KWV3, Stock, Ohlins?

[Obioban]

What do you mean? Are you saying you like the V3s?

Lol, no, I think they're junk.

[x Spades x]

Lol, no, I think they're junk.

😆 🤣 😂
Understood!

[enjoy_m3]

If they are the older v3s, compression is not easy to adjust on the car, mostly on the rears due to the small pin. I had v2's and lasted 25k miles, blew the rear shocks and needed rebuilding. Car wasn't even that low. I had ohlins dedicated track coilovers and can say their quality and dampening was far better. I can compare with JRZ RS pro's and the ohlins ride better on the street, with the exception of needing more travel. I rode on a set of v2s that I believe cobra help set up. They rode really good! Props to you cobra! Can you help me setup my set? lol.

If ride quality is your concert and don't mind not having height adjustability. I was happy with bilstein b8s and eibach pro kit springs. They were great and performed great with the right alignment and setup. I'd go for the ohlins over kw. The last time I talked to kw, they didn't have an eta on rebuilds. Ohlins rebuild cost was similar and there's options to customize with 3dm. I'd stick with your setup until youre ready to make the jump to some upper tier coilovers. They really bring out the best of the car.

[nextlvel]

I will chime in and say I love the PSS10s on my car, they ride incredible, firm when you want it but great over bumps. Paired with the Ground Control camber plates they do super well for track days too.

I will say stock suspension and maybe 1k cash would be a deal I'd consider worth doing.

[straightsixm3]

I honestly have loved my KW V3s over the last 40-50k miles and multiple track days.

They do feel very tired now and considering new options like Ohlins, but also interested in monotube dampers after seeing the stuff from Fatcat. He likes Bilstein dampers and the PSS10s are fairly affordable and can be converted to linear springs.

[Obioban]

I honestly have loved my KW V3s over the last 40-50k miles and multiple track days.

They do feel very tired now and considering new options like Ohlins, but also interested in monotube dampers after seeing the stuff from Fatcat. He likes Bilstein dampers and the PSS10s are fairly affordable and can be converted to linear springs.

He likes non adjustable Bilstein dampers-- which the PSS10s are not.

... and there's still $3-5k of fat cats works after the shock purchase, so the affordability of the start isn't that huge a factor in the total price.

[chris719]

I have a Z4M so the options are very limited now. Basically KW V3 or Bilstein B6 (stock + stock springs) or B6 (FCM). I have talked to maupineda some (thanks!) and realize this is platform specific, but does anyone have experience with KW V3 at reasonable settings vs B6 for comfort? I do not care about adjustability, I just want the best quality damping and ride quality over shit roads. My concern with the B6 is the high gas pressure and that it will ride poorly over rough cobbled surfaces. That and it's annoying to have to disassemble them and trim the internal bump stop.

[Slideways]

I have a Z4M so the options are very limited now. Basically KW V3 or Bilstein B6 (stock + stock springs) or B6 (FCM). I have talked to maupineda some (thanks!) and realize this is platform specific, but does anyone have experience with KW V3 at reasonable settings vs B6 for comfort? I do not care about adjustability, I just want the best quality damping and ride quality over shit roads. My concern with the B6 is the high gas pressure and that it will ride poorly over rough cobbled surfaces. That and it's annoying to have to disassemble them and trim the internal bump stop.

If you want Koni twin tube dampers, TCKline single and double adjustables are an option.

[Pklauser]

I'm just here to +1 the Ohlins. They're firm, but the control is so good they've ruined me for other suspension. I have Konis in my E30 and E90, not an apples to apples comparison, but the Ohlins put into perspective how much "you get what you pay for" applies here.

+1 for not faffing around with used stuff. Suspension is enough work to install, time is money and it's not worth giving yourself more work imo.

[maupineda]

I have a Z4M so the options are very limited now. Basically KW V3 or Bilstein B6 (stock + stock springs) or B6 (FCM). I have talked to maupineda some (thanks!) and realize this is platform specific, but does anyone have experience with KW V3 at reasonable settings vs B6 for comfort? I do not care about adjustability, I just want the best quality damping and ride quality over shit roads. My concern with the B6 is the high gas pressure and that it will ride poorly over rough cobbled surfaces. That and it's annoying to have to disassemble them and trim the internal bump stop.

Trimming the bump stop is a walk in the park.

you also have the option of PSS10, unless they went NLA.

my car is very harsh on rough roads. I still need to change my front H&R inserts to B6 and see how much that improves (I expect it will be very minimal). With my current setup I need to workout the suspension and interestingly it gets better the more you throw the road at it as the gas force is overcome more easily. But small road inputs transfer to the car unfiltered (like concrete joints). At the rear I use B8 dampers from non M as they are valved less aggressively (have compared the two as I have them both) and although it did help, it still is unrefined. This past week I changed the rear springs to eibach pro kit items and it made no difference from the TCKLine. So the mono tube and high pressure design combination is not good for comfort and is the key element that makes B6 to have poor 2nd ride quality.

slideways drove my car and could tell how it compares to his M3

i did look into FCM but I am not ready to spend that much and then end in a similar place.

[chris719]

Trimming the bump stop is a walk in the park.

you also have the option of PSS10, unless they went NLA.

my car is very harsh on rough roads. I still need to change my front H&R inserts to B6 and see how much that improves (I expect it will be very minimal). With my current setup I need to workout the suspension and interestingly it gets better the more you throw the road at it as the gas force is overcome more easily. But small road inputs transfer to the car unfiltered (like concrete joints). At the rear I use B8 dampers from non M as they are valved less aggressively (have compared the two as I have them both) and although it did help, it still is unrefined. This past week I changed the rear springs to eibach pro kit items and it made no difference from the TCKLine. So the mono tube and high pressure design combination is not good for comfort and is the key element that makes B6 to have poor 2nd ride quality.

slideways drove my car and could tell how it compares to his M3

i did look into FCM but I am not ready to spend that much and then end in a similar place.

I think PSS10 is NLA now, but I'm not sure it would be more comfortable @ low speed than B6 anyway presuming they have the same high gas pressure. The KW is tempting, but price for Z4M is eye watering. It seems to just have the most overall positive feedback, however. I'm with you on FCM. I think TCK SA may be a good option for me but I really don't want noisy camber plates.

[0-60motorsports]

PSS10 are still available. Where did you see them being NLA? If they are NLA that probably means a new version is coming out…..

2 sets in stock at ECS

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein-parts/coilover-system-pss10/48-126687~bil/

[chris719]

PSS10 are still available. Where did you see them being NLA? If they are NLA that probably means a new version is coming out…..

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...48-126687~bil/

Sorry I mean for Z4M, 48-141635. Apologies for mucking up the thread lol.

[0-60motorsports]

Sorry I mean for Z4M, 48-141635. Apologies for mucking up the thread lol.

Ah ok I got ya.