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Bilstein B6 vs B4

mfizz
in Skoda Superb Mk3 (2015 - 2023)

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I understand B4 are suppose to be direct replacements for OE. However as it stands B6 are cheaper than B4 for the superb. I care more about comfort (less impact going over bumps) than I do about sports. Can anyone qualitatively describe what the difference between the two is? Perhaps has tried them both?

6 hours ago, mfizz said:

I understand B4 are suppose to be direct replacements for OE. However as it stands B6 are cheaper than B4 for the superb. I care more about comfort (less impact going over bumps) than I do about sports. Can anyone qualitatively describe what the difference between the two is? Perhaps has tried them both?

 

Like any other aftermarket shock absorbers, each model of Biltein B4 and Biltstein B6 are sold to replace a whole list of OEM part numbers.

 

Below, are two examples of Bilstein B4 and Bilstein B6 front shock absorbers that fit some standard ride height Superb MK3s.

 

However, the list of OEM part numbers that Bilstein gives is full of errors. For example, all the OEM part numbers below with format xxx xxx 023 xx are for front shock absorbers that have a 50mm strut diameter, not the 55mm that the Superb MK3 uses. So that's at least six OEM part numbers that are incorrect, and there could be many other mistakes.

 

autodoc are listing Bilstein B4 front shock absorbers for about £60 and Bilstein B6 front shock absorbers for about £200.

 

Where are you getting Bilstein B6 shock absorbers cheaper than Bilstein B4 shock absorbers? The B6 version is often about three times the price of the B4 version.

 

Bilstein B4 22-232342 Front Shock Absorbers

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/9129438

 

Bilstein B6 35-229872 Front Shock Absorbers

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/7543304

 

Edited by Carlston

  • Author

I was looking at the damptronic ones. Directly on the Bilstein UK website, they are about £25 cheaper. Where the b4 damptronic is 275 and the b6 damptronic is 250

 

23-254343

B6 are harder than the B4 so definitely B4 for comfort.

11 hours ago, Ttr said:

B6 are harder than the B4 so definitely B4 for comfort.

 

Why would Bilstein make the damping on the B6 harder if the damping stiffness on the B4 was correct?

 

It costs nothing for a shock absorber manufacturer to make a shock absorber stiffer, as they can simply change the valving.

 

The idea of a more expensive shock absorber being slightly harder than a cheaper shock absorber is put out by sales people who are trying to justify the extra cost.

 

The B6 might have slightly higher quality internals, but who knows.

 

Someone who tried both did say that they could only just detect the difference, and that the B4 was by far the best value.

 

Edited by Carlston

B6 are yellow and B4 black. The B6 are marketed as more sporty. Slightly more expensive than B4 but not much in it. Internals the same quality wise.

Just to add that the design is different between the two. B4 is a traditional twin tube setup where the outer tube is the structure of the shock with the damping unit inside. B6 is a mono tube where the outer tube is the structure and the damping unit. This has the benefit of having a larger area for the damper plunger to act on the damping medium making it more consistent and controllable. It also makes the damping medium a larger volume which aids cooling. The B6 is also a pressurised shock. This reduces the chance of the oil cavitation which again improves the reliability and consistency.  This pressure contributes to the hardness that people describe and can also raise the ride height slightly. For example a 30mm drop spring might only drop 25mm with a B6.

 

Tldr: the two shocks are different designs and intended for different uses. Quality control might be the same but component quality I would say are different. It's like comparing a fabia to a superb.

    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

    Just to add that the design is different between the two. B4 is a traditional twin tube setup where the outer tube is the structure of the shock with the damping unit inside. B6 is a mono tube where the outer tube is the structure and the damping unit. This has the benefit of having a larger area for the damper plunger to act on the damping medium making it more consistent and controllable. It also makes the damping medium a larger volume which aids cooling. The B6 is also a pressurised shock. This reduces the chance of the oil cavitation which again improves the reliability and consistency.  This pressure contributes to the hardness that people describe and can also raise the ride height slightly. For example a 30mm drop spring might only drop 25mm with a B6.

     

    Tldr: the two shocks are different designs and intended for different uses. Quality control might be the same but component quality I would say are different. It's like comparing a fabia to a superb.

    This is not the case with the damptronic versions which Mr Fizz is enquiring about. 

    46 minutes ago, Ttr said:

    This is not the case with the damptronic versions which Mr Fizz is enquiring about. 

     

    Source? Have spent the last half hour on various forums and sites and can't find anything confirming your statement. Not saying you are wrong but it makes a strange selection for bilstein. Especially given the technology difference between the passive shocks.

    You can download a bilstein app and put in the car. You will get the shocks available. The damptronics are twin tube. 

    • Like 1

    Ah ok. Once you said that I did a quick Google and yes it looks like all damptronic shocks are twin tube. Even the coil overs. So are identical internally other than valving? 

     

    Edit: so comparing b6 and b6 damptronic is not really apples and apples.

