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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Wheels / Tires / Suspension / Brakes F10 5-series KW Variant 3 (V3) Review
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      02-06-2011, 01:09 PM   #1
LACSTER
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Thumbs up F10 5-series KW Variant 3 (V3) Review

Bavarian Exclusive did all the installation, as I'm not a mechanical person and have no clue what to do. I went with the KW's variant 3 because I needed something lower then my current spring setup with RD Sports. I've always wanted a full coilover suspension and with my new F10 what better time is it for me to do it

I'll keep this first post as my "reaction" to the new set up, and post drop measurements, pictures, etc. later in the review.

WOW!!!!!! is all I kept saying on the ride home from Bavarian. The car is completely different. The car "feels" lighter, like it lost a lot of weight. Body roll? Whats that? The F10 now tackles corners like a BMW should and not the boat feeling I had for the first month or so with the stock suspension. The RD Springs helped reduce that but I was not completely satisfield. It feels so flat around a turn. It took some time to re-learn how to drive it, it's that different. Coming from completely stock to this, makes me feel like I'm back in my E92. Okay well not that far but 100 times better now

Ride quality. My settings on the KW's are the out-of-box settings. I have not messed with the rebound/compression yet. The ride quality is not bad at all. I'm lucky enough to live in an area where we have very nice smooth roads. The V3's are stiffer then stock, thats for sure, but it's not annoyingly harsh or rough, and I'm on 20's. But the suspension has a tiny bounce to it. And I mean a tiny bit, no where near the bounciness of stock or the RD's. My wife was following me in her SUV on the way home from Bavarian, She said she could see a slight bounce, but it was not really noticeable, that it looked like a race car. It's not a constant bounce, it only really happens when their is some sort of dip in the road, and it like bounces back into place (1 bounce). Does that make any sense?

"75" on the freeway feels like 30, the car feels so planted on the ground. The stock ride was boat-like to me, very "floaty" and I felt disconnected from the road. Now I feel like I'm in full control of the car. The steering feels tight, I feel like there is a new tighter steering rack on the car. The steering wheel snaps back into place after a turn. My braking feels tighter as well, no nose dive, and I feel the F10 stops faster for some reason.

The F10 now feels neutral and light. Like it's ready to fight.
Was it worth it? YES!!!!! I definitely recommend the KW's, if you want the ability to dial in your height and stiffness, and get awesome handling with out spending an arm and a leg, this your ticket.

As promised here are some before and after pics along with some install pics as well as the specs.

Before with RD Sport springs

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After with KW Variant 3 slammed

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Here are some pictures with the stock shocks and RD springs and some with the KW variant 3's

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Some close up pictures after install of the front and rear

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The drop for the V3's can go from 22-55mm front and 20-50mm rear.

Here's some info from KW's website on the V3's


KW Variant 3 inox-line – Perfect Street Performance

State-of-the-art technology from motor sports for more performance on the road. The separate and independently adjustable rebound- and compression damping allows for an individual suspension setup for different uses and preferences. The unique patented system with its two-stage valves allows a rebound damping adjustment (comfort) and a compression adjustment (driving dynamics) in the low-speed range while the high-speed range which controls the driving safety, is fixed.

Damping technology with individually adjustable rebound- and compression technology
inox-line* stainless steel technology
Individually height adjustable
Adjustment parameters approved by the German Technical Control Board (TÜV)
High-quality components for long durability
Infinitely variable rebound damping adjustment
14-way adjustable compression damping
Unique, individually working damping force adjustment
Comprehensive documentation for easy use


Compression- and rebound adjustment

As far it is vehicle-specifically possible, the rebound damping is adjusted by a spindle at the end of the piston rod. Mainly, the traction phase (rebound) controls car body vibrations and also influences handling and comfort in the low-speed damping range. By using the traction phase adjustment, the vehicle can be adapted to the requirements of the driver. Moreover the driving behavior can be regulated from comfortably rolling to sporty and tense with improved road holding characteristics.

