KW V1 coilovers

[dragonfly2k3]

So, Ive been looking to drop my car, but i dont want to deal with ****ty suspension characteristics. Now, I see the KW V1 can be had for an extremely reasonable price(800ish). This puts it on the same price bracket as things like Ksport, D2, DDM, and other china brands. Obviously getting a coilover from a top name company over a chinese company appeals to me, but how does it perform? I dont care about compression/rebound adjustability, and the car will be seeing 2-3 track days a year at best.

[Honest_Bob]

And you drive what?

[P3tchSR]

I never heard anything bad about them but cheeping out on coilovers always leads to blowing them out paying for new ones or getting them rebuilt, dealing with the hassel, when you could have just saved the extra 400 for ones known to be good.

[dragonfly2k3]

im certainly not worried about blowing them out, KW is an extremely respected name us suspension. my concern is about how they perform compared to V2 or V3 coilovers. obvi those units are way expensive compared to V1 though. theyre going on an E36 coupe.

[XxIriponzeesxX]

save up and get the better coils... you get what you pay for.

[evomike]

save up and get the better coils... you get what you pay for.

You clearly know nothing kw suspension systems are great, if your primaraly just goin for a drop and gonna be street driving the v1 will be a good choice for you.

[dragonfly2k3]

thanks mike! im not sure if people have never heard of kw? listen guys, IM NOT WORRIED ABOUT BUILD QUALITY im worried about performance versus their higher setups. KW is one of the biggest names in suspension, i dont think theyd put their name on anything not built to last. im worried about being too soft to drop, heat soaking on the occasional track day, or not having enough range of adjustment.

[evomike]

Honestly you really probably dot have the time or knowledge to benefit from an advanced suspension with tons of adjustment, the v1 would be fine for you just pick the spring rate yourself and you'll be fine.

[dragonfly2k3]

no offense taken, i know for a fact im not a good enough driver to need something like the v3 however, the only way they can be had that cheap is via outside sources. will i need kw to revalve if i decide to up rates?

[evomike]

I really don't know I would also considder ground control, they would have a whole system for your caramd you can call them and talk to them about spring rates and such. Everyone I know who has run gc's on e30's and 36's has loved them I would look into that as an option also it's pretty affordable.

[dragonfly2k3]

yeah, i looked into gc, it looks like the gc kits are a little over double to price but i get camber plates, rear upper mounts, and a single compression/rebound adjustment.

[evomike]

Yeah i had no idea the prices jumped like they did I looked, kw is a great suspension i'd call them and talk to someone about rates and valving or find out if someone does custom valving a vendor on the BMW forums or something.

[DaveSTi]

The V1 are made in Taiwan unlike the V2 and V3 models.

I think they're decent, but just because KW brands them, doesn't mean they're the bees knees. For example, the V3 has a cult following on the internet, but since the high speed portion of the valving is fixed, they're limited in adjustability for a dual purpose car.

Have you looked into the Eibach coils? The shock dynos on them are very good and they offer similar construction as the KW (stainless steel) but with Eibach SRS coil springs.

Basically, the V1 isn't anything to write home about, even with the KW logo on it.

[dragonfly2k3]

really? that i never knew. Im so used to kw not branding **** parts with their name. I have looked into the eibach coilovers, they seem to have all the right parts, but there doesnt seem to be alot of info on them?

[DaveSTi]

really? that i never knew. Im so used to kw not branding **** parts with their name. I have looked into the eibach coilovers, they seem to have all the right parts, but there doesnt seem to be alot of info on them?

KW is a decent mid-level shock...it's not until you get into their more competition grade stuff where it becomes really good. The V3's are a decent budget coilover, but has a few downsides to it.... For example, its a twin tube damper with slower piston response, which is mistaken for good ride quality. You can't adjust the high speed portion of the valving so depending on spring rate, track, roads....you can have it setup perfectly until you get to the right bump or pylon.

Yeah, the Eibach stuff is new. The shock dynos are extremely good, think similar to a properly setup Koni shock. The travel is decent and the construction is similar to the KW, but probably more robust with the spring perches since KW uses one plastic ring with an easily strippable lock nut.

Plus, the price is outstanding.

[dragonfly2k3]

Yeah, I loved the specs on the eibach, there just seems to be no feedback on them yet. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the KWs, i picked em up for the lowest price online, by atleast 200-300 bucks, so if worst comes to worst il resell em and atleast break even.

