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Indecision about suspension upgrade


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In two minds about going for B12s.  Car's got 73k on it now, so chances are the suspension is getting on and will probably need replacing in the next year or so.  It's very creaky at the front and I already know I need new front shock mounts and bearings, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the bushes need replacing too.  Now, It's going to be a lot of labour cost to remove the OE setup to replace the mounts, to then decide 6 months later I do want B12s and have to remove it all again.  On the flip side, £512 for B12s is a lot of money for something I may not need.

 

Given the car is almost 7 years old with said mileage, would you bother putting upgrades on it, or just keep it OEM ready to sell on in a few years?

 

I really can't decide!

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fitted b12s to my 2010 Octavia a month ago and am really happy with them, car was on 80k and felt a bit like driving on a cloud in comparison too how it feels now. coupled with an 034motorsports rear anti roll bar and it handles great. I plan on keeping the car for a while so was worth the upgrade for me. my local trustworthy garage charged 3 hours labour for fitting it all :)

 

IMG_20160806_065018104_zps8n6fq63l.jpg

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Mine feels a little clanky, although it might be my imagination, so just going with it until it gives up the ghost!

 

Mine too could just be my imagination, but it does seem to be a little bouncy off speed bumps.  It spend most of its life on rural B/C roads so it's quite possible that the current setup is reaching EOL. 

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I would only do it if are planning to keep the car for a least a couple of years as the kit is quite expensive, otherwise I would just put some new b4 shocks at the same time as getting the mounts and bearings done. But if you got the cash to spare then why not as b12 is a good set up.

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Think I'll defo go for the B12 kit when I can allocate the funds. My vRS is only on 36k miles and 5 years so is still ok and probably a little fresher than your suspension gubbins but feels pretty soft and not that well tied down compared to the Mk5 Golf GT it replaced (and that had standard suspension after 9 years / 60k and was still very firm).  

 

Like everything it comes down to money and how long you can keep the car.  The extra £300 in parts or so above say B4s is not a lot in the scheme of things. If I was keeping the car for 2-3 years or more think I'd do it if I was in your shoes.

 

Where can you find b12 kits for £512 - sounds very competitive everywhere I look they are £595-£650?

Edited by TheClient
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Where can you find b12 kits for £512 - sounds very competitive everywhere I look they are £595-£650?

 

There are some on eBay for that kind of price.

 

Just as an example, this is the kit for my Octavia http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371440103410 at ~£525-£530

 

It's gone up recently due to the weak pound vs euro, just make sure you get the correct kit for your car :)

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Think I'll defo go for the B12 kit when I can allocate the funds. My vRS is only on 36k miles and 5 years so is still ok and probably a little fresher than your suspension gubbins but feels pretty soft and not that well tied down compared to the Mk5 Golf GT it replaced (and that had standard suspension after 9 years / 60k and was still very firm).  

 

Like everything it comes down to money and how long you can keep the car.  The extra £300 in parts or so above say B4s is not a lot in the scheme of things. If I was keeping the car for 2-3 years or more think I'd do it if I was in your shoes.

 

Where can you find b12 kits for £512 - sounds very competitive everywhere I look they are £595-£650?

 

Price has shifted up ever so slightly over night; that or I'm remembering it wrong.  It's on eBay for £516.94. For the 2.0 Petrol VRS, you need Billstein B12 55mm, part number 46-000286.

 

EDIT: Just spotted that shipping is £33 on top of that also, so not quite as cheap as I thought...

Edited by planehazza
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It all depends on if you plan to keep the car and get the use of any enhancements.

We put the H&R -50 Cup Kit on out CR and it is much better. It actually lowered it around 20mm.

We got a Whiteline RARB fitted also.

If you are keeping it for a while then worth doing suspension, strut mounts, strut bearings etc.

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It all depends on if you plan to keep the car and get the use of any enhancements.

We put the H&R -50 Cup Kit on out CR and it is much better. It actually lowered it around 20mm.

We got a Whiteline RARB fitted also.

If you are keeping it for a while then worth doing suspension, strut mounts, strut bearings etc.

 

I've had it 18 months and plan on keeping it at least that. I'll get rid of it once it starts being worth £4k or less most likely.

 

 

Give Damian@DPM a message. He might be able to give you a decent quote  :) ive bought a lot of stuff from him including my b12s

 
Thanks I will. I mean no disrespect to Damian or the company, but assuming DPM is DPMPerformance (https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/car-parts/skoda/octavia), I doubt they'd shave off almost £100 to match the ebay price. I'd feel cheeky asking for that much discount.
Edited by planehazza
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There are some on eBay for that kind of price.

 

Just as an example, this is the kit for my Octavia http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371440103410 at ~£525-£530

 

It's gone up recently due to the weak pound vs euro, just make sure you get the correct kit for your car :)

 

 

Price has shifted up ever so slightly over night; that or I'm remembering it wrong.  It's on eBay for £516.94. For the 2.0 Petrol VRS, you need Billstein B12 55mm, part number 46-000286.

 

EDIT: Just spotted that shipping is £33 on top of that also, so not quite as cheap as I thought...

 

Thanks both for these pointers. Looks like they can be had for about £550 incl shipping. 

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I think I've decided I'm likely going to cough up.  I've got my skoda specialist pal looking at the car on Friday whilst it's in getting new rear discs and pads.  If the whine in the gearbox is nothing then I'll be keeping the car for a few years and will get the B12s.  If it turns out I could be needing a refurb in the near future then I'll have to have reconsider my options in general.

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It is always a good feeling to arrive at a decision, hope it all goes well.

 

Especially for me. I'm really bad and making decisions, I take forever and usually avoid making it in the end by doing nothing ha

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Especially for me. I'm really bad and making decisions, I take forever and usually avoid making it in the end by doing nothing ha

That sounds more like apathy.

 

Apathy is the ..... Oh I can't be bothered. :D

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That sounds more like apathy.

 

Apathy is the ..... Oh I can't be bothered. :D

 

That's me as a whole.   :D

 

I hate making plans for even a week's notice. I'm always like "well what if I can't be bothered at the time".  I always think about the here and now, I hate plans, commitments, organisation... ha

Edited by planehazza
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Hi, just seen your post. I deal with Bilstein and should be able to help you on the price if you like? Let me know, I would be more than happy to help!

Yas

 

Hi Yas,

 

Thanks for the offer, much appreciated. Do you have a shop link etc. I could check out?

 

Cheers!

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No problem mate, I don't have a website however I do have a proper trade account with bilstein, kw, ap etc to name a few. I help many forum members mainly on the S2 forum and other Audi forums. Happy to discuss on the phone if you like, just let me know.

Many thanks

Yas

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