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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

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JulesW
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by JulesW » Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:45 am

Hi there,

My Z4M Roadster is sleeping in the garage over winter at the moment, but I'm thinking towards renewing the suspension in the spring. As well as various new bushings and the clunky front top mounts I know about that need changing, I am assuming all the dampers are the original OEM units from 2006 and therefore 15 years old now. After reading as much as I could find, it seems the KW V3's are well thought of, but I am also considering the Bilstein B16 PSS10's as well, as well as being a bit cheaper seem to be more accessible in terms of adjustments once they are on the car.

My intentions are simply an upgrade and replacement for the old OEM units with the goal of improving the ride quality (the car feels almost fragile when it hits any kind of pot hole or square edge kid of hit) Also improving the handling and balance of the car (front edge vagueness and it's reputation for snap oversteer). They would be purely for road use and not track and I'd probably just be looking at leaving them at the manufacturers recommended settings. Not looking to drop the ride height particularly, but fortunately I'm in the French Alpes, so speed bumps and pot holes are few and far between. In short, I'm just trying to make the car fulfil it's potential

I would welcome any thoughts on both products and also if anyone can clear up a couple of fitment questions. Firstly with the KW's as I have a engine strut brace, will the standard studs be long enough? If so what is the solution. I'm planning on keeping my standard 224 wheels, do I need spacers to make these work? Any issues with fitting the Bilsteins I should know about? Finally, I've read about issues of both products suffering from springs binding. Is this a major issue with wear which will affect product life and usability or just an occasional minor annoyance?

Many thanks for any help and apologies for the long list of questions

mmm-five
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by mmm-five » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:40 pm

I was also torn between the KW V3 and Bilstein B16 kits, but I decided on the Bilsteins because the guy doing my servicing and the suspension refresh had a working relationship with Bilstein, and the Bilsteins were about 20% cheaper. Even with his contacts, he couldn't source me a RideControl/Damptronic system for the Z4M :(

I can't comment on the KWs, but have had no issues with the Bilsteins (coming up to 5 years & 40,000 miles now), and the plan was always to get mine maintained/cleaned every year whilst it gets its annual Inspection 1 or 2. I keep them at 3 front & back for normal driving, 6 for road hoons, and cranked up to 10 for tracks.

No spacers needed for the Bilsteins, and I only have them on now to go over the Porsche Brembo calipers I fitted (was told they were a straight fit, but the original owner had aftermarket wheels that didn't require the 10-12mm spacers that the 224M do).

I asked to keep mine as close to OE ride height as possible, as I was doing a lot of normal road driving.

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Simon 3.2M
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by Simon 3.2M » Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:47 pm

I have KWV3’s in my roadster and I can state they are a significant upgrade on standard. I have found they have transformed the car in all areas, there’s no more banging and crashing over bumps or skipping around corners - overall the ride is smoother and more compliant.
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by Beedub » Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:17 pm

go for the clubsports and really transform it! you wont believe how well it will handle!
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AndyBeech
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by AndyBeech » Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:36 pm

Beedub wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:17 pm go for the clubsports and really transform it! you wont believe how well it will handle!
Not for a purely road going vehicle though surely?! :o
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by Beedub » Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:31 pm

AndyBeech wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:36 pm
Beedub wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:17 pm go for the clubsports and really transform it! you wont believe how well it will handle!
Not for a purely road going vehicle though surely?! :o
maybe not :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by wspohn » Sun Mar 14, 2021 9:53 pm

Another alternative are the BC Racing shock units. I use them on another car and they are excellent and adjustable
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by Argenta » Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:48 am

[quote=JulesW post_id=1812739 time=1613472301 . Firstly with the KW's as I have a engine strut brace, will the standard studs be long enough? If so what is the solution. I'm planning on keeping my standard 224 wheels, do I need spacers
[/quote]

Hi, yeah you need to cut them off & put longer bolts in. Fully doable tho!
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Coil over choices & fitment; KW V3 v Bilstein PSS10

Post by whopwop » Mon Mar 15, 2021 11:36 pm

I have the KW V3 in mine.
Transforms the car
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