[Shaninnik]

Hi guys, I am desperately looking to lower my M4 as wheel gap just makes me cry, but I can’t afford to loose any bit of comfort compared to stock, in fact I wouldn’t mind gaining a little bit more because roads around me are total crap, so definitely not HAS kits. I asked KW directly if I am able to dial v3 coilovers to handle small road imperfections/cracks/bumps better than stock comfort and they said yes, but I am kinda not sure? Can anyone confirm please? Also how big of a pain is it to reach adjusters every time I will want to go for a spirited backroads drive (once a month)?

[Brickologic]

Originally Posted by Shaninnik

Hi guys, I am desperately looking to lower my M4 as wheel gap just makes me cry, but I can’t afford to loose any bit of comfort compared to stock, in fact I wouldn’t mind gaining a little bit more because roads around me are total crap, so definitely not HAS kits. I asked KW directly if I am able to dial v3 coilovers to handle small road imperfections/cracks/bumps better than stock comfort and they said yes, but I am kinda not sure? Can anyone confirm please? Also how big of a pain is it to reach adjusters every time I will want to go for a spirited backroads drive (once a month)?

Who of KW did you ask? I would first try to ride with a KW equipped M4 and don't underestimate the tires regarding for ride comfort. If you stance your car with 21" or 20" wheels your gain in ride comfort isn't huge.

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by Brickologic

Who of KW did you ask? I would first try to ride with a KW equipped M4 and don't underestimate the tires regarding for ride comfort. If you stance your car with 21" or 20" wheels your gain in ride comfort isn't huge.

Just the general support person so yeah, not sure how true what they told me.

I don't think there is any M3/M4 with KW coilovers around where I live, so that unfortunately is almost impossible. There are some with HAS.

Wheels for sure, I just swapped to 19/20 Conti DWS+ and that helped a lot.

So actually my comfort issue was because of the edc/dampers. Car was very lightly used when I bought it but for some reason it appears that front shock absorbers were damaged and EDC never worked properly. It was not leaking though. Surprisingly for me BMW took it serious and after a lot of diagnostics replaced both front shock absorbers and top mounts. It rides much much better now, so I am re-thinking my coilovers decision now and maybe will go with just HAS.

[CMW33]

Originally Posted by Shaninnik

Hi guys, I am desperately looking to lower my M4 as wheel gap just makes me cry, but I can’t afford to loose any bit of comfort compared to stock, in fact I wouldn’t mind gaining a little bit more because roads around me are total crap, so definitely not HAS kits. I asked KW directly if I am able to dial v3 coilovers to handle small road imperfections/cracks/bumps better than stock comfort and they said yes, but I am kinda not sure? Can anyone confirm please? Also how big of a pain is it to reach adjusters every time I will want to go for a spirited backroads drive (once a month)?

Coilovers will not improve ride quality over the OEM suspension. I am a little surprised KW would tell you that, even if ride quality is a bit subjective. If you are concerned about bad roads, you should retain stock shocks and change to HAS or front-only springs. Consider also your tires and sidewall profile, as Brickologic suggests.

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by CMW33

Coilovers will not improve ride quality over the OEM suspension. I am a little surprised KW would tell you that, even if ride quality is a bit subjective. If you are concerned about bad roads, you should retain stock shocks and change to HAS or front-only springs. Consider also your tires and sidewall profile, as Brickologic suggests.

Yeah, see my previous post. My front shocks were not responding to edc properly. With new shocks I am all good, considering HAS now, or just springs, just need to find which one is closest to oem ride. I had eibach but they aren’t low enough, still 2 finger gap, one might say that it’s not worth the trouble of lowering.

[Couna777]

It will come down to what matters more to you?
ride quality ? or lower ride ?
you cannot have both, as you lower the car, springs and shocks have to be tougher to allow less travel without hitting bump stops all the time.
IF you want to lower your car no matter what, but want to have as much as comfort you want, go with v3.
but I can tell you right off the bet, if you lower the car you have to sacrifice the comfortness. But in my opinion v3 does great job.
I currently run v3 on the lowest setting, but ride quality is great and better than any other suspension I had before, including kw has, bilstein and other lowering springs. BUT it will be still stiffer than stock and less comfort for sure.

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by Couna777

It will come down to what matters more to you?
ride quality ? or lower ride ?
you cannot have both, as you lower the car, springs and shocks have to be tougher to allow less travel without hitting bump stops all the time.
IF you want to lower your car no matter what, but want to have as much as comfort you want, go with v3.
but I can tell you right off the bet, if you lower the car you have to sacrifice the comfortness. But in my opinion v3 does great job.
I currently run v3 on the lowest setting, but ride quality is great and better than any other suspension I had before, including kw has, bilstein and other lowering springs. BUT it will be still stiffer than stock and less comfort for sure.

Thanks for your input. For sure, the lower it is the worse it will be. Plan was to go down around 1" so less than most people do here. Unfortunately my car is back to BMW with non-functioning EDC. I don't think I have ever had a "comfort" suspension setting working fully so I can't even establish a baseline and dealer has no idea what is wrong.

[TopJimmy]

I was able to get a more comfortable ride with Dinan HAS and dropping wheels below 20”.

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

I was able to get a more comfortable ride with Dinan HAS and dropping wheels below 20”.

