KW COILOVERS and OFFSETS...

Silver330xi · 03-24-2015, 07:49 PM

Hey guys,

New to the forum so first off Ill say hello.
Just got a set of KW Variant 1's for my 330XI. I also recently purchased 19" wheels and tires. Now I did the calculation on Turnermotorsports.com (also where i got the coilovers) but I was hoping you guys might have some real world advise for me.

My OEM wheel offset was 34 with an 8" wheel. my new wheels offsets are 35 up front and 30 in the rear with 8.5" up front and 9.5" in the rear. Calculations show that with this I lose 7mm of clearance up front and move toward fender 5mm (not a prob as I can see they arent close to the fenders at least). My rear clearance is now 15mm less inner (not a concern) but a whopping 23mm closer to rear fender.

So Im thinking 15mm spacers up front and leave rear as is, that would bring both right about to the fenders (20mm up front and 23 in rear)... any advise? Also and more importantly with these KW Coilovers, if I go fairly low and do not use spacers right away are they going to rub on my new springs with now less clearance (7mm less) then even a stock wheel set up??

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
-BMW noob (Tim)

cvc 22349a · 03-25-2015, 08:03 PM

You'll be fine w/o spacers. 15mm spacer up front may be too much? I run the same offsets with a 5mm spacer up front. If your car is a LCI you'll rub the fender in the back. Also consider how much you want to lower the car and affect your suspension geometry. I'd stay within kw's recommendation.

bmw325i · 03-25-2015, 08:31 PM

15mm spacer up front will be flush. You'll need some stretch to pull it off if you're low(why else would you have coils

). If you haven't already got tires I would go with a 225 or 215 up front for some stretch.

So your rear offset is et30? If you roll/shave your rear fenders you can fit a 12-15mm spacer with a 255/30/19.

cvc 22349a · 03-25-2015, 09:56 PM

^ all that sounds terrible. I didn't realize this was a stretch n poke thread.
OP: if your goal is to improve your car's handling, 235/265 tires on those wheels will maximize grip. The rear may rub the fender liner if you go too low.

bmw325i · 03-25-2015, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

^ all that sounds terrible. I didn't realize this was a stretch n poke thread.
OP: if your goal is to improve your car's handling, 235/265 tires on those wheels will maximize grip. The rear may rub the fender liner if you go to low.

More like flush than poke. 225 on 8.5" wheel or 255 on 9.5" isn't even stretched.

03-24-2015, 07:49 PM	#1
Silver330xi Private 6 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330XI Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Maine iTrader: (0)	KW COILOVERS and OFFSETS... Hey guys, New to the forum so first off Ill say hello. Just got a set of KW Variant 1's for my 330XI. I also recently purchased 19" wheels and tires. Now I did the calculation on Turnermotorsports.com (also where i got the coilovers) but I was hoping you guys might have some real world advise for me. My OEM wheel offset was 34 with an 8" wheel. my new wheels offsets are 35 up front and 30 in the rear with 8.5" up front and 9.5" in the rear. Calculations show that with this I lose 7mm of clearance up front and move toward fender 5mm (not a prob as I can see they arent close to the fenders at least). My rear clearance is now 15mm less inner (not a concern) but a whopping 23mm closer to rear fender. So Im thinking 15mm spacers up front and leave rear as is, that would bring both right about to the fenders (20mm up front and 23 in rear)... any advise? Also and more importantly with these KW Coilovers, if I go fairly low and do not use spacers right away are they going to rub on my new springs with now less clearance (7mm less) then even a stock wheel set up?? Any help would be great. Thanks, -BMW noob (Tim) Last edited by Silver330xi; 03-24-2015 at 10:01 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-25-2015, 08:03 PM	#2
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	You'll be fine w/o spacers. 15mm spacer up front may be too much? I run the same offsets with a 5mm spacer up front. If your car is a LCI you'll rub the fender in the back. Also consider how much you want to lower the car and affect your suspension geometry. I'd stay within kw's recommendation. __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, Koni/M3 susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2015, 08:31 PM	#3
bmw325i Major General 223 Rep 5,120 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	15mm spacer up front will be flush. You'll need some stretch to pull it off if you're low(why else would you have coils ). If you haven't already got tires I would go with a 225 or 215 up front for some stretch. So your rear offset is et30? If you roll/shave your rear fenders you can fit a 12-15mm spacer with a 255/30/19.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2015, 09:56 PM	#4
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	^ all that sounds terrible. I didn't realize this was a stretch n poke thread. OP: if your goal is to improve your car's handling, 235/265 tires on those wheels will maximize grip. The rear may rub the fender liner if you go too low. __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, Koni/M3 susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS Last edited by cvc 22349a; 03-25-2015 at 11:31 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote