TTT

 

This is not your lucky day. (I'm not sure what others will have to say about this.) The suspension is quite complicated (for the front) to change. This leads to the bulk of the service charge. The other issue is any, and I mean ANY, time you are trying to get aftermarket wheels in 17 and up they will take you on the price...REALLY bad. If you really want that particular set up it is going to cost you that much. If you are willing to take the time and find reputable shops that can supply you with a nice set of wheels or install a sport suspension you can save a lot of money.

 

Check out after market, like Tirerack. You can get similar BBS wheels a lot cheaper. I'm not sure the sport springs are exactly what the W8 sport comes with. I'd buy the car without all that stuff and add it later, you'll have more choices and save a big chunk of change.

 

I guess the main reason why I want this VW setup is that I already know what the results look like - AMAZING. On top of that, I could roll the price (although a bit hefty) into a loan @ 1.9% financing, or a lease.

My big problem is the springs - if these are just Eibach springs, and you swap them out with stock springs, isnt' that going to DESTROY the stock dampers/struts/shocks whatever you call them? I've always heard that just putting on sport springs will ruin the ride after a few months or so. If this is the case, how can VW just sell sport springs and still expect a good setup? This is why I'm confused...

I looked at tirerack.com, and their 17" BBS wheels that look similar to the ones I like are about $380-$450 a wheel, plus tires, which are about $87 a tire. So I guess I could hold off on the wheels and tires and get ones from tirerack, but I am still confused about the suspension! Help! :nervous:

 

Suspension questions

You sort of echo my questions about suspension mods. Search on here and you will find many, many different threads and posts about various suspension changes. There was one recent thread called, I believe '1BE' that was about 3 pages long.

Suspensions are someone personal and subjective. They are also somewhat geographically limited -- what works in Arizona may not work for NYC roads and snow. Read up and you will find lots of different answers and opinions. Some people are running the VW 1BE springs on stock shocks and seem to be ok with it.

BTW, unless you are absolutely wedded to BBS, you can find nice 17" alloys -- like my new Mille Miglia Cellos -- at Tire Rack and other places from about $140 and up.

Good luck.

 

My big problem is the springs - if these are just Eibach springs, and you swap them out with stock springs, isnt' that going to DESTROY the stock dampers/struts/shocks whatever you call them? I've always heard that just putting on sport springs will ruin the ride after a few months or so. If this is the case, how can VW just sell sport springs and still expect a good setup? This is why I'm confused...

No, the VW/Eibach sport springs will not "destroy" your stock dampers. They will work just fine, like on my car. The new springs are slightly underdamped for my preference, but not badly. I only notice it once in a while on big dips at moderate speed, causing a little more bounce than desired.

I have had this arrangement now for 6 months, without any notiecable worsening of damping. It feels exactly as it did when i first swapped out the springs. On the other hand, i may get upgraded shocks for the rear due not to wear, but to the underdamping i described above. it seems more pronounced in the rear.

 

those wheels are sweet

 

Where can I get the 17" BBS wheels for less than $560/wheel?

For much less ($430 at tire rack) you can get the much lighter 17" BBS RC wheel. 8)

 

here is a pic of that set up on my old B5.5:

OEM BBS Madra, and Eibach Pro System.

The wheels are now on my new Variant, but I am yet to install my suspension.

I lucked out and bought the wheels from a member here, practically brand new with tires for 1K.

 

forget it man. just buy all the parts after market or watch the junk yards for a W8 to scavange off of.

 

I would think since the W8 is much heavier, due to the motor size and 4motion, it's stock sport springs and struts would not be optimal for your car.

 

Just a clarification of a common misconception. Those "Sport" springs VW sells for $289 are not 1BE. They're closer to Eibach Pro-kits with a 1.25" drop. 1BE VW springs cost a little more and drop only .5" to .75".

 

You can find the Madras for $268.00 each at http://www.aaarims.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi Type in Madras in the product ID/ search window.
I'm not sure if these are the Rondell Replicas or the real OEM BBS. Either way you save $. I purchased the Eibach Pro-Kit (springs and dampers) from http://www.thepartsbin.com for $427.00 shipped. I would recommend getting the Pro-Kit so you won't have to worry about the stock shocks wearing out prematurely. I paid $260.00 for the labor for the install. So if you pay $100 per tire for 4 new ones and say $50.00 for shipping the rims that totals $2209. A savings of $1291. It pays to take your time and shop around. Don't give the dealer any more money. I hope this helps and good luck. 8)

 

Wow, thanks for all the help and ideas guys. That place that sells the refinished rims seems a little sketchy, but for only $268/wheel, that is a hell of a deal. I found new BBS Rims that I would be very happy with for about $340/wheel. I'll have to call that parts bin place to get a price on the Pro-Kit; $470 sounds like a deal!

I'll have to buy the car in its stock form and upgrade it later. I really want this car. Now it is up to color and to leather or not to leather!

Thanks again! :bow:

 

I made a mistake in my last post. I said I purchased the Pro-Kit from thepartsbin.com for $427.00. This was partly true but this was just for the dampers. I had previously purchased the springs for about $200.00. Sorry I did not mean to mislead you, but another $200 and your still saving a grand.:wink: Oh yeah and go with the leather if you can afford it. I wish I had. The cloth seats are the worst lint magnets. I am constantly having to brush and vacum them to get the lint off.