Hi, I've recently bought a 2016 L&K and found a rear coil spring broken and need advice to make sure I get the right replacements.

I understand L&K are lower than standard but higher than sportline. I've also seen posts saying the stock springs are too soft and think I might want stiffer ones, as I'll often have the car loaded with gear.

I asked autodoc which springs my car comes with as standard, gave them my vin number and they told me 3Q0511115AJ monroe/18105111 which are 370mm long and seem to be longer than normal, so I'm not sure they are correct.

Can anyone advise regarding stock length and stiffness and what I need ?

Thanks in advance.

Edited 18 May, 20251 yr by brdz

more info about your

3Q0 511 115 AJ ?WD ?hatch ?wagon

part numbers from mine:

3Q0 511 115 AK 220ps FWD hatch

3Q0 511 115 AL 280ps AWD hatch

first were replaced by Eibach Pro F11-79-008-01-HA

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/485647-bilstein-b6-dcc-shock-absorbers-available-at-last/page/3/#findComment-5625462

second got Eibach Pro F11-79-013-01-RA

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/510961-2023-280ps-lk-replaced-2016-220ps-style/page/3/#findComment-5854160

Yes, sorry, estate / wagon, front wheel drive.

I think the ride heights are as follows (by drop):

Standard: 0mm

Sport line: -15mm

L&K/DCC: -10mm*

*The importance distinction with DCC is that even the sport line or standard cars with DCC are 10mm drop. If you have comfort mode then you have DCC.

It does have DCC & electronic dampers (comfort mode is available).

What I would like to know is the correct spring length and is it reasonable to go one grade stiffer on the rear.

It's 2.0 TDI 150hp fwd.

I understand the L&k (which has DCC) is lower than standard, possibly -10mm but I don't know what the correct actual spring length is.

270mm (as advised by autodoc from my vin) sounds higher than standard rather than lower so I suspect it's wrong.

What do you folks think ?

VW springs are really poor, they break very easily, everyone of my previous skoda springs broke.

Would love to know who provide VW with their springs.

14 hours ago, brdz said:

It does have DCC & electronic dampers (comfort mode is available).

What I would like to know is the correct spring length and is it reasonable to go one grade stiffer on the rear.

FYI: DCC and electronic dampers are the same thing.

There are a couple of threads in here somewhere discussing using eibach pro kit springs from other models. The result is the same ride height as original springs but with stiffer coils. May also offer better quality but that is subjective I think. Worth having a look. @Carlston is the spring whisperer and a font of knowledge with this sort of thing.

Thanks 👍🏼.

I've asked a couple of suppliers (autodoc and skodaparts.com) to look up the rear springs using my vin and they've both advised that 3Q0 511 115 AJ (eg monroe sp4248) are the correct part.

However, those websites also say the part isn't for my car, saying it's for a 1.4tsi hatch, not my 2.0dci estate. This seems to tally with the light AJ rating and 8.25 mm wire diameter.

Whenever I navigate through the model --> parts selection on sites I'm guided to different heavier shorter springs eg 3Q0 511 115 AK (eg monroe sp4249) which I'm more inclined to believe.

I'm reluctant to just let my garage change them for whatever his supplier tells him from my reg. number but I need to confidently understand which is the correct part to tell him to use.

I don't want the wrong (too light) springs and my car dragging its arse along the road whilst we're camping around France this summer with 4 passengers, loaded with camping gear and roof box. I'm also adding a full size spare in place of the foam insert and mousse which is currently there so that's a bit more weight.

Does 3Q0 511 115 AJ actually look right or wrong ?

