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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: dubweiser on 15 July 2022, 23:18

Title: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 15 July 2022, 23:18
Hi - Can I get your opinions please am I sporting the clown car look here?


(https://i.postimg.cc/76XNrwwh/7260-C9-EF-F8-F5-4990-98-FB-68-C5-AB365883.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jwwfzVWY)

(https://i.postimg.cc/V6zFhdy2/8473-B050-5-B73-486-C-9864-CC02-C19-CAE57.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9Qq1R6tg/D3-C254-B8-D8-BE-4099-957-C-4004489797-B4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXnLBFZL)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xdvRgLZK/D4416-B54-8733-4804-97-F1-D5729-D286010.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: willni on 15 July 2022, 23:54
Are those 17s? Or is it just the photos making them look small?

It’s totally a personal thing lowering, I can’t lower as I have scraped my standard front bumper at work before and others like a softer ride. If your local roads are up to snuff and you feel comfortable lowering go for it just use a reputable brand such as Eibach or H&R and you’ll have no issues.

Also is that Rubin Black?
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Guzzle on 16 July 2022, 00:29
Is that a GTE?

It is purposely made to ride higher than a GTi.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: SRGTD on 16 July 2022, 07:25
Have you fitted your wheels just before you took the pictures of your car? If so, then it may take a while for the car’s suspension to settle after it’s been jacked up.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: fredgroves on 16 July 2022, 18:41
Is that a GTE?

It is purposely made to ride higher than a GTi.

Yes it is - you can see the badge.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 16 July 2022, 21:29
Are those 17s? Or is it just the photos making them look small?

It’s totally a personal thing lowering, I can’t lower as I have scraped my standard front bumper at work before and others like a softer ride. If your local roads are up to snuff and you feel comfortable lowering go for it just use a reputable brand such as Eibach or H&R and you’ll have no issues.

Also is that Rubin Black?

They’re 18s with 225/40 tyres. I think the colour of them makes them look smaller. Yes it’s a Black Rubin GTE.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 16 July 2022, 21:35
Have you fitted your wheels just before you took the pictures of your car? If so, then it may take a while for the car’s suspension to settle after it’s been jacked up.

No - they’re on it months.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 16 July 2022, 21:36
Is that a GTE?

It is purposely made to ride higher than a GTi.

Ah didn’t know that - that’s interesting.

What’s the insurance implication of lowering… minimal?
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Exonian on 16 July 2022, 21:37
It would certainly look nicer lowered as the wheels are lovely, but you’d need to ensure whatever reason the car sits quite high doesn’t mean it’ll be compromised or underbody things damaged if the car was lowered.

Having said that, I’ll assume there are GTE specific lowering springs so if you could find a set with TÜV approval then you’d know they’d be safe to run.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Guzzle on 16 July 2022, 22:52
Is that a GTE?

It is purposely made to ride higher than a GTi.

Ah didn’t know that - that’s interesting.

What’s the insurance implication of lowering… minimal?

I expect insurance implications will vary between insurance companies. Lowering a car though is hardly an unusual thing to do these days, so it shouldn't be too hard to find an insurance company that can help.

I'd be more concerned by the points Exonian raises. The GTE is a heavier car than a GTi, so you'd need to ensure whatever springs you are considering fitting are

a) stiff enough to counteract the additional weight. Shorter springs would need to be stiffer to prevent the additional weight from bottoming the car out over larger bumps.
b) not so stiff or low that they result in an uncomfortable or fidgety ride, or pose a risk of damage to any equipment facing out from the underside of the car.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Exonian on 17 July 2022, 08:53
As assumed, this is what lurks beneath the floor of a GTE:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=underside+of+golf+gte&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:110f359b,vid:TtC5jdFtgps,st:0

You won’t want that bulk scraping on speed humps.

