Competitors to KW V3 and who ran Greddy X KW
 

As the title suggests, what are competitors to the KW V3 coilovers? I'm getting rid of my brand new Adjustable Koni Yellow dampers (you can PM me if you want them) and I'm researching coilovers for heavy street and canyon use and light track use and everyone points to the KW V3's.

I came across the BC ‘ER’ series coilovers which are supposedly a competitor to the KW V3's but I think I want to stay away from BC. Also the Bilstein Bilstein B16 (my favorite because they look pretty), HKS Hipermax III, RS-R Sports*i but I've also came across some Greddy X KW coilovers that I've noticed not too many people have or talk about and might be better for my application since my car will be street driven the majority of the time.

What are other competitors to the KW V3?

Who has bought and used the Greddy X KW on the street and track or the Bilstein B16? I'm really interested in these two and it looks like they aren't popular in the community for some reason.

Here is the Greddy KW X I was looking at for mostly street use and occasional track use https://www.z1motorsports.com/suspen...s-p-10461.html

Here is the Bilstein B16 https://www.z1motorsports.com/suspen...pe-p-9166.html

Those Greddy X KW coils sound great but when i was looking for coils myself i didnt read anything on them, so i kinda doubt there is much on them.

The KW V3's on the other hand are extremely well reviewed on here for the z and even on the net for other cars.

Not a fan of B.C Coils, but i do hear great things from Bilstein Bilstein B16 coils although i hear they are also on the more expensive side. Should you decide KW V3's let me know i have a pair that will be going up for sale in 1-2 weeks once they are off the car.

Yeah, 164 views and no one even know a buddy of their's that have tried them out? I like the V3's but I'm not building a track monster so I don't want to waste my money if I'm not going to using it's full potential.

I would look at tein coilovers z1 has them on there race car. my friend has them on his 2010 z. He also has the auto adjusters, they ride super soft on the street, I forgot the rates maybe 14/12 not positive. He use the for autocross and track days. I personally have driven many cars with coils 5 diff types in diff cars.he paid about 2300.00 for them . He likes them better then his online in his race Miata. Worth a look hope it helps for what it is worth. Jv sorry for auto correct I’m tired. My personal race car was 06 sti I had kw v3 500 /500 they were good but not a lot of droop travel but that is a Subaru thing I believe. I now have a 18 nismo but I’m in a stock class. So when I change classes I will but these for mine

Maybe even Tien Coilovers with EDFC ACTIVE might be a good option also!

That article mentioned the BC ER is comparable to the V3, that's why I mentioned them. Just wanted to know who strayed from the more popular choices and liked the unpopular choices? I was even looking at the HKS Hypermix IV SP as well, those don't seem as popular either but i found one member on here that frequently run them on the street and track. There could be hidden gems out there that no one has tried.

The Nismo I just bought has BC ER's on it. They were either not installed properly or not set up properly when installed as they make a clunking noise over every little bump. I'm going back to KW's.

I would give fortune a look as well. I'm on 500 and am really happy with them. All the choices you have pretty solid. I don't think you would go on to regret buying a set from either brand.

My research indicates Fortune 500 is an excellent option for the track. Plus you can get them revalved in the US.

Seems that a couple people like the Fortunes which are pretty new. I've read about them on the track and they are well liked. I didn't see anyone saying much about street use though.

A big variable is the spring rates you choose... if you choose stiff ones for track use they aren't going to be very nice on the street. Softer ones for the street may not be appropriate for your track use. You can't have it both ways unless you want to swap out parts.

I know, I figure the sweet spot for people looking to tip toe on both sides might be 7-10k up front and the same in the rear with preferably progressive springs. I've only ridden in two different cars with coilovers, one with the V3 and one with the BC ER series. V3 I liked but the BC was shaking like a Chihuahua over bumps. The custom spring rates were 14k up front and 12k in the rear on the BC car I drove and it was horrible and knew immediately I didn't want to go that high but I'm sure it was awesome on the track. I do like that Fortune auto dyno tests each coilover similar to KW though. I'm starting to like what I see.

It is more about valving rather than spring rates, I didn't beleive that until recently when I got custom coilovers with 21kg/7kg. The ride in street with soft setting is comfortable, but when I turn it to stiff setting, it is very harsh.

Aragosta Type-S 14k/10k
Comfy as hell on the street, comparable to stock, even with full SPL parts arms

valving matters

Don't forget its also how the compression/rebound etc.. was dialed in.

