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KW V3 coilovers


SP72

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very interesting thread. Im building a 3.2 G50 with  a 500 bhp engine, and I need to upgrade the suspension.  Boydyrs setup seems like just the package for me! 

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  • 1 month later...
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I've had a KW Variant 3 kit installed on my fathers' SC (this is the kit for standard or uprated torsion bars, not the coiler kit). Only had a short drive, but this is the 3rd car I have tried with KW V3's (both my BMW's also had KW suspension).

As with my BMW's, the KW's ride a lot smoother, soaking up irregularities a lot better than Bilsteins do IMO. It is an expensive set but I bought them when they had a sale, and only bought them because one of the Boge struts was bent. And I'm a sucker for new technologies and shiny parts :D 

Still need to find a decent solution to mount the front numberplate though <_<

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I’m surprised one of the independents haven’t set up a car yet with this kit to use as a test ride for potential customers. Best way to sell it in direct comparison to your own car. 

Tempting future upgrade :)

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9 minutes ago, MarkJ said:

your mission, should you choose to accept it......

Pick his brains :)

Also ask Chris's how his own PASM creation is coming along. He's using it on his 986 Boxster as a test mule but believe he mentioned that with the right equipment it could be set up could be used on an IB:o

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1 hour ago, Beaky said:

Also ask Chris's how his own PASM creation is coming along. He's using it on his 986 Boxster as a test mule but believe he mentioned that with the right equipment it could be set up could be used on an IB:o

Righto Guv'nor. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I went to CG last Friday. The good news is the transformation to my car after a long 12 hour day simply cannot be put into words :signs85::steering:

The bad news is that I was so excited by this that I completely forgot to ask about KW. :whistling:

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6 minutes ago, MarkJ said:

what did he have to do to your car Les? I fancy a trip up there but dreading a long (& expensive) day. 

The time and the money are long forgotten when the car is transformed so much.... 

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17 hours ago, MarkJ said:

D’oh Les...send a boy to do a mans job :rolleyes::D

what did he have to do to your car Les? I fancy a trip up there but dreading a long (& expensive) day. 

He quoted me a specific chunk of time (seven hours) to do the following because I had lose a lot of confidence driving it after some recent brown trouser moments like steering suddenly lightening unexpectedly:

- Turbo Tie rod upgrade

- Ride height drop (from SUV spec) on the understanding that torsion bars will probably need re-indexing

- Change damper bump stops

- Full corner weight and geo

It soon became clear that that Stevie Wonder had had a go at setting it all up before I owned the car. I had quite extreme toe out at the front, left biased rear steering and a 10mm ride height difference across the rear axle! And one rear wheel wasn't bearing its fair share of the weight so really like having three wheels on my wagon.

It took 12 hours because all four corners needed re-indexing and the rear nearside twice to get it right. plus when you factor in tight and corroded bolts etc. But he still charged the quoted amount (he finished about 8pm on Friday). I would say that this has been the best value for money upgrade / work I have ever had done to any car by a long way. Absolutely worth every penny and minute spent there. Your don't just sit in the waiting room but can get involved in / watch the process in the workshop and everything is explained. It was fascinating. or you can drop the car off and get the train back and go back another day to collect it of your want.

Every aspect of driving the car has improved. Even the rise is better after such an extreme ride height drop. And I am driving it easily 20mph faster in the twisties.

Clearly my change was always going to be dramatic given the above so yours may already be closer to your ideal but I really wouldn't hesitate!

 

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17 hours ago, MarkJ said:

D’oh Les...send a boy to do a mans job :rolleyes::D

what did he have to do to your car Les? I fancy a trip up there but dreading a long (& expensive) day. 

He quoted me a specific chunk of time (seven hours) to do the following because I had lose a lot of confidence driving it after some recent brown trouser moments like steering suddenly lightening unexpectedly:

- Turbo Tie rod upgrade

- Ride height drop (from SUV spec) on the understanding that torsion bars will probably need re-indexing

- Change damper bump stops

- Full corner weight and geo

It soon became clear that that Stevie Wonder had had a go at setting it all up before I owned the car. I had quite extreme toe out at the front, left biased rear steering and a 10mm ride height difference across the rear axle! And one rear wheel wasn't bearing its fair share of the weight so really like having three wheels on my wagon.

