KW Variant 2 confusion

pinder91 · 07-12-2018, 06:04 PM

So I just bought a set of KW V2 coilovers for my e92 (P/N 15220032). They seem to be the same price EVERYWHERE so I snagged mine from ECS Tuning since they offer $150 in ECS gift cards (and I planned to buy a few more items from them anyway).

Part of what sold me on the KW?s over other brands is that they are supposed to be stainless steel. Living in the snow belt, I HATE rust.

Anyway, for years I've seen people posting pics of their shiny new silver KW's.

Well, I opened my box as soon as it was delivered (direct ship from KW in Germany) and noticed I have black painted/e-coated rear shock bodies. That's weird. Why would you coat stainless? (See pic #1)

So, I inquired to ECS. Their product team confirmed that they are coated on the rear shocks, but that the bodies are still stainless. Looks like I missed that detail in the pictures. They show them black as well. (See pic #2)

Just to appease my curiosity, I also contact KW. Their website shows silver rears. (See pic #3) Something must have changed, right? Well, their tech guy informed me that only the struts have stainless bodies and that the rear shocks are coated steel and have never been stainless. Huh?! Am I blind? Have I been missing this detail in all the product descriptions over the years?

Does anyone here know what?s going on? Maybe some of our vendors? The guys at KW got pretty defensive and acted like I had no idea what I was talking about, so I don't want to waste anymore time with them.

CLIFF NOTES:
KW advertises their coilover kits as stainless steel. The V2 set that I just bought has painted rear shocks. The seller states they are still stainless underneath the paint. A rep from KW told me that they are NOT stainless on the rear, hence the paintin,g and that only the fronts are stainless. Does anyone else have any insight?

E90SDGUY · 07-12-2018, 07:44 PM

My rear KW2 struts are silver.

maddmatth · 07-12-2018, 08:18 PM

Hmm. I have KW V2s, I'll look under my car when I'm home. Mine are over 3 years old though so might be from before they changed this.

maddmatth · 07-13-2018, 04:32 AM

Mine are un-coated stainless like the last pic, as these (not great) photos kinda show...

pinder91 · 07-14-2018, 02:30 PM

This is super confusing now.

pinder91 · 07-18-2018, 11:55 AM

Just a follow up on my investigation.

- ECS Tuning Rep states the rears are infact still stainless steel, but they do not know why they are now painted.

- KW Rep #1 states the rears are NOT stainless steel, thus the need for coating (and that only the fronts are stainless).

- KW Rep #2 states the same as ECS. The rears are still stainless steel, just that KW only offers them coated for some unknown reason.

So, I'm still somewhat confused, but 2 of 3 stating they are still stainless underneath the coating makes me feel a little better.

Anyone else have any info that might help clear this up?

maddmatth · 07-18-2018, 06:05 PM

As you can see mine do have a little surface rust so the additional coating makes sense I guess. A bit odd that they only paint the rears though.

IllSic_Design · 07-18-2018, 06:14 PM

Take a magnet to the rears, if the magnet sticks they are regular steel, if it doesn't then they are stainless. Solve your issue in 1 minute.

Antetokounmpo · 07-25-2018, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

Take a magnet to the rears, if the magnet sticks they are regular steel, if it doesn't then they are stainless. Solve your issue in 1 minute.

Not necessarily true as some stainless steels are ferrous.

IllSic_Design · 07-25-2018, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antetokounmpo

Not necessarily true as some stainless steels are ferrous.

You are correct, but generally this is true.

pinder91 · 07-26-2018, 10:41 AM

Very good points.

I checked... front struts are not magnetic, rear shocks are magnetic.