A moderate lowering should be ok so long as you don’t have masses of speed humps in your area.
Bear in mind the points Guzzle raises.
In my misspent younger years I messed about with suspension kits a fair bit and there’s a delicate balance between looks and inducing crashiness over irregularities.
I’d always plump for matched dampers and springs as an ideal (unless you do trackdays fully adjustable coil-overs are overkill and have too many unnecessary points of adjustment which can potentially lead to unreliability if you just want to fit and forget) but springs alone can work if they’re carefully chosen.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Rudedog on 17 July 2022, 09:43
There was a breathed-on ID3 at Goodwood this year, I think it was on the RacingLIne stand, not sure how much one of those weighs but the springs must be pretty tough to cope with the bumps.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: fredgroves on 17 July 2022, 11:00
How about:

https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-car/volkswagen/golf-mk7/h-r-lowering-springs-golf-mk7-gte-hybrid/

TUV approved... for a GTE
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Dazie00 on 17 July 2022, 16:08
Got some Eibach pro springs up for sale in the ads , do you. a fair price ? 07896490104
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Meister on 17 July 2022, 20:51
You need different wheels in my opinion... they simply don't suit this car in my opinion. Would never ever touch suspension on any car personally as prefer manufacturer spec look. I got BBS 19 inch wheels on my car and they fully fill each wheel arch.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: onmeedson on 17 July 2022, 21:42
Get some Eibach Pro springs on - only £102 at Demon Tweeks!
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Ej1749 on 22 July 2022, 10:20
Added pictures for reference.

It gives the car a much better stance and presence. I have 25mm front and rear H&R springs with 12mm spacers at the front and 15mm spacers at the rear. The ride is a little harsher but flows much better when on it. Only thing is, I need to make sure I have a proper alignment and camber done when changing the tyres, as it does wear the inside tyre wall otherwise.



(https://i.postimg.cc/wMVs99kb/Golf-2.png) (https://postimg.cc/m1PrwfJQ)

(https://i.postimg.cc/3JtD6JNk/Golf-4.png) (https://postimg.cc/7fT6J4g4)

(https://i.postimg.cc/gjYnSfPy/Golf-3.png) (https://postimg.cc/MMF6X3HX)

(https://i.postimg.cc/7Ytf9st7/Golf-1.png) (https://postimg.cc/4mtfN5gN)

(https://i.postimg.cc/NfF0K8G0/Front-Wheel.png) (https://postimg.cc/Mvkw4QQk)
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 23 July 2022, 20:23
You need different wheels in my opinion... they simply don't suit this car in my opinion. Would never ever touch suspension on any car personally as prefer manufacturer spec look. I got BBS 19 inch wheels on my car and they fully fill each wheel arch.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion of course. I think these rims suit the car well. I know it’s subjective. I thought long and what to get.

What do others think?
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: SRGTD on 23 July 2022, 20:45
You need different wheels in my opinion... they simply don't suit this car in my opinion. Would never ever touch suspension on any car personally as prefer manufacturer spec look. I got BBS 19 inch wheels on my car and they fully fill each wheel arch.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion of course. I think these rims suit the car well. I know it’s subjective. I thought long and what to get.

What do others think?

I really like them. IMHO they’re the best colour, and style-wise they have an OEM look about them. Are they BBS SR’s? If not, they’re a very similar style.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Exonian on 23 July 2022, 22:02
Borbet Y’s?

I really like the wheels, very German looking, no polished sections, easy to clean and suit the car well.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: Guzzle on 23 July 2022, 22:08
They look like Borbet Y's to me.

They were an optional extra on the SEAT Leon Mk3 for a time.
Title: Re: To lower or not to lower?
Post by: dubweiser on 24 July 2022, 10:51
You need different wheels in my opinion... they simply don't suit this car in my opinion. Would never ever touch suspension on any car personally as prefer manufacturer spec look. I got BBS 19 inch wheels on my car and they fully fill each wheel arch.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion of course. I think these rims suit the car well. I know it’s subjective. I thought long and what to get.

What do others think?

I really like them. IMHO they’re the best colour, and style-wise they have an OEM look about them. Are they BBS SR’s? If not, they’re a very similar style.

They’re Borbet Y’s. Yes I think they have an OEM look. Not as pricey as BBS.