Bilstein B4 / B6 vs oem

[Silversquirrel]

Anyone have experience with refreshing original shocks with Bilstein B4 or B6 with stock c7.5 sport suspension springs? Looking for "compared to stock" reviews.
FYI have had B6 in and HD in previous audis.
Thx

[ActiveMonkey]

It's about time to refresh my suspension and i've been wondering the exact same thing.

[Valpo A7]

I went with B4 last year when I had to replace the rears. Broke a spring at the same and could not find a replacement aftermarket so I had to shell out the money for OEM springs. That was a jagged pill. Stock Audi shocks are actually Monroe. As for the B4s they feel like OEM.

Unfortunately THE Audi OEM price dildo usually does not show up pre-lubed

[ActiveMonkey]

Unfortunately THE Audi OEM price dildo usually does not show up pre-lubed

ROFL

[Silversquirrel]

Not impressed with monroe. They were oe on my A3 rears and were bad at 55k. Coincidently my A7 is at 58k mi. Went with Sachs because the OE A3 struts were Sachs and they were great.

[exorcet]

I replaced my C7.5 sports susp. shocks and struts at ~90k miles (about 6k miles ago). I was weighing between the Koni Special Active and the B4's. Ended up going with Koni because I had the precursor "FSD" shocks on a C5 Avant that were magical.

My original shocks/struts were decent but definitely getting a bit of wallow. First thing I noticed was braking felt so much more confident - practically zero nose dive. I'm torn because there are things I really like about the Koni's and stuff I don't. The stuff I don't is more along the "well it's a sports suspension so what do you expect" in terms of feeling a bit pre-sprung at low speeds, bumps holes are harsher than I hoped at low speeds (wasn't an issue with the original FSD) but at speed they are confidence inspiring the slight pre-sprung feeling helps things feel a lot more planted and diminishes significantly at higher speed turns / less understeer feeling. They're in their "groove" at 50+ mph

The roads around me are complete shit. Potholes at speed actually do get dampened really well and aren't jarring or teeth shattering. But the lower speed cruising around town you feel every groove and pebble -- it's actually AMAZING road feedback but does get a little old.

So if you like strong feedback, and better absorption and dampening at speed, have decent-ish roads and/or don't mind lower speed feedback and slight over-reaction bounce (the slight pre-sprung at low speeds sometimes tosses me a tiny bit more than I'd prefer - but it's a one-and-done, resets planted quickly.. just a bit more initial rebound than I'd like).

Anyways - overall it's 10x better than my worn OEM - but I do miss some of the comfort and gentler dampening from OEM. Then it's a "well it is a sports suspension so stop being a wuss' too..

All being said, I do sometimes wonder what the B4's would have felt like. If I wanted to pay 3x the OEM probably best valving for the springs/setup, but f-that.

I'm no race car driver or suspension expert but hopefully a little helpful info...

[Silversquirrel]

Hadn't considered the Koni! I put rear special actives in our sportwagen. Felt good. They blew out at after 60k. Koni was back ordered so I went with Sachs. Koni did eventually send out replacements however, under warranty. So I have spares lol.