Which Coil Conversion, Icm Delete is Better or Stay Stock

[Guss]

Have not been on for a long time, have not been running the S at all. Getting it up and running again and need to do a tune up so figured now is the time to do this mod.

Have searched on this subject, read, and have not really made a decision on what I have read. I would like to hear from people who have done this mod and if they think it's worth it
and which company has the better kit. I am not going to make my own, do not have the time nor aggravation level for it right now. lol

Also if you think it's overrated or not needed would like to hear those views also.

Thanks guys really appreciate it...

[MacDaddy]

After doing the whole conversion i probably wouldnt bother, car runs the same as before, everyone said it was going to be smoother and idle better but i dont notice a difference, and i usually notice everything. Stay stock.

[Timtheguru]

Totally worth it if you don't want to worry about ICMs, other than that probably not. I recommend the RS6 coil packs, no need for physical adapters to bolt them down.

MacDaddy, you likely have a different issue, and the conversion did not resolve your other issue.

[slowSfaux]

I'm with mac on this. I did the conversion as well, with the ecs kit, and the only difference I have is occasionally a check engine light for open circuits on cylinder 4 primary wiring. Changing to rs6 coils seemed to make the code pop up less often, but it still remains. I'll stay with stock coils/icms if I ever purchase another.

Had no misfires on stock coils, and still none on 2.0 or rs6 coils. Idle quality remains the same.

[jballou]

Stay stock

[Guss]

Wow! did not expect to see all the don't do it responses. It seems that it does not really do much at all.

I guess I would be better off buying plugs, stock coil packs, then cleaning my icm's and putting some thermal grease/paste on them and call it a day.

I see some people move the icm's out of their normal position, do I need to do that?

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Nothing wrong with the stock setup if in good condition... Nothing wrong with converting either.

[erykv1]

i think a lot of people get misfires, then jump on the 2.0T conversion bandwagon without finding their root cause... its not a cure all to misfiring issues, but it does away with the ICMs which can be costly to replace.

often times than not, if you half ass the wire conversion (improper grounding / soldering etc) it will cause more issues than not.

fyi i've been running the 2.0T conversion for 20k miles with no issues.

[Guss]

i think a lot of people get misfires, then jump on the 2.0T conversion bandwagon without finding their root cause... its not a cure all to misfiring issues, but it does away with the ICMs which can be costly to replace.

often times than not, if you half ass the wire conversion (improper grounding / soldering etc) it will cause more issues than not.

fyi i've been running the 2.0T conversion for 20k miles with no issues.

So the kits are not just plug and play? There are issues with them that you need to resolve when installing them?

The car is running a little rough obviously from not being run and needs plugs and packs.
I am pretty sure the icm's are good....

[S4UCE]

I like the look of the 2.0 coils, the ease of maintenance (changing plugs), and the price of replacement coils. That said, I wouldn't have made the switch if my ICMs weren't dead (offsetting the cost). I didn't notice any performance/smoothness change, and if I thought I did after the switch, I'm sure it was a placebo effect.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if it is broke, convert to 2.0T coils.

Also, don't throw parts at the car. I'm definitely guilty of that on a number of occasions over the years.

[Guss]

I am just trying to make it as reliable as possible. Less headaches the better. lol

If the kit makes the car more reliable and/or run better it probably is worth it.

Also is anyone running the RS6 conversion? What would the difference be from the 2.0 and RS6 kits?

Thanks again guys. trying to figure this all out while putting the car back on the road...

Been away from here way too long, feel clueless.

[erykv1]

So the kits are not just plug and play? There are issues with them that you need to resolve when installing them?

The car is running a little rough obviously from not being run and needs plugs and packs.
I am pretty sure the icm's are good....

Oh, the kits from ECS / 034 are plug and play. I was under the assumption you were going to buy pigtails, my bad.

If your ICMs are fine I would just freshen up what you have and go from there, no need to spend the extra money when you don't have issues.

[Alby]

some numbers and comparisons to look at:
OEM
Pro- easiest(imo)/made for your car
Con- Expensive if replaced frequent [set of 6: $230(ecs)]

2.0T conversion
Pro- after installation, a set of 6 coils is $125(ecs)
Con- Install kit is about $350

Looking at these numbers the choice is really up to the owner on this one, but the 2.0T conversion might be a good early investment.

