I know and understand that there are approx 6.349million threads on similar topics but since everyone else has one I am doing one too :p

I am in work and feeling poo with the flu (cold really but feeling sorry for myself) so I have decided that I am getting the Octavia lowered I changed to my winter wheels at weekend and I am sick of its almost off road ability looking stock set up and it doesn't handle all that well either. From my searching around Briski for well over a year keeping an eye on all threads started on the matter I have concluded that while I can change springs only to the Eibach Pro ones and keep stock shocks I would be better off again changing those while at it and thinking Koni FSD's are the way forward.

My question for this thread is as there are hundreds of threads and some differing info what exactly do I need for my 2011 Octavia VRS CR TDI? Any part numbers or links to parts.

I also would like to know if there are any places you would recommend in southern England as I would intend to drive from Holland to get it done and as little distance from Dover would be best. I would like to go somewhere and have a one stop shop experience fitted and alignment etc all done in a oner! Can anyone tell me how long I should expect for this to take? Any approx prices all in fitted and done would be appreciated.

jkm are in portsmouth so at the right end of the country for you (although not ideal from dover I admit..) and I'd recommend them 100% - they could source/fit/setup whatever you decide on, one-stop-shop as you say.

I didn't like the fsd I had on mine but others have differing views - wardy is a big advocate based on the later 4090 (?) spec dampers. Bilsteins would obvioulsy be the other choice (ie make up a b12 kit by adding b8 dampers to eibach springs).

TBH given fsd's are pretty much "marmite" I'd recommend you get a ride in a car with them fitted before you commit.

I can't comment on the FSD's as I've never had them, but I do have Eibach's on Bilstein B4's.

The springs are great - the drive is much more fun without being too hard / bouncy (it is a little noticeable, but not to passengers).

However, I would not recommend putting B4's on with the Eibach's. They just don't seem to be that well matched.

I had springs and dampers fitted and a full geometry alignment done for £175. Top mounts were a little extra. This was at Midland VW though. I'd thoroughly recommend them, but you'd have about a 4 hour drive from Dover so not really much use to you.

jkm are in portsmouth so at the right end of the country for you (although not ideal from dover I admit..) and I'd recommend them 100% - they could source/fit/setup whatever you decide on, one-stop-shop as you say.

I didn't like the fsd I had on mine but others have differing views - wardy is a big advocate based on the later 4090 (?) spec dampers. Bilsteins would obvioulsy be the other choice (ie make up a b12 kit by adding b8 dampers to eibach springs).

TBH given fsd's are pretty much "marmite" I'd recommend you get a ride in a car with them fitted before you commit.

Cheers that might work I would rather stick with a site sponsor who has a good reputation 2.5 hours ish from Dover is possible but in an ideal world Kent would be the best. It soon adds up driving 7 hours each way + ferry and check in times and a hotel. I have no idea about differing set ups the FSD's being marmite what are your findings of them, pros/cons? Also in your view what would be the difference to a Bilstein up? I would like it to be lower but as little increased stiffness as possible over stock. Roads car will end up on in a years time will be to be polite "crap" and I want to avoid the shuddering crashing effect that some set ups might provide on some of the poorer rural roads in the UK.

bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I don't know what I want clearly lol

Maybe pm pagey (lee) could help with a more local fitter? IIRC he's in kent somewhere..

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/user/41023-vrs-pagey/

The fsd's I had i thought were too soft for a performance car - great ride over broken tarmac but too floaty when pressing on (especially if you hit big dip or rise at speed) so i ditched them. My weitecs are much firmer and suit the car better as a result but are still way more comfortable than say an impreza wrx sti (i had one).

I've not riden in a car with the bilstein b12, but there was a recent group buy on here and all the posts I read seemed to indicate some very happy campers - ie better ride than oe and more control.

I have a new vrs on order which I'm planning to put bilsteins on (b16).

I can recommend wholeheartedly recommend JKM.

I've driven a car with them on - fecking **** dampers aka FSD'S!

Soft initial turn in then the damper firms up - nasty.

If you are changing, I'd check the likes of BC coilovers as they are a similar price and hugely superior - in my opinion.

Maybe pm pagey (lee) could help with a more local fitter? IIRC he's in kent somewhere..

http://www.briskoda....1023-vrs-pagey/

The fsd's I had i thought were too soft for a performance car - great ride over broken tarmac but too floaty when pressing on (especially if you hit big dip or rise at speed) so i ditched them. My weitecs are much firmer and suit the car better as a result but are still way more comfortable than say an impreza wrx sti (i had one).

I've not riden in a car with the bilstein b12, but there was a recent group buy on here and all the posts I read seemed to indicate some very happy campers - ie better ride than oe and more control.

I have a new vrs on order which I'm planning to put bilsteins on (b16).

Dam so I have missed a group buy what sort of ride will the B16's give you?

This is the set I had on my Volvo. Precious little difference in ride quality, huge difference in handling and properly adjustable unlike FSD's and most Billies.

This is the set I had on my Volvo. Precious little difference in ride quality, huge difference in handling and properly adjustable unlike FSD's and most Billies.

