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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Bilstein PSS10 vs KW V2 -



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      11-28-2011, 01:03 PM   #1
revlimit
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Bilstein PSS10 vs KW V2 -

Does anyone know which of these have the most comfortable ride?
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      11-28-2011, 03:42 PM   #2
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I would stay away from KWv2's. I've had them for 40k miles and they offer a comfortable ride since the stiffness is adjustable but they wont last the long haul. Pay a little bit more and go for the blisteins.
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      11-28-2011, 03:56 PM   #3
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Thanks for the info.
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      11-29-2011, 04:45 PM   #4
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I had the Bilstein PSS9 on my E46 M3 and they rode way better than stock, even being fairly dumped..
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      11-29-2011, 04:55 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lpphreakx06 View Post
I would stay away from KWv2's. I've had them for 40k miles and they offer a comfortable ride since the stiffness is adjustable but they wont last the long haul. Pay a little bit more and go for the blisteins.
+1 Bilstein PSS9's are even better than KWv2.
Just make sure your shock covers don't get stuck and let sand into the shock, the Bilstiens will last you a LONG time.
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      11-29-2011, 08:50 PM   #6
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So I should consider the PSS9 instead of the PSS10?
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      11-29-2011, 10:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by revlimit View Post
So I should consider the PSS9 instead of the PSS10?
Try looking on HP Autowerks web site for some really good struts/coilover systems:

http://hpashop.com/Coilovers_c174.htm

If you can pull it, TCKline, Moton, or AST would be better for you than Bilsteins...Swift springs will also make a big diff on ride comfort. Creaminz says it all in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=swift+springs
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      11-30-2011, 03:46 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flip4335 View Post
Try looking on HP Autowerks web site for some really good struts/coilover systems:

http://hpashop.com/Coilovers_c174.htm

If you can pull it, TCKline, Moton, or AST would be better for you than Bilsteins...Swift springs will also make a big diff on ride comfort. Creaminz says it all in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=swift+springs
Price difference...

Quote:
Originally Posted by revlimit View Post
So I should consider the PSS9 instead of the PSS10?
Yes considering they were on sale
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      11-30-2011, 05:08 AM   #9
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Bilsteins are monotube gas pressure dampers and KW V3 are twin-tube. From what I read, the twin-tube dampers ride more confortably compared to monotubes, while monotubes are better for racing.

Also, Bilsteins (at least PSS10) lower the car quite a bit even on the highest settings, you may want to consider this also. Monotubes have generally less shock travel room compared to twin-tubes, because there is a gas reservoir at the base of the shock. This prevents larger ranges of height adjustability.

One other thing is that KW has a 7-post shock absorber testing dyno on which they test and tune all their coilovers. There are very few such dynos in the world, most of which are at F1 teams.

Also, KW equips Mercedes AMG Black series, so they must be quite good.

I would go with KW. I have not read a single review of someone who did not like them (at least at the beginning). But I did read some stories about spring coils binding, etc. But these were old enough to not be an issue with their current stuff.

Last edited by tscdennab; 11-30-2011 at 05:14 AM..
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      11-30-2011, 05:25 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tscdennab View Post
Bilsteins are monotube gas pressure dampers and KW V3 are twin-tube. From what I read, the twin-tube dampers ride more confortably compared to monotubes, while monotubes are better for racing.

Also, Bilsteins (at least PSS10) lower the car quite a bit even on the highest settings, you may want to consider this also. Monotubes have generally less shock travel room compared to twin-tubes, because there is a gas reservoir at the base of the shock. This prevents larger ranges of height adjustability.

One other thing is that KW has a 7-post shock absorber testing dyno on which they test and tune all their coilovers. There are very few such dynos in the world, most of which are at F1 teams.

Also, KW equips Mercedes AMG Black series, so they must be quite good.

I would go with KW. I have not read a single review of someone who did not like them (at least at the beginning). But I did read some stories about spring coils binding, etc. But these were old enough to not be an issue with their current stuff.
You may be right, but he was asking about the KW V2, not the V3 which would be on par/maybe better then the PSS10
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      11-30-2011, 12:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Autobahn335i View Post
You may be right, but he was asking about the KW V2, not the V3 which would be on par/maybe better then the PSS10
Even the KWv3's aren't as good as the PSS10s. When you have the PSS10s dialed in, they are a much better performer on the track.

Had this debate in this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518314

Don't get me wrong, KW's are great, but I was turned off when I heard about the chirping noise and cracked/warped parts.
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      11-30-2011, 12:32 PM   #12
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I'm pretty set on KW's, especially V2's since I have them on my personal car. When they're set at a more comfortable setting, they ride very well. That's my personal preference though
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      11-30-2011, 02:58 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by studie View Post
Even the KWv3's aren't as good as the PSS10s. When you have the PSS10s dialed in, they are a much better performer on the track.

Had this debate in this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518314

Don't get me wrong, KW's are great, but I was turned off when I heard about the chirping noise and cracked/warped parts.
In that thread you are trying to sell a set of PSS9 for five months and it seems you still haven't sold them...and someone in that thread had both and likes KW V2 more.
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      12-03-2011, 06:15 PM   #14
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So back to the original question. Which one has a better ride?
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      12-03-2011, 11:56 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tscdennab View Post
In that thread you are trying to sell a set of PSS9 for five months and it seems you still haven't sold them...and someone in that thread had both and likes KW V2 more.
decided to keep them
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      12-04-2011, 01:29 AM   #16
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All i can say is i highly regret getting kw coilovers. after 5 months, the struts were leaking and the plastic peices on them had began to crack. Wish i had saved up a little more for a pss9/pss10 set of coilovers.
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      12-04-2011, 05:31 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by revlimit View Post
So back to the original question. Which one has a better ride?
KW has a more comfortable ride. Bilstein is precise, balanced, but hard.
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      12-04-2011, 05:33 AM   #18
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Wouldn't KW's be warrantied after months for something like that?
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      12-04-2011, 12:19 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gizmo335i View Post
Wouldn't KW's be warrantied after months for something like that?

Yes they are warrantied, but i do not have stock suspension. So i have to buy something in the mean time to put on the car while i send my kw's back. Major inconvenience factor and an unnecessary hassle.
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      12-04-2011, 12:51 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stucks View Post
Yes they are warrantied, but i do not have stock suspension. So i have to buy something in the mean time to put on the car while i send my kw's back. Major inconvenience factor and an unnecessary hassle.
Besides the defect product, how was the ride?
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      12-04-2011, 12:55 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by revlimit View Post
Besides the defect product, how was the ride?

It was compliant when they first went on the car, but then got worse over time. started hearing new unsettling noises and became very jolting every time i hit an expansion joint/bump in the road.
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      12-04-2011, 01:19 PM   #22
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Damn, why didn't you keep your stock suspension? That's exactly why I would never sell mine....you never know...plus I'm on my 3rd suspension.....and plan on doing something different eventually....
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