It took 12 hours because all four corners needed re-indexing and the rear nearside twice to get it right. plus when you factor in tight and corroded bolts etc. But he still charged the quoted amount (he finished about 8pm on Friday). I would say that this has been the best value for money upgrade / work I have ever had done to any car by a long way. Absolutely worth every penny and minute spent there. Your don't just sit in the waiting room but can get involved in / watch the process in the workshop and everything is explained. It was fascinating. or you can drop the car off and get the train back and go back another day to collect it of your want.

Every aspect of driving the car has improved. Even the rise is better after such an extreme ride height drop. And I am driving it easily 20mph faster in the twisties.

Clearly my change was always going to be dramatic given the above so yours may already be closer to your ideal but I really wouldn't hesitate!

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22 hours ago, Dr Rock said:

The time and the money are long forgotten when the car is transformed so much.... 

Easy for you local lads to say ;)

nice one Les, sounds great. I need to stop tinkering before I take it up there otherwise I would be wasting money on the setup.

 

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7 minutes ago, MarkJ said:

Easy for you local lads to say ;)

nice one Les, sounds great. I need to stop tinkering before I take it up there otherwise I would be wasting money on the setup.

Les isn’t local...

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Other places can do as good a job, surely?

Parr, Tuthills etc  all have Motorsport experience so should know how to setup a chassis?

Even the Specialists of Vehicle Preparation managed some good and transformed my car.

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15 hours ago, SP72 said:

Other places can do as good a job, surely?

Parr, Tuthills etc  all have Motorsport experience so should know how to setup a chassis?

Even the Specialists of Vehicle Preparation managed some good and transformed my car.

Quite true. I just went to the place that so many had recommended.

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SVP did a great job on mine. I stayed and watched so they did actually do it ;)and paid cash and I was over the moon. I think that anyone that has this work done and it has made a transformation will gush happiness regardless of the cost. If your car was OK in the first place then you might not be so happy to have spent so much money.

It is a good feeling though......

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  • 2 years later...

Its not comparing apples to apples, but they are a significant step up on Bilsteins comparing the M3 KWV3s to revalved Bilsteins over torsion bars.  The KWs are better than the BC coilovers on the 987, but nowhere near as dramatically better.  I would struggle to justify spending double to get KWs on the 987 vs the BCs.  I think KWs on an IB might just be awesome.

 

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I went to see the kw shocks locally ,really nice bit of kit .i looked at the coilover version ,they come with lowered spindles ,new adjustable top mounts fitted with monoballs,,and they will match springs ,valve to suit the weight and use of the car.

I only saw them after buying new torsion bars and top mounts ,if starting from nothing they can pay for themselves.

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  • 1 year later...

Any further user reports on the KWs?

Anyone?

@Arlo911?

Replaced my Boge units with Bilsteins not long after I bought my car so getting on for 40k miles on them, and I've had the car for almost 20 years.

Toying with the idea of a damper refresh so thinking of what alternatives there are to the Bilsteins.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 15/04/2021 at 08:38, Chris_911 said:

Any further user reports on the KWs?

Anyone?

@Arlo911?

Replaced my Boge units with Bilsteins not long after I bought my car so getting on for 40k miles on them, and I've had the car for almost 20 years.

Toying with the idea of a damper refresh so thinking of what alternatives there are to the Bilsteins.

I’d love to try mega dampers on an IB. Might be worth chatting to Tuthills they will have done loads of damper work for a 911. 

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1 hour ago, Northy said:

I’d love to try mega dampers on an IB. Might be worth chatting to Tuthills they will have done loads of damper work for a 911. 

I could stretch to the KWs but anything more expensive is out for me.

Chris at Center Gravity rates the KWs, and also the Tractive kit (too rich for my pocket).

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10 hours ago, Chris_911 said:

I could stretch to the KWs but anything more expensive is out for me.

Chris at Center Gravity rates the KWs, and also the Tractive kit (too rich for my pocket).

I might be interested too, group buy anyone?

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