Disclaimer: this is a pretty daily driver (once a week) that's pleasant to drive, but nothing more. It's no performance car by today's standards so I don't modify it as if it were.
Mounts:
034 Engine Mounts - Street
034 Transmission Mounts - Track
Apikol Snub Mount
We all know the benefits of stiffer mounts so I'm mostly going to speak to the NVH aspect.
This combo was recommended by the great Raz at AUTuning, the shop that did the install. This was not my first experience with upgraded mounts on an older Audi/VW - things can get shaky real quick. So I was pleasantly surprised to hear no increase in noise upon first start. The most immediate difference is the feel coming through the pedals, reminding you that there is an engine and transmission out there after all.
1000 miles later I wouldn't say that they have "settled" or can be felt any less, but that's no complaint. I had a scare this month where a buzzing sound developed and seemed like it was coming from the dashboard. Was it the mounts? Yes, BUT...it turns out my speaker (which is disconnected for my setup) was blown and vibrating just enough to make a sound with the door closed. I took it out and no more noise.
The most surprising benefit was how smooth shifts feel. If I had to decide between this (stock shifter) or a JHM trio kit, I would absolutely pick the mounts. Sure maybe the combo would be the real solution but I can't justify the dollars per smiles increase at this time.
My guess is that Track + Track would be overkill for a daily driver but that Street + Street would leave most wondering if the slight improvement was worth the money.
Suspension:
Bilstein B12 Kit
This is the 3rd suspension setup I've had on this car, the first two being ST and Vogtland GT3 coilovers. If any of you have returned a car to stock and went "wow this is actually pretty nice" then you know where I'm going with this. The Bilstein kit is noticeably softer than GT3s on bumps, turns, and acceleration. The GT3s were also set a full inch lower in the front and 2 inches lower in the rear, so this isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison.
Having said that, this is my favorite suspension setup and also the cheapest. The GT3s were great and I do miss them, but I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed with the overall performance of the B5. My E36 on Bilstein PSS coilovers was out of this world both in comfort and handling. Being low and stiff became pointless to me in a car that is used for daily driving duties 90% of the time. Now I have comfort and ground clearance without sacrificing looks (subjective). You can now tell that the wheels are fairly wide and it gives it an aggressive look from most angles. The rake is not as noticeable in person.
Pictures to come and happy to answer any questions.
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