Almost 5 years after the MKIII Superb came out, there is finally a rather affordable upgrade option for DCC cars, when looking to seriously improve handling and road feed-back without sacrificing comfort as much as with a typical coilover set: The Bilstein B6 DampTronic with confirmed fitment for the MKIII Superb with DCC, meaning all suspension modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport) are retained 

B6 are not a new product and the fixed damping variant has already been available for a while for non-DCC Superbs but for DCC cars the options so far had been to either:

a) Give up on your DCC adjustability and install any fixed damping coilover/shock & springs combo BUT with an additional cost of 300-400EUR for a DCC delete kit bringing the total cost to over 1600EUR  OR...

b) Go with the high end DCC compatible coilovers from Bilstein and KW (B16 Damptronic , KW DDC) around 2200EUR.

Personally, as a Sportline DCC owner that is after as much sharp handling as realistically possible I have so far gone with Eibach Pro-Kit springs on mine and despite the fact they brought an improvement especially in Sport mode which is far from too firm or uncomfortable  (more like a Normal mode in a Golf R), I have realized that I am after yet more control. Plus the fact that MY19 and onwards do not store the drive setting and I have to manually switch to Sport mode every time I start the car in order to drive something that does not seem as it wants to start bouncing up n down at the first chance it gets, is becoming frustrating.

As some may remember, a while ago there was a discussion as to how the B6 with DampTronic (DCC compatibility) was available for the Golf R but not for the Superb, many of us had assumed Bilstein just hadn't bothered due to low demand from Superb owners and that the Golf items would be compatible with the Superb too despite Bilstein not confirming it.
Well it turns out that was only half true. Now that Bilstein has officially given the B6 DampTronic to the Superb too, the front shocks are the same as in the Golf, but the rear ones are different, it certainly took them a while.

These new entries (circled in red) are what DCC owners should be after, they were not showing up a couple of months ago




Quick internet search shows they can had for ~1000-1100EUR which i find a reasonable price when considering it's a variable damping, adjustable system that is fully compatible with the DCC OEM system. Reviews of them on the Golf GTI were very positive already so I can only imagine what transformation they will offer on the Superb.

Very tempted to have a go at them next spring when the new "modding" season begins...

Edited 2 October, 20205 yr by newbie69

Thank you, this ends up in the mod list right next to the KW DCC. The price certainly plays in favor of Bilstein, for now. Maybe KWs prices will drop before next "modding season"!

14 hours ago, newbie69 said:

Almost 5 years after the MKIII Superb came out, there is finally a rather affordable upgrade option for DCC cars, when looking to seriously improve handling and road feed-back without sacrificing comfort as much as with a typical coilover set: The Bilstein B6 DampTronic with confirmed fitment for the MKIII Superb with DCC, meaning all suspension modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport) are retained 

B6 are not a new product and the fixed damping variant has already been available for a while for non-DCC Superbs but for DCC cars the options so far had been to either:

a) Give up on your DCC adjustability and install any fixed damping coilover/shock & springs combo BUT with an additional cost of 300-400EUR for a DCC delete kit bringing the total cost to over 1600EUR  OR...

b) Go with the high end DCC compatible coilovers from Bilstein and KW (B16 Damptronic , KW DDC) around 2000EUR.

Personally, as a Sportline DCC owner that is after as much sharp handling as realistically possible I have so far gone with Eibach Pro-Kit springs on mine and despite the fact they brought an improvement especially in Sport mode which is far from too firm or uncomfortable  (more like a Normal mode in a Golf R), I have realized that I am after yet more control. Plus the fact that MY19 and onwards do not store the drive setting and I have to manually switch to Sport mode every time I start the car in order to drive something that does not seem as it wants to start bouncing up n down at the first chance it gets, is becoming frustrating.

As some may remember, a while ago there was a discussion as to how the B6 with DampTronic (DCC compatibility) was available for the Golf R but not for the Superb, many of us had assumed Bilstein just hadn't bothered due to low demand from Superb owners and that the Golf items would be compatible with the Superb too despite Bilstein not confirming it.
Well it turns out that was only half true. Now that Bilstein has officially given the B6 DampTronic to the Superb too, the front shocks are the same as in the Golf, but the rear ones are different, it certainly took them a while.

These new entries (circled in red) are what DCC owners should be after, they were not showing up a couple of months ago




Quick internet search shows they can had for ~1000-1100EUR which i find a reasonable price when considering it's a variable damping, adjustable system that is fully compatible with the DCC OEM system. Reviews of them on the Golf GTI were very positive already so I can only imagine what transformation they will offer on the Superb.

Very tempted to have a go at them next spring when the new "modding" season begins...

 

 

Hi, is that €1100 per shock, per axle or for all 4 ??

13 hours ago, Roscio said:

Thank you, this ends up in the mod list right next to the KW DCC. The price certainly plays in favor of Bilstein, for now. Maybe KWs prices will drop before next "modding season"!

