[Number]

Originally Posted by tiltmode43

Nice!!! Excellent choice, now get 'em on the car and let us know your thoughts

Originally Posted by rxander

Tremolo can you comment on how they ride ie stiffness, body roll, etc and contrast with H&R. I know its an upgrade over the springs just want to know the details.

Originally Posted by Emil

+1

I'm going to try to install them this Labor Day weekend. You can be sure I'll post up here after I get it done.

[Rossifumi]

Do the F30 use identical suspension to the F20?
The box mentions the 1-series more than the 3...

[tiltmode43]

Originally Posted by Tremolo

I'm going to try to install them this Labor Day weekend. You can be sure I'll post up here after I get it done.

Nice! Take note if any tricky obstacles come up during installation so the rest of us DIY'rs don't make the same mistake(s).

[Number]

I'm gonna install it tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

[rxander]

Good luck bookmarked this thread.

[Number]

Got it done alone with 2 hydraulic jacks, jack stands, and an assortment of socket wrenches etc. No power air tools. The experience was great, but I REALLY advise any DIYer to pay a professional to do the install... unless you like the punishment.

Right now, my rear is too low, but I'm too tired to adjust it.

Here is the review of the KW V2.

PROS:
- Ride comfort is infinitely better than H&R with stock springs. Due to the increase in shock travel length and adjustable damping. These are my damping settings. Rear: 3 clicks from softest. Front: 1 click from softest. The ride is similar to a stock Sport Line but you do feel the road more.
- NO MORE bottoming out on tiny bumps! Woo!
- The damping and height is easy for the front. You do have to take the wheel off to raise/lower it, but you can twist it by hand.

CONS:
- Rear damping is idiotically difficult to adjust. You can't adjust the damping like the older models from the trunk. You have to unbolt the top hat to even reach the top of the strut. Luckily this is not too difficult to do.
- Adjusting the ride height is even more idiotic. The spaner that is provided turns the perch AND the coil top. So basically, you're going no where. Later this week, I'm going to McGuyver a remedy.

TIPS ON THE INSTALL (If you're adventurous):
- The rear uses all sorts of weird size nuts and bolts. I swear they are using USA Standard sizes as my standard sockets fit better than metric on some bolts.
- They are using External Torx Sockets on some bolts now. Luckily you can use regular socket wrench sockets. However, if you do have access to the Torx sockets, use those.
- Only things that need to be disassembled in the rear is the control arm and the strut. You DO NOT need to take off the sway bar link.
- In the front, you DO need to take off the sway bar link.Use a 17mm box wrench and a torx (star) male socket.
- Don't slam your car all the way down in the rear because to adjust it, you'll have to take off the control arm all over again. When the perch is all the way up, there is no room for the spanner to turn. Trust me. I redid the rears 4 times. And I have to do it again because it's still too low.
- Have two jacks and jack stands. Trust me on that too.
- For the front, loosen the top strut nut while it's still on the car.
- If you have access to air tools, you will be a happy camper.

MOST IMPORTANT TIP:
- If you are taking out stock springs. GET SOME DAMN SPRING COMPRESSORS. I got them for my H&Rs and they were still a little compressed. If you get the ones that you put on opposite sides, make sure you tighten/loosen down evenly. About 10 years ago, I tightened one side down too far and the spring buckled and ripped off the compressors. My hand almost tore off.

[rxander]

Thanks for that Tremolo sounds like you had fun. What is the main difference from KW ver 1 and ver 2? Or why did you go with V2? Post some pics if you have em

[m3 guy]

Thanks for the install tips.

[Number]

Originally Posted by rxander

Thanks for that Tremolo sounds like you had fun. What is the main difference from KW ver 1 and ver 2? Or why did you go with V2? Post some pics if you have em

V1 has a set damper from the KW factory. With the V2 you can adjust damping from soft to stiff with the turn of a knob.

Oh one more note. This is superficial but the V2 no longer comes with the stainless steel finish for the rear strut. It is just painted black. The front is still stainless steel though.

[tiltmode43]

Tremolo, you are the man!

[Emil]

Originally Posted by tiltmode43

Tremolo, you are the man!

Yes, and with some nice pics you are an even greater man!

[tiltmode43]

I think this post may be relevant to this thread (original thread here -> http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=741388).

This post is regarding the KW V2's for the F30:

Originally Posted by Tremolo

Thanks guys. I raised the front 1/2" and so the front has about a half finger gap. It should settle nicely over the next few days. The front is perfect now and the ride quality is so great.

Here's some more bad news though.

The rears... well, they are a problem. In fact, I think KW made some huge mistakes on the rears. They are as follows...

