kW v3 coilovers

exdos said:
MrPT said:
Would be interesting to hear if you ever max out the suspension travel with those bump settings. They do seem to provide a really good balance of handling and ride comfort when set that soft, especially on those MPSS (that's how mine came from the previous owner).
Click to expand...
There are at least three places around the Nordschleife you are likely to bottom out the suspension, even on the stiffest settings, especially if you have the added weight of a passenger.
Click to expand...

Good to know!

To the OP - I'd not play about too much until you've had the chance to drive one setup on a variety of roads. You could take one of the following approaches, which many people have suggested on forums -

* Use the recommended settings as a starting point and fully get a feel for them before changing, one step at a time
* Go nearly to the softest settings all round and then slowly increase the rebound until you can feel the car stabilise over medium speed bumps, and then perhaps start becoming a bit "bouncy" - at which point, dial it back a click

Personal preference, I guess, plus the types of roads you drive on.
 
one photo from the ring last weekend.think I'm gonna have to invest in some decent track tyres,also took me a few attempts to get the ride height and settings just right where i could start enjoying the track and slowly start pushing it more.

what a amazing place :D
 
15/8 12/6 biggest improvement was tyre pressures dropped them down to 28psi. Think new anti roll bars next hopefully get rid of some of the role.

Gonna have to dial the rebound down abit for the uk roads.
 
veilside85 said:
15/8 12/6 biggest improvement was tyre pressures dropped them down to 28psi. Think new anti roll bars next hopefully get rid of some of the role.

Gonna have to dial the rebound down abit for the uk roads.
Click to expand...

I found that the H&R ARBs fitted with Eibach springs and standard shocks but not with KW Clubsports. It was fairly easily fixed with adjustable droplinks, so you might find the same with V3s.
 
I installed a set of V3s on my car last year and had the geo set up by center Gravity. All the adjustments were in the middle of the range. A friend and I did some back to back driving on a bumpy and curvy B road near his home. He is a keen track day driver and raced a GT3 in the VLN series at the Ring for 4 or 5 years a while back. He knows how to pedal. Many years ago I used to be faster around the Ring in my Caterham than he was in a 964RS but he now runs away from me on the track.

We tried 4 cars - my Z4M coupe, a new BMW M4, a nearly new Cayman GT4 and a 20 year old Lotus Elan Turbo on Ohlins. Guess which car was the scariest, most ready to spit you off and feeling least in contact with the tarmac?

The Z4M!

The car's only just come out of its winter hibernation so experimentation with softer settings is very much in the plan.

PS. The most composed car was the Elan - pretty good for a 20 year old FWD cabrio. Lotus does know a thing or too about suspension design.
 
monaco_blue said:
I installed a set of V3s on my car last year and had the geo set up by center Gravity. All the adjustments were in the middle of the range. A friend and I did some back to back driving on a bumpy and curvy B road near his home. He is a keen track day driver and raced a GT3 in the VLN series at the Ring for 4 or 5 years a while back. He knows how to pedal. Many years ago I used to be faster around the Ring in my Caterham than he was in a 964RS but he now runs away from me on the track.

We tried 4 cars - my Z4M coupe, a new BMW M4, a nearly new Cayman GT4 and a 20 year old Lotus Elan Turbo on Ohlins. Guess which car was the scariest, most ready to spit you off and feeling least in contact with the tarmac?

The Z4M!

The car's only just come out of its winter hibernation so experimentation with softer settings is very much in the plan.

PS. The most composed car was the Elan - pretty good for a 20 year old FWD cabrio. Lotus does know a thing or too about suspension design.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a fun experiment. :D Still on MPSS and the OEM alloys?

I can believe the the Elan felt the most composed. It was always famous for point-to-point speed and I'm sure a lot of that came from driver confidence.

I think the Z4M was just born to be wild. Something about the iron lump in the front, the rearward driving position and the staggered tyre setup. Lap times suggest that it doesn't give much away on track, but I suspect on track you can really make the most of car pitching backwards and forwards, rather than the unsettling feeling you get on the road of the front pushing on and/or the rear going light. Perhaps a more square tyre setup would help?
 
Yes, still on stock alloys and Conti SportContacts, fairly fresh on all 4 corners. Prior to fitting the V3s the car was a little scary - wheel spin at 70mph in the rain is a bit sphincter clenching when it's unexpected. The V3s helped and then the proper geo (road focused rather than maximum corning grip) helped a bunch more and the car feels much more consistent and stable. Until it gets real bumpy and then the suspension (on its current settings) feels overwhelmed by what's being thrown at it. Just out for a hoon this morning and under power the traction light flashes on a bumpy straight section of B road. My V10 M5 handles that without getting its knickers in even the slightest of twists.