16 hours ago, brdz said:

wagon, front wheel drive

look to pictures of my hatchs in links i posted above

with Eibach Pro F11-79-008-01-HA your will sit down for about ~10mm compared to FWD hatch

with Eibach Pro F11-79-013-01-RA your will rise up for about ~5mm compared to AWD hatch

i'm sure that both are compatible

keep in mind, rear will drop another ~10 mm during first year

another extra ~8 mm can be got by use springs top mount from Audi 8J0 512 149 (which also improves sound isolation)

On 18/05/2025 at 21:20, MartiniB said:

more info about your

3Q0 511 115 AJ ?WD ?hatch ?wagon

part numbers from mine:

3Q0 511 115 AK 220ps FWD hatch

3Q0 511 115 AL 280ps AWD hatch

first were replaced by Eibach Pro F11-79-008-01-HA

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/485647-bilstein-b6-dcc-shock-absorbers-available-at-last/page/3/#findComment-5625462

second got Eibach Pro F11-79-013-01-RA

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/510961-2023-280ps-lk-replaced-2016-220ps-style/page/3/#findComment-5854160

I don't understand why I'm being told my oem rear springs are 3Q0 511 115 AJ (370mm long & soft) for my 2.0tdi estate when your petrol hatch oem part is -AL, 10mm shorter and stiffer.

I'm reluctant to just let the garage swap them for whatever their supplier sends but I don't understand what to specify.

1 hour ago, brdz said:

I don't understand why I'm being told my oem rear springs are 3Q0 511 115 AJ (370mm long & soft) for my 2.0tdi estate when your petrol hatch oem part is -AL, 10mm shorter and stiffer.

I'm reluctant to just let the garage swap them for whatever their supplier sends but I don't understand what to specify.

.. to add to this I just rang my local Skoda dealer parts department but they refused to tell me the original part number. I'd expect my diesel estate to have stiffer springs than your petrol hatch, not softer and to be the same length rather than 10mm longer...

Confused 😭

@brdz

OEM springs are too soft, and i'm not alone with that conclusion,

about reasons i can only guess:

1. as base MQB platform is developed for smaller Golf/A3

2. marketing department have requered softer springs for DCC shock absorvers, to make brighter difference between Comfort and Sport modes

as result we have to search stiffer springs, one of reputed manufacturer is Eibach,

but officially they offer lowering spring, which aren't recommended in areas with rough roads

then i collected specification data about all springs which are offered for MQB platform cars in one table

and by compare different weights i made choice, in both cases it were perfect as for height as for stiffness

yes, it is a kind of lottery, but before i did mine, i have collected opinion from other users

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/465387-lowering/page/3/#findComment-5466403

3 minutes ago, MartiniB said:

@brdz

OEM springs are too soft, and i'm not alone with that conclusion,

about reasons i can only guess:

1. as base MQB platform is developed for smaller Golf/A3

2. marketing department have requered softer springs for DCC shock absorvers, to make brighter difference between Comfort and Sport modes

as result we have to search stiffer springs, one of reputed manufacturer is Eibach,

but officially they offer lowering spring, which aren't recommended in areas with rough roads

then i collected specification data about all springs which are offered for MQB platform cars in one table

and by compare different weights i made choice, in both cases it were perfect as for height as for stiffness

yes, it is a kind of lottery, but before i did mine, i have collected opinion from other users

-> https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/465387-lowering/page/3/#findComment-5466403

Thanks. My first difficulty is that I'm not confident I know what my stock springs actually are to use as a starting point to make any changes. Skoda won't tell me and 2 parts suppliers used my vin and told me they're 3Q0511115AJ which are both longer (370mm) and softer than your stock AK & -AL springs. Combined with mine being diesel and an estate (both making it heavier) that doesn't look right to me compared with yours and also what navigating parts sites suggests. Does AJ look incorrect to you ?

My 2 cents.

Get your VIN number and call the dealer. Ask them for the correct part number for your specific car. Then search using that part number.

When i got my L&K the previous owner had replaced the springs, the ass of the car sat way too high. You could see the rake a mile away.

I replaced them all for the Eibach Pro Kit with 15MM spacers all round. It's sits perfectly for me. I haven't loaded the boot yet with bodies & luggage though. Max I had was 160Kg in the boot

Before:

After

Edited 21 May, 20251 yr by defsix

1 hour ago, defsix said:

My 2 cents.

