REVIEW - KW V3's (have now ran then on a G37 & 370 Nismo)

[1cleanZ]

I ran KW V3's on my G37 coupe for almost 2 years. This included on the road course, auto-x, track, but also on the highways(including a 4400 mile road trip down to ZdayZ in NC, Miami and back home up to MN).

After selling my G37 last October(sold the KW's) and purchased my Nismo this spring, I immediately was frustrated with the suspension. The OEM Nismo suspension was incredibly uncomfortable, the springs gave just no support, they were purely meant for track and track only. I immediately knew they had to go, and went right back to my #1 choice, KW V3's and boy am I glad I did!

I did the full swap in my garage, including SPC front and rear camber arms and toe bolts.

The 1 and ONLY bad side of these coils is they DO NOT come with pillow mounts or top hats, meaning you still have to dismount the OEM springs from the OEM struts, and reuse the OEM pillowmounts. I find this to be a small price to pay for such a high quality product.











^^^And the finished product! I have the rear coilover maxed out, which I LOVE that KW, as a class act company and the crowd/look they are directed towards, they limit how low they can go to a tasteful slammed look but not overkill.

Zero issues scraping, but I'm used to driving lowered cars. I also don't rub at all on my fenders, even with 15mm up(40-15 = 9.5+25 offset) front and 20mm in the rear(23-20= 10.5+3 offset).

The ride, just as I remember it! With a progressive spring, they give great comfort for everyday driving and dips, but when you start to get aggressive with them, they know right when to limit the car.

All in all, I give KW V3's a rating of 10 out of 10. It just doesn't get any better then this setup with the adjustability of rebound dampening, compression, and height.

[jujubii]

stock mounts look like just a rubber bushing. are they pillow ball?
I do see that the kws dont come with a upper (top hat?) mount though, lameee

[XwChriswX]

Are you planning on drilling through your interior trim to access the rear adjustment point, or just remove the interior panels each time?

I'm trying to find someone who's done the drilling method so I can duplicate it.

[Liquid_G]

What dampening setting you running?

I recently turned the dampening up to 1 click below full stiff on mine. I had driven almost a year with them somewhere in the middle. Damn it feels like a new car now. Stiff enough to provide good feedback on the road but not bone jarring at all.

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

What dampening setting you running?

I recently turned the dampening up to 1 click below full stiff on mine. I had driven almost a year with them somewhere in the middle. Damn it feels like a new car now. Stiff enough to provide good feedback on the road but not bone jarring at all.

I've had mine on the "middle" setting I guess, I have no idea as I wasn't watching the install... I'm planning to have them leveled, adjusted, and corner balanced in the fall.

I'm just trying to find someone with KW's who has done the "drill mod" to gain access to the upper adjustment point without having to remove all the rear trim.

[1cleanZ]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

What dampening setting you running?

I recently turned the dampening up to 1 click below full stiff on mine. I had driven almost a year with them somewhere in the middle. Damn it feels like a new car now. Stiff enough to provide good feedback on the road but not bone jarring at all.

For now I just kept them right in the middle on "0". I figured once I do my first Auto-X event I'll start playing with the adjustment. I believe its....20 clicks both ways? So you're 1 click off the stiffest? The rear of the Z seems the be the one place where it feels "floaty", even after installing my sways. I might play with this next weekend when I get back to MN. I'm actually at the Fast Intentions shop here in Cali right now.

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

I'm just trying to find someone with KW's who has done the "drill mod" to gain access to the upper adjustment point without having to remove all the rear trim.

To do this, you would need an extension of some sort to reach up through the trim. I saw a photo of another kit to do this, but I don't believe I've ever seen it run on KWs.

I was actually looking into getting a rear strut bar(GT SPEC), which you need to actually cut the trim to allow fitment anyways, which would still give me access to the adjustments.

Dampening on the bottom is right on the bottom of the strut which is pretty easy to access if you don't mind laying on the ground.

[leighspped]

i 2 give them a 10 outta 10. (i drove 12000 cross-country and back) and loved every minute of it

for the rear adjustment, i just take them off at the beinging of the year and see if still how i like it-- adjust or not depending on how it goes

[MIKE_STR]

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

I've had mine on the "middle" setting I guess, I have no idea as I wasn't watching the install... I'm planning to have them leveled, adjusted, and corner balanced in the fall.

I'm just trying to find someone with KW's who has done the "drill mod" to gain access to the upper adjustment point without having to remove all the rear trim.

Lol, about three months ago I was looking for the same thing. I drilled some small holes in the center of where I thought the top adjustment would be. Now, I've added some nice plastic plugs that make the drilling look "clean".

I'll see if I can take some picks and share.

BTW, the "extension" thing is a myth. Just go to harbor freight and get a T style 4mm allen. I think its 4mm... don't quote me on that. Anyway, the adjustment knob is only like 2" below the plastic hole you'll drill. Almost any allen will reach it.

[GTLAW]

KW3 are nice! but you have track car lol why not use track parts? lol.. I would have went with HKS GT 4 Coliovers or CUSCO.

[kenchan]

why do you guys give the poor guy more homework? he said he's done and happy with the KW's.

[Sh0velMan]

Originally Posted by GTLAW

KW3 are nice! but you have track car lol why not use track parts? lol.. I would have went with HKS GT 4 Coliovers or CUSCO.

Love this.

I was with you on the track parts thing, then you started listing hawt JDM parts, yo!

[cv129]

Originally Posted by Sh0velMan

Love this.

I was with you on the track parts thing, then you started listing hawt JDM parts, yo!

Lol lol

[1cleanZ]

Originally Posted by GTLAW

KW3 are nice! but you have track car lol why not use track parts? lol.. I would have went with HKS GT 4 Coliovers or CUSCO.

Nah, had my KW's on my G which I did a road course 3 times, as well as 6 auto-x events and loved the feel of them. I looked into HKS's but stuck w/ the KW's.....damn German's I tell ya

[roplusbee]

From the look, it seems you were able to keep a pretty much stock ride height. What is it actually? This is what has scared me away from going with coilovers.........

[Caustic]

Originally Posted by roplusbee

From the look, it seems you were able to keep a pretty much stock ride height. What is it actually? This is what has scared me away from going with coilovers.........

Stock ride height? That is no where close to stock. If he had 10 more mm spacers all around, those fenders would be sitting on rubber.