Feel free to add anything i missed or correct me.. i'm a little new here :)

[AudiTuner1187]

Can run a larger gap/hotter spark with 2.0 conversion

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[Guss]

Noticed RS6 kit don't need the plates. Are the RS6 coils as good as the 2.0? Not sure of the difference between the 2 except RS6 fits without the plates. My car is not stock, bigger turbos, fueling, tune, etc. Tune needs to be updated, fixed. Does any of that matter?

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[MacDaddy]

Totally worth it if you don't want to worry about ICMs, other than that probably not. I recommend the RS6 coil packs, no need for physical adapters to bolt them down.

MacDaddy, you likely have a different issue, and the conversion did not resolve your other issue.

Car does not have any issues, it was done as preventative maintenance, also rs6 coils are just plain jane mk4 2.0 n/a golf coils.

For someone who calls thenselves a guru you really manage to get it wrong a lot of the time.

[cjt671]

No issues on my 034 kit other than shitty 3d printing plastic in a super hot engine bay so the tabs are real brittle, my main reason was cost of replacement coils.

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[cjt671]

Car does not have any issues, it was done as preventative maintenance, also rs6 coils are just plain jane mk4 2.0 n/a golf coils.

For someone who calls thenselves a guru you really manage to get it wrong a lot of the time.

you are bitter

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[Timtheguru]

Car does not have any issues, it was done as preventative maintenance, also rs6 coils are just plain jane mk4 2.0 n/a golf coils.

For someone who calls thenselves a guru you really manage to get it wrong a lot of the time.

lol, ok

[MacDaddy]

The last like, million posts of his ive read have been egregiously wrong, this is the first time i said something. Thats not being bitter thats patience.

[Timtheguru]

The last like, million posts of his ive read have been egregiously wrong, this is the first time i said something. Thats not being bitter thats patience.

Alright, I'll bite. What have I been wrong about? Humor me.

[cjt671]

The last like, million posts of his ive read have been egregiously wrong, this is the first time i said something. Thats not being bitter thats patience.

Just sounded that way..

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[bindi]

The fsi coils are way cheaper to replace in the future, so if your current stock system is about to fail, I would do a conversion. That's what I did.

Make sure you run two separate grounds (034 kit is flawed i believe), or you will have problems like everyone here seems to have. Do it properly and no problems. ECS has addressed that problem.

[S4James]

Been running single ground for years. There is nothing wrong with it.

[Guss]

The fsi coils are way cheaper to replace in the future, so if your current stock system is about to fail, I would do a conversion. That's what I did.

Make sure you run two separate grounds (034 kit is flawed i believe), or you will have problems like everyone here seems to have. Do it properly and no problems. ECS has addressed that problem.

So you have to do some modification when you install the 034 kit? FSI coils are better than the RS6 coil?

[erykv1]

So you have to do some modification when you install the 034 kit? FSI coils are better than the RS6 coil?

FSI coils are just RS6 coils without the built in adapter plate.

[Guss]

If you get one of the 034 kits you need to modify how its grounded or there's problems?

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[bindi]

I wouldn't get the 034 kit in the first place.

Also the RS6 coils only fit APB motors, I guess that's what you have over there? Won't fit our AGB's anyway.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Been running single ground for years. There is nothing wrong with it.

^^ This

I have plenty of 2.7Ts around I've tuned running single ground (034 Kit) without any issues as well.

I also have done conversions on other cars (stand alone ECU's) also single ground with no issues...

[bmoreS4]

I've been running the ECS kit for about 3 years, zero issues.

[M1NDCRlME]

I've been running the ECS kit for about 3 years, zero issues.

I did the ECS swap 2 years ago and have had no issues. I had a bad ICM and decided it was the right time to do the swap.

[AudiTuner1187]

I did the ECS swap 2 years ago and have had no issues. I had a bad ICM and decided it was the right time to do the swap.

