Lowering approval (ABE)

Hey guys!

I have a small problem: My Passat 35i was lowered from the factory, but I don't know how much, or which brand (it's not indicated on the springs), I just remember having a type approval certificate ('ABE') for it once, but I've lost it.

Can anyone scan theirs (preferably high quality) and send it to me? The main thing is that I don't look foolish during one of our many checks (the police officers usually don't look underneath), and that the TÜV [German technical inspection agency] doesn't give me any trouble (they can't see what kind of spring it is).

Thank you for your help.

Arthur.

'Hmm, I would be cautious about that. In principle, there is no General Operating Permit (ABE) for lowering springs. Such modifications always need to be registered, with the only exception being if a load-dependent brake force regulator is not installed. However, this is practically the case in almost every third-generation Golf and certainly also in your Passat, meaning that the brake force regulator is present, so any ABE can essentially be disregarded.'

By the way, police officers definitely pay close attention to these details; the feather number must be clearly visible. They also usually record the shape of the spring at the front and back. So, check if you have a brake force regulator; if you do, you absolutely need to obtain the correct certification and have it registered with TÜV (the German technical inspection authority).

The question is, where am I going to get the report if I don't even know the manufacturer? Otherwise, I can only install other parts, but they have to be genuine. Or I could get shorter ones, but that will cost money again...

I can't hold anyone liable anymore; it's been a while, and the technical inspection authorities always approved them without any issues. But without proper documentation...?

Please don't ask me what was in it; I've never cared about such things before.

@Stukov:
That's not correct.
In 1997, Eibach definitely offered 30mm lowering springs for the Volkswagen Golf 3 GTI, and these came with an approval certificate (ABE).

I meant that there's already something similar called 'ABE,' but in the ABE document, it then specifies the brake force regulation dependent on load, which effectively reduces the ABE to a simple component approval certificate.

If anyone has an approval document (ABE) for their suspension springs, I would appreciate it if they could carefully read through it and post the contents here.

You should definitely take a look at the ABE (approval certificate) before buying the springs.

As I said, the lowering springs were already installed when I bought the car. In my opinion, they are probably very close to the original ones, as the car isn't lowered *too* much. The 30mm measurement might be about right, if at all. Can anyone send me the ABE (approval certificate) for them?

Vielleicht hilft es weiter, wenn Du mal die Federn ansiehst und die Windungszahl V+H als auch die Nummer, die sichtbar sein muß, aufschreibst. Wenn Du sie hier mal postest, kann ja jeder, der eine ABE daheim hat (auch ich) mal sehen, ob eine passende ABE sich findet. Es macht definitiv keinen Sinn, irgendeine ABE zu kopieren, da die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass sie gerade auf Deine Federn zutrifft, sehr gering ist. And as previously mentioned, our gentlemen in green pay very close attention to the number and winding ratio...
Best regards, Thorsten.