Well hope never hurts but I'd say it's impossible for the KW DCC setup to ever become even remotely competitive price-wise to those B6 Damptronic. KW DDC is on sale for around 2200-2500EUR and they are not items that get discounted much (or even at all). It partly makes sense as they are a complete coilover set not just shocks, with the extra feature of height adjustability (for whoever needs that).

The B6 Damptronic could even be combined with stock springs but even with a pair of Eibachs (which i think would be the ideal setup), they turn out to cost half the price of the KW: 1200-1300EUR.

And if GTI and M3 owners are praising them so much in their reviews as I've been reading, they will most certainly be more than perfect for the Superb. I have no doubt about them bringing all the handling improvement I'm after and then some more. If I hadn't done springs just a couple months ago I'd be so tempted to try them already but it's hard to find two full days free time to do this again in a relaxed fashion, plus I've used up all my mods budget for this year 


 

3 hours ago, k.young said:

Hi, is that €1100 per shock, per axle or for all 4 ??

All 4 of-course. That's just from a quick internet search though.

interesting, does same model of rear shocks fits for FWD

 

23-254343    front
20-267537    rear for 4x4
 

3 hours ago, newbie69 said:

Well hope never hurts but I'd say it's impossible for the KW DCC setup to ever become even remotely competitive price-wise to those B6 Damptronic. KW DDC is on sale for around 2200-2500EUR and they are not items that get discounted much (or even at all). It partly makes sense as they are a complete coilover set not just shocks, with the extra feature of height adjustability (for whoever needs that).

The B6 Damptronic could even be combined with stock springs but even with a pair of Eibachs (which i think would be the ideal setup), they turn out to cost half the price of the KW: 1200-1300EUR.

 

right now I could buy a kw dcc kit for € 2,300 (or maybe something less), or a B6 damp + eibach pro kit for around € 1,480. it means about 35% difference. Not bad!

 

8 minutes ago, MartiniB said:

interesting, does same model of rear shocks fits for FWD

 

23-254343    front
20-267537    rear for 4x4
 

 

This ones should fit:

 

I have a set of Eibach pro springs fitted - has transformed the car - I also have DCC of course. Skoda kindly replaced my front shocks under warranty earlier this year - so they are hardly run in. 

 

The Eibach's together with my Superpro sway has transformed the handling & turn in. Stance is also perfect. How it should be for such a large motor!

 

I will consider these B6's - but as you say...will go into next years budget - I've spent enough this year on mods!! 

6 hours ago, freeglide said:

I have a set of Eibach pro springs fitted - has transformed the car - I also have DCC of course. Skoda kindly replaced my front shocks under warranty earlier this year - so they are hardly run in. 

 

The Eibach's together with my Superpro sway has transformed the handling & turn in. Stance is also perfect. How it should be for such a large motor!

 

I will consider these B6's - but as you say...will go into next years budget - I've spent enough this year on mods!! 

I can vouch for the EIbach springs & H&R arb combo working wonders on the car. Currently in Sport mode it's quite good actually and I would imagine it's only a small percentage of drivers looking after yet more improvement than the springs and arb bring, especially on a Sportline DCC which i believe has a slightly firmer setting than the L&K.

However as I come from cars with tight handling that I was dailying and tracking at the same time I sometimes crave even further improvement without ruining the drive-ability of-course and this is exactly where the B6 would come in based on what I've read about them. I'm thinking Normal mode would become the ideal one, slightly on the firm side but not uncomfortable similar to current Sport mode but better. If next spring-summer find me still with this car then it will most probably be a mod that I will realize.

 

7 hours ago, Roscio said:

 

right now I could buy a kw dcc kit for € 2,300 (or maybe something less), or a B6 damp + eibach pro kit for around € 1,480. it means about 35% difference. Not bad!

 

 

This ones should fit:

 

 

Well yes but It's still 900EUR for which I have tons of better uses than just to be able to adjust the ride height (how often would I need to do that anyway? I'm not tracking this car to worry about going ultra low).Plus for me having got the springs already the difference is closer to 1100EUR in reality.  But even mort important, everything I've read suggests the B6's damping is more than up to the job so I don't feel as If I would be doing any compromise if going with them and the extra cost of the KW does not provide any obvious benefit for me.

As @MartiniBwrote, the rear shock's part number for the 272 4x4 is different to the one you posted so beware when placing the order, cross-check with Bilstein's online catalog here:

BILSTEIN online catalog

Edited 2 October, 20205 yr by newbie69

looking at the catalog - note I have a 280 - its this set that I would need: 

 

 

14 hours ago, freeglide said:

looking at the catalog - note I have a 280 - its this set that I would need: 

 

 

Yeap, seems to be the right items for the 280/272

I'm looking into this at the moment, anyone got any decent UK suppliers?

 

My front shocks are banging after 60k miles, but I only got the car on 55k so I'm not even sure what the standard ride should be like. Are the B6 any harsher?

