KWV3 Bump + rebound settings.

[whopwop]

Hi all and thanks in advance.
I have done a quick search and see that a few have fitted the KWV3 on their cars.
My kit has just arrived and am wondering what bump / rebound settings have you found to work best for fast road use or did you just leave it at the factory settings ?

Many thanks in advance.

Mark.

 

[MrPT]

I don’t get that well with the stock settings - too much rebound jiggle on the roads around here (especially if you regularly have a passenger). I remember them being really good on the NC500 though. Admittedly we were pushing on and there is a surprising amount of smooth tarmac up there.

Currently at rear rebound full open and bump 10/12 clicks open. Front 12/16 rebound open and bump 6/12. If it's easy enough for you to change them I'd start with the factory settings and experiment back-to-back on a stretch of road you know well.

 

[Anakin]

I have them on my TT RS, mine are on the factory setting for road. Lots of people play about with them to end up back @ default. I would start there and see

wish I had enough for another set

 

[john-e89]

Please post your findings Whopwop if you will, I’ll be putting a set on in the next couple of weeks also, the more experiences the merrier.

Hope you like them, I’m sure they’ll transform your car.

 

[MrPT]

Listen out for the rear springs starting to slap once the coating wears through. Probably won't happen for 10k miles or so - sounds like a high pitched "tinging" sound that can drive you insane disassembling the boot lining etc. Ultimately they may start binding over heavy compressions and unload with a loud bang! I'm not sure how permanent a solution this is, but I've wrapped mine in plastic spiral wrap and that seems to have put a stop to it.

Also, if you're adjusting the front spring perch height remember to clean the exposed threads on the strut (toothbrush works well) and consider wrapping them in electrical tape afterwards. A replacement spring collar isn't cheap and, of course, a strut-out plus alignment jobbie to fit.

 

[Beedub]

kw gave me a "nurburg" setup which i run on my clubsports and they are excellent, ill dig out the settings for you....

 

[whopwop]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful and I will let you know how I get on.

Beedub, yes.
Please do

 

[Argenta]

With KW’s good reputation, its amazing they let the rear springs have this binding issue.

 

[MrPT]

I’m not sure it’s a KW-specific issue, more one that affects progressive spring coils that can fit into one another under high compression. Here is an example of PSS10s doing the same thing. The KW Clubsports, on the other hand, won’t have the same issue.

Whether the durability of the coating used on KW springs makes them more susceptible to occasionally binding, I’m not sure, but I suspect the availability of examples of it happening is more due to the popularity of their street-oriented kits than anything else.

 

[maupineda]

I have H&R, and I had coil slap and is some occasions bind. I added rubber sleeves to the coil and they are completely noise free. the OE springs have a varying diameter, so even at full compression the coils would not touch, they sort of fit in between them if that makes sense, the coil-over systems that use OE mounting hardware, have coils that touch each other. that is the nature of their design.

I used two products to cover upper and lower sleeves (front and rear) to have zero noises and so far it has been flawless.

Upper Coils
https://eibach.com/us/i-188-eibach-coil-sleeve.html

Lower Coils
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-034motorsport-parts/dynamic-coil-spring-sleeves/034-404-z001~034/

 

[mmm-five]

I’m not sure it’s a KW-specific issue, more one that affects progressive spring coils that can fit into one another under high compression. Here is an example of PSS10s doing the same thing.

Not had this issue on the B16 PSS10 kit on my Z4MC in the 5 years/40,000 miles I've had it fitted.

 

[MrPT]

I’m not sure it’s a KW-specific issue, more one that affects progressive spring coils that can fit into one another under high compression. Here is an example of PSS10s doing the same thing.

Not had this issue on the B16 PSS10 kit on my Z4MC in the 5 years/40,000 miles I've had it fitted.

I knew you’d be along to say that. :lol:

No offence intended... just goes to show how difficult it is to navigate these things with only a few examples to hand. Do you keep the underbody of the car pretty clean and dry? My springs started to rust around stone chips and where the coils touch, which I suspect accelerated the issue.

 

[mmm-five]

I’m not sure it’s a KW-specific issue, more one that affects progressive spring coils that can fit into one another under high compression. Here is an example of PSS10s doing the same thing.

Not had this issue on the B16 PSS10 kit on my Z4MC in the 5 years/40,000 miles I've had it fitted.

I knew you’d be along to say that. :lol:

No offence intended... just goes to show how difficult it is to navigate these things with only a few examples to hand. Do you keep the underbody of the car pretty clean and dry? My springs started to rust around stone chips and where the coils touch, which I suspect accelerated the issue.

It gets a wash now & then, but it’s not cleaned straight after a drive and is left outside all year round. I do get the suspension checked over & serviced when I have it in for an Inspection every year.

It seems we can’t even get a consensus on the propensity to snap OE rear springs, as I never had one of those snap in 100,000 miles either

 

[BMWZ4MC]

kw gave me a "nurburg" setup which i run on my clubsports and they are excellent, ill dig out the settings for you....

I’m interested in this too

 

[Argenta]

Me too!

Just got around to fit the rears, will do the fronts next week.
Started with the recommended settings and it was indeed very stiff. Just out of interest, I turned everything down to softest possible - hey presto, even more comfortable than my Eibach/stock shock setup, even at walking speed. Pretty chuffed!

Also with my (older V3?) kit the left shock upper adjustment is hidden as std luggage panel covers it. Made a neat ’factory’ solution I’m happy with.

 

[Beedub]

guys sorry for those waiting for these settings.... ill dig them out tomorrow and post them up.... Completely forgot, bare with.

 

[Argenta]

From what I’ve read recently, the base settings in the KWV3 manual ARE in fact their ”Nurburgring-Nordschleife settings”.

Ok, KWV3 all around fitted.

For some reason I’ve been reading about front OEM wheels not fitting KWV3 without spacers, which turned out to be complete BS - 10mm clearence with 235 tires.

Otherwise, I opted for both my M3 brace and additional struttower strength plates. Which meant the bolts in the KW struts were too short.
Only thing left to do was to drill them out & replace w longer ones. Turned out great.

For now I run max OEM camber (almost 2deg) and max height front (a tad taller than Eibach springs).

Did a cornerweight session too, that was quickly dialled in to 50.01% across, with me in the driver seat.
Additionally, Z4M seems VERY balanced left-right aswell (as seen on pic display)... At least my LHD car.

Plus sides:
@ MUCH softer suspension in comfiest setting
@ a sense of better control, and of course the adjustment to track setting.

Minus:
@ spoiler rubber lip hit speedbumps a lot more now, due to comfy shock setting...
@ When going over rail-crossings etc, I notice a bit more slight rattle/rumble from the front, is that the top bearings worn..?
This is a 2nd hand set, while looking like new & the bearings spinning freely, they could also be slightly ”jiggled”.. as if a little loose?

Anyway.
Very pleased and look forward to Nürburgring next year.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Additionally, Z4M seems VERY balanced left-right aswell (as seen on pic display)... At least my LHD car.

Much better balanced L:R than my RHD car was in 2014 with 80kg ballast on the driver’s seat and a full tank of fuel:



My weigh-bridge weight is now 1386kg, albeit without ballast or driver, but I don’t know how that is distributed.

 

[Argenta]

Cool, thanx for posting.
True! To think of it, the battery is put on the right etc for this reason prob.
Yeah your added total weight is prob down to full tank! I went for half tank since I simply rarely have full tank on track