Koni FSD 2100-4090

[mad_pete]

Overview

So Koni FSDs.  Smooth ride on the rough, firm ride round the corners.  The no compromise damper ?  Read a lot of reviews and info.  Originally 2100-4001 fitted all Golfs including the GTI and then they brought out the 2100-4090 specifically for the GT and GTI. So I got the 2100-4090s as that's the GTI one.  


Why

Golf GTI ride on 18" too firm, picks out all the bumps on the road.  People tell me I can't have everything and proper sports cars should crash over all the tiny bumps. Well guess what, I want everything.  FSD should use a valve to be soft on the rough and then firm up in the corners.  Having driven a mk6 with adaptive chassis control even halfway to that would be great. Primary driver was comfort without ruining the cornering.  

Sourcing

Awesome GTI - good price, good comms, good shop :-)

Fitting

Paid a garage to do it. Apparently the paint on the dampers made the fronts tight to get in but otherwise fine. Fitted with the stock springs.

Other versions

Adjustable coilovers if you like messing about under the car, or the Adaptive chassis control of the MK6 otherwise none really


Plus Points

Cornering is better, car is flatter and smoother. Some bumps are smoothed

Minus Points

Low and high speed ride still suck, 10% better at most.  Some bumps seem to disappear and a sharp bumps like a cats eye are softer, but most seem to still be there. Ride wise not want I was expecting to get

Summary

I think with the original 2100-4001s the ride was improved and the handling was only a little better.  That was the version in the VW driver review.  I think with the 2100-4090s the ride is only very slightly improved and the handling is better.  Which would be good if Koni marketed that way but the 4090 is the only one listed for the GTI.  I wouldn't say it provides anymore comfort.

I'm not impressed.  Really the FSDs should allow the best of both in reality with 2100-4090 you get better cornering and stock ride.  If you are looking for improved comfort look else where or try the 2100-4101s

[bacillus]

Were you using these with the standard springs?

[mad_pete]

They are deigned to be used with the standard springs.

[bacillus]

They are deigned to be used with the standard springs.

True but they are supposed to work best with Eibach pro springs hence they were once sold  together as a kit.

[rob_e]

nice write up - i tend to concur..  I had fsd on my octavia and didn't rate them.

[mad_pete]

Update: I've spoken to a nice gentlemen at Koni UK distributer and we have come to an arrangement for me to get the 4001s.   I will say the customer service from Koni was excellent.  Listened to my concerns and worked hard to get a resolution.  AwesomeGTI have also been good about the change so thanks a lot guys. :-)

So I will be able to update the review to cover the 4001s (which will hopefully soften out my ride) and I will have some nearly new 4090s appearing in the for sale section.  Recommended for the GTI driver that prefers a firmer ride. 

[Janner_Sy]

Why the swap?

[RedRobin]

They are deigned to be used with the standard springs.

True but they are supposed to work best with Eibach pro springs hence they were once sold  together as a kit.

....I bought Koni FSD's with Eibach Pro springs back in around 2006. I also bought Eibach ARB's around the same time which are still on my GTI. I thought the FSD's were an excellent and clever compromise but one of them failed after about 2 or 3 years. Awesome were extremely helpful and I was given a full refund from Koni after they tested them for the fault. I then put the money towards my KW-V3 coilovers.

In my opinion they do not contribute to handling what prime brand, well setup coilovers do, but they are far better than the OEM dampers. I would strongly recommend also fitting ARB's to tighten it all up.

[sub39h]

Make Him Famous 2012

[Hedge]

I had Eibach spings and FSD's on my first Octy. I thought the springs were harsher than stock but the clever dampers soothed the ride somewhat.

Koni then went on to make proper dampers for shorter springs as it turns out he FSD's I had were for standard springs.

Car was stolen and once recovered I sold them on to a chap and they eventually failed.

I do prefer my current KW V1's but would possibly go elsewhere in the future.

[mad_pete]

I'm swapping because I want comfort. I'm finding the Pirelli ride much harder than the standard GTI  (and yes I know it's supposed to be the same but trips to my chiropractor say different) The 4090s are still a very firm shock, so the secondary ride matches the stock damper rather than bettering it.  The plus side is much better cornering and the rebound issue the 4001s had is fixed but I need comfort and that was the reason for FSDs , I can't be doing with feeling all the bumps in the road.  So I'm going to 4001s in search of that comfort while maintaining cornering.

2006 would be the 4001 shock and the 4090s came in 2008 I think.  So in terms of Mk5 GTIs we have two separate shocks under discussion.  This review is the 4090. I'll do a separate on once I have experience with 4001s

[Msportman]

The FSD's definately work better with Eibach springs....they are better callobrated for some reason.

I found KW Clubsports on my Ed30 were brilliant....really comfortable much better than the OE set up in comfort terms.

Clubsports take handling to a whole new level as far as KW1,2 or 3's are concerned hence their price.

[widetyres]

I'm swapping because I want comfort. I'm finding the Pirelli ride much harder than the standard GTI  (and yes I know it's supposed to be the same but trips to my chiropractor say different) The 4090s are still a very firm shock, so the secondary ride matches the stock damper rather than bettering it.  The plus side is much better cornering and the rebound issue the 4001s had is fixed but I need comfort and that was the reason for FSDs , I can't be doing with feeling all the bumps in the road.  So I'm going to 4001s in search of that comfort while maintaining cornering.

2006 would be the 4001 shock and the 4090s came in 2008 I think.  So in terms of Mk5 GTIs we have two separate shocks under discussion.  This review is the 4090. I'll do a separate on once I have experience with 4001s

Hi Pete,

Did you fit the Koni 4001's?  I'm really interested in the outcome of this as I have an Edition 30 (so essentially the same car as yours) and I too find the suspension too hard for longer trips, so I'm interested in fitting some Koni's to my car.

Thanks.

[BalanceMotorsport]

If you want ride comfort switching to 17's will make more difference than any spring and damper change, and save money on tyres as 17's still tend to be less than 18's. If it were my Golf i'd have 17's with Bilstein B12 - low speed ride is firm but on british Broads they body and wheel control is exceptional. The ride I would describe as "plush". Porsche 911, Elises and Caterhams all have Bilstein as OE and they all ride well in my experience.

[Beeps]

I am also interested in what it felt like after the swap from 4090 to 4001.

I had my Mk4 Gti on the FSDs for 5 years and loved the ride - the Mk5 is great for fun round corners, but too hard on normal roads
( I am not a teenager anymore)