[Z3guy]

Hi RS members,

I just had some KW V2 Coilovers installed in my E60 5 Series....man, what a difference these make in handling and ride quality. I have heard really good things about KW coilovers on M3 and E60 forums, but in reality they are even better. I can't believe how the coilovers transformed my 5 series. With stock non sport shocks and H&R sport springs, the car handled OK, the ride was soft and comfortable, but I hated how the car responded when I hit a deep man hole cover...my car would literally skip a bit and it felt the shock could not modulate the wheel (only did this w/ my 20s).

With the KWs, my 5 series feels a true sports sedan now and the ride is only slightly less comfortable than stock....before it felt like a powerful boat with bad dampening.

Anyone else have a positive experience with KWs?

[TOPEC]

KW isnt ur joe blow Megan,, BC, Tein, etc etc coilover company.
Their dampers are specifically tailored to each application, not like those made in taiwan/china coilovers where the SAME shock with different mounting bracket is used for every application.

it was totally worth the price.
i regret buying them in the first place, but after installing them and going for a test drive, my mind changed instantly.

[Jackygor]

KW are no jokes, glad you are enjoying good ol' European dampers.

[Z3guy]

i regret buying them in the first place, but after installing them and going for a test drive, my mind changed instantly.

that is funny...I felt the same way as you man......

[tofu1413]

KW isnt ur joe blow Megan,, BC, Tein, etc etc coilover company.
Their dampers are specifically tailored to each application, not like those made in taiwan/china coilovers where the SAME shock with different mounting bracket is used for every application.

it was totally worth the price.
i regret buying them in the first place, but after installing them and going for a test drive, my mind changed instantly.

that is one thing i agree with...

my uncle has a set of bilsteins on the jetta and damn... those were great for the car overall.

euro aftermarket suspension > japanese/ asian equivalent.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

damn glad you are having a great experience with KW


im in the same boat as you are, getting KW v2 or stick with my H&R spring and pair up with koni yellow since its cheaper

KW are like $2g +

[!SG]

kw's are well built, but they dont make that many applications for every car.

i would have went with kw's if they made it for my car, but teins, cant complain.

[Z3guy]

^ I have Tein SS coilovers w/ edfc on my M3...they are well built, includes camber plates, and rsms, but they don't seem to ride very well....I have tried many different edfc settings but can't seem to get it right....when I set in the soft settings, it is too jiggly and in the hard settings it is waaayyyy too stiff. I can't seem to find the right balance compared to my KW V2s.

However, I have heard great things about Tein coilvers on jdm cars...hmmmmmmmm

[Z3guy]

damn glad you are having a great experience with KW


im in the same boat as you are, getting KW v2 or stick with my H&R spring and pair up with koni yellow since its cheaper

KW are like $2g +

I would have went with Koni yellows as well, but I am running 20x10.5 wheels with an et15 offset, I needed the height adjustment......

[dutch]

i have v3's in my weekend racecar. fantastic shock. totally worth the price.

[b-dub]

Do they not make V3's for the E60?

[ineedmoreboost]

I am glad you are enjoying them as much as I did. And by the way they are the V3's you have. I hope they are anyways cause thats what I paid for and ordered.

Edit: Did you end up using the spacers?

[Rich Sandor]

I've also got KW V3's for my racecar, with 550 and 750lbs springs! :)

[124Y]

I've heard great things about KWs and so far the KW V3s are the ones I'll probably get if I have the $$ for coilovers. They're so expensive though! Gotta save up first...

[Z3guy]

I am glad you are enjoying them as much as I did. And by the way they are the V3's you have. I hope they are anyways cause thats what I paid for and ordered.

Edit: Did you end up using the spacers?

Hey man, definitely loving them...but I don't think they are V3 because they dont have rebound and compression settings. They are V2s.

Yes, I am using the spacers on the front.

Thxs again for everything! I hope your crazy Mitsu build goes well.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

V2 and v3 are definitely dope

Except they are hella expensive

V3 are like 2500 plus
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[ineedmoreboost]

Hey man, definitely loving them...but I don't think they are V3 because they dont have rebound and compression settings. They are V2s.

Yes, I am using the spacers on the front.

Thxs again for everything! I hope your crazy Mitsu build goes well.

Hmm that is not right. I just found my receipt and I definately paid for V3s. I have to investigate this further. Ill let you know what I find out.