07-12-2018, 06:04 PM	#1
pinder91 Private First Class 43 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Metro-Detroit, MI iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.00]	So I just bought a set of KW V2 coilovers for my e92 (P/N 15220032). They seem to be the same price EVERYWHERE so I snagged mine from ECS Tuning since they offer $150 in ECS gift cards (and I planned to buy a few more items from them anyway). Part of what sold me on the KW?s over other brands is that they are supposed to be stainless steel. Living in the snow belt, I HATE rust. Anyway, for years I've seen people posting pics of their shiny new silver KW's. Well, I opened my box as soon as it was delivered (direct ship from KW in Germany) and noticed I have black painted/e-coated rear shock bodies. That's weird. Why would you coat stainless? (See pic #1) So, I inquired to ECS. Their product team confirmed that they are coated on the rear shocks, but that the bodies are still stainless. Looks like I missed that detail in the pictures. They show them black as well. (See pic #2) Just to appease my curiosity, I also contact KW. Their website shows silver rears. (See pic #3) Something must have changed, right? Well, their tech guy informed me that only the struts have stainless bodies and that the rear shocks are coated steel and have never been stainless. Huh?! Am I blind? Have I been missing this detail in all the product descriptions over the years? Does anyone here know what?s going on? Maybe some of our vendors? The guys at KW got pretty defensive and acted like I had no idea what I was talking about, so I don't want to waste anymore time with them. CLIFF NOTES: KW advertises their coilover kits as stainless steel. The V2 set that I just bought has painted rear shocks. The seller states they are still stainless underneath the paint. A rep from KW told me that they are NOT stainless on the rear, hence the paintin,g and that only the fronts are stainless. Does anyone else have any insight? Attached Images __________________ 2007 E92 335i BSM/Saddle 6MT ZSP / ZPP / ZCW LC818 / PSS (FR) / PS4S (RR) Dynavin N6 OEM M3 Carbon Roof / OEM M3 Mirrors Last edited by pinder91; 07-18-2018 at 11:51 AM..
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07-13-2018, 04:32 AM	#4
maddmatth Major 555 Rep 922 Posts Drives: F82 M4, E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	Mine are un-coated stainless like the last pic, as these (not great) photos kinda show... Attached Images
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07-14-2018, 02:30 PM	#5
pinder91 Private First Class 43 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Metro-Detroit, MI iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.00]	This is super confusing now. __________________ 2007 E92 335i BSM/Saddle 6MT ZSP / ZPP / ZCW LC818 / PSS (FR) / PS4S (RR) Dynavin N6 OEM M3 Carbon Roof / OEM M3 Mirrors
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07-18-2018, 11:55 AM	#6
pinder91 Private First Class 43 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Metro-Detroit, MI iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.00]	Just a follow up on my investigation. - ECS Tuning Rep states the rears are infact still stainless steel, but they do not know why they are now painted. - KW Rep #1 states the rears are NOT stainless steel, thus the need for coating (and that only the fronts are stainless). - KW Rep #2 states the same as ECS. The rears are still stainless steel, just that KW only offers them coated for some unknown reason. So, I'm still somewhat confused, but 2 of 3 stating they are still stainless underneath the coating makes me feel a little better. Anyone else have any info that might help clear this up? __________________ 2007 E92 335i BSM/Saddle 6MT ZSP / ZPP / ZCW LC818 / PSS (FR) / PS4S (RR) Dynavin N6 OEM M3 Carbon Roof / OEM M3 Mirrors
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07-18-2018, 06:05 PM	#7
maddmatth Major 555 Rep 922 Posts Drives: F82 M4, E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	As you can see mine do have a little surface rust so the additional coating makes sense I guess. A bit odd that they only paint the rears though.
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07-12-2018, 07:44 PM	#2
E90SDGUY Private First Class 35 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 07 335i COBB and Stuff Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	My rear KW2 struts are silver.
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07-12-2018, 08:18 PM	#3
maddmatth Major 555 Rep 922 Posts Drives: F82 M4, E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	Hmm. I have KW V2s, I'll look under my car when I'm home. Mine are over 3 years old though so might be from before they changed this.
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07-18-2018, 06:14 PM	#8
IllSic_Design Colonel 2124 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 09 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	Take a magnet to the rears, if the magnet sticks they are regular steel, if it doesn't then they are stainless. Solve your issue in 1 minute.
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07-26-2018, 10:41 AM	#11
pinder91 Private First Class 43 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 07 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Metro-Detroit, MI iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.00]	Very good points. I checked... front struts are not magnetic, rear shocks are magnetic. __________________ 2007 E92 335i BSM/Saddle 6MT ZSP / ZPP / ZCW LC818 / PSS (FR) / PS4S (RR) Dynavin N6 OEM M3 Carbon Roof / OEM M3 Mirrors Last edited by pinder91; 07-26-2018 at 10:51 AM..
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