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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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335xi + KW v.3 = FANTASTIC
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08-31-2008, 03:52 AM | #1 |
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335xi + KW v.3 = FANTASTIC
Let's face it.
The stock 335xi suspension is a compromise at best, falling somewhere between the sport and stock suspension in performance, and between a sedan and SUV in ride height. I suspect it has to do with product development over at BMWburg than anything else. Xdrive is an animal engineered for an SUV and squeezed into a car than it is a autobahn performance piece. Why else would my 3 series "performance" car come with hill descent control? I could carry on about why xDrive is nevertheless the greatest thing ever, but that's another +1,000 threads. I'm here to tell you how the KW var. 3 can transform your xi into an unbelievable ride, so pull up your chairs. The one-size-fits-all stock suspension in our rides leaves much to be desired. There is the 4X4 ungainly ride height. Then there is worse-over-time dipsy-doodle cornering. Worst of all, however, is the nasty tendency of the front suspension (amplified by the run-flat tricycle tires) to make a minor bump feel as though you've just driven over a concrete curb. Well I'm here to tell you that the KW v.3 is a champ. It comes stock with 4x4 look delete (and can still leave you with manageable road clearance if getting slammed is not your cup of tea), no more dipsy-doodling and you can say goodbye to the Big Bang. Listen, you do not need to be a track or autocross king to appreciate the benefits of this upgrade. The improvement is as dramatic while driving straight ahead at school zone speeds as it is whipping your buggy hard into a corner. At once, the steering wheel feels more solid and dialed in, bumps and imperfections are handled much more comfort and aplomb than the stock suspension. At the same time, the suspension is more taut and responsive, and you feel sportier from your modestly lowered perch. If I could use only one word to describe the driving feel associated with this suspension swap it would be this: athletic. It's like having your 20 year-old gut again There are some drawbacks. For starters, I am going to have to get my headlights re-adjusted since they are now near-lighted. Also, in pushing it hard around tight corners, the car stays nicely and controllably more even but the tires start complaining a few mph earlier. I will not be able to fully test this until winter, but I wonder if xDrive feeds off the dipsy-doodling to vector torque around because I don't feel that as much. As for my settings, my goal was to make a good all-around performer rather than dialing it to a track. Nor did I want a low rider. I measured the stock hub to fender height and got 375 mm for the front wheels and 365 for the back. So I went with a 2 cm drop (355 front and 345 rear). At 3/4", the drop is a modest 1/4" below the stock i and should leave me with enough road clearance for winter and so forth (pictures below). I also thought it wise to keep the original rake. For rebound and bump I went slightly softer than recommended at 9 clicks in the front and 7 in the rear (8 and 6 are recommended) and a full turn on the bump (3/4 is recommended). I thought this would make for the best all-around settings and it seems to have worked out nicely - fantastic even. Before After |
08-31-2008, 04:28 AM | #2 |
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Excellent discussion. The lack of rock solid feel during hard cornering is my biggest compaint about the 335xi suspension setup. My e46 330 with sports suspension was much more to my liking. It is good to hear that the violent noises arising from the wheels when hitting moderate sized bumps is largely cured with KWs.
That being said, do you see any down side switching to KWs? The only thing that has held me back to this point is the difficulty of finding a good installer and a lingering concern about adversely affecting the much heralded BMW driving dynamics. With your ringing endorsement, however, I'm thinking it's time to place an order. Did you upgrade your sways when you added the KWs? |
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08-31-2008, 10:33 AM | #3 |
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One significant downside is price. **********s was good to me but if you don't have a duty broker or a shop where these installs are second nature, you can budget another $1,000 - shipping ($150), duty, broker fees and taxes ($400) and install ($600).
As merntioned, you might hear more of a fuss out of your tires earlier, but that seems to me to be a trade between body roll and staying level. I speculated that xDrive uses the body roll to help calculate when to vector torque to the other axle but that's speculation. The key for me re driving dynamics was to preserve the original rake and go conservative on the adjustments, height, rebound and compression. This is a highly sophisticated and quality system. No sways for me.