Get your VIN number and call the dealer. Ask them for the correct part number for your specific car. Then search using that part number.

When i got my L&K the previous owner had replaced the springs, the ass of the car sat way too high. You could see the rake a mile away.

I replaced them all for the Eibach Pro Kit with 15MM spacers all round. It's sits perfectly for me. I haven't loaded the boot yet with bodies & luggage though. Max I had was 160Kg in the boot

Before:

After

I already called my local Skoda dealer but they refused to tell me the part number. Pretty sad really.

46 minutes ago, brdz said:

I already called my local Skoda dealer but they refused to tell me the part number. Pretty sad really.

Call the next one. Or learn to use ETKA 😉

I can look up part number with VIN, but expect I'll see same answer.

1 hour ago, defsix said:

Call the next one. Or learn to use ETKA 😉

I've done some searching trying to find a tool that can tell me the spec from my vin and drawn a blank. I looked at those ETKA parts catalogues and found drawings but all the spring variants were listed. I literally haven't a clue what springs i need. I hear the L&K is lower than standard but when i look at retailers like autodoc there's a great long list and I've no idea which are correct, and I've no confidence my garage will get the right ones either.

@Carlston Hi, I wonder if you can help me identify what springs I need for the rear of my 2.0 tdi manual estate l&k with DCC please ?
I've broken a spring on the back and want to get the correct ones.
I have blue & brown dots on the front springs, been told by suppliers using my vin I need 3Q0511115AJ but that appears to be extra soft and I'm not confident this is correct, plus I'll be loading the car up with gear.
I've looked through some of the other threads where you've advised on similar and I've found a big list of options on the lllparts site but I don't understand what the codes (PR:1JP+0YC etc..) mean against the million different spring options https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/SUP/851/5/511/511010
thanks in advance :)

Edited 21 May, 20251 yr by brdz
incomplete

1 hour ago, brdz said:

ly haven't a clue what springs i need. I hear the L&K is lower than standard

L&K is not lower than standard.

L&K with DCC is lower than standard.

As @MartiniB already mentioned a few posts earlier, it depends on wat shocks u have and if u Sportline.

U have confirmed earlier that u do have DCC, so urs will b lower than standard height setup.

L&K is a trim level, and depending on market (country), it will either come with DCC as factory fit or factory option.

Edited 21 May, 20251 yr by JR RS

8 hours ago, JR RS said:

L&K is not lower than standard.

L&K with DCC is lower than standard.

As @MartiniB already mentioned a few posts earlier, it depends on wat shocks u have and if u Sportline.

U have confirmed earlier that u do have DCC, so urs will b lower than standard height setup.

L&K is a trim level, and depending on market (country), it will either come with DCC as factory fit or factory option.

OP is UK based so as far as I know DCC has always been standard on L&K

10 hours ago, brdz said:

I've done some searching trying to find a tool that can tell me the spec from my vin and drawn a blank. I looked at those ETKA parts catalogues and found drawings but all the spring variants were listed. I literally haven't a clue what springs i need. I hear the L&K is lower than standard but when i look at retailers like autodoc there's a great long list and I've no idea which are correct, and I've no confidence my garage will get the right ones either.

I offered to help with this but you posted something almost at the same moment, and maybe didn't see? Just message me with the VIN.

10 hours ago, JR RS said:

L&K is not lower than standard.

L&K with DCC is lower than standard.

As @MartiniB already mentioned a few posts earlier, it depends on wat shocks u have and if u Sportline.

U have confirmed earlier that u do have DCC, so urs will b lower than standard height setup.

L&K is a trim level, and depending on market (country), it will either come with DCC as factory fit or factory option.

I'm L&K with DCC, not sportline.

2 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

I offered to help with this but you posted something almost at the same moment, and maybe didn't see? Just message me with the VIN.

Aah great, thank you. I did miss your offer during that message overlap.

Apparently I'm not allowed to direct message people until a certain number of posts. Is it ok to post my vin in the open forum ?