a link to where I can get the electronic adjustment version?
 
Sooo I get myself a good deal with a shop close to me.

Should I pull the trigger and get the b16's installed?

Some more input from those people who have theirs already would be nice :).
 
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Gorillajebus said:
Sooo I get myself a good deal with a shop close to me.

Should I pull the trigger and get the b16's installed?

Some more input from those people who have theirs already would be nice :).
Click to expand...

Sorry, not much more to report. We had a rare spell of sunshine last weekend, so I spent it thrashing another car I've been working on that hadn't turned a wheel since last September.

Will try harder.. :grinning:
 
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veeeight said:
Anything has got to better than the woeful standard dampers !!!

I noticed in your Revo S3 thread @paulk you mentioned you were thinking of changing your standard dampers.

What specifically didn't you like about them?
Click to expand...

loose the rear bounce , it handles well but very bouncy at high speeds
 
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