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09-01-2008, 08:12 AM | #4 |
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Congrats. The suspension and short shft were my first mod. The original suspension is almost criminal and darn right dangerous in a sporty coupe when cornering. I'll pop mine back up to gain a little clearance for the winter.
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09-01-2008, 12:49 PM | #7 |
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After more time behind the wheel I just can't get over how nicely my mods are working together with the OEM parts to create an amazing driving experience.
The KWs not only removed the imperfections of the stock set up, they balanced out my Dinan tune and parts. The whole is definitely greater than its parts (quick step. shifts, high revving Dinan exhaust note, corners conquered and that turboed IL 6 laying some smack down on straight-aways - all level and in contol). I also like how well the shock absorbers well, absorb shocks. It is a very firm ride without being harsh at all. It's actually like having your suspension cake and eating it too. In a few months I'll let you know how they handle their biggest challange yet - a Canadian prairie winter
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09-01-2008, 04:27 PM | #9 |
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I have the V3s as well with a bit more of a track oriented setup and I absolutely love it on the street (granted it feels like I'm being beaten with a sledgehammer) but it needs some work on the track....my front's too stiff atm. Do you know what your compression settings are? Congrats on the setup! Keep us posted!
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09-01-2008, 04:39 PM | #10 |
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I can't wait to get my Variant 3's too. I'll probably keep them as close to stock height as possible. I just want the improved handling and reduced "wallowy-ness" in the curves...
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09-01-2008, 06:33 PM | #11 | |
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open. The maximum softness is 2 revolutions, so mine are about half. You might want to play with a softer compression setting. You might loose some steering precision but gain grip (and save on dental fillings). Scooby, the settings I posted are close or at maximum height at least for the rear, they just aren't designed for that much height. On the plus side, I still think I have enough height to clear winter.
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09-01-2008, 07:13 PM | #12 |
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I just placed my order for a set. I also have a front strut brace and I will eventually get the chasis brace. I still have mixed feelings about the sways so I will not be getting those. I can't wait to get them installed. I might go with your same settings since it looks like it worked out very well for you and I'm lookingfor the same outcome. Congrats on the mod and thanks for the useful info.
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09-01-2008, 11:36 PM | #13 | |
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09-01-2008, 11:50 PM | #14 |
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This thread is awesome. I just got my suspension and waiting for my wheels to come in to put these on. Ill chime in with a mini review when im done.
edit: do u think the ride will feel the same if i use the same settings as you but make it lower with no wheel gap in front and back?
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09-02-2008, 12:29 AM | #15 | |
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09-02-2008, 01:45 AM | #16 |
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My only complaint with the stock ZSP suspension is it crashes and tends to bottom out on small bumps and thuds on road cracks. Would this fix the malady? I have to look at price because maybe I am better off living with the second rate noise and crash of the stock ZSP. But excellent review man...
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09-02-2008, 04:20 PM | #17 | |
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I think the coilovers will be in my mail box before I even get back to Germany, can't wait to get back to my car and install all the new goodies.
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09-02-2008, 09:39 PM | #18 | ||||
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09-02-2008, 09:51 PM | #19 | |
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Front: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=31&fg=05 Rear: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...37&hg=33&fg=30 Thanks! You would be able to adjust the aim of the headlight very easily with a screw driver.
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09-03-2008, 12:58 AM | #20 | ||||
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http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6704 I would add that I had little success with the 25 ft. aiming method. Instead, I took the car to a dark road and (using the trusty BMW flashlight for illumination) adjusted them to my liking. This took quite a few reevolutions to get right. They still do the auto-level routine unabated, they're just not navel-gazing anymore.
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09-03-2008, 03:35 PM | #21 |
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I will definately let you know how they feel at 155mph in the Autobahn, it's included in my scheduled tests for review along with some really fun twisty roads and a drive throught the Austrian Alps. Can't wait, anticipation is killing me.
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