Not fussed on adjustability just want some improvement on stock handling and lower of course

Sorry, here's the link: http://www.crnperformance.co.uk/store/octavia-bc-rn-coilovers.html

Coilovers make a massive difference to handling without compromising ride, so why bother with inferior alternatives? Most damper/spring combo's (certainly FSD'S) are a similar price anyway.

Neither FSD'S or the Billies come with properly matched springs (unless you tell me otherwise!) and therefore will always be a compromise.

That's my experience of running various set-ups on different cars.

swmbo ran FSD with eibach on her Leon, they were great at first, but through time they got soft and we ended up replacing them, as it was like sailing a ship, bobbing about the place!

Dam so I have missed a group buy what sort of ride will the B16's give you?

Yes, the group buy was the b12 kit (eibach springs plus bilstein b8 dampers which are fixed height and fixed damping). The kit I'm looking at is b16 which has adjustable height (coilovers) and adjustable damping so you have the thing set up exactly as you want. It's not a cheap kit, but my experience with suspension is that you'll always regret buying cheap!

If you don't want adjustability then the B12 kit is IMHO an excellent choice.

If you do then you have a range of coilovers.

If you don't want adjustability then the B12 kit is IMHO an excellent choice.

If you do then you have a range of coilovers.

20mm lower would shut me up on the height I do not want it very low wouldnt suit my needs and I want to retain as much comfort as I can but not at a cost of improved handling of course. The B12 kit how much harder would that make it over OEM?

Harder..., but less crashy if that makes sense.

It handles better and doesn't roll as much but at the same time seems to have a better ride due to the springs.

Edited 29 October, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

Christ! I thought I knew what I wanted but now I don't have a clue lol. This will require some thinking! :(

This is why I didn't join the group buy. Because it really needs research before you make your choice.

Personally I'd like more than a 20mm drop but not lose too much softness.

Ideally it would be adjustable to soft 60% of the time then hard/sport the rest.

Only trouble is thats not cheap.

Would be looking at the B14 as its not much more than the B12, but again no idea what the ride would be like.

The 4090 revision was a definite step in the right direction. Koni basically admitted that they got it wrong first time around on this platform....

I'd never say they were the best thing out there, and suspension setup is such a personal thing anyway. In my book they offer a very good everyday setup. And I've never found any of the issues commented on, about lack of consistent performance and feedback. I can only presume this was found on the original revision design.

But if I was doing it again I'd go for the B12 setup I think.

I can also fully recommend JKM - I used them for a full suspension change on one of the Fabias

Hope this helps, or probably just makes the decision worse! The only thing I'll say is if at all possible, even if it's a bit of an effort - is to try and get out in for a demo drive in an Octy with the suspension setup you're thinking of. What is one man's 'magic carpet' ride will be another's intolerable suspension nightmare - etc etc.

The reason there's so many suspension threads around is that you can ask all the opinions until the cows come home, but you'll never know for sure until you try it out for yourself. Same with tyre threads, and they tend to be quite popular too....

I had the eibach pro springs and koni fsds on my vRS and was quite pleased with them. Significantly improved handling and better ride, no firmer than standard, and lowered to give a nice drop but without making it look lowered, i.e. It didn't look modified. I had them on from the day after I had the car from new right up untill I traded it in about 4 weeks ago and having covered 20k they were still as good as the day they were put on.

As said, it's personal choice and as with remaps you need to try as many as you can.

This is why I didn't join the group buy. Because it really needs research before you make your choice.

Personally I'd like more than a 20mm drop but not lose too much softness.

Ideally it would be adjustable to soft 60% of the time then hard/sport the rest.

Only trouble is thats not cheap.

Would be looking at the B14 as its not much more than the B12, but again no idea what the ride would be like.

Ideal scenario would be for VAG to allow the ACC (active chassis control) function you can spec on a golf to be used by skoda - ie switch from hard to soft damping at the touch of a button. Somehow I doubt that's going to happen for marketing reasons.

The b16 is the next best thing to this I think - ie adjust damping with the dampers still on the car (can't do that with kw v3) just by turning a knob. It can be nice and stiff when I'm on my own and can be set to "comfy" if I was taking the family away somewhere.

KW do this for aftermarket fit. But its over £2k plus fitting

That would be ideal for me if it wasnt so expensive

Not for the octavia.

KW do this for aftermarket fit. But its over £2k plus fitting

That would be ideal for me if it wasnt so expensive

They don't do a kit for the octavia as far as I'm aware.

As long as its lower and some improvement on the current handling I would be happy so possibly the FSD's 4090 revision might be worth a shot but its finding it at the right price I can try and source them from Germany myself (I can prob buy them without paying VAT) so thats another 19% off! Finding somewhere to fit local is the problem its very expensive here so would be just as cheap to go to UK and back to have them fitted and at least via here I can find somewhere I can trust to do it properly.

hahahahahha looking on blisteins Dutch site check out the price what a mistake to make

http://web1.carparts...B0018004&12=140

Should work out in pounds to me at £411.37 for the B12 kit if I can avoid tax.