The compression phase adjustment is carried out at the lower end of the shock absorber via our patented multi-purpose valve. The large number of pre-set parameters of this valve allows for a wide range of adjustment for individual use. The unique low-speed compression adjustment significantly distinguishes this technology from any other. In this compression range, the driving behavior of the vehicle is drastically influenced. An increase of the damping power supports the vehicle already during compression and therefore avoids rolling and pitching. The directional stability is significantly improved.

Last edited by LACSTER; 02-06-2011 at 03:21 PM..
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      02-06-2011, 02:17 PM   #2
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Great review!! Definitely some helpful information for us contemplating on going for some KW V3's for our F10.
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      02-06-2011, 05:16 PM   #3
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You used to have 350Z and GTR R35?

Nice F10 man.
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      02-06-2011, 05:29 PM   #4
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Wow.............. that looks so nice... I want a f10!
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      02-06-2011, 05:34 PM   #5
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Too low, raise it up to a classy drop and your car will look great IMO.
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      02-06-2011, 05:44 PM   #6
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v3 is definitely best way to go...nice write up...get a bigger set of wheels...the wheel well doesnt seem to be full enough
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      02-06-2011, 05:51 PM   #7
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      02-06-2011, 07:07 PM   #8
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Nice. I am in OC too, will look out for your ride.
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      02-06-2011, 07:13 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luigimaster24 View Post
Great review!! Definitely some helpful information for us contemplating on going for some KW V3's for our F10.
Thanks Lui.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JsTech View Post
You used to have 350Z and GTR R35?

Nice F10 man.
Nope think you might have me confused with Alex aka 78mao

Quote:
Originally Posted by DimSum View Post
Wow.............. that looks so nice... I want a f10!
Thank you sir

Quote:
Originally Posted by new2the3 View Post
Too low, raise it up to a classy drop and your car will look great IMO.
Yes it has been raised since than. I only slammed it for SEMA 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by numba1guju View Post
v3 is definitely best way to go...nice write up...get a bigger set of wheels...the wheel well doesnt seem to be full enough
Yeah its the only way to go

Quote:
Originally Posted by GOLFFRR View Post
baller
You got to fake it before you make it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zulu Saffa View Post
Nice. I am in OC too, will look out for your ride.
You catch me in Irvine during the weekdays.
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      02-06-2011, 07:54 PM   #10
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Looks a bit low for a 5 series.
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      02-06-2011, 08:05 PM   #11
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Somewhere, in Germany, there is a BMW engineer crying a bit.
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      02-06-2011, 08:07 PM   #12
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Those wheels+ that drop=Ghetto fab.


Not diggin it.
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      02-06-2011, 10:11 PM   #13
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Lacster, that looks tight man.
I have a question though. What about road noise? Having 20" wheels, and a lower set-up; did the road noise increase, or remained the same as was the previous set-up?
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      02-06-2011, 10:51 PM   #14
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beautifulll
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      02-06-2011, 10:57 PM   #15
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Absolutely amazing ....to tell you the truth it OFF THE CHAIN!!! love it.
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      02-06-2011, 11:01 PM   #16
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lol thats an awesome setup but the gthaus 535i had the variant 3 coillovers back in september
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      02-07-2011, 12:25 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWinNorthdakota View Post
Those wheels+ that drop=Ghetto fab.


Not diggin it.
LOL! It's not Ghetto fab but is Hellaflush! Ahahahaha!
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      02-07-2011, 12:25 AM   #18
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Looks great Kev...now you just need to get 22's and a Big Brake Kit
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      02-07-2011, 12:57 AM   #19
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nice man, always looking good
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      02-07-2011, 01:12 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by new2the3 View Post
Too low, raise it up to a classy drop and your car will look great IMO.
I agree with this.
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      02-07-2011, 03:19 AM   #21
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Great review, Kev. You need to show photos of your new set up and wheels, your car looks even better now.
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      02-07-2011, 03:39 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by new2the3 View Post
Too low, raise it up to a classy drop and your car will look great IMO.
+1
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