 

Thanks

12 minutes ago, Max M4X WW said:

I'm looking into this at the moment, anyone got any decent UK suppliers?

 

My front shocks are banging after 60k miles, but I only got the car on 55k so I'm not even sure what the standard ride should be like. Are the B6 any harsher?

 

Thanks

If you ring pro car in carryduff N.I, the grumpy bloke that answers the phone will sort you out with a set. 
Not sure on how great postage is at the minute though. 
028 90 817187

I am seriously thinking about a set of Bilstein B6 for my 2015 FWD, non-DCC 190 tdi. It’s on 68k miles and the wallowing is awful at anything over a crawl over poor/bumpy surfaces. Speed humps give a horrendous result! It’s like a boat at sea.

 

Price-wise, looks like £540 if I fit them myself. I don’t want to lower the car so i’m thinking I can keep the current standard springs. Anyone done this? Thoughts?

Edited 19 December, 20205 yr by the_worrier

Sounds like it would be perfect for what you want and they should be fairly easy to fit.

Do I need new, stiffer springs to significantly reduce bounce or just new shockers?

Shocks (dampers) for reducing bounciness. Springs for roll/pitch or lowering.

 

There's a LOT more to it but that's a good place to start.

 

B6 should work well with stock springs and help reduce unwanted body movement in all directions along with general body/wheel control when things are bumpy. You will find you are able to carry more speed and comfort should improve (this is personal preference).

If I get nowhere (as expected) with the dealer I will change the shock absorbers in the New Year. 

1 hour ago, the_worrier said:

If I get nowhere (as expected) with the dealer I will change the shock absorbers in the New Year. 

Your shock needs to be leaking below the cup to be replaced under warranty. 

On 20/12/2020 at 18:03, the_worrier said:

Do I need new, stiffer springs to significantly reduce bounce or just new shockers?

Shocks is what you're after, and since no lowering is desired, B6 should be ideal for that (or Konis according to some who have them, although not an option if you got DCC)

Is there a system you can install to control the shocks on a non-dcc car?

22 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

Is there a system you can install to control the shocks on a non-dcc car?

 

If you want electronic adjustable damping, then you'll either need to retrofit DCC or an aftermarket solution such as the KW DDC ECU kit (which comes with it's own control module and BT app)...

 

If you just want adjustable damping, something like the Bilstein B16 might be suitable as they have an adjustment knob on the shocks

It was just a thought as DCC was something I would have liked in a new car. The ability to change on the fly would be the target. Individual knobs would be a fiddle too far for a family daily. Maybe if I manage to get a toy I'll put coilovers/adjustables on.

Just looked up that KW DCC kit. That's definitely a price too far especially as my current kit works fine and I've had it for less than 2 weeks!

13 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

It was just a thought as DCC was something I would have liked in a new car. The ability to change on the fly would be the target. Individual knobs would be a fiddle too far for a family daily. Maybe if I manage to get a toy I'll put coilovers/adjustables on.

Just looked up that KW DCC kit. That's definitely a price too far especially as my current kit works fine and I've had it for less than 2 weeks!

That's the beauty of the DCC and OEM electronically adjustable suspension systems in general, on my 2nd DCC car and I don't think I'll ever have any other performance all-rounder without such a system from factory. Manual adjustment is fine for a track car but I wouldn't bother with it on my daily.

That been said, on the Superb i would have like it a bit firmer in the Sport setting. It improved after Eibachs went on and I reckon for most would be ok but I like a firm ride.

When I did some digging into how the DCC works it struck me as quite a basic system as far as the 3 settings go. As you change a mode it simply rotates the adjustment to make the base setting slower or faster.

There are other more complicated things going on with how it responds to input which I think is what makes the system so good.

Back to my first point. Is there a way to set the dial up a notch for each setting? For example, instead of 1,5,9 for comfort, normal,sport. It could be 2,6,10. Making it that much stiffer in each setting.

 

This could be achieved by vcds or mechanically. Maybe dunno possibly I'll get my coat.

4 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

When I did some digging into how the DCC works it struck me as quite a basic system as far as the 3 settings go. As you change a mode it simply rotates the adjustment to make the base setting slower or faster.

There are other more complicated things going on with how it responds to input which I think is what makes the system so good.

Back to my first point. Is there a way to set the dial up a notch for each setting? For example, instead of 1,5,9 for comfort, normal,sport. It could be 2,6,10. Making it that much stiffer in each setting.

 

This could be achieved by vcds or mechanically. Maybe dunno possibly I'll get my coat.

Actually it's quite more complicated than just a fixed damping setting, it is constantly evaluating the conditions and damping (even at a macro level), I had read the details some years back, which is why it behaves so well

The shocks are essentially the same between all MQB cars so it must be a matter of electronic adjustment, unfortunately no-one has come across a way to change this, hence why some who are after a really sporty ride but like being able to dial it back on occasion are switching to the B6 DCC (instead of passive aftermarket dampers with DCC delete for example).