KW V3 Installed!

[x5joe2013]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to share as I'm super pumped that I got my KWs installed.

I had the standard suspension previously on my 50i so the improvement is quite noticeable. The truck feels a lot more planted and stable with almost no body sway in corners. Doesn't feel too harsh on our potholed Chicago roads and absolutely no bounce.

I only lowered 1" in front and 1.75" in rear. Now its level from front-to-back and I think that also helps with stability.

It took a local shop 6hrs and I did an alignment immediately afterwards as well.

Big thanks to all the material on this forum! Without I wouldn't have even known this was a possibility!

Thanks,
Joe

[Omar@VelosDesignwerks]

Looks good, congrats and enjoy in good health.

[x5joe2013]

Originally Posted by Omar@VelosDesignwerks

Looks good, congrats and enjoy in good health.

Compliments the Velos tune perfectly!!

[Jremmy]

Been debating getting the same setup for my '13 X5d. I'm on OEM 20" w RFTs and wonder if they're gonna amplify any harshness too much.

[mitch808]

Originally Posted by Jremmy

Been debating getting the same setup for my '13 X5d. I'm on OEM 20" w RFTs and wonder if they're gonna amplify any harshness too much.

Get rid of the RFT's, harshness eliminated.

[x5joe2013]

Originally Posted by mitch808

Get rid of the RFT's, harshness eliminated.

Yup I second that. Conti DWS

[Jremmy]

Originally Posted by x5joe2013

Yup I second that. Conti DWS

Been lamenting this for months now. Conti DWS seem like the way to go, but my wife drives the truck 3 days a week to work and I'd feel horrible if she got stranded. I also live in San Diego so I'd prefer a high performance, summer tire over an all season. May just give the DWS a go and see how they do. You guys carry a slime kit or carry a spare?

[mitch808]

The DWS is still great as a summer tire. ANd if you ever go to Big bear or mammoth, you'll be covered somewhat.

The reality is that it all comes down to Marketing... A performance oriented all-season tire like the DWS is only about 1 second slower than the same summer tire on a test track. So for the vast majority as long as your name isn't Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher, you won't notice a difference. Seriously. (Lived in SD from 2002-2011, auto-x at qualcomm, did many a track day up in riverside) Don't dwell on the "it's not a summer tire and I live in the sand and sun..."

[Jremmy]

Originally Posted by mitch808

The DWS is still great as a summer tire. ANd if you ever go to Big bear or mammoth, you'll be covered somewhat.

The reality is that it all comes down to Marketing... A performance oriented all-season tire like the DWS is only about 1 second slower than the same summer tire on a test track. So for the vast majority as long as your name isn't Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher, you won't notice a difference. Seriously. (Lived in SD from 2002-2011, auto-x at qualcomm, did many a track day up in riverside) Don't dwell on the "it's not a summer tire and I live in the sand and sun..."

Thanks brotha! That was all I needed to hear

[m5 guy]

Looking sharp!

[mberger111]

Hope this isn't a dumb question, but I have a 2007 BMW X5 that has the electronic damping control malfunction going on and the shop wants $4700 to fix it...could what you did bypass that so I could upgrade and fix the suspension at the same time? Apparently it's sway motor that needs to be replaced (never heard of it), but I have to replace the whole assembly. I know BMWs are expensive to fix, but I am hoping for a little cheaper solution.

[mitch808]

If the application fits your car, you'll spend about $2.5k-3k for the KW coilovers, installation ($300-500), coding possibly... So a savings, but only about a grand...

But it'll be a nice upgrade for sure.

[mberger111]

Originally Posted by mitch808

If the application fits your car, you'll spend about $2.5k-3k for the KW coilovers, installation ($300-500), coding possibly... So a savings, but only about a grand...

But it'll be a nice upgrade for sure.

Thanks Mitch that helps me a lot. I found these online for $2,755.

http://www.stillen.com/product/coilo...69-123655.html

Is there any better places to order from or would this be the pretty good? So you're saying this kit would take care of my current electronic malfunctions?

[mberger111]

Also, are there any cheaper options than KW that would work?

[x5joe2013]

Originally Posted by mberger111

Also, are there any cheaper options than KW that would work?

Checkout allshocks.com I got mine with a coupon or hit up Omar at Velos.

[mitch808]

Short of a grey market reseller, or a over the phone price, or an in-person cash price with a friendly dealers, that price is about par for the course.

[mberger111]

OK last question and I'll stop bugging you guys. Thanks for the input though.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-53...on-module.aspx

This is a EDC emulation module. Would this take care of my EDC failure without changing the suspension out or would I still need to do it either way?

Also, www.autoanything.com has that suspension set up 10% off if anyone else is interested.

[Gerryballz]

Originally Posted by mberger111

Hope this isn't a dumb question, but I have a 2007 BMW X5 that has the electronic damping control malfunction going on and the shop wants $4700 to fix it...could what you did bypass that so I could upgrade and fix the suspension at the same time? Apparently it's sway motor that needs to be replaced (never heard of it), but I have to replace the whole assembly. I know BMWs are expensive to fix, but I am hoping for a little cheaper solution.

Changing over to coilovers will not fix the active sway bar errors as shown in your estimate. Also I find it hard to believe both front and rear motors died at the same time. Food for thought...

[Gerryballz]

Originally Posted by x5joe2013

Hi guys,

Just wanted to share as I'm super pumped that I got my KWs installed.

I had the standard suspension previously on my 50i so the improvement is quite noticeable. The truck feels a lot more planted and stable with almost no body sway in corners. Doesn't feel too harsh on our potholed Chicago roads and absolutely no bounce.

I only lowered 1" in front and 1.75" in rear. Now its level from front-to-back and I think that also helps with stability.

It took a local shop 6hrs and I did an alignment immediately afterwards as well.

Big thanks to all the material on this forum! Without I wouldn't have even known this was a possibility!

Thanks,
Joe

Looking good! Any other mods lined up?

[mberger111]

Originally Posted by Gerryballz

Changing over to coilovers will not fix the active sway bar errors as shown in your estimate. Also I find it hard to believe both front and rear motors died at the same time. Food for thought...

Ya I think it seems a little weird that they all went bad...but doesn't the coilover kits bypass the EDC? So wouldn't that take care of the problem?

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/show...t-v3-variant-3

If you look there is one kit that does not include a delete for the EDC and one that does.

Thanks for the input. You're probably right, but that was my understanding.

[upstate650]

Yes. KWV3 eliminates the EDC. The version with the eliminator is to prevent codes and error messages. The version without is for those vehicles that don't have EDC, don't care about errors, are are using another EDC eliminator.

[Gerryballz]

Originally Posted by mberger111

Ya I think it seems a little weird that they all went bad...but doesn't the coilover kits bypass the EDC? So wouldn't that take care of the problem?

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/show...t-v3-variant-3

If you look there is one kit that does not include a delete for the EDC and one that does.

Thanks for the input. You're probably right, but that was my understanding.

The edc delete just simulates good working shocks. You can test this out by unplugging the connections at any one shock. You should get a shock specific error.