Review: Koni Special Actives with OEM springs

[mrmatto]

That's where I bought mine

 

[enobiko]

The Bilstein B6 price was at RockAuto, they don't offer Konis. Last I looked, it was $563 with shipping for all 4.

 

[mrmatto]

The Bilstein B6 price was at RockAuto, they don't offer Konis. Last I looked, it was $563 with shipping for all 4.

That price is sus and a big outlier from other stores. But an amazing deal if true.

 

[El_bigote_AJ]

That’s still not near 47% more…

Also that 500 cost might be for b4 or a coupon code

 

[El_bigote_AJ]

That's where I bought mine

Does fcp carry them for the mqb platform? They have the SAs for my passat at MAP pricing and it’s $625 for the set.

 

[mrmatto]

Does fcp carry them for the mqb platform? They have the SAs for my passat at MAP pricing and it’s $625 for the set.

They do... But not the best price and IMO there's not a huge benefit ordering from FCP anymore with their new return policy.

 

[xXDavidCXx]

Great info! However, the Koni Special Actives are 47% more than the Bilstein B6... I've heard here and there that the Bilstein rides more firmly, but this seemed more hearsay... has anyone compared them back-to-back on identical cars? We may be comparing apples to oranges, at that price differential. (The addition of new strut mounts and bearings will increase the total price for either, brings the Koni to 40% more). But, I'd rather have a better ride, and better control...
Then again, I've read (not verified) that Konis fail and leak, Bilsteins are more reliable. They may be talking about Koni yellows... (sigh...) I had Bilsteins on my '87 GLI, and two of them failed and leaked. Granted, that was decades ago, they probably share no parts at all, and they were replaced under warranty. (This was one instance, I draw no hard and fast conclusions from a sample size of 1.) Even with a warranty, my labor is not compensated. Either one would be for my daily driver, which I also race in the GS class, which allows either of these.
But, since this is a DD and I live in NE Ohio with the bumps that come with the freeze/thaw cycle, I don't really want something that rides significantly worse than stock. Otherwise, instead of the all-around and practical GTI, I might have gotten something more track-focused. And, no, I would not take the time and effort to adjust Koni Yellows before and after every race, so those are out.

In your scenario, I'd get the Koni SA

 

[xXDavidCXx]

That price is sus and a big outlier from other stores. But an amazing deal if true.

That's Rockauto for you. No frills pricing. I use them for my Jeep all the time.

 

[AquaTone61]

I am so glad to read a positive review of these. I have a set waiting for me to install them.

 

[avenali312]

Pricing that I got from Summit back in November 2021 haha. Probably irrelevant now.

 

[mrmatto]

Great price. Mine were like $629 on sale at Tire Rack.

 

[jhd]

Do the Special Actives have internal bump stops? I have a set that will be installed soon and was wondering about that.
I have used Bilsteins on several Golfs and GTIs in the past which had internal bump stops.

 

[golfdave]

Do the Special Actives have internal bump stops? I have a set that will be installed soon and was wondering about that.
I have used Bilsteins on several Golfs and GTIs in the past which had internal bump stops.

The old FSD versions didn't & I don't think they have changed....Bilstein have them as they are inverted dampers so the bump stop is inside the lower coloured tube...

 

[mrmatto]

Do the Special Actives have internal bump stops? I have a set that will be installed soon and was wondering about that.
I have used Bilsteins on several Golfs and GTIs in the past which had internal bump stops.

Nope, you can re-use the stock ones.

 

[Group N]

I`m considering the Koni Special Actives, do I re-use my original OEM springs or replace with new OEM springs?

The originals have done 60K miles.