Bilstein B12 finally arrived.

[Fatbloke]

Finally got my B12 Sportline kit today. Just need to get time to fit it and the Eibach front and rear anti roll bars. Also replacing the strut mounts and bearings and droplinks.

Hopefully do most of it myself and get the local suspension place to do the front ARB and the geometry in the next week or two.

 

[Peter Peter]

Finally got my B12 Sportline kit today. Just need to get time to fit it and the Eibach front and rear anti roll bars. Also replacing the strut mounts and bearings and droplinks.

Hopefully do most of it myself and get the local suspension place to do the front ARB and the geometry in the next week or two.

What difference it will make?

 

[Fatbloke]

What difference it will make?

Sort out the bouncy armchair ride and look better.

 

[Dubjam]

Before and after photos please!

 

[Fatbloke]

Before and after photos please!

Will certainly get some photos. May be a few weeks by the time I get it done.

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Any pics? How you finding them?

 

[Fatbloke]

Myself and my mate only fitted it about 3 weeks ago.
Its much better to drive. No rolling around corners. Well worth putting the full kit and RARB on. Also, at only 51000 miles the original rear struts were completely knackered.
It's going in to get the front ARB fitted tomorrow and a full geometry adjustment.
I will try and post up a couple of pics.

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Sounds promising. I've actually got some BC coilovers that I bought a while back and I've not had the time to fit them. I think they're probably overkill though in terms of functionality for what I need. It's my first lowered car and I'm only using it now and then on the road, not track.

The stock suspension is ok to be honest in terms of keeping the car on the road on less than ideal surfaces. It's obviously doing it's thing well enough under there, you just can't tell what it's doing. The bouncy feel doesn't inspire any confidence either does it

Be interested to hear what the front ARB adds when it's on. I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts after you get it fitted.

 

[Fatbloke]

One before and two after pics. That was just after the kit was fitted. I think it's dropped a bit more since then.

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Looking good

Is the second pic just after you dropped the car down? Looks lower in the third than the second...

 

[Fatbloke]

Looking good

Is the second pic just after you dropped the car down? Looks lower in the third than the second...

Yes, 2nd pic was just out of the garage, 3rd pic was next day after, it had settled a bit. I think it's settled a bit more since then too.

 

[brown]

Looks good, how’s the ride and handling now ? Is it any better, also is it less or more comfy ? stock suspension on an s3 doesn’t inspire much confidence so looking to upgrade in the future but need some comfort aswell

 

[Fatbloke]

It's very much better. Nice and smooth round corners. It feels planted now. You can feel slight undulations in the road surface but its not harsh at all. Very good handling now and a pleasure to drive.

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Hi.

How are you finding them? Did you get the front bar installed yet?

 

[Fatbloke]

Hi.

How are you finding them? Did you get the front bar installed yet?

Yes, front bar is installed and geometry done. Front wheels are just very slightly out of spec with no more adjustment available. Not enough to worry about.
It drives and handles great, much better than stock. No rolling round corners. The front and rear ARB's are set to their stiffest setting. I have put the 16" winter wheels and tyres on it now and it's washed and in the garage to get a few chips touched in and waxed for the winter. It's around 7mm higher at the back than the front. It's dropped roughly 30mm.
Very pleased with it now.

 

[Dubjam]

Yes, front bar is installed and geometry done. Front wheels are just very slightly out of spec with no more adjustment available. Not enough to worry about.
It drives and handles great, much better than stock. No rolling round corners. The front and rear ARB's are set to their stiffest setting. I have put the 16" winter wheels and tyres on it now and it's washed and in the garage to get a few chips touched in and waxed for the winter. It's around 7mm higher at the back than the front. It's dropped roughly 30mm.
Very pleased with it now.

You can get it in spec, it requires the subframe bolts to loosened and the extra adjustment is found here. If you're out of OEM tolerance, then theres already a great portion of acceptable tolerance built in to these rates, so being out of it, means it is all out quite a lot.

However, finding a good place to do the geo properly is easier said than done as I found!

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Glad you’re enjoying it! Is it just toe that’s adjustable? Any adjustment in the ball joints?

 

[Fatbloke]

Glad you’re enjoying it! Is it just toe that’s adjustable? Any adjustment in the ball joints?

Not sure.

 

[w.h.i.p.p.e.t]

Ok. Thanks.