You’re getting too much advice and some of it is bs regroup, take a breath. Just because it’s in a article still may not be true, look at at the articles that say 370 is old. There just full of crap, you’re best bet is to get a ride in a car with the ones you want and see for you’re self. One person opinion on what is a stiff ride will depend on each person you can get coilovers that are good for track and ride them on the street. Probably not there entry level one will ride like crap. Call z1 and have a specific conversation about there tein coils on there race car. If you want my friends advice on his and his set up I can do that . It also depends on you’re skills if you’re a novice cheap one or expensive one may not help . You need a certain amount of driving skills to get the benefit of most mods.

Agreed. Manage your options, get personal feedback, and look for value. Honestly, what is your budget?

I've had Swifts for the past three years and loved them compared to the stock springs. I drove a friend's Z that had BC with Swift upgrades and determined that was the next step. For the money, they made sense. Having ridden on them for a month or so, I can tell the most subtle differences. It's definitely not the same over big/rough bumps, but in the corners, it's a huge difference. As I become more skilled, I'll probably buy a different set of coilovers, but for now, this is great. The progression is the fun part. Honestly, I think if you buy coilovers that exceed your ability, you'll miss a lot of the fun.

My budget is $1,500. I do want the ability upgrade later on, which is why I'm really starting to like the Fortune Auto 500 series with the regular springs and upgrading to the swifts later. I just don't want my car bottoming out though, I don't plan on going any lower that .5 inches lower in the front and the same in the rear. Going low I don't care for, the performance and drivability I do. I know performance and "comfort" can't be in the same sentence but after driving in the V3's I loved them and wanted something somewhere in the ball park but cheaper, so I'm willing to sacrifice a little more comfort for performance. I think the Fortune Auto 500 might be it, there isn't anyone that has tried the Greddy x KWs to tell us what they are like and I don't want to be the guinea pig. I really like how they look too.

Sometimes it seems like the folks that don't wanna spend any money or modify their car wind up spending more time and energy then folks that are willing to . . . . do stuff.

Save your money up. Get everything at one time. Do everything at one time. It will save you time, money, and headache

i agree with that ^^^

Everytime you add something to your suspension, you don't just have the install time/effort - you need an alignment

Ideally you should get coils, arms, and wheels all at once so you can dial in fitment together with one four wheel alignment (and fender rolling)

At worst, coils and arms together and an alignment at the height you want to drive at

Then wheels. Because when you have coils and all the arms, you can fit pretty much any wheel/tize you want. The Z has incredible space for stuffing wheel under the fenders

I'm gonna go up to a 285/30/20 in front when i get new tires

The only thing that I have to report back on my fortunes is that I went through a touch-less car wash that blast the under carriage with soap water and they did not like that. Everything squeaked and groaned until I lubed all the bushings again. (the fortunes use a metallic upper mount and solid metal lowers.) Just a bit of honest feedback if you plan on driving the car everyday. I usually tell folks who dd to avoid metal or spherical bushings whenever possible for this reason.

No shame in taking your time. I signed up for this forum in 2013, didn't even buy a Z until 2015 and pretty much have been planning out my build from 2016. Doing the right thing takes time. You'll find the kit that fits your needs. Just keep reading and determine what will suit your needs the best.

The only reason why I want coilovers is to counteract the diving the car does and the unstable feeling it has at higher speeds. I realize I can go with springs but I don't want my car any lower than it is or to wear out my dampers prematurely. I love how it handles now around corners, I just can't fine tune it any further to that sweet stop I want with just sway bars, tires and the koni dampers. What I have now is great for cornering, they don't have much of an effect on the stability or the diving. I set that limit because I'll be spending a lot of money in the power department. I'm convinced I don't need crazy expensive coilovers, just something that could ride ok (not perfect) that can correct that diving and stability without messing up what I've done with cornering grip.

I dunno, i’ve never met someone so in love with stock level handling

I thought you said the alignment fixed your “high speed” thing

I went back and read your other thread

Are tou freakin out about event in which the car felt wierd in an emergency braking situation?

Alot of this seems all in your head

This right here is one reason I went powertrix street coilover. Firm poly upper and lower mounts for good reliable DD noise free yet good spring rates for track etc etc... been a good choice for me.