    Edited by MarkyG82

    Yes seems that it's just valving. B6 and b6 damptronic are apples and oranges. I've put in B4 damptronic and at first I couldn't tell the difference in the different modes sport normal comfort. I now can after a period but some say it shouldn't change...it seemed to loosen up for me. I'm not ecstatic about comfort mode....it's better than the wallowing originals but not as great as I would like...I have 4wd which some reporters say makes things worse v 2wd. What I would say is I'd imagine the b6 to offer no real advantages. The sport mode in B4 is stiff as a board so with the b6 you would probably get the same in sport and a stiffer comfort mode.

    I'm running B6 and honestly I expected them to be way harder. Comfort is practicaly the same as OEM, but the body of the car seems to be much more under control.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Shirley that's the holy grail? Comfort with more control.

    What about B4 vs Koni special active on OE springs? Sorry for hijacking the thread slightly, but I want to change the dampers on my sportline asap.

    I have special actives on stock springs on my Passat GTE. Slightly different car but same underpinning and also quite a specific model being the PHEV. Should be very similar to the superb IV.

    Quite disappointed with the shocks. Definitely more comfortable at speed and less body roll. However it feels crashy to the point that I may fit the originals back in. I will probably try lowering to see how that helps but the shock body ends higher on the konis which means much shorter bump stops would be needed. As it is they needed cutting on the front.

     

    Sorry I didn't compare to the B4. Had B6 on my Octavia with stock and lowering springs. Much preferred them to the konis.

    Edited by MarkyG82

    OK, that's interesting - quite a few Mk3 owners have fitted Konis and like them. I didn't want to change the springs, as the standard comfort and ride height are fine for me, but just want more body control when pressing on when I'm commuting across mid wales. The Konis are also quite a bit cheaper which helps a lot.

    The B6 with stock springs on my Octavia was really good. Yes a touch firmer but the body control was 8.5/10 compared to 6/10 on good stock shocks. Worn stock I'd knock 1-1.5 off. Lowered on B6 id give it 9.5 just because it was torsion beam and not as good as independent. It's such a personal thing though. The stock kit is tuned as a compromise of comfort, control, customer expectations, safety. And then you have bushes. Standard ones are generally too soft for anyone wanting a bit of control and precision. I've not ventured into that world yet other than dogbone inserts which I rate massively. Anything with a decent amount of torque will benefit.

    What do you think is the biggest bang for buck to improve body control / reduce wallowing? I can't be arsed to modify it more than I have to, partly because I'm fed up of throwing cash at cars., so I've no intention of making it a tuning project. I might remap it in a couple of years time, but again, been there, done that, got used to it and not sure it's worth the constant worry of premature failure (which has happened already once).

    Best bang for buck is first make sure everything is in good condition. Then make sure you have good tyres with a pressure you are happy with. Then a rear roll bar.

     

    Part condition and tyres should be day job anyway. The bar is then the icing on a stock cake. If you want to keep it OEM look into other cars with stiffer bits. Golf R might fit our cars. I have a white line bar that I got on offer and it's had a much bigger positive effect than the shocks.

    First part is a given. 

     

    I fitted a stiffer RARB to my mk2 octy vrs to tidy up understeer, which it did, but didn't really change anything else much. From personal experience with my previous superb, I thought the biggest issue was with rebound, followed by compression, though the springs were also slightly too soft, I always bottomed out the front on a stretch of road I've used a lot. Fitting uprated dampers on already soft springs is probably going to lead to a crashy experience. Ideally I'd fit slightly stiffer springs and dampers but with minimal reduction in ride height, but I haven't yet found anything that does that. 

    • 1 year later...

    how do i know the correct partnumber or bilstein b6 for my non damptronic superb 3?

    1 hour ago, paras211 said:

    how do i know the correct partnumber or bilstein b6 for my non damptronic superb 3?

     

    It might be these two Bilstein part numbers, as I tried two different models of Superb MK2 and one model of Passat B8, and these were the only Bilstein B6 (non-DCC) that came up on autodoc. So I think there's a very good chance it's these.

     

    You could contact Bilstein and ask them for confirmation that these are correct for your vehicle.

     

    Superb MK3 front shock absorbers (standard ride height) (non-DCC)

    Bilstein B6 35-229872

    https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/7522722

     

    Superb MK3 rear shock absorbers (standard ride height) (non-DCC)

    Bilstein B6 24-229890

    https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/7543304

     

    Edited by Carlston

    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, Carlston said:

     

    It might be these two Bilstein part numbers, as I tried two different models of Superb MK2 and one model of Passat B8, and these were the only Bilstein B6 (non-DCC) that came up on autodoc. So I think there's a very good chance it's these.

     

    You could contact Bilstein and ask them for confirmation that these are correct for your vehicle.

     

    Superb MK3 front shock absorbers (standard ride height) (non-DCC)

    Bilstein B6 35-229872

    https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/7522722

     

    Superb MK3 rear shock absorbers (standard ride height) (non-DCC)

    Bilstein B6 24-229890

    https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bilstein/7543304

     

    These are what I have fitted to my Superb (MK3 Estate non-DCC non-sportline). 

    • Like 3

    Thank you. Will get them.

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