Strut assembly Bilstein or KONI

Added a modest 40mm lift, upgraded to a better quality Bilstein struts when it was time. Added Falken Wildpeak AT tires.

if you’re on a budget go with ST, BC or even just the tried and true bilstein struts with H&R springs

Bilstein struts, Lovells springs. Perfect combo.

Not long after I purchased it I put all new Bilstein PSS9 struts on and about a year after that I completely refreshed my front suspension (control arms, tie rods, end links, strut mounts, etc.).

I like the bilstein setup better.

I have an 84 gti running Neuspeed sport springs. I just swapped out my Bilsteen strut inserts for Bilsteen struts. It's a nice tight and somewhat low setup.

Red is a great upgrade if you're keeping the factory ride height, they ride MUCH better than the factory Bilsteins.

Be careful if you buy rebuilt Phaeton struts. I haven't found any that mention rebuilding the dampers (shocks). They check them and repaint them and put new air bags on them. You can buy new air bags and swap them yourself for less money.

For all who are considering or may be considering Bilstein B14s or B16s, I would suggest you look elsewhere. The struts below were on my Alltrack for 65K miles and about 4 years. The suspension was not modified beyond these coilovers and a rear sway bar. I've owned cars with modified suspensions (both strut and double wishbone front ends) for more than a quarter century and I've never seen chrome worn off of a shock shaft before. Not surprisingly once the chrome started to chip it tore up the piston rod guide and seal so the struts started acting very poorly in rebound and clunking at low speeds from the movement of the shaft relative to the strut body.

In 2018 I installed Bilstein B8 struts/shocks with vogtland springs on my '13. Within the past 2 years, I've started to notice a knocking sound in the front, usually at low speeds and generally when I have passengers, but not all the time.