I'm contemplating doing Dinan HAS. I would like to hear more about your experience and did you do the recommended lowering from Dinan.

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

I was able to get a more comfortable ride with Dinan HAS and dropping wheels below 20”.

Very interested to know more. This kit is not discussed very much here. I know Dinan HAS rear springs are softer, no idea about fronts. I am already on softer all season tires. If BMW will manage to fix my EDC I would rather not go KW v3 and retain suspension modes.

[cozye]

The M Performance HAS kit rides surprisingly well at full drop. There are quite a few threads where people have compared to other options. Retains the factory warranty on suspension as well. There is a huge thread on that option. I was reluctant to lower the car myself, the last car I lowered with Eibach springs I swore I would never do again. I’m pleased with the way it rides and we do have quite a bit of bumpy road construction around here.

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

I'm contemplating doing Dinan HAS. I would like to hear more about your experience and did you do the recommended lowering from Dinan.

I purchased my Dinan HAS from Thompson BMW, and they installed it and did the alignment. I’m set the recommended height. The ride is nice…wife doesn’t complain, so I know it’s better.

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

I purchased my Dinan HAS from Thompson BMW, and they installed it and did the alignment. I’m set the recommended height. The ride is nice…wife doesn’t complain, so I know it’s better.

I have Eibach now but I really want my rear a little lower. Also I do get a little bounce in rear over bumps.

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by cozye

The M Performance HAS kit rides surprisingly well at full drop. There are quite a few threads where people have compared to other options. Retains the factory warranty on suspension as well. There is a huge thread on that option. I was reluctant to lower the car myself, the last car I lowered with Eibach springs I swore I would never do again. I’m pleased with the way it rides and we do have quite a bit of bumpy road construction around here.

What did you not like about Eibach springs?

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

What did you not like about Eibach springs?

Rear is too high, arguably front too. Still very big gap. Looks like stock should have been from the factory in the first place. But they rode well, I think even better than stock springs. I had to go back to stock for suspension warranty work.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

I purchased my Dinan HAS from Thompson BMW, and they installed it and did the alignment. I’m set the recommended height. The ride is nice…wife doesn’t complain, so I know it’s better.

Interesting since Dinan directly states the suspension is slightly stiffer than stock. here

You actually think it's less stiff?

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Interesting since Dinan directly states the suspension is slightly stiffer than stock. here

You actually think it's less stiff?

Dinan says the rears are 10% softer and the fronts are 15% stiffer. Personally, I only feel the softer part.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

Dinan says the rears are 10% softer and the fronts are 15% stiffer. Personally, I only feel the softer part.

How much did you lower? any pics?

[cozye]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

What did you not like about Eibach springs?

Different car (370z), so apples and oranges. But the ride was harsh. It beat you to death on a long drive. For short stuff it was ok. They literally wore me out. There are so many variables with lowering springs. They are shorter, so by nature will be stiffer.

My thinking on the M Perf HAS kit was that it is designed to work with the stock G80 electronic suspension, which is quite good. The dampening on the EDC is great IMO. HAS kit allows the actual spring perches to be adjusted to lower, so the springs don’t need to be so stiff and short. I read reviews for months as I wanted it installed at port and needed to make a decision before my allocation came up. Virtually every review of the kit was very positive, even with some who have had prior M3’s with other kits. The only drawback is that you are going to be limited to a max of 20mm, so if you want really low, it’s not going to get there. Below are pics of my car. If I wanted it perfect I might actually raise the rear 5mm, but it’s ok for now.

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

How much did you lower? any pics?

Lowered to recommended height by the dealership, then settled over a couple weeks…

[Shaninnik]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

Dinan says the rears are 10% softer and the fronts are 15% stiffer. Personally, I only feel the softer part.

Yeah but rear are also dual spring rate so not sure how to compare properly. You are 18" square if I am not mistaken, did you swap tires and springs at the same time?

I also have some more scientific numbers, got reply from Moton (AST). They say that their ALS and regular springs are same rate 35N/mm Front and 120N/mm in the rear (200lb/in and 682lb/in). They also say that they tend to make their springs roughly 15% stiffer than stock.

I know from parts approval specs that KWv3 are 140N/mm rear (798lb/in), front is progressive spring 20100 whatever that means. But that cant be compared to stock directly because shocks are different too.

[Brickologic]

Originally Posted by Shaninnik

Yeah but rear are also dual spring rate so not sure how to compare properly. You are 18" square if I am not mistaken, did you swap tires and springs at the same time?

I also have some more scientific numbers, got reply from Moton (AST). They say that their ALS and regular springs are same rate 35N/mm Front and 120N/mm in the rear (200lb/in and 682lb/in). They also say that they tend to make their springs roughly 15% stiffer than stock.

I know from parts approval specs that KWv3 are 140N/mm rear (798lb/in), front is progressive spring 20100 whatever that means. But that cant be compared to stock directly because shocks are different too.

The KW V3 improves the ride comfort compared to OEM dampers and lowering springs - but the big question always is: What is Comfort. The KW shock philosphy is working more with the hydraulic in general of the shock and not with the spring rates. They thinking the subject shock absorber completly different. A couple of months I did there with a group of enthusiasts in Germany a Company Tour. Here in the USA maybe you should ask the Dudes of https://ind-distribution.com/
or the Moto IQ Nerds: https://motoiq.com/tag/shocks-and-coilovers/