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Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:40 am
by KiwiRS4
The time has come to take the plunge and refit the old girl with some sensible modern non bank shattering mod's. Based on the feedback from the forums the following look sensible. Any suggestions on any alternative's and approx price for parts/install most welcome.
-Bilstein PSS9
-H&R ARBs
-Miltek cat back (res/non-res?)
-MRC Custom Remap
-RS6 8pot callipers
Cheers,
John.
RE: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:52 am
by Nige_RS4
You may want to consider the Hotchkis ARBs as they come with the all-important rear strengthening bracket.
Also, consider just adding the 8-pot calipers to your existing discs to save ~ £450 on discs (obviously depends on how worn your current discs are).
Maybe think about gutting the pre-cats whilst you're at MRC.
Listen to the non-res Milltek dual before you buy it!
HTH
Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:57 pm
by ollys
KiwiRS4 wrote:The time has come to take the plunge and refit the old girl with some sensible modern non bank shattering mod's. Based on the feedback from the forums the following look sensible. Any suggestions on any alternative's and approx price for parts/install most welcome.
-Bilstein PSS9
-H&R ARBs
-Miltek cat back (res/non-res?)
-MRC Custom Remap
-RS6 8pot callipers
Cheers,
John.
mmmm... not sure about the non bank shattering - there's about £4.5-5k in mods there - depends what your bank balance looks like though I suppose
Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:45 pm
by rhunter203
ollys wrote:KiwiRS4 wrote:The time has come to take the plunge and refit the old girl with some sensible modern non bank shattering mod's. Based on the feedback from the forums the following look sensible. Any suggestions on any alternative's and approx price for parts/install most welcome.
-Bilstein PSS9
-H&R ARBs
-Miltek cat back (res/non-res?)
-MRC Custom Remap
-RS6 8pot callipers
Cheers,
John.
mmmm... not sure about the non bank shattering - there's about £4.5-5k in mods there - depends what your bank balance looks like though I suppose
4.5k Plus labour!
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:21 pm
by Sql_RS4
Yea that looks like a well bank shattering setup!!
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:37 am
by lynchy
if you dont want to spend too much money then go for MRC remap with gutted precats which will give you an extra 15-20 bhp on top of the remap and H&R arb`s with rs2 droplinks and MRC brackets or go for the hotchkis arb`s which come with the brackets already
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:23 am
by cpt_splash
The MRC Remap on its own will make her feel much faster. You can gut the cats and do the exhaust later if you need them.
The H&R's make a huge difference, makes it wallow less but does not affect the ride. MRC added their rear drop link bracket at the same time.
I did the front brakes as my original discs needed changing. The upgrade was not a massive increase in cost. Well worth doing though.
Good luck with the mods...
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:02 pm
by KiwiRS4
Thanks for all your feedback...just received a quote from Doug at MRC for the mod upgrades. Looks like the old girl is going to get that makeover she's been craving for. Can't wait to feel the difference from the stock setup which has provided me with a massive grin everytime I take her out.
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:40 pm
by lynchy
what upgrades are you going for ? all of the above ?
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:36 am
by KiwiRS4
Hey Lynchy, going for gutting the pre-cats, miltek non-res with a MRC remap. Spotted these yesterday (
http://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-PSS9-Coi ... 364&sr=8-8) so I'm going to convince work I need a trip to the US for a team building exercise

Has anyone found these cheaper in the UK/Europe?. Doug was estimating 460 BHP after the work above. I'll wait and see if the OEM brake setup can handle the new power before deciding on the RS6 callipers. Is it worth upgrading the rear disc/calipers as well, they look so tiny in comparison to the front.
RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:35 am
by KiwiRS4
I had to post a follow up response to my original message. Had the PSS9's and H&R ARB's fitted on Monday by the crew at MRC. All I can say is WOW, what a massive difference it had made. Doug recommended leaving it on the softest setting for a while then cranking it to firm to find a happy medium. Even on the firmest setting, gone are the days of winching the eyes before approaching judder bars and driveway entrances. As with previous threads, this really does transform the car and bring it back to the new car handling feel. I can't believe at how uncomfortable and horrid the OEM suspension is in comparison.
Re: RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:12 am
by rtd
KiwiRS4 wrote:I had to post a follow up response to my original message. Had the PSS9's and H&R ARB's fitted on Monday by the crew at MRC. All I can say is WOW, what a massive difference it had made. Doug recommended leaving it on the softest setting for a while then cranking it to firm to find a happy medium. Even on the firmest setting, gone are the days of winching the eyes before approaching judder bars and driveway entrances. As with previous threads, this really does transform the car and bring it back to the new car handling feel. I can't believe at how uncomfortable and horrid the OEM suspension is in comparison.
hi mate, i would recommend that you get the car set-up professionally then you will be amazed by the ride/handling of the car. when i replace my suspension i will be taking it here
www.centergravity.co.uk - chris the owner really knows his stuff and another member of the forum (can't remember name right now) has also had his car done and rates them very highly.
Re: RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:16 am
by KiwiRS4
Thanks RTD, I was looking for someone to do the wheel alignment after it all settles down, thanks for the link.
rtd wrote:
hi mate, i would recommend that you get the car set-up professionally then you will be amazed by the ride/handling of the car. when i replace my suspension i will be taking it here
www.centergravity.co.uk - chris the owner really knows his stuff and another member of the forum (can't remember name right now) has also had his car done and rates them very highly.
Re: RE: Re: Sensible upgrades for a makeover
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:18 am
by rtd
KiwiRS4 wrote:Thanks RTD, I was looking for someone to do the wheel alignment after it all settles down, thanks for the link.
rtd wrote:
hi mate, i would recommend that you get the car set-up professionally then you will be amazed by the ride/handling of the car. when i replace my suspension i will be taking it here
www.centergravity.co.uk - chris the owner really knows his stuff and another member of the forum (can't remember name right now) has also had his car done and rates them very highly.
no worries. give him a call he really is a top bloke and has real passion for what he does. all the best and let us know how you get on.