Is KW all it's cracked up to be?

[sub39h]

contact damian at DPM performance. no-nonsense, honest opinion and he'll sort you a good price 

[berg]

very happy with the b12 kit on mine, unless you are taking car on track why adjust

[Dario]

KW for me every time 

[JackG]

Can you get them serviced? (KW that is)

Think I may go for the B14 kit, all I'm interested in is handling, I want to drop to about 35mm and then when I'm bored I may go to about 45mm! I live in Malvern hills so being low.....is a no go 

[danishmkvgti]

KW for me every time  

Still that picture shows what i am on about, fiberreinforced adjustment of height, with a tiny pinol screw to fixate it. It's just a very bad design for a suspension part. If you regularly service and maintain the suspension it might be okay, but for day to day driving all year round and with fatigue in the fiberreinforced adjustment ring, you are bound for trouble IMO, of course.
Bilstein on the other hand has two alloy rings on each leg and a hole for the adjustment tool, instead of the system KW uses where the tool can slip down with the slightest effort.







No doubt they make great suspension KW but why do things different just for the sake of it???n

[JackG]

There sexy 

[GNJ_Motorsport]

KW kits are great but when I fit coilovers to my S3 I will be fitting Bilsteins. The quality of the dampers is superb :)

[Hurdy]

Bilsteins again for me. I had Eibach Coilovers on first and the dampers were KW and I ate through the dampers, both sets of dampers I had on went just outside warranty

Moved to Bilsteins and they were much better and lasted too. I am now in a different car and have gone for Bilstein again based on how good they were first time around and once again love them

BTW I am on B16's

[MAT ED30]

I have done over 40k on my v3 and other than a snapped spring that was an easy fix never had a problem with them and by undoing the little screw that holds the height adjusters mine still adjust very easy and have never chewed up the adjusters like Danish did.

[the bruce]

Would like bilstein B12 but have thought I'd like to be able to adjust the height  ...

I know bilstein are really really good hence why I'd like the B12 kit but it's just the fixed height that makes me not 100%

Jack, so why don't you go for a Bilstein B14 coilover?

It's almost as cheap as a 'fixed' B12.  




http://www.bilstein.de/en/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b14.html

 

[Bikerz]

Do the B16's come with the adjustable top mounts? Thats a huge advantage of the KW Clubsports for me. Im on KW V2's at min and been great so far (only done 1 track day on them tho.)

[JackG]

Would like bilstein B12 but have thought I'd like to be able to adjust the height  ...

I know bilstein are really really good hence why I'd like the B12 kit but it's just the fixed height that makes me not 100%

Jack, so why don't you go for a Bilstein B14 coilover?

It's almost as cheap as a 'fixed' B12.  




http://www.bilstein.de/en/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b14.html

 

Thanks buddy! I've been talking to GNJ motorsport and I've gone for the B14 kit as it can be adjusted....may also just say thanks for all the advice from you guys!!  it's great to honest views without it kicking off like it normally does on other forums!
Will order these just after Xmas with a WALK and rear ARB

[the bruce]

Do the B16's come with the adjustable top mounts?
Thats a huge advantage of the KW Clubsports for me.
Im on KW V2's at min and been great so far (only done 1 track day on them tho.)

No, but if I'd need adjustable top mounts I'd give these a try:



http://performanceshock.com/--c-41_139/ccpmkv


Jack, when fitting your new suspension go for the RS3/TT top mounts
(slightly stiffer than OEM Mk.V) and both front and rear ARBs.


KW Clubsports are great and ''more trackable'', but ride comfort isn't
it's strength and it's also expensive. Advantage: you can vary the linear
springs in a range someway 30 % softer or stiffer.


If I had a Clubsport I'd have a look for alloy rings to fit. I'd order rings
from Bilstein, Eibach and H&R to try them.

[rex]

Clubsport cannot be compared to B16... KW3 is the equivalent of B16. If you want to compare the Clubsport with something Bilstein does you should check the Bilstein products made for motorsport (non TUV, just lke the Clubsport). 

[RedRobin]

.
I've been running on KW V3's for about 3 years without any problems and they fit well with my whole suspension package. I don't need to adjust them and if I did I would get VW Racing to do it for me because I don't know enough about finding that sweet spot (on cars! Girls is a different matter!).

Having said that, if buying again I would probably buy Bilstein. It's a bit like whether you prefer a Canon pro to a Nikon pro camera. Both are very good.