New MKIV.. what modifications are in order??

[koops]

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Just purchased a 1.6 MKIV Golf in Jazz Blue and other than a few minor cosmetic mods (eg smoked indicators + tail lights, stubby aerial etc) it is stock as stock can be. Was wanting some advice on best mods to undertake to improve the look and ride that aren't ridiculously expensive for this stage.

Love the look of coilovers though due to price and my fiance's ridiculously bumpy long driveway, she has declined my request. Are lowering springs a decent option? Also would love some opinions on rims, size, brand, offset etc that look good on Mk4 for under $1000, don't mind purchasing 2nd hand either.

Love some help, cheers guys.

[dylan8]

Lowering and comfort dont go hand in hand usually unless its the likes of air ride.
Wheels, depends on what you want. A nice OEM looking wheel is always good if your not 100% sure on what your after, something like a R32 Aristo or a early Audi S3/TT wheel

Basically you want a 5x100 stud pattern or PCD, 57.1 centre bore. Stock wheels usually have a width range of 6 to 8" and offsets between +30 and +43.
Size most people go for 17 or 18"

[koops]

Thanks mate,

Yeah comfort is not a big issue just the fact that going too low will scrape like crazy along my girlfriends gravel drive, so as i cant go overly low i thought lowering springs may be the go for a cheaper option with like a 40mm drop?

[MK4Golf]

Depends what you want mate...you can do fairly minimal mods like air filter/exhaust etc cheap. Cosmetically you could also mod it pretty cheap. Wheels are probably your most exxy mod :)

[Stan]

i have lowered pedders springs on mine, they are fine, give a good ride and cheaper than coils.
However, if you want adjustability, coils are the go - especially if you want rebound and damper as well as height

[koops]

How much were your pedders springs man? do you have any pics?

[Manaz]

i have lowered pedders springs on mine, they are fine, give a good ride and cheaper than coils.
However, if you want adjustability, coils are the go - especially if you want rebound and damper as well as height

Note that coilovers don't automatically give rebound and damper adjustability - you need higher-end ones to get this (and to be honest, the ability to adjust these settings is, for most people, overkill).

[Stan]

Note that coilovers don't automatically give rebound and damper adjustability - you need higher-end ones to get this (and to be honest, the ability to adjust these settings is, for most people, overkill).

Yes true

[Stan]

How much were your pedders springs man? do you have any pics?


Got them off the forum here. Brand new only a few hundred. Pedders make a specific spring for lowered mk4 suitable for the GTI

[undisclos3d]

Pull the pin on coils man! Your mrs wont dump you! You can still have them spun high up, and then when you dont need to use her driveway anymore, drop it. Haha intensem1 has some sick aristo(r32) wheels for sale!

[koops]

mmm... yours were $400 yeah? Are they the Hottuning ones of Ebay?

[kendog]

I got my FK AK Street coilovers delivered to my door, from the uk, in under a week, for $418 !

VERY handy to be able to adjust the height back & forth! I was also able to use the same coilovers when I swapped from the 1.6L to the GTI 1.8T. I just had to raise it back up as the 1.8T engine was heavier, bam! right height again!

[kendog]

This where I got mine, I got them at £170 on special, they are back down to almost the same at £175. I think they are 'improved' on mine too! So, yeah, at the time, £170 plus shipping ended up being ~$418 AU. So, depending on conversion rates, £175 shouldn't be too different...

FK AK Street Coilover Suspension Kit Golf 4 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.8T, 1.9SDi, 1.9TDi, 2.0, 2.3 V5 FWD 01/99> - £175.00 : The premier online mail order VAG suspension and performance specialists. We offer a wide range of all the best branded suspension and (http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/fk-ak-street-coilover-suspension-kitbr-golf-4-14-16-18-18t-19sdi-19tdi-20-23-v5-fwd-0199-p-7714.html)

[leighaus]

i have the same set, cant beat em for cheapies.

obviously the rides not that comfy if you wanna look low, but its not spine shaking.

[Levo]

I have coil overs on my MK4 1.6 Rally and wouldn't go back!

To be able to adjust the firmness and ride height is a real plus! I wouldn't ever go back to springs...
I also have black 17" TT wheels on my car which look sick (even if I do say so myself). For me, the 17" are plenty big enough, 18" is that little bit too big for me...
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/10/Car046-1.jpg

Another thing you might want to look into is window tint - you would not believe the difference a decent shade of tint makes to the appearance of your car!

[kendog]

I have coil overs on my MK4 1.6 Rally and wouldn't go back!

To be able to adjust the firmness and ride height is a real plus! I wouldn't ever go back to springs...
I also have black 17" TT wheels on my car which look sick (even if I do say so myself). For me, the 17" are plenty big enough, 18" is that little bit too big for me...

Another thing you might want to look into is window tint - you would not believe the difference a decent shade of tint makes to the appearance of your car!

A few good points here.

1. Window tint. Don't think, research a good place & do it!

2. I have 18" and as my daily driver, I'd be looking at 17"s or even some fat 16: steelies as my next set of wheels. If you went 18"s, get the R32 Aristo reps, they look great, otherwise, get some 2nd hand Audi 17"s, cheaper & better ride.

Also, be careful on your coilover choice, the cheaper ones don't have the fancy things like firmness adjust, only ride height.

[leighaus]

us men like it rough though kenbot, right??

[kendog]

haha, that's it. It's not that bad, but I'd be interested to try the 17"s for a week just to see the difference. My originals were 14" !!

[kendog]

With the 14", since I have GTI brakes etc now, they'd never fit back on the front. Wish they did, I'd like to give them a go for a week too, get some launch grip.

[remy]

Hey mate there's someone selling Tein springs for the MK4 in the Parts for Sale section, lowers 40mm and I think they're asking something like $200. Check it out might be what you need.