[Z3guy]

^ thxs man, I thought they were V3s but, I checked the KW website and noticed that the V3s look different and have another adjustment on the bottom of the shocks that I don't have....let me know what you find out man....cheers

[Z3guy]

^ hey man, I think I am wrong, I just checked out the KW website again and you are right, I have V3!!!!! awesome man...I am comfortable with rebound adjustment but now I gotta learn about compression adjustments!!! kool stuff....

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

lol how can u not know wat u bought

[Z3guy]

hey jerk off, the difference between V2s and V3s is compression damping adjustment via a small hole at the bottom of the shock....regardless ineedmoreboost gave me a great deal if they were V2s or V3s....I would still be happy as heck if they were V2s.

[jlenko]

With stock non sport shocks and

There ya go... lowering a car on stock struts. Pretty much ANYTHING that's meant for a lowered application would feel better than that.

But congrats on a nicer-riding ride... you're safer too.. since the car will be easier to keep under control.

[Z3guy]

^ I think I have finally learnt my lesson when modifying cars, you get what you pay for....never again will I just get springs...go coilovers or go home...

[Rich Sandor]

and it'll feel even better when you learn how to match your spring rate to your compression and rebound rates. although the shocks are already pre-set for the springs they come with, so you don't need to mess with it unless you are driving it really easy or really hard.

[!Yaminashi]

Man I envy you guys that have applications available for your cars :(

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

Man I envy you guys that have applications available for your cars :(

i envy you for not having any applications, so you can avoid having a hole in your pocket. At least no temptation

:(:thumbsup::D

[ineedmoreboost]

So I just got the original receipt from my mechanic and also went and looked at the box and they both say V3. If for sure yours arent then they must have gotten packaged wrong.

You got PM

[TOPEC]

Well easiest way to tell is are the coilovers single adjustable with rebound only? Or double adjustable with rebound and compression? Rebound on top, compression on bottom
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[boatcaptain]

im realli happy wif my kw v1 for street use,but im sure is not enough for the track though

[trollguy]

i've been dailying on V3s (to be specific, rebranded V3s so they're now race comp engineering) for the last two years (that means snow as well). no problems. period.

you'll be happy with them.

BTW, V3s have external resevoirs.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

KW also uses stainless design, therefore rust free unlike teins

[Jackygor]

If you guys like KW3 you should check the the Eibach Coilovers Multi Pro R2 as they utilize the same KW3 strut but combined with eibach springs. From what I heard, they are bit more DD friendly compared to the kw3.

[SpuGen]

KW also uses stainless design, therefore rust free unlike teins

JDM Coilovers are the worst for this kind of situation.

They all rust, and they all break by the time it switches owners.

German > Custom Bilstein > Japanese > blown shocks > knockoff coilovers.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

where was koni made again? i forgot

[Z3guy]

Well easiest way to tell is are the coilovers single adjustable with rebound only? Or double adjustable with rebound and compression? Rebound on top, compression on bottom
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

there is rebound adjustment on top of the shock and a compression adjustment at the bottom...however on the KW website, V3s have 2 compression adjustments, 1 for low speed and 1 for high speed?

Any thoughts? Rx_Renesis or Rich Sandor?

[Z3guy]

i've been dailying on V3s (to be specific, rebranded V3s so they're now race comp engineering) for the last two years (that means snow as well). no problems. period.

you'll be happy with them.

BTW, V3s have external resevoirs.

do all applications of V3s have external resevoirs? on KW's website, some pics showed without external resevoirs....

[Z3guy]

and it'll feel even better when you learn how to match your spring rate to your compression and rebound rates. although the shocks are already pre-set for the springs they come with, so you don't need to mess with it unless you are driving it really easy or really hard.

kool...I am sure that is the next level of knowledge....I have started tracking my M3 at Mission....I am sure there will be lots to learn:thumbsup:

[TOPEC]

edit

[TOPEC]

there is rebound adjustment on top of the shock and a compression adjustment at the bottom...however on the KW website, V3s have 2 compression adjustments, 1 for low speed and 1 for high speed?

