Just wanted to share some before and after pix of my '01 B5 project / daily driver. I picked it up about 10 months ago and have just started tinkering with it. Nothing major, just basic stuff.

1. OEM cross bars - I went with the OEM bars because they are sexy IMO. I may or may not install a fairing. the plain bars are growing on me. I do have a NIB Thule 555 for sale in the classifieds tho..its a 48" tho.
---The install was smooth and easy. Took about 30 minutes by myself. I will say that the torque wrench that comes with the kit is hard to read and gave a 6 nm reading even though it was only 3-4 nm. FYI.

2. VMAXX coilovers - decided to go with them based on price mainly, but now that have them on car, I kind of wished I had went the springs / shocks route. I didn't plan to go this low...I only wanted to go slightly below that of sport suspension, but decided to try these instead. After one day of install, here are some pros and cons:

Pros: good price, came with 6 springs? two of which have different spring rates, availability to adjust ride ht. fairly easy to install according to shop. You can go really low if you want...geez. looks sweet, but is low.

Cons: ride is mushy...ride is mushy, ride is mushy. adjustable height doesnt go high enough for me..the highest setting is lower than I really want. ride is mushier than stock shocks..hit a bump at low speed and hang on to steering wheel...it's gonna bounce up and down in front long stroke.

The install nightmare - well, I decided to take it to a shop and have them installed and forgot to tell them to don't both with the "Hell bolt" . Well,they called me 6 hours into the install in a panic...broken bolts, hurt axle, all kind of BS. They finally got it right and now, my once quiet, smooth silent riding car now creeks and cracks at every turn. I now here a bearing like sound now when I let off of the gas and coast. and worse of all, prior to install, the front end was super tight for an old car, now when you hit small bumps at low speeds its much looser and loose feeling....wtf..

anyways..enough whining about the past...gonna drive it for now and see how things go. no flaming please..I know Ima tard for buying VMAXX and yes you told me so...great rub it in.

Here's the pix...before 1st, then after

Before
[IMG][/IMG]
before
[IMG][/IMG]
after
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

 

The car's looking clean! I actually dig the height.

Where in Cali are you?

 

it jus looks clean at a distance...lol..up close it's embarrassing. lots of dings and scrapes on bumpers and such...makes me look like i cant drive..lol.. prior owner BS..I used some touchup paint..up close you can see them tho...
I actually like the height too, just worried about tire wear based on camber, etc..
I'm in San Diego....

 

That's when you know it's a daily driver! Most of us DD the B5 here.

Come out to a GTG sometime. I'm in the LA area.

 

I just got my car back from my mechanic with VMAXX coilovers isntalled. It was a little stiff than the stock non-sport suspension. I drove it and quite like it. Its not too harsh.

My mechanic had trouble removing the pinch bolt too, so he avoided removing it and just took the whole suspension from up top.

 

you have any noises now that they installed? clanks and clinks etc...?your front feel loose?

 

there was... but i had him repair 2 lower control arms though. I had a feeling they were gone. He checked everything else and its nice and tight (THANK GOD)

My mechanic is a VW/Audi mechanic only, and i'm trying to develop a good trusting relationship. He aint as cheap but he does know his stuff. I took my car to a previous shop to replace my control arms and 3 wheel bearings in the past. BIGGEST mistake cuz its caused me so many issues. They had over torque my lug bolts, but the axle bolt was loose enough to unscrew it by hand. Dont get me started with the wheel bearing.

I still gotta take it in for a wheel alignment test...

i think your problem could be due to poor workmanship. Not a lot of mechanics really understand our cars, better yet take pride in their job. Your car is sitting nice...Its damn close to my height right now.

 

you should replace the lower moldings i can tell there bad i just replaced mine makes the car look new =]

 

ok cool..sounds like I just need to have the lower control arms and stuff looked at I guess...

to all - is that normal that a "tight" car would become "loose" after a coilover install?

 

shhhhh...I was tryin to hide those dang it...lol..yea, that's next..along with some control arms I guess now that the suspension shop jacked everything..