X2

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[christianb5s4]

X2

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X3, I swapped to the ECS conversion while troubleshooting a misfire at idle. Turned out it was unrelated to the ignition setup but I like the flexibility on sparkplug gaps with the new coil, the looks and ease of maintenance. Can't go wrong if you truly have a component that failed in the stock ignition setup and jump to the coil conversion setup but it's not a 'performance' upgrade.

[FlyboyS4]

Have not been on for a long time, have not been running the S at all. Getting it up and running again and need to do a tune up so figured now is the time to do this mod.

Have searched on this subject, read, and have not really made a decision on what I have read. I would like to hear from people who have done this mod and if they think it's worth it
and which company has the better kit. I am not going to make my own, do not have the time nor aggravation level for it right now. lol

Also if you think it's overrated or not needed would like to hear those views also.

Thanks guys really appreciate it...

It doesn't sound like you have any reason to make the change. I also think the coil conversion is overrated.

[S4James]

The ECS is far superior in terms of harness routing, but i would work out a way to shield it from the heat

[getslideways]

Car does not have any issues, it was done as preventative maintenance, also rs6 coils are just plain jane mk4 2.0 n/a golf coils.

For someone who calls thenselves a guru you really manage to get it wrong a lot of the time.

MK4 2.0 N/A Golf/Jetta uses a coilpack and plug wires:





For someone who calls themselves MacDaddy you really manage to get it wrong a lot of the time...

[LINDW4LL]

I didn't buy the FSI coils with the expectation that they'd be "better" than healthy stock coils/ICMs. But, our stock ignition systems are generally old and weak at this point if parts have not been replaced, and replacing both ICMS and all coil packs with factory parts is $$$. Add easier diagnosis due to no ICMs, and the cheap coil cost, and the FSI makes a lot of sense IMO.

[Guss]

Here is my thinking. I know plugs and coil packs need to be replaced they have been on for a while and the car has sat around.
Car runs rough, has misfires because of this. I believe my icm's are good but not totally sure, they have been on for a while.

I did not want to have issues, questions while getting the car back on the road.
Am just unsure if I should do this or not, have to decide if I want to spend the extra cash.

Seems the ECS is the better kit from the comments. Looks like there is a consensus the 034 is lower quality...

My only question is should I just buy the harness from ecs and then buy the RS6 coils.
Seems having them just plug right in and have stock fit without the plates would be the better way.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

You have a few options.

If you want the most straight forward way without any real DIY work, buy one of the conversion kits which come with coilpack wiring, ICM deletes (and most likely), the adapter plates. Then you buy 6 coilpacks, either redtops or blacktops your choice. Same thing.

OR

You can build the whole kit yourself with a little soldering. There are a few people on the B5 S4 Owners Group who can source the pigtails, rubber boots, ICM delete stuff and coilpacks for MUCH cheaper than a plug and play kit. You will then just have to buy the adapter plates from your preferred retailer. ECS, 034, Integrated Engineering are those who make them I believe. All around the same cost of $120.

The second one is the route I am going. My car has 184k, and I have no misfire issues, nor ICM issues. All coilpacks work perfect.

A few reasons I'm doing it:
1. Its preventative maintenance. Less things to fail, and cheaper to replace if they do. Again, this is only if everything is installed 100% PERFECTLY. Read that. PERFECTLY. Otherwise you'll have issues and get bitter about the conversion ;)
2. If it was such a terribly unreliable and stupid conversion, why would MULTIPLE companies do the RnD to develop kits and make adapters and harnesses, etc? They wouldn't offer the kits still if they had crazy failure rates..
3. They look better, easy to replace sparkplugs at the recommended 3-5k miles (with oil changes using BKR7E's), and you rid of the ICM's. Freshens up the bay a bit too.

I got everything I needed for $200. Wiring, coilpacks, adapters, etc. Just have to build it.

[Guss]

Researched doing it myself, don't have the time nor patience to do that right now. Just too busy.

Would rather just buy a pre-made kit. Was thinking of just getting the harness, buying the RS6 coils so I would not need the adapters
Does not seem to be a difference in the 2.0 coils or RS6 in performance. Price is a little different.
Would be a cleaner install and look stock with the RS6 coils