View Full Version : Bilstein sprintline
Ive been looking around at prices for the Bilstein sprintline kit, I have been advised By Autotechnic in totton that the BK733 kits is the one for my 1997 GTi 16v, some sites list this kit as only up to 95? I know the turet size changed at some point but which kit will fit mine??? are there two kits for pre/post face lift??
Cheers
__________________
Best to ask Ed (edc), as I can't remember..:(
yes there are two kits one pre face lift and one after (the basties changed the sizes)...so that one that says up to 95 is pre.
I had a reply from an email I sent directly to Bilstein to say there is not kit for this car!!!! is it just the case that the BDK733 fits both pre/post facelift but uses the smaller diameter of the pre facelift??
well if the diameter is smaller it wont fit??? They obviously dont do a kit for the post facelift :(
hopkinsgm
21-01-2004, 16:56
I believe it is still the case (it was a couple of years ago anyway) that any "official UK" Bilstein kits are brought into the UK by Euro Car Parts. And they don't come into the UK as a complete kit, but rather as a set of Bilstein dampers to which Euro Car Parts add a "matched" set of springs made by A.N.Other and sell it as a Bilstein kit.
Maybe this is where the confusion has arisen?
Could be the reason, the euro car parts site states 93 95 as well, will give them a ring tommorow, there must be a kit that fits the 16v as people have done it!!
Terra/Ventura springs are packaged aren't they? Some say they're shocking, but I read some Saab owners who reckon they're great.
The TT has Ventura springs on it. They're pretty hard - more so than the proper Sprintline kit on my 8v.
steve, which kit do you have on your 8v, or is it the BDK733 kit I have been talking about, I assume if it fits yours it will fit the 16v?
I bought mine second hand so unfortunately I can't tell you the model number. Although the same one would fit the 16v too yes.
ive still got my old shox n springs contained in the sprintline boxes, dya want part for the shox that is?
That would be excelent thanks, I see yours is a 97 so it should be the same kit for mine, where did you get yours from?
Dan
Did NeilP run a Sprintline kit or coilies? I thought it was the former - he had a 16v.
I think neilp had the sprintline kit, sent him a PM, cheers
he did
low, hard
buy the koni
buy the koni
I had modified mini's for a few years, fully adjustable height/damping, that redefines the words low and hard and loved it everytime :D , anything else feels like jelly in comparison so hopefully the bilsteins will be just what I want, if I can get hold of some or find out which ones they are meant to be.
My car with and without the Bilstein kit:
just the look i want:D , low but not up in the arches and looking like the suspension has colapsed,cheers for the pics, I hope I can find the kit soemwhere, will hopefully get Autotechnic to fit them, £165 for fitting and allignment, or £47 just for the allignment
what equipment are they using to align it?
read this (http://www.icon5.com/northampton_motorsport/default.asp?id=28)
tells you about why a decent alignment is key.
not sure on the equiptment they are using, Brembo Bill seems to recomend them all the time when it comes to fitting modified suspension, anywhere else local to guildford anyone can recomend?
no doubt they're very good. just not sure that (when I've been there) they've got the best alignment kit. you're only as good as your tools as it were.
golden rule of measuring - always measure with something that is 10 times better than what you want to measure to.
ie - set to 0.5 degrees - measure to 0.05degrees
at least that's what I've always been told.
Yeah I know what you mean, Did you have your suspension done there?, It wouldnt be the first time ive been caught out with recomendations from other people, they seemed quite friendly over the phone, they seemed to think the BDK733 kit fitted my car, some sites list it as 93-99 and some 93-95, Aghhhhh such a pain.
no, the only person I trust on my car is me. I did take the car to n-ton m-sport to align, but i did it under their guidance (as I don't know the equipment). that way the nuts are tight enough & nothing goes tits up.
spent £117.50 on alignment, but was worthwhile as it turns in as I wanted.
AmD have good alignment kit, but you'll pay a lot for their services.
Ask them for a supply & fit quote - it might be better
I would fit my kit myself but have had an opertaion on me foot and will be a bit on the hard side with all the clamering about, i could wait but I want it quite soon, i will send AMD an email, cheers
hopkinsgm
22-01-2004, 12:14
Originally posted by edc
Terra/Ventura springs are packaged aren't they? Some say they're shocking, but I read some Saab owners who reckon they're great.
I have no doubt that they are quality springs. The problem with the "official UK kits" brought in by Euro Car Parts is that either the length or spring rate of the Terra (or Ventura) springs are not at all well matched to the dampers. The problem has nothing to do with the quality of the particular parts but how they work together (or rather how they don't work together in this case).
Basically, either the springs are too short or they're not stiff enough. This is why the drop is extreme - which looks appealing to some folks. Unfortunately, the flipside is that the car has near as dammit no travel left in the spring at rest. This is bad. Most of the dynamic springing is actually achieved by the bumpstop. This is really bad.
This mismatch of spring rate and damping rates leads to oscillation and can make the handling unpredictable. Not mention giving a pretty sh1tty ride.
p.s. Ed - will get that article in the post today - it all got a bit hectic yesterday...
Are you talking from having experience with the kit?
I can understand what you mean about the miss match, the kit is put together by Euro car parts from other kits, as Bilstein dont do a kit directly for the Ibiza, which could mean the spring rates are for a much lighter car, I have had experience with riding on bump stops before, can make the car quite unpredictable when hitting a lump in the road when on the limit. I want the level of lowering but still usable travel, if it sits to much on the bump stops its an MOT failure I think.
I have found out from Euro car parts that the kit actually fits all ibizas 93-99 which is good, but now having second thoughts about the kit.
