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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > All-Wheel-Drive (Xi / xDrive) Talk > KW V3 (xi) settings



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      01-08-2009, 10:02 AM   #1
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KW V3 (xi) settings

I've gone through the xi subforum and found two threads about the KW V3 xi owners' settings.

By Sparkplug: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167598

By longodj: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164989

Any other folks here can provide some feedback and recommendations for the setting if I'm looking for a fairly "comfortable" ride? (Yes, I got mine mainly because I want to lower my car)

Thanks!
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      01-08-2009, 02:50 PM   #2
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I too would like to hear from fellow KWv3 xi:ers and your settings for a comfortable ride. Like the OP, I got my KW:s mostly as a "4x4-delete". I probably won't ever go to the track with this car (albeit who ever knows?), so my main priority would be comfort. I've been going with the default settings for a while now, but it's a bit too harsh for my liking (feels kind of like my previous car (E46 M3), but since one of the reasons for my changing cars was that I wanted a more comfortable ride, that's not necessarily a good thing).

I do, however, want to be able to use the freeways without the car getting all wobbly on me (I once tried lowering the rebound to -12 clicks (or 2 full turns) on the fronts, and the car was like jelly once past 75mph or so - of course, the reason for that might have been that I was too lazy to change anything but the front rebound ).

Anyway, some decent "comfortable ride" settings would be nice if someone's done the research already. Since I don't have any cut-outs in my trunk liner, I don't fancy stripping her down any more than I have to.

- Pud.0
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      01-09-2009, 05:54 AM   #3
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coilovers = no longer comfortable

do KW have adjustable spring rates? or is there one spring rate and thats it?
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      01-09-2009, 12:15 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PKumarM3 View Post
coilovers = no longer comfortable

do KW have adjustable spring rates? or is there one spring rate and thats it?
The KW V3 is a progressive spring rate. If you want a specific preset spring rate then you would be looking at their clubsport line of products.
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      01-09-2009, 09:30 PM   #5
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An easy way to improve the ride is to change to non-runflat tires.
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      01-09-2009, 09:45 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by halB View Post
An easy way to improve the ride is to change to non-runflat tires.
Gotta agree with that, the UUC sway bars for the XI's really do add a lot as well (sshh.. they are on free shipping promo right now as well)
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      01-10-2009, 08:21 AM   #7
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i am wondering if the KW V3s are the right choice for me..progressive spring rate? Are other coilovers a better choice for the XI, i.e Bilsteins, FK ? Also, how easy is it to adjust the KW's ?
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      01-10-2009, 07:22 PM   #8
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Already got non RFTs... anyone with V3s wanna chime in?
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      01-11-2009, 10:15 AM   #9
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I'm still happy with my settings, even in -40 weather These are superior shocks in every respect, so they still absorb shocks very well, even though they are firmer. I think they key for you is to find a good shop to install them that will understand what you want and will let you test drive a few different settings.
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      01-11-2009, 10:43 AM   #10
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you kno thats great and all, but the OP wanted to hear about settings (not oh should i buy coilovers for my xi).

i recently set my compressions to a few click away from the softest but left the rebound at the recommended settings, the car still feels stiff as hell and i cringe after every bump/pothole.

The rebound was left alone because it was a little more work to get to it. Whats the easiest way to get to the rebound adjust for the front, do i have to take them off the car???
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      01-11-2009, 11:54 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hov333 View Post
you kno thats great and all, but the OP wanted to hear about settings (not oh should i buy coilovers for my xi).

i recently set my compressions to a few click away from the softest but left the rebound at the recommended settings, the car still feels stiff as hell and i cringe after every bump/pothole.

The rebound was left alone because it was a little more work to get to it. Whats the easiest way to get to the rebound adjust for the front, do i have to take them off the car???
My settings are already posted in the link in this thread (1 softer than recommended in rebound and compression). I love the sportier/firmer ride quality and think the car handles bumps/potholes much much better than stock. This might be personal taste. I wonder if having your rebound settings so far out of synch with the compression is causing the problem coupled with your very tall (20") rims (I'm still on 18's). Have you tried firing off an e-mail to KW?
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      01-11-2009, 01:01 PM   #12
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Yesterday I finally took the time to remove the trunk liner and adjust the rear rebound (top of strut) settings. Turned out that they were at -4 (with 0 being full hard), even though they were supposed to be -6 as per the installation instructions (see second half of document for english instructions)). After changing them to -14 (which it seems I left the front ones at last time) out of 18, and adjusting the front bump (bottom of strut) to -7 (the default being -5) out of 12, I definitely got a much more comfortable ride. It now seems to be about at the comfort level it was with the original (OEM) suspension setup, yet without creating that wobbly feel I had earlier.

The front bump can be "easily" adjusted by turning the wheels fully, and reaching in with your hand to where you can feel the bottom of the strut. There is a hole in the bottom, where you can insert a hex key (not the 2 mm one, I tried a few and I think the right one would be something like 4 or 5 mm (I can verify this later if someone needs the info)). Like the manual says, the bump has an adjustment range of 2 full turns, and I also found that the clicks (6 clicks per full turn) on the bump adjustment were much more pronounced than on the rebound adjustment screw. I didn't take any pictures of this, as all I had was my phone, and the lighting was not good enough. I plan on taking some pictures with a better camera (with flash) later. The whole procedure (including trying to find the right places to adjust and the right tools for the job) took me about two hours (with the hardest part being removing the trunk liner).

I could not, however, find where to adjust the rear bump. At the bottom of the strut there is a different kind of knob than on the front, and nothing seems like it's used to adjust anything. I also tried to turn the "knob" with a spanner, but at least it didn't move with the minimal amount of force I used (none of the other adjustments need any force, so I don't expect this one to be any exception). Like I said, I had no useful camera at the time, but I'll take some better pictures soon so you'll see what I mean. Could someone who has actually adjusted the rear bump perhaps give me any pointers as to where I should look?

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      01-11-2009, 01:07 PM   #13
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no im back on the stock 18's for the winter time. I will try to soften the rebound settings. i know that bump is adjusted from the bottom and the rebound from the top...but how can i access the top of the front shocks? (thats what i was asking before, not about bump)
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      01-12-2009, 09:12 AM   #14
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Thanks Pud.O!
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      01-12-2009, 01:39 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hov333 View Post
i know that bump is adjusted from the bottom and the rebound from the top...but how can i access the top of the front shocks? (thats what i was asking before, not about bump)
Oh sorry, my bad. I thought you must have them mixed up, as the rebound (especially the front) is really easy to get to. The adjustment point is right below the front strut brace. There's a rubber cap (about 1"(?) wide) that you can ply away with a screwdriver, which reveals the screw into which you can insert the 2 mm hex key. I had to cut my hex key i half to get it to fit comfortably in the round recession below the strut brace, otherwise I could only turn it some 1/3 turn at a time. Now with its shorter length I can do full turns easily, and you really don't need to apply any force anyway.

Unfortunately I have no pictures with the rubber cap on, but I took a few with the cap removed and my hex key inserted. I know they're shitty quality (again, phone with no flash), but they may still be better than nothing. I'll try to take some better ones tomorrow (as well as some of my mystery rear bump adjustment point).

Here you go:




Closeup:




Hope these help!

- Pud.0
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