Difference Between KW V1 & V3 Coilovers

CremeFraiche

Can someone explain to me the differences between the V1 and V3? Purposes of both products? To my understanding the V1 has preset specs and more user friendly whereas the V3 is fully customizable and optimal for track-use. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks!

/Angelo350Z/

In a nutshell, V1 only allows ride height adjustment; V2 provides ride height and rebound adjustment; and V3 allow ride height, rebound, and compression adjustment.

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

CremeFraiche

Which choice is optimal for someone who just has the Z for street use for now but plans to take it to the track every once in a while? Haha sorry if this is too vague but that's probably the life of my Z for now. I don't foresee tracking my Z hard anytime soon.

/Angelo350Z/

I occasionally take my car to the track but I don't have the patience nor dedication to adjust the settings so I settled for the V1. Besides, since it's the closest, I only take my car to the Nurburgring, which in reality, is more comparable to a regular road. A very wide, scary country road.

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

Jhill

I am looking at the kW v3 as well but they are a bit pricey (not that you don't get what you pay for but if it's out of budget it's out of budget). I don't think I would go the v1 route as there is no adjustment which defeats the main purpose for me to want the after market shocks. Have you looked at the BC DR series? That's one I am now strongly considering after the review posted on here and doing some research. Passes TUV standards as well and has adjustability and one thing they have over KW is the ability to choose custom swift spring rates so if you get them and find them too soft or stiff you can move up or down by 2k and still stay in the same damper range. That's a pretty nice bonus.

RumbleFish

"only"

If we all 'only' were so lucky to have the Ring as our only road course

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How far, this...Utopia?
F.I. CBE V2/Stillen G3 CAI/GTM 25R OC/EcuTek tune (Specialty Z)/ KW V3's/Stillen Sway bars/SPC rear camber kit/Z1 FUCA/Mich. PSS4S 255/35-295/30

RumbleFish

you can often find V3's in the classifieds here...picked up a set myself for $1100

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How far, this...Utopia?
F.I. CBE V2/Stillen G3 CAI/GTM 25R OC/EcuTek tune (Specialty Z)/ KW V3's/Stillen Sway bars/SPC rear camber kit/Z1 FUCA/Mich. PSS4S 255/35-295/30

/Angelo350Z/

Haha you know what I mean.

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

/Angelo350Z/

Will you be tracking your Z to the point where you need ride height, damper compression, and rebound adjustability? If you plan on doing so, then the KW V1 certainly isn't for you. But if you just want stiffer shocks, the V1 shocks, like most afermarket shocks, are stiffer than OEM. I used to take my 300ZX Turbo at the Ring with just Eibach springs, Tokico Blue shocks, and Stillen sway bars, and it was more than capable. The downside was, I was stuck with the ride height. Being able to adjust the car's height with coilovers is surely a plus, but sometimes full adjustability isn't necessary and worth the cost, depending on the application.

Regarding the BC coils, I can't comment on those as I never really looked into them. Not sure having the Swift springs option is necessarily a plus either. I ran Swifts for the first couple of years and they were fine, but certainly not the best I've had. The Eibach Pro Kit springs on my 350Z actually felt better. Just because they're popular with the 370Z drop springs crowd doesn't mean they're the best choice for your needs. Would you like a certain brand of coilovers more if they offered Ark, Eibach, H&R, or Tein springs instead? Look at the spring rates and damper settings then decide which combination suits your needs. It's not like KW, HKS, and other reputable companies use sh!t springs, even on their entry level products. By the way, KW is a German brand sold in Germany so it passes TUV standards as well. For what it's worth, there's a lot of TUV-certified products I'll never put on my car. Good luck with your search. But yes, I would love to have KW V3s instead .

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

Jhill

I'm still undecided and may not even touch the springs and shocks but I am more interested in having the option to change damper rate rather than just ride height. With fixed rates the designer can only do a best guess as to how the car should behave and not taking into account whatever other changes you may have done. If their fixed rate doesn't match your driving style or feel or whatever other alternatives you have done then that is that and your out 1600 for something that has no use for you. Suspension is subjective and not everyone likes the same thing, if we did then none of the after market stuff would be adjustable because we would all have settled on the one tune that is best. So for one company to charge 1600 and just have a ride height adjustment and another that is also getting good comments to offer the same with damper adjustment and spring change options that to me seems like a better deal. Also the swifts vs eibachs you mention is apples to oranges because those are both a progressive lowering spring not a coil over. The swifts used by BC are linear rate true coil over springs, KW has proprietary progressive springs that they will not give rates on so no real way to know how they stack up. Having used progressive rate h&r in the past on a different car and on Oem 370 linear rate now and being a tech for the last 11 years getting to drive multiple vehicle of multiple brands Oem and "tuned" I can say I am not a fan of the progressive rate springs. They give you the soft ride at the lower height that people want for looks but there predictability and the way they head into a turn is just not my thing.

Jhill

Also to add to that is with no damper adjustment and no spring rate adjustment what are the KW tuned around? Are they set firm so they don't bottom out and scrape at their 2 inch drop causeing them to be firmer than necessary at the .6 inch drop? Or are they set softer so they ride smoother at the .6in drop but now hit the bump stops constantly through turns at the 2in drop? Or did they just split it in the middle? With an adjustable system you can run softer at a higher setting and allow more travel use because you have the travel and then firm it up on a lower setting to avoid bottom out, I know it isn't a high speed adjustment, would need something like ohlins ttx for that which I have on my bike but at least you can have more support in the turns.

The v1 just seems like too much compromise to be worth it. Yes it's ride height adjustable but what height was the damping and springs designed around? Neither one can you change spring rates so if they are too soft for your desired height then too bad, too stiff and not using any travel with just a moderate lowering again too bad.

/Angelo350Z/

I'm with you. Get the V3 and call it a day knowing you bought the best for your Z and application. If I had the cash to throw around, I would've certainly went with it. Looking back at my 350Z days at the 'Ring, it would've been nice to be able to adjust the rebound on the dampers, since it's pretty normal for average cars to catch air with the high-speed straights and elevation changes. Let us know what you end up getting.

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

Jhill

I'm currently actually looking at the rsr sport line I coilovers. They are recommended height of -.2 (and can even go higher than Oem by +.2 so a ton of range). They use 8k/8k linear springs so same as oem for ride comfort, wide damping range and even come stock with ti composite springs which is nuts for their price. Hard to find any reviews for them but seem more popular in the brz/frs crowd but I am now very interested. Also made in Japan hand assembled and HQ not very far from where I live (so cal vs nor cal).

Slartibartfas

Y'all should actually read the KW web site. It gives great info.

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2011 Journey Sport sedan 7AT | SPL front, SPC rear camber arms | ARK Grip cat-back |

Jhill

I have read it and they are a good product but they still have the progressive coil feel. It's just a preference that I would rather have linear springs for the quicker turn in initiation that you get with a true linear spring.