Steve, how does yours handle, in regards to riding on the bump stops?, I amagine the 16v engine cant weigh much more than the 8v.
I think the handling is pretty good, although the standard stuff I took off was knackered. I haven't really had a chance to test it to the limits yet, although I did hoon round Haynes test track a few times the day after I fitted it, and it was good.
I am assuming that as mine is a proper Bistein kit, it doesn't suffer from the problems of a mismatched spring/shock combo - I hope. Having said that though I am considering a change to Eibach springs as the front is a little low for my liking.
The ride quality is not much different to standard during normal driving, although it is quite crashy over potholes when I imagine it may well be hitting the bumpstops (although I'm not really sure how you can tell?)
I think all the sprintline kits in the uk are put together buy Euro car parts as they are the uk importers, they have Terra springs on bilstein dampers, you cant actaully by a sprintline kit complete from the bilstein factory, this is the info I got from bilstein anyway.
Really? Oh bugger. Well perhaps I'd better buy some Eibach springs double quick then.
I must admit the paint was flaking off my springs after only a year or so's use so I did doubt the quality of them. They're just painted and not powder coated. I think I only paid £150 for it all though so didn't expect too much.
yeah I was told by both Bilstein and Eurocar parts, There isnt a kit that was specificaly made for the Mk2, not sure on which kit to get now, maybe I could get the Bilstein dampers seperatly and put the elbach springs on, do you know how much the springs are meant to lower the car?
I was looking at the Koni kit but I dont think its will give the look I want, might look at spax, people dont seem to like them but I had them on my mini for 3 years with no problems.
I think Eibachs lower it 30 or 35mm, and I believe this quoted drop is quite accurate (i.e. as opposed to my '40mm' drop which is more like 50)
The paint coming off the springs might be an indication the springs are not the best for the car, probably due to having to softer spring rate for the engine weight and the spring being used on full compression most of the time and causing the paint to crack, I think that has definatly put me off the kit, as you said it was only £150 so will still be cheap even though you might have to buy some Eibach springs.
Dom Sweeten
23-01-2004, 09:14
Koni ssk58?
same price (give or take)
definate fit
not as low but some think better ride
Gti16v , i have sent you a PM mate , have a look and reply .
brett
hopkinsgm
23-01-2004, 12:39
Originally posted by GTI16v
...Are you talking from having experience with the kit?...
Not from a point of view of ownership but i've driven a couple of Cordoba 16v's with Bilstein kits and an Ibiza 16v with it. Also passengered in all of the cars above and a couple of Ibiza 8v's. Decided the drop was too low (I used my car for work at the time and was getting out to quite a few construction sites and pumping stations in the middle of nowhere) and the ride was far too firm for me to live with day to day. Hence the Koni's...
Too little travel before hitting bump stops was the conclusion arrived at by Mark Hales when he tested 5 assorted Ibiza's including mine and Neil Padfield's 16v (on Bilsteins) at Chobham for Cars and Car Conversions magazine (April 02 issue).
Note that Euro Car Parts changed spring supplier for the UK kit a few years ago. I believe this was to do with cost or availability rather than improving the kit. I understand the earlier kits tended to be a bit better.
Think the Bilsteins might be a no no then, I don't mind it being low but don't want a kit that doesn't work properly, has anyone had any experience with the KW sport kit for the Ibiza, 40mm lowering all round with uprated shocks for under £300?? sounds like it could be good but haven't heard much about this make, they are TUV approved though, one bonus I suppose. Cheers for all the advise on this one guys.
Dan
TUV approval isn't the means to prove anything. just means that the company that made it adhears to ISO9001 equiv 'rules'
I thought the TUV approval was more to do with the product and the ISO9000 was to do with all the documentation that the company has to keep and for it to follow a finished product through from start to finish, might be wrong.
Is anyone running the KW kits?
ibizacupra
02-02-2004, 07:42
Originally posted by m0rk
you're only as good as your tools as it were.
No M0rk.... ONLY as good as the person using the kit.... ;)
Great kit in the hands of monkeys aint good... (see most tyre places for evidence of that scenario)
eg. I use Protyre in Glos, and when it comes to alignment, adjustments on my car I work with them using their kit... Never relying on them to get it in thr 'Green' band which is plus/minus a mile.
AutoT tracking and camber guaging is basic, but accurate enough and in the hands of peeps who know how to use it.
ibizacupra
02-02-2004, 07:46
Originally posted by GTI16v
yeah I was told by both Bilstein and Eurocar parts, There isnt a kit that was specificaly made for the Mk2, not sure on which kit to get now, maybe I could get the Bilstein dampers seperatly and put the elbach springs on, do you know how much the springs are meant to lower the car?
I was looking at the Koni kit but I dont think its will give the look I want, might look at spax, people dont seem to like them but I had them on my mini for 3 years with no problems.
Many moons ago, Bilstein did supply full kits including springs....
Since ECP took over the UK distributorship, other make springs were packaged into the kits.
Bilstein supplied springs would more than likely have been Eibach or H&R.
SEAT Sport suspension kit comprises Bilstein Sports dampers and Eibach springs as a guide...
regards
bill
Originally posted by GTI16v
I thought the TUV approval was more to do with the product and the ISO9000 was to do with all the documentation that the company has to keep and for it to follow a finished product through from start to finish, might be wrong.
Is anyone running the KW kits?
ISO9000 encompasses the 'new' ISO9001, which in turn replaces the old ISO9001/9002/9003. From ISO9000 we now get ISO9001 and ISO9004.