I do like that the Z4M has to be "worked" to be driven at speed - I've no problem with that and rather enjoy it. But a bit more composure when the road isn't billiard-table smooth would be nice. The ride and composure of the Cayman GT4 are astonishingly good considering its capabilities.
 
monaco_blue said:
Yes, still on stock alloys and Conti SportContacts, fairly fresh on all 4 corners. Prior to fitting the V3s the car was a little scary - wheel spin at 70mph in the rain is a bit sphincter clenching when it's unexpected. The V3s helped and then the proper geo (road focused rather than maximum corning grip) helped a bunch more and the car feels much more consistent and stable. Until it gets real bumpy and then the suspension (on its current settings) feels overwhelmed by what's being thrown at it. Just out for a hoon this morning and under power the traction light flashes on a bumpy straight section of B road. My V10 M5 handles that without getting its knickers in even the slightest of twists.

I do like that the Z4M has to be "worked" to be driven at speed - I've no problem with that and rather enjoy it. But a bit more composure when the road isn't billiard-table smooth would be nice. The ride and composure of the Cayman GT4 are astonishingly good considering its capabilities.
Click to expand...

Like you mentioned I use to be able to light the tyres up on stock suspension with the v3's it has so much more traction.

Has any one fitted kW arbs ??
 
veilside85 said:
monaco_blue said:
Yes, still on stock alloys and Conti SportContacts, fairly fresh on all 4 corners. Prior to fitting the V3s the car was a little scary - wheel spin at 70mph in the rain is a bit sphincter clenching when it's unexpected. The V3s helped and then the proper geo (road focused rather than maximum corning grip) helped a bunch more and the car feels much more consistent and stable. Until it gets real bumpy and then the suspension (on its current settings) feels overwhelmed by what's being thrown at it. Just out for a hoon this morning and under power the traction light flashes on a bumpy straight section of B road. My V10 M5 handles that without getting its knickers in even the slightest of twists.

I do like that the Z4M has to be "worked" to be driven at speed - I've no problem with that and rather enjoy it. But a bit more composure when the road isn't billiard-table smooth would be nice. The ride and composure of the Cayman GT4 are astonishingly good considering its capabilities.
Click to expand...

Like you mentioned I use to be able to light the tyres up on stock suspension with the v3's it has so much more traction.

Has any one fitted kW arbs ??
Click to expand...

they didn't ofer ARB when i got my CS dampers, has that changed now?
 
Beedub said:
veilside85 said:
monaco_blue said:
Yes, still on stock alloys and Conti SportContacts, fairly fresh on all 4 corners. Prior to fitting the V3s the car was a little scary - wheel spin at 70mph in the rain is a bit sphincter clenching when it's unexpected. The V3s helped and then the proper geo (road focused rather than maximum corning grip) helped a bunch more and the car feels much more consistent and stable. Until it gets real bumpy and then the suspension (on its current settings) feels overwhelmed by what's being thrown at it. Just out for a hoon this morning and under power the traction light flashes on a bumpy straight section of B road. My V10 M5 handles that without getting its knickers in even the slightest of twists.


I do like that the Z4M has to be "worked" to be driven at speed - I've no problem with that and rather enjoy it. But a bit more composure when the road isn't billiard-table smooth would be nice. The ride and composure of the Cayman GT4 are astonishingly good considering its capabilities.
Click to expand...

Like you mentioned I use to be able to light the tyres up on stock suspension with the v3's it has so much more traction.

Has any one fitted kW arbs ??
Click to expand...

they didn't ofer ARB when i got my CS dampers, has that changed now?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure I had seen them on ca automotive website,could be wrong tho.
 
pHilli0 said:
Just ordered my set of KW V3s. Can't wait :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

You may find references to needing 10mm wheel spacers at the front. I run standard wheels and tyres and didn't need the spacers - there's more than enough clearance.
 
I can't decide if I need to spend £500+ on a set of top mounts for my KW V3s, or just do without. I know they offer caster adjustment and camber, and look lovely. But I am not at the track every weekend so I am torn between having them because they complete the suspension or spending the money on a set of H&R ARBs instead.
Can I use my stock mounts on the V3s?
Can proper adjustable mounts be easily fitted later if I do decide to go that way?
 
The V3's are ment to work with the stock style top mounts, as seen in the instruction manual:
http://docs.kwsuspension.de/ea-KWGFwEA-h68620034.pdf
Its all there :wink:

So if you want camber/caster adjustment you still need to get the kw mounts (or other top mounts). Thats why the clubsports are roughly £450 more expensive, those mounts are included.
 
GuidoK said:
The V3's are ment to work with the stock style top mounts, as seen in the instruction manual:
http://docs.kwsuspension.de/ea-KWGFwEA-h68620034.pdf
Its all there :wink:

So if you want camber/caster adjustment you still need to get the kw mounts (or other top mounts). Thats why the clubsports are roughly £450 more expensive, those mounts are included.
Click to expand...

Ah OK I think I got it now. The V3s come with their own custom top mounts, but these do not offer caster and camber adj. If I want that I have to buy the KW clubsport mounts at around £450. Thanks everyone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom