Hello to all you good people!

I have a 2015 Octavia 2.0 Tdi Vrs estate/combi that has now 245k kilometers on the dash.

I'm thinking about changing the front and rear shocks+springs and all the associated parts.

The current ones are still original from the factory and while they passed Mot the ride isn't that great anymore.

I'm also installing a new Golf Gti clubsport RARB+links, new bottom&top suspensions arms and track rods in the rear axle. In the front axle i have changed already new lower control arms+ball joints, antirollbar links and inner+outer track rod ends.

This car is my daily driver with 80/20 highway/town cruising and i'm thinking that i'm going to keep it for another 2-3 years atleast.

What do you suggest i should get? I wasn't thinking of lowering the car from the standard vrs ride height and would appreciate a comfort ride that has that "sportiness" when i have the feel to go fast through corners and roundabouts etc. I understand that you can't really get the best of both worlds so its always a compromise.

And here in Finland the roads are not in that good condition especially after winter so I don't want too firm ride that corners like Mika Häkkinen getting away from Schumacher in Suzuka Grand Prix😅 but most of the time makes you feel nauseous from every single pothole/uneveness that our roads have to offer.

I'm thinking of going with new oem vrs springs like lesjofors and bilstein b4 shocks. Would that be the best solution for a daily driver or is there something better to be had with spending a little more money, like Koni Special Actives or Bilstein B6? Not going to get any coilovers for a car this old.

Thanks for the replies!

36 minutes ago, Jo88Mak said:

...Bilstein B6...

Bilstein B6 are for standard ride height.

Bilstein B8 are for lowered ride height.

Edited Sunday at 17:152 days by Carlston

Carlston, do you mean that B6 is for the standard Vrs ride height which is 15-20mm less than non Vrs, and B8 is used when you use lowering springs like Eibach Pro Kit?

Isn't the Bilstein B12 Kit just like that, B8 shocks and Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs. I have seen the B12 Kit go for like 650-700€ in ebay.de, but would it make the car too firm and teeth rattling for a daily driver? Sure the looks and body roll would get way better but is it with the cost of comfort?

How about the Koni Special Actives with stock Vrs springs? Does anyone have any experience with that setup? Or the B4's with stock Vrs springs?

Any recommendations?

I would go for B6 with stock springs if you don't want to lower but after a handling upgrade as they will be just slightly firmer at lower speeds but offer tigher control and faster rebound, when pushing on.

I fitted an Eibach spring kit to our last VRS estate, they were still on it when sold 10 years/150k miles later.

I fitted Lesjofors to the front of my Dad's Ford Focus, one broke within 2 years.

I rate Eibach !

Ok, so Johnmack, were the Eibach springs you fitted in your Vrs the Pro or Sport Kit lowering springs or the replacement line springs that are made to OE-spec? For front and rear springs going with Eibachs the cost versus like Lesjofors isn't more than 50€ so don't really matter.

The shocks i'm more interested. The B6 are over double the price of B4. Are they that much better and will they make the car too firm for daily driving if paired with OE-spec Vrs springs?

I'm fitting everything myself so there isn't any labour cost...only blood, sweat and tears🤣

On 20/07/2026 at 11:53, Jo88Mak said:

Carlston, do you mean that B6 is for the standard Vrs ride height which is 15-20mm less than non Vrs, and B8 is used when you use lowering springs like Eibach Pro Kit?

In the UK, the Octavia MK3 VRS has lowered ride height not standard ride height.

In some European countries with a lot of snow in the winter, it might have been possible to order the Octavia MK3 VRS from the factory with standard ride height.

The Bilstein B8 shock absorbers are aimed at VAG cars with a nominal 15mm lower ride height than standard ride height. Bilstein B8 shock absorbers are about 20mm shorter than Bilstein B6 shock absorbers.

Bilstein B8 are chosen for short springs such as Eibach Pro and Eibach Sport because they are 20mm shorter than Bilstein B6, not because they are optimized for springs that are shorter than VAG's lowered ride height springs. Bilstein optimize Bilstein B8 for VAG's lowered ride height springs, not Eibach Pro/Sport springs, etc.

Bilstein B6 and Bilstein B8 shock absorbers have the same damping characteristics.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Carlston

Thx for the input Carlston.

So the B8 is the right shock for a stock Vrs sport suspension, right?

What about the B4? Bilstein code 22-230539 is for the front shocks and 19-230559 is for the rear shocks.

Are these the right B4 variants for my car? They go well with stock Vrs springs?

Also, Carlston, do you know that does a Vrs have shorter shocks than a non Vrs car when they left the factory or is the ride height difference only made with different springs?