AST 5100 vs KW v3 vs Bilstein PSS10

[atv12]

Hi everyone!
i'm looking for coilovers for city/track car use.
i spoke with people who are using every mentioned coilovers and all of them are happy with their choice.
you have more experience with suspention modifying so i would be gratefull for any advices!
as for me i like the ASTs for their opportunity for rebuild. but i have no information about adjustment ability and handling quality of all these coilovers..

[sparoz]

JRZ became very well respected for the 1M. Ohlins Road and Track is coming towards the end of the month. KW v3 also available with dynamic control which could be a plus.

[atv12]

JRZ is an american brand and shipping will raise the price much. so i'm comparing only european manufacturers

[jan9]

Originally Posted by atv12

JRZ is an american brand and shipping will raise the price much. so i'm comparing only european manufacturers

JRZ are based in the Netherlands.

[Snertz]

I'd rank the AST 5200's a bit higher than the KW V3's or Bilsteins. A comparable setup from KW would be their Competition 2 way setup. The 5200's are more of a motorsports setup that's streetable whereas the KW and Bilsteins listed are more street orientated suspension that you can track.

The flexibility of the AST's is better, you can spec the valving and spring right off the bat, plus can be rebuilt and upgraded later down the road.

From a price standpoint the AST's are more than double of what the KW and Bilstein setups cost. For that price range I would also take a look at the JRZ RS-Pros, Motion Control 2 way, or even the PSi Raceline setup based on Ohlin TTX's. For something around the price range of V3's, I'd definitely check out the JRZ RS1's. I currently have them on my car and the ride is phenomenal. Another option in that range would be the AST 4250's, though the release date on those is yet to be determined.

Just keep in mind that these higher end setups are not usually recommended for street use and will have shorter rebuild periods. The dampening range of any of the higher end stuff is very wide and versatile, though you can valve them to whatever range for the use you intend.

[atv12]

sorry guys! of course i made a mistake.. i was talken about AST 5100 not 5200!

[RimasRS]

My vote for BILSTEIN as they proved themselves on the track lots of teams are using them. And as you mentioned that you will use car for daily drive I think Bilstein is better quality as you will drive during cold winters also. (Xoladno tam u vas)

AST more professional for track use.

[atv12]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

My vote for BILSTEIN as they proved themselves on the track lots of teams are using them. And as you mentioned that you will use car for daily drive I think Bilstein is better quality as you will drive during cold winters also. (Xoladno tam u vas)

AST more professional for track use.

i'm going to change it to the stock one for the winter time (kogda holodno )
strange that nobody speaks about kw..

[Snertz]

Ah, if it's 5100's, check out the KW Clubsports over the V3's. At that price, I still stand by my suggestion of JRZ RS1's. I previously had AST's and like the JRZ's much more; The dampening range feels much wider, and more defined between each setting level.

Can't go wrong with the KW's though, they're very well back and function well.

[RimasRS]

Originally Posted by atv12

i'm going to change it to the stock one for the winter time (kogda holodno )
strange that nobody speaks about kw..

KW had my friend on Audi S4 so I didnt like the feeling they were to weak for car weight on bumpy road.

And you know Im crazy about PORSCHE and PORSCHEs equiped with BILSTEINs

[Aussie_in_London]

If you plan to frequent the track with some road use thrown in as an extra then KW have released their clubsports with 3 way adjustment and the 2 way will be discontinued for the 1M. Great set up. I run KW DDC in my 1M and Clubsport on my trackday OPC. I removed a set of V3's after almost 6yrs and 35k miles and after a clean they looked as good as new, so cannot fault quality either!

6 yrs 35k miles


Clubsports on OPC


DDC kit, but frequent track use, go the 3-way clubsports

[atv12]

Originally Posted by Snertz

Ah, if it's 5100's, check out the KW Clubsports over the V3's. At that price, I still stand by my suggestion of JRZ RS1's. I previously had AST's and like the JRZ's much more; The dampening range feels much wider, and more defined between each setting level.

Can't go wrong with the KW's though, they're very well back and function well.

kw clubsport is much more expensive than ast 5100. and 5100 has a great benefit - it is upgradeable and one can get all senior 5xxx series from 5100 if nessesary.. as i understood about jrz rs1 - it is the first level of their models? is it well enough equiped? compared with quite cool series of kw v3, ast 5100 and pss10 i mean..

[atv12]

Aussie, i also had an astra opc (vxr on british market) before 1m

[Aussie_in_London]

Originally Posted by atv12

Aussie, i also had an astra opc (vxr on british market) before 1m

Not a bad car when you fit a few choice mods and ditch some weight

[atv12]

dangerous red one)
i had garrett 2860rs turbo and it was really fast.. just a second slowlier than my 1m on the same track..) but it had h&r coilovers and 4 piston calipers and bmw is not modified yet..

[Aussie_in_London]

I have left the stock blower in place (I have a new turbo that will be going in with AET for some hybrid work) and just messed about in other areas capping it at 300bhp and 340lbft of torque, but ditching over 100kg had made a significant difference all round and 6 alcon extreme calipers and 365mm discs help on the braking front for track use. On track my opc would show it's rear to my 1M but with the work and weight that would be expected, straight line speed would show a different result though.

[atv12]

great car mate) that's funny that some of us used to put the vxr label and you put the opc))

[atv12]

here is mine

[Aussie_in_London]

Originally Posted by atv12

great car mate) that's funny that some of us used to put the vxr label and you put the opc))

Very nice mate, I have no VXR badges at all on mine, there is only a few badges to change, even the start up screen is the opel blitz on the screen, everywhere else has opel from the factory

I picked up mine when they first came out back in 05, still have it now and just used for track work , cheap and easy to maintain...

[atv12]

opel - discover.. issues..))

[LotusBoy]

I will backup "Aussie". KW is the best ! If you drive your car mostly on the road, KW's DDC suspension (electronicaly adjustable) is perfect. If you drive your car mostly on track, KW's V3 or JRZ should be the best choices. Search further on the forum, and you will find a subject on KW's magical DDC. It's the most expensive, but for good reasons !!

[atv12]

my friend has kw ddc and his going to sell it out through it works bad on track