[DaveSTi]

Yeah, I loved the specs on the eibach, there just seems to be no feedback on them yet. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the KWs, i picked em up for the lowest price online, by atleast 200-300 bucks, so if worst comes to worst il resell em and atleast break even.

Congrats on the purchase! Sounds like you got a good deal on them, let us know how you like them.:cool:

[dragonfly2k3]

will do. I may end up selling them in the future, but for right now, the price was PERFECT and they had what i was looking for in a coilover.

[ImportDPS]

KW makes one of the best suspension systems out. There quality and customer service is hands down the best out of all the suspension companies we deal with. I have V1/V2/V3 in stock for certain applications.

[sinner]

KW makes one of the best suspension systems out. There quality and customer service is hands down the best out of all the suspension companies we deal with. I have V1/V2/V3 in stock for certain applications.

I was looking at v2's and was swayed away due to their service. I heard from several people that their customer service was the worst. Specifically no support in the states and that repairs required sending over seas. Any truth to that?

[DaveSTi]

I was looking at v2's and was swayed away due to their service. I heard from several people that their customer service was the worst. Specifically no support in the states and that repairs required sending over seas. Any truth to that?

yup, rebuilds are sent to germany with anywhere from a 3-6 week turnaround on average.

[Scapegoat]

i've been looking into BC Racing a bit more... they've got a 1 year limited warranty... and they don't service rebuilds for the US, instead they send out a new unit for $95, as per: http://boostanddestroy.com/bc-racing-br-series-coilovers-2005-mustang-p-2767.html

[nhanxsolo]

I just bought a set of KW V1s for my mk4 from someone on VW Vortex... the idiot forgot to mention he never had the spanner wrenches so I can't adjust them... grrrr... If anyone has a set of KW V1s let me know if I can use your wrenches to make sure my coils aren't seized. I'm putting them on today with a fellow TSTer. I'll let you know how it rides.

[Nick 95 6sp]

I have no idea how my KW V3's compare to the V1's but for many months now I've been driving on these and they are by far the most comfortable and well controlled coilover I've ever experienced. I had Tein HA's for over 6 years prior to installing these V3's and I'm now far improved in both handling and comfort...very supple even over bumpy roads but also very well controlled, not to mention my ride height is almost an inch lower than I had with my HA's which were already lowered an inch below stock ride height. Robi at Robispec helped developed these V3's working with Curtis/MyKarIsVicious' track Supra, and then I got them through the first MVP group buy.

nhanxsolo,
I have my spanners from my V3's if they are the same as for your V1's you can borrow them for a while as long as you promise to return them within reasonable time.

[nhanxsolo]

nhanxsolo,
I have my spanners from my V3's if they are the same as for your V1's you can borrow them for a while as long as you promise to return them within reasonable time.

I might take you up on that offer man, my fronts have about 3 threads left and would love to dial them down. I think they may be seized though, I'm not sure because I don't have the wrenches to try lol, but I definitely can't dial them down by hand. Could you use your hands to dial them down with the coils off the car?

I also have a couple problems since the KW V1s were installed:
Does anyone here have problems with being too low in the back and having your exhaust vibrate against your rear axle when you first start accelerating from a dead stop?
Also any one have problems with turning the wheel while car is stationary and hearing "popping" noises made by the spring?

Edit: The ride is awesome, I took the rear perches out to go the lowest, and the fronts have about 3 threads left, and I'm running lowering bushings, my car is pretty low now, with a slight reverse rake... I'm trying to lower it down max or take the helper springs out to get rid of the reverse rake. If that doesn't work, I might put the rear perches back in to raise the rear a little (maybe that will solve my exhaust rattle?) But the ride is awesome, bouncy since I'm so low, but definitely a lot better than my cup kit.

[Nick 95 6sp]

Mine have a locknut ring on each strut so you have to unjam that from the threaded spring flange before you can turn either one. If they're like mine, no way you could move it even with the spanner wrench unless you unjam those two collars from each other.

[supercharged]

Don't go cheap get a good respectable brand http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93413

[nhanxsolo]

Don't go cheap get a good respectable brand http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93413

Once again... KW is one of the best brands of coils... the lowest end product costs $1200. Sorry about what happened to your coils, but you got Ksports.

[CleanNeon98]

Once again... KW is one of the best brands of coils... the lowest end product costs $1200. Sorry about what happened to your coils, but you got Ksports.
You're crazy dude, that's a new 2 piece design LOL