Any thoughts? Rx_Renesis or Rich Sandor?

ok i just took a look at the catalog for u for the E60 application.
KW makes the V2, V3, and "Street Comfort" coilovers for the E60 5er

from the information u have given, it looks like u have the V3 because of the separate rebound and compression settings. and no u do not have the high/low speed bump setting as that is offered on the "Clubsport" versions of coilovers only, and they arent available for ur

Description from KW's site about the V3s:
State-of-the-art technology from motor sports for more performance on the road. The separate and independently adjustable rebound- and compression damping allows for an individual suspension setup for different uses and preferences. The unique patented system with its two-stage valves allows a rebound damping adjustment (comfort) and a compression adjustment (driving dynamics) in the low-speed range while the high-speed range which controls the driving safety, is fixed.

do all applications of V3s have external resevoirs? on KW's website, some pics showed without external resevoirs....

no not all applications have external reservoirs, at least according to KW's site under the V3.



and i just took a look at the dealers locator, apparently there are 3 LORDCOs within the lower mainland that carries KW suspensions. LOL.

and for anyone else interested in y KW is so good, take a look at their site, i didnt even know they have a NA site until just now.
its pretty interesting.
http://www.kw-suspension.com/us/kw_technology_overview.php

[Z3guy]

^ awesome RX Renesis, thanks for the clarifying my coilover questions...glad I have V3s..it will be fun playing with the compression settings and see how my car responds....the KW Clubsports seem like one the most advanced coilovers on the market..however, you better know how to set them up...cheers.

[Rich Sandor]

there is rebound adjustment on top of the shock and a compression adjustment at the bottom...however on the KW website, V3s have 2 compression adjustments, 1 for low speed and 1 for high speed?

Any thoughts? Rx_Renesis or Rich Sandor?

My V3's only have 1 adjustment up top and 1 on the bottom.

And my V3's do not have external res.

[roastpuff]

Hm, I'm considering either KW or Bilstein for my suspension upgrade on the Mk6 GTI... It's perfect right now but I want more low, more resistance to body roll and more performance while still retaining the most comfortable ride possible.

I understand it's going to cost me, haha.

Between the PSS10 and the KW V3, which one would you go with and why?

[Rich Sandor]

Both brands and models are very comparable. i think i would need to compare the total costs of each vs the adjustability and features of each, to make a decision.

[Z3guy]

Hm, I'm considering either KW or Bilstein for my suspension upgrade on the Mk6 GTI... It's perfect right now but I want more low, more resistance to body roll and more performance while still retaining the most comfortable ride possible.

I understand it's going to cost me, haha.

Between the PSS10 and the KW V3, which one would you go with and why?

I used to run PSS9 on my E46 M3, not sure about PSS10s, but the pss9s were horrible...way too stiff and the coilover kit did not provide much additional hardware...you have to reuse allot of the oem shock/strut parts..rsms, front upper mounts, etc....I can't speak to VWs..but from what I researched for bimmers, TC Kline, Ground Control, or KW are the way to go....stay away from H&R & Bilstein...however I hear good things about Eibach coilovers.....

[Rich Sandor]

A lot of the 'kits' come with predetermined springs rates and shock valving, which are usually just a bit stiffer than stock. Some kits come in multiple levels of aggresiveness, and if you get the most aggressive kit on a street car, it's going to ride like crap.

One of the best tricks to getting a firm ride that is compliant on bumps, are helper springs that double as actual springs. (non-linear spring rates) most helper springs are only there to keep the main spring from coming unseated, and they provide no actual spring rate. However, the helpers on my KW V3 setup are 50 or 100lbs springs! Because they are softer than the main spring, they compress first, and soak up the bumps before the main springs starts to compress. This setup is not optimal for a race car on smooth roads, but it is fantastic for street cars or track cars on bumpy tracks.

You can also get single springs that have a non-linear spring rate, but they are usually really wide in diameter and prevent you from running wider wheels.

[Z3guy]

Hey Rich Sandor, did you specify more aggressive helper spring rates for your KW V3 setup?...do you know what is the standard helper spring rates? I do notice over small bumps, my 5 series rides pretty much like stock....

[Rich Sandor]

i have several sets of helpers and mains, but i have only tried the stock setup so far. (race car is not ready)

each kit has different spring rates and valving for the different cars they are packaged for. you can specify different springs, but you need to keep it within the limits of the shock valving.

I was lucky in that i was able to get feedback about the maximum spring rates for my setup for my car and my application / usage - directly from the factory race car tester in Germany.

I bought the stock v3 setup second hand from jared, who used to work at HPA and sell them. But I bought the KW race springs directly from KW and they co-ordinated with the Lordco Performance Store to get them in stock and transport them to the closest Lordco to me (North Van) I have other springs that I bought on eBay as well.

Intuition says I should have stiffer helpers with stiffer mains, but I was told it is not required... I'll find out for myself soon enough.