Best Coilovers for VW Golf Mk7

Most Mk7 Golfs are now past 60,000 miles, which means the original dampers are due - and a coilover kit fixes ride height and tired damping in one job.

The Mk7 (2012-2020) has one trap that catches more buyers than any other: front strut diameter and rear suspension type differ across the range, and kits are listed by both.

What to check before you buy Mk7 coilovers

• Front strut diameter: 50mm or 55mm. Base 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 TSI and 1.6 TDI cars generally run 50mm front struts, while GTI, GTD, GTI Clubsport, Clubsport S, TCR and R run 55mm. A 50mm kit will not clamp a 55mm strut.
• Rear axle: multi-link or torsion beam. GTI, GTD and higher-output 2.0 TDI models use a multi-link rear, and many smaller-engine cars use a torsion beam. Several kits are listed "only for multilink rear suspension".
• Height only, or height and damping? Height-adjustable kits set your stance. Add damping adjustment if the car sees track days.
• Corrosion protection. Buy for UK winters, not for a brochure.
• What is in the box. Spanner sets, top mounts and documentation vary between kits.

Our Mk7 picks

JOM BlueLine VW Golf 7, from £182.60

The value option, and the kit most Mk7 owners end up with:

• Golf 7 Limo & Sportsvan, 1.2 TSI / 1.4 TGI - £182.60
• Golf 7 Limo & Sportsvan, 1.6 TDI / 1.8 TSI / 2.0, multi-link rear - £196.74
• Golf 7 Limo & Sportsvan, 1.6 TDI / 1.8 TSI / 2.0 TDI - £187.32

JOM BlueLine GTI / R / 4Motion, front strut 50/55mm, £217.95

Listed for the 2.0 R 4Motion, GTI Clubsport, GTI Clubsport S, GTI TCR, GTD, 2012-2019, with a 1160kg front axle load. Check this one first if you own a performance Mk7.

JOM BlueLine Golf 7 AU / AUV, £249.00

A higher-spec BlueLine kit for 2012-on cars, with the widest engine coverage of the kits we stock.

Browse every Golf Mk7 suspension part.

Fitment checklist for the Golf Mk7

1. Confirm your front strut diameter. Measure the strut body, or send us the registration and we will check.
2. Confirm multi-link or torsion-beam rear suspension.
3. Check the front axle load on the V5C against the kit specification.
4. Tell us if the car has DCC adaptive damping, because it changes which kit is right for you.
5. Check wheel and tyre clearance if you run 19 inch wheels or wide offsets.

Fitting tips from our workshop

• Fit new top mounts and bearings while the struts are out. They are the usual source of clonks afterwards.
• Torque suspension bushes with the car sitting at its new ride height, not hanging on a ramp.
• Book a four-wheel alignment in the same week. Camber and toe move as soon as ride height changes.
• Expect roughly a 30 to 40mm drop before you start adjusting.

FAQs

Will coilovers fail an MOT? Height-adjustable suspension is legal and lowering is not an automatic fail. The tester checks that the springs are secure, that nothing fouls and that the car is roadworthy.

Do I need to tell my insurer? Yes. A suspension change is a modification and must be declared, or your cover can be void.

How long does fitting take? A workshop should complete a Mk7 kit in three to four hours, plus alignment.

Not sure which kit fits your car? Send us your registration and we will confirm the right listing before you buy.