Bilstein B16's or KW clubsport? Discuss.

[tony_danza]

Simon - Tweeks sell them, along with balance motorsport - most likely cheaper at the latter, call Julian and ask.

I know he's not got his mitts on the bumpsteer kit yet, I've said I'll trial it for him when he does.

[Janner_Sy]

looks piece of p*ss to fit as well, as long as you mark where the locking nut was on the track rod alignment should be ok. I have H2sport top mounts at moment, not fitted yet though, only a preset 4way camber adjustability though.

[werkes]

Id say from experience, KW clubsports are excelent for adjustability and yes, you can spec spring length and NM rates to suit your application. I have 70, 80 & 90NM for mine and different lengths too for front or back...

Bilstein have a very long and proven history in the suspension market and very good quality.

When I installed White GTis suspension - i compared it to a KW V1/2 spring and damper set up - the dampers certainly had more height adjustability and our techs were impressed with that kit and the ones we've fitted since.

Its all about preferences and for most, the KW V2 and V3 kit will suffice.

If you would like to know prices on anything suspension - let me know & I'll see what offers are available :)

[Msportman]

I've just fitted the Clubsports...main reason is their handbuilt motorsport pedigree and tech put into their valving and spring rating.

They do come with warranty as backed up by KW (UK) and my supplier.

They have excellent and easy adjustability and have the added bonus of adjustable camber a must for road and track use. The car runs so flat now there will hardly be a need for ARB's such is the excellent spring rates.

I've run Bilstein, Koni / Eibach, H&R and Leda on previous car's including my race prep'd Golf. Clubsports are what VWR use and highly recommend although they use Race spec springs.

Well worth the money IMO

I will find and post re their construction from  the literature I have with the kit.

They ceratinly transform the stock set up.

Nothing wrong with Bilstein either and I wouldn't want to call which is best as they are both companies of high pedigree in motorsport.

Ian

[lowlife]

I had both on previous rides, and i'm running H&R ultra low coilovers on the mk5 now, which i think better both the KW and the billys, but if i had to choose between the two in question i'd go for the KW's.

[RedRobin]

Clubsports are what VWR use and highly recommend although they use Race spec springs.

Nothing wrong with Bilstein either and I wouldn't want to call which is best as they are both companies of high pedigree in motorsport.

Ian

....Don't forget that VWR in running the VW Race Championship are sponsored by KW (amongst others) and also have a close technical partnership with KW Germany. So, they probably couldn't be running Bilstein even if they favoured them.

In saying this I'm not suggesting that Bilsteins are necessarily better than KW - It's a close call and both are primo pedigree as you have posted .

[GTIjames]

been running the bilstein pss10 on mine for the past 10k miles, got them for a good price from julian at Balance c£1100.

These are my first coilovers i have had for any of my cars so difficult to compare to anything else, but been really impressed with them, handling is sharp and smooth when driving on good roads, but you really feel the bumps and dips in the roads and can be a bit much for the gf on long drives but I like it.

simon at amd in woking who put on my revo map and then took the car out to test thrash it, asked me when he got back what they were as was very impressed with them, they normally fit kw there, but i've never driven a car with kw on so couldnt comment

easy to adjust them,no need to jack the car up, but it does make it easier with the rear shocks, the fronts you just turn turn the wheel and adjust the nobs. only ever adjusted them once though when I went to the pod to tighten up the rear...

sure either the kw's, ast or bilstein all give good performance

I went with bilstein as been playing GRID racer on ps3 alot so all their advertising on the game must have worked 

[Top Cat]

been running the bilstein pss10 on mine for the past 10k miles, got them for a good price from julian at Balance c£1100.

These are my first coilovers i have had for any of my cars so difficult to compare to anything else, but been really impressed with them, handling is sharp and smooth when driving on good roads, but you really feel the bumps and dips in the roads and can be a bit much for the gf on long drives but I like it.

simon at amd in woking who put on my revo map and then took the car out to test thrash it, asked me when he got back what they were as was very impressed with them, they normally fit kw there, but i've never driven a car with kw on so couldnt comment

easy to adjust them,no need to jack the car up, but it does make it easier with the rear shocks, the fronts you just turn turn the wheel and adjust the nobs. only ever adjusted them once though when I went to the pod to tighten up the rear...

sure either the kw's, ast or bilstein all give good performance

I went with bilstein as been playing GRID racer on ps3 alot so all their advertising on the game must have worked 

Missed your Birthday yesterday James. Happy belated birthday. 

[GTIjames]

been running the bilstein pss10 on mine for the past 10k miles, got them for a good price from julian at Balance c£1100.

These are my first coilovers i have had for any of my cars so difficult to compare to anything else, but been really impressed with them, handling is sharp and smooth when driving on good roads, but you really feel the bumps and dips in the roads and can be a bit much for the gf on long drives but I like it.

simon at amd in woking who put on my revo map and then took the car out to test thrash it, asked me when he got back what they were as was very impressed with them, they normally fit kw there, but i've never driven a car with kw on so couldnt comment

easy to adjust them,no need to jack the car up, but it does make it easier with the rear shocks, the fronts you just turn turn the wheel and adjust the nobs. only ever adjusted them once though when I went to the pod to tighten up the rear...

sure either the kw's, ast or bilstein all give good performance

I went with bilstein as been playing GRID racer on ps3 alot so all their advertising on the game must have worked 

Missed your Birthday yesterday James. Happy belated birthday. 

Many thanks TC,

[the bruce]

NEW BILSTEIN B16 CSC 'CLUBSPORT':

http://www.bilstein.de/en/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b16-csc.html

 

[Carrera2RS]

I am running PSS9's (might be the 10's)

I have been experimenting with damper settings, considering getting more advice and talking to Center of gravity or simpson Motorsport.

KW are the new kids on the block, Billies have been round the block. Both very good I'm sure, I played the safe card from my experience with Billies in the past.

[PDT]

Bilstein every time for me, I cant give a direct comparison to KW clubsport vs the b16's as I have not driven the same car with both kits fitted, doubt many gave tbh.

I have however driven lots of cars with both, maybe its all on my head but I always prefer the bilstein setups, KW often seem very harsh for road use, hiwever not sure if they were set up properly.

We get lots of motorsport based stuff in, from 1000hp ultimas to trackday porsches, I see a lot more bilstein stuff on the higher spec, more expensive cars.

[vRSAlex]

Im the opposite.  KW everytime for me.  I bought a brand new set of PSS9's for my old car and changed them for K3's two weeks later.  The PSS9s were either too soft or too bouncy.  None of the 9 settings worked for me.  I set the V3's up how I like them and they were perfect.  I cant comment on the PSS10's, but I fit loads of clubsports to Porsches and Lambos etc and they are always spot on.  We have clubsports on our demo Boxster Spyder and the ride is super smooth.  I always found that the Bilsteins floated and bounced too much, giving instability.

One of our Lambo GT3 cars runs the KW race setup and the other runs Ohlins with KW springs.

Our old TT race car ran Bilstein bodies with KW springs.  It was the only way to get the best from them by fitting KW springs.

[laurent.d]

NEW BILSTEIN B16 CSC 'CLUBSPORT':

http://www.bilstein.de/en/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b16-csc.html

 

I have seen that a few weeks ago, but they are not available for our cars.

A good way to improve Bilstein PSS10 is to remove the progressive springs and replace them with H&R linear ones.

[Carrera2RS]

I will be meeting up at the Herts meet on the 24th, I have B16's and will hopefully have some settings that I think work. It will be interesting to see how they compare to KW V3's Robin maybe you should drive my car ?