That is fixed, when braking it doesn't dart into one direction at high speed but the diving is something that's always been there which I knew was never going to be fixed by an alingment because the alignment will only fixed the unstable braking. I think it's a natural tendency of the car. I could only adjust so much with what I have, it won't do squat for that stability. And yes, I did need my diaper changed after that event and it left a impression on me. You are right and it has a lot to do with that event because I never planned on getting coliovers before since I was ok with the stock suspension. Some people didn't like how numb the 350Z felt but at least it was stable, the aggressive driving I've done with my 350Z, I've never had it do something like that before at Lime Rock race track or on the street with crazy Massachusetts drivers and all I had were Michilen Pilot Super Sports with nothing else in the handling department.

If you like the stock height and want stiffer springs why not just look into picking up a used set of 09-12 Nismo springs? I know they eventually softened them up somewhere between the 13-15 models but don't remember exactly which model year it was.

I originally thought that but other people convinced me otherwise to stay away from springs. I just don't know if they'll be stiff enough to cure that dive or comfortable enough. Right now the coilovers that seem to be targeted at me are the HKS Hipermax IV GT because it has the performance and comfort without messing with my other handling upgrades supposedly or the HKS SP and the Fortune Auto 500 with Swifts. Those 3 actual meet all the requirements that I'm looking for performance, comfort and a little bit over my budget but I'm willing to dish out the extra cash just because I biased towards Japanese brands like HKS and I've read that the installation on all their coilovers are super easy and simple. but I have no idea how they feel because I haven't driven in any Z with them to know. My only examples to go off of are the BC DR coilovers and the KW V3.

Fortune auto will valve their stuff for whatever spring rate you want

but

i have never seen anyone make this big a deal about the 370Z's "dive"

i'm pretty sure its all in your head

it really seems like you're chasing a feeling, rather than improving your car. plus, the artificial limit that it has to be "comfortable" along the way, which is amusing as hell to me.

You buy a sports car and you complain about the performance "feeling" but you want it to be comfortable so you refuse to make optimal performance upgrades. I'll never understand these people

Buy a freakin' beater civic to bum around town in and pick up groceries or return library books. Drive the Z when you wanna go fast. Otherwise, expect compromises. You want something thats fast and comfortable? save up for a BMW?

of course

it's your car and your money. do whatever you want, so i dont know anything and i'm just being mean again i guess

2015+ they softened the springs for better ride quality

Everything i've read the '09-14 Nismo was a damn shopping cart, terrible ride quality

It's ok man. You have some good advice, I'm sorry I bothered you.

I'm quite happy with my Powertrix Ultra-Lite coilovers w/Swift 13/11 springs. Great for a daily and I'm confident they'll perform when I finally make it out to the track. Previously had a set of HKS Hipermax Max IV GT but the spring rates were too soft for my liking. I would have considered the Max IV SP but they were not available at the time.

The problem with the 09-14 Nismo suspension is the shocks have too much compression and not enough rebound in the damping. Making the springs fell even stiffer.
.

I actually ordered the HKS Hipermax IV SP Coilovers over the Fortune Auto 500 yesterday. Also ordered SPL Eccentric Lockout Bolts. The spring rates are really high at 14k front 16k rear but the few owners that have them all commented on how the ride quality is so good yet performance is phenomenal in aggressive driving situations because of the high spring rate.

That and the fact they are Japanese is the reason why I went over my budget and out of my way to get them. I would assume the Japanese know how to design things for Japanese cars vs American or German companies. Install posts coming soon when they arrive. This is my last handling upgrade. I'm not sharing my power mods.

those spring rates seem odd. stiffer in the rear that front?

That's what I said. A sales person from HKS who I spoke to said the reason for that is because the Japanese racing drivers tend to favor oversteer than understeer, that's why they tuned it to make sure the car will never understeer when coming out of a corner. For city driving, I will probably stiffen the front sway bars for safety reasons. I've never wrapped a car around a pole and don't plan on doing that anytime soon. For Willow Springs and Laguna, I'll switch to run to less stiff sway bar up front unless anyone has any suspension tuning ideas.

I don’t think you can compare the front and rear rates directly since the rear springs are inboard while the fronts are true coil spring over damper (or aka “true type” coilover).

A friend had those HKS SP, he didn't like them on street. He said they were very bouncy on the rear in street, even stiffer than his viper acr-e, but he was on very short tires (265/35/18-295/30/18) and sat it very low (which should affect the ride quality).

At the track they were nice.

And you need to get SPL FUCA if you don't have them.