Just wondering if anyone is running an Octavia II on Bilstein B4 shocks ?

I've been planning on replacing mine for about 40k now, but at 140k, its time to change them !

Was planning on replacing the springs at the same time, so likely to go the eibach route.

That then leaves me with the question, B4 or B6.

I was planning on getting B6's, but just checked prices and I'm looking around £115 for each front and £87 for each rear.

Then I checked the prices for the B4's, which are substantially cheaper approx £45 per corner.

Its only an elegance, which isn't driven hard, so will the B4's be good enough ?

Only planning on eibachs when one of the front coils broke last winter, it was getting on for £100 for the front OEM spring, so want to get them all done together.

Thoughts appreciated.

Kenich has B4 on his car with eibachs too i think They'll be a smidge stiffer (more controlled) than the OE units but not as much as the B6.

On your car I'd say B4+Eibach would be a good combo.

The B4's are basically a gas version of the standard OE dampers, the B6 are a monotube damper.

Damian @ DPM Performance

handling will be better on B6's but the trade off is low speed ride will be harsher and you can def feel the bumps more but the ride gets better the faster you go on B6s

Edited 7 March, 201214 yr by wiilydog

I had a set of B4s matched with a Pro Kit on my old Focus and it was very good.

I am currently considering B8s and Eibachs (aka a B12 kit) for mt vRS

For what you're wanting/expecting them to do, I would go for the B4.

I have the Billie B4 sports (shortened) with Eibach Pro springs. For what I wanted I am extremely pleased

It rides similar to a stock VRS though it is as comfy "if not" comfier imo. It is obviously now a lot firmer on cornering due to the Eibach springs. Its not a lot lower, a little bit more noticeable but not slammed.

I used this setup first of all for a while on an old 106 Rallye I had years back and was impressed for a cheap fix. They were soon changed to suit a track setup, but on the road the combo worked well.

I had new top mounts / drop links fitted and also a Whiteline RARB fitted at the same time as the B4s/Pros. Since the setup I have found the turn in is now a lot sharper, but I still get a little bit of body roll. This for me is great as I was not after an under dampened ride on hard springs. My wifes uses the car daily so it suits our (her) needs well.

I wanted the B8s or B6s but for over double the price I could not really justify it in the end. If it was my track car or weekend sports car I would of gone harder and lower, but as a family hatch I opted for a safe comfy bet. For the price I cannot grumble!

Ohlins, mmmmmm

http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ohlins_prodnews_201012_rt-auto_vw_golf5_1.pdf

Lovely; got a price though?

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I'll go with the B4's, for the type of car, comfort gets priority over handling, but I guess there will be a huge difference to whats on now.

Car due a service, so I'll talk to the garage about fitting costs.

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I'll go with the B4's, for the type of car, comfort gets priority over handling, but I guess there will be a huge difference to whats on now.

Car due a service, so I'll talk to the garage about fitting costs.

Let us know how you get on.

I'm likely to put some new front shocks on soon and am wondering if B4 are worth the extra money over OEM dampers.

All said and done they are sold as a direct OEM replacement, so I guess that says they are going to be very similar.

Edited 12 March, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

http://www.bilstein.de/en/products/universal-spare-parts/bilstein-b4-dampmaticreg.html

These also look interesting. Only because it's a set of B4's majoring on the variable damping for cars without electronic adjustment.

I have recently had Bilstein B4's and Eibach springs fitted to a non-Vrs Octavia II and thought I'd add my experience after about 4 months.

The springs are great - big difference. Much less dive under braking or lift under acceleration. Better handling with much less roll in corners. Well worth the £90 (+ fitting costs) I spent.

B4's?

Not convinced (not that I have anything to compare it to other than OE shocks on standard (non-Vrs) springs! The B4's just seem a little under damped matched to these springs. No worse in the comfort stakes than the OE ones (that had covered 114k without incident).

However, there is nothing about the improved handling that I would attribute to the dampers as opposed to the springs and, given the small cost difference between OE & B4's, they were perhaps an unnecessary purchase.

Think I would have been better off going for a shortened / stiffer shock from the Bilstein range such as the B8 (as I had them fitted at the same time) had I been able to afford them at the time.

My concern at the time, apart from cost, was the need for shortened dampers on these springs and the potential for having an uncomfortably stiff suspension set up when I don't drive hard that often (and have a wife and kids to consider).

Hope my thoughts help someone - feel free to question or PM me on this if you want to.

If you're still looking for a set of shocks and considering doing the springs as well there's a group buy in conjunction with Shark for Bilstein B12 kits (and possibly the B6 dampers alone too).

There's a link in my sig for this