The rears go way too low. Believe it or not, the pic in my original post is at the absolute highest setting the rear coils will safely allow. Below is a pic of the coil and perch. I manage to turn it about an 1/8" more, but any more turns will make the perch unstable. It would be biting on only 3 coils or something. So this is the absolute furthest the rears will go and the tires are still tucking a tiny bit.
KW needs to make the spring rates stiffer, or provide spacers for the perches. It's useless to have height adjustability when the only settings are: SUPER LOW. SLAMMED. CAN'T MOVE SLAMMED.

The perch in the rears can't be turned without the black part spinning with it. Basically, you can't adjust the height without taking off the strut and control arm link. PITA. The black part supposed to have a hex screw insert that you can use to resist the spinning, but mine doesn't have it. Neither did the other set I saw. Even if it did, it would be useless because you can't get the allen key between the spring coils.

I emailed KW about my issue. I hope they get back to me about this tomorrow.

[Number]

Here are the CKS coilovers. They come with camber plates for the front. The damping adjustment for the rears are NOT on the top hat. This is good because you don't have to take apart the whole strut to adjust damping.

[tiltmode43]

Looks good to me! You get those pics from ER's car or did you pick up a set?

[Number]

Originally Posted by tiltmode43

Looks good to me! You get those pics from ER's car or did you pick up a set?

I don't know who/what ER is. I got the pics indirectly from CKS. I did order a set with Swift springs. It will be here in a few weeks.

[tiltmode43]

Originally Posted by Tremolo

I don't know who/what ER is. I got the pics indirectly from CKS. I did order a set with Swift springs. It will be here in a few weeks.

Oh, ER = Evolution Racewerks. Based on the Swift springs & Brembos, this is their car. Be sure to post up when you get them (I'm sure you plan on it)

[Number]

Originally Posted by tiltmode43

Oh, ER = Evolution Racewerks. Based on the Swift springs & Brembos, this is their car. Be sure to post up when you get them (I'm sure you plan on it)

Oh yeah, Evolution Racewerks. Cool. You should probably update the first post though since CKS isn't the "only" confirmed kit any more. Also Bilstein has a B14 and B16 set that a forum member has received.

I think these are the confirmed kits available as of today along with some description.

KW Variant 2 and Variant 3

• Sales halted due to recall
• Must use OEM top hats
• Has adjustable damping on top hats

CKS

• Includes top hats
• Includes Camber plates for front
• Damping on top for front
• Damping on strut for rears
• Includes sleeves for the springs <-- CORRECTION: Thrust Washers not Sleeves
• End Links
• Swift Springs are an option

BC Racing

• Back-ordered until after SEMA. Drop-Shipping is available though
• Must use OEM top hats
• Damping on top for front
• Damping on strut for rears
• Swift Springs are an option

Bilstein B14 and B16

• Have to order from Germany (confirm?)

[tiltmode43]

Originally Posted by Tremolo

Oh yeah, Evolution Racewerks. Cool. You should probably update the first post though since CKS isn't the "only" confirmed kit any more. Also Bilstein has a B14 and B16 set that a forum member has received.

I think these are the confirmed kits available as of today along with some description.

KW Variant 2 and Variant 3

• Sales halted due to recall
• Must use OEM top hats
• Has adjustable damping on top hats

CKS

• Includes top hats
• Includes Camber plates for front
• Damping on top for front
• Damping on strut for rears
• Includes sleeves for the springs
• Swift Springs is an option

BC Racing

• Back-ordered until after SEMA. Drop-Shipping is available though
• Must use OEM top hats
• Damping on top for front
• Damping on strut for rears
• Swift Springs is an option

Bilstein B14 and B16

• Have to order from Germany (confirm?)

I've had them all up there for a while now, all but Bilstein

Those other notes are excellent additions though!

[RSXDC5]

These aren't exactly available YET, but I did contact JRZ yesterday and they are currently working on dampers for the F30. When I asked if they could provide any sort of timeline or ETA for availability they responded with "before winter".

[tiltmode43]

Originally Posted by RSXDC5

These aren't exactly available YET, but I did contact JRZ yesterday and they are currently working on dampers for the F30. When I asked if they could provide any sort of timeline or ETA for availability they responded with "before winter".

It will have been a full year before we have a decent list of options to choose from.

Parts development on this car is so slow. I had faith KW would have been fine but they still managed to goof things up!

[Number]

Oh one more thing I forgot. CKS includes the end links as well.

[m3 guy]

Originally Posted by RSXDC5

These aren't exactly available YET, but I did contact JRZ yesterday and they are currently working on dampers for the F30. When I asked if they could provide any sort of timeline or ETA for availability they responded with "before winter".

Do you know if they are working on camber plates and rsm's as well?