Coilover: kw v3 or ohlins R&T

[rapter]

Hi,

Have been thinking about a coilover upgrade. Currently love the daily comfort of the stock oem 1m shocks and springs. Rear spring or shock is pretty worn (original equipment from 11 years ago) time for an upgrade.

Could opt for a kw HAS kit with new struts and shocks in the rear (oem shocks) and play with the ride height but many threads indicate that a full coilover is the better way to go.

Really dislike the fender gap at the front and want this addressed.
Better than oem performance is welcome but I don’t want a noising, clunky harsh ride.

How is the kw v3 kit?

How does the ohlins compare ?

Can everyone chime in on both the k3 and r&t set up

[iDontRemember]

Ohlins R&T here, better ride and handling than the OEM parts. Fit and finish are excellent. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

I think the biggest advantage to the Ohlins over the KW is that you can get the Ohlins from FCP and take advantage of their lifetime warranty (Ohlins recommends a rebuild at 40k miles) Either one you go with, I’d recommend thrust washers.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by iDontRemember

Ohlins R&T here, better ride and handling than the OEM parts. Fit and finish are excellent. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

I think the biggest advantage to the Ohlins over the KW is that you can get the Ohlins from FCP and take advantage of their lifetime warranty (Ohlins recommends a rebuild at 40k miles) Either one you go with, I’d recommend thrust washers.

Thanks for the recommendations. Can you post a link to an exploded parts diagram of the thrust-washer you are referring to?

Is this an oem product? Or an aftermarket add on?

Assuming it allows the spring to rotate so that it does not ping.

[Nkc]

Have kwv3 on one and Ohlins on another. Prefer the Ohlins.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by Nkc

Have kwv3 on one and Ohlins on another. Prefer the Ohlins.

What are you liking on the ohlins that the kw cannot do?

[ayao]

Originally Posted by rapter

Thanks for the recommendations. Can you post a link to an exploded parts diagram of the thrust-washer you are referring to?

Is this an oem product? Or an aftermarket add on?

Assuming it allows the spring to rotate so that it does not ping.

Here is an example of the thrust sheets I have on my Ohlins.
https://www.hpashop.com/Swift-Thrust...t-bearings.htm
I am sensitive to creaks and pop sounds that don’t belong so I did everything possible to prevent this.

I do not remember very well what the OEM ride quality was vs Ohlins. I remember expecting an amazing change but I don’t think it was that major a difference on the street — the car can still be very unruly on uneven pavement. I think the Ohlins provide a very OEM-(plus?)-ish ride.

However, I wanted a setup that was easy to mildly tweak for street vs track and for my level of driving, the Ohlins are great.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by rapter

What are you liking on the ohlins that the kw cannot do?

Felt more compliant overall. Personal feeling.

[MarkFT]

Thanks to the OP for asking this question as it is one that I am struggling with as well. At first, the Ohlins seemed like the popular choice, but my car is a daily driver, including in winter weather with salt on the roads, and the KW is advertised as being weather-tested and designed for winter driving.

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but does anyone have any experience or comments with respect to the Ohlins' ability to withstand winter driving conditions and salt vs. KW?

[iDontRemember]

Originally Posted by MarkFT

Thanks to the OP for asking this question as it is one that I am struggling with as well. At first, the Ohlins seemed like the popular choice, but my car is a daily driver, including in winter weather with salt on the roads, and the KW is advertised as being weather-tested and designed for winter driving.

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but does anyone have any experience or comments with respect to the Ohlins' ability to withstand winter driving conditions and salt vs. KW?

I live in NW Florida, no salty roads but plenty of salty air. To protect my Ohlins against corrosion, I gave them a generous coating of Boeshield T-9.

[CarJunkie]

I have been very happy with my Ohlins mated to Vorschlag plates up front. I did not use thrust washers, and have not had any clunking.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

I have been very happy with my Ohlins mated to Vorschlag plates up front. I did not use thrust washers, and have not had any clunking.

Ohlins not to aggressive for regular street use, can you dial the shocks right down for a fairly stock ride?

Or are they oem + ?
Oem ++?

[CarJunkie]

They really cleaned up the handling and have not disappointed at all on the track. The roads are pretty nice where I live, so I don't mind the slight bump up in firmness. I would not want them (or any decent track capable coilover setup) if I still lived in Maine where the roads are absolute crap.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by rapter

Ohlins not to aggressive for regular street use, can you dial the shocks right down for a fairly stock ride?

Or are they oem + ?
Oem ++?

On full soft I find the ride to be very similar to OEM. Certainly not worse.

Full hard is marginally streetable -- I drove back from the track one time and had forgotten to dial back the settings and thought the car was broken. It was crashing over every expansion joint. On track this setting is excellent for my limited capabilities.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by ayao

On full soft I find the ride to be very similar to OEM. Certainly not worse.

Full hard is marginally streetable -- I drove back from the track one time and had forgotten to dial back the settings and thought the car was broken. It was crashing over every expansion joint. On track this setting is excellent for my limited capabilities.

Exactly what I wanted to hear….thank you for the insight.

Would want an option, as you have described, to be equal to stock (because the stock ride is awesome) and to have the option of oem + or flat out track mental.
Not that this car is a track machine for me my primary and exclusive use is for street.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by MarkFT

Thanks to the OP for asking this question as it is one that I am struggling with as well. At first, the Ohlins seemed like the popular choice, but my car is a daily driver, including in winter weather with salt on the roads, and the KW is advertised as being weather-tested and designed for winter driving.

Not to hijack the OP's thread, but does anyone have any experience or comments with respect to the Ohlins' ability to withstand winter driving conditions and salt vs. KW?

Did you end up upgrading to a kw v3?
I have put this off and just getting back to this topic.

Was going to order a set in a week.


Any other v3 reviews 1m owners can post up?
Looking to daily drive and set up comfortably for the street.

[rapter]

I have read that kw v3, while great, do apparently start making a lot of noise (namely - chirping).

Is this true with our set up on the 1m?

What about an ohlins set up< are these silent 🔇 over time?

I don’t want to spend any money if either is going to make a lot of noise.

[Ewok]

I was running Bilsteins PSS10 for 5 years but switched to KW V3 recently due to lack of support for repairs and parts. Kept to the stock settings KW had from the box. I do mostly street driving and feel it is perfect in terms of comfort / amount of lowering , as well as handling. Feels slightly firmer than stock but not jarring. Comfortable over humps. I have no complaints so far. Does not make any weird noises either… No idea how this compares to the Ohlins.
Hope this helps !