KW Variant 2s? I just put these into my tC a couple of weeks ago.

Pretty easy install (make sure you have an impact wrench to put on the crown bolts holding the top mounts) and great coilovers. They have the special Inox Stainless steel that Paul_Dezod was talking about which makes them nigh on invincible to rust/corrosion and look pretty damn tight, if you ask me. Check out the pictures I took to see the shiny steel bodies.

KW is huge among the euro tuner crowd and they make some top notch gear for people looking for race applications. The V3s have more tunability and are more track suited for higher end builds, but the V2s are solid if you want to track them (road course, not drag strip) and have PLENTY of adjustability. I wish we had the option to get V3s, but KW doesn't make them for us yet. Oh well.

I haven't been back to the racetrack since I've had them on, but once I do I can report back. Most likely my feedback will be gushing like a schoolgirl who just talked to her OMGILUVU crush, but take it for what it is -- 2nd hand track experience. Their adjustability is pretty solid so I'm looking forward to dialing in how much damping I need in front/back. (Adjustable via an allen wrench on the top of the shock). I'm running 3 clicks down from the highest setting as I'm currently using the car as my daily, but it's a very stiff ride and it communicates a lot of the road to you. (In a good, non-obtrusive way)


If you're looking for a suspension that will provide a strong dependable coilover with a lot of racing history behind it, go with the KWs. There are totally more popular brands which people will always point you toward and might get you better "import" or "show car" credit, but depending on what you're looking for in a suspension the KWs will not let you down. As for the price versus "features" most people just put coilovers in, set them up once, then never touch them again. Additionally, even if people did touch adjust them often, what's to say they understand what their suspension needed to make it more of what they were looking for and not something totally wrong because they didn't get it. Anyway, it all boils down to choice...I support KW and if the words of strangers are worth anything to you, feel free to take mine.

No, I'm not a spokesperson or anything, I just really love handling over power and like to talk about suspensions. I subscribe to the thinking that you need to corner well to be fast.

 

^ any images of them on your ride?

 

great coilovers. for you!
and yeah, post some installed pics.

 

I learned today that these come stock on the CLK Black Series. Must be good stuff.

 

I don't have the photos of them installed in the car up on the internet yet. I'm at work right now, but will post photos of them as soon as possible.

What specifically would you like to see? Top mounts, shock body, wheel on/off? I've got some pics from when we were doing the install, but the camera battery died halfway through so they might not be all that exciting. Let me know what you're interested in seeing and I'll go out with my camera and take specific shots.

 

My bro has just put these on his tC. I will see if I can get some pics soon of the car dropped on them. The ride is very nice. Handles like a champ!

 

take as many pics as you can. Paul how do these compare to the teins ?

 

Ok, so I lied. My buddy sent me some of the pictures of the install phase. Let me know if you want more specific photos or pics of them actually mounted.

My boots comparing and admiring the Stock vs. the new KWs. Bigger isn't always better.


Audi S4 owner pondering how to mount the new Braille battery and the me pondering the driver's wheel arch at the same time. Notice how the cardboard we put down isn't even remotely close to where the brake fluid leaked onto the garage floor. /Sigh ...we're retarded sometimes.


Me fighting with the lower control arm to seat the lower mount in the bracket. Why am I wearing only one work glove? The world may never know... Shiny new slotted rotors and Hawk HPS brake pads with Agency Power lines installed earlier in the day. Lines filled with Motul 600.



Regarding "how do they compare to Teins", I can't comment with my own personal experience on the Teins, but I've talked to a number of racers very unhappy and having to return their Tein USA coils or get them rebuilt because the seals burst. Tein JAPAN is supposedly higher quality, but obviously harder to obtain here in the states. There are VW track guys running the same KWs that were installed 5+ years ago, if that's any indication of longevity...

Again, I'm not a spokesperson or anything. I went through this same research and just posting what I learned and what I gathered from talking to other racers at track days.

EDIT: Damn typos that I didn't catch in my 10 or so proof reading checks.../sigh

 

Each has their own pros and cons. I can sit here for an entire day and debate that notion.

 

This looks like the passenger side to me (Installed before we did the rotor/pad upgrade on this side).



I can't find my camera to take any pictures with it sitting on the ground right now, but if you're still interested I'll put in more effort to find it and take some pictures.

 

interesting. I like the look on them.

 

Looks great, cant wait until we hear our experiences tracking your car. The entire reason I wanted to get this particular set is because of their reliable nature and solid proven performance for other applications during track use. Whens the next autoX event in SoCal? Count me in.

 

I love mines! I have the variant2 for my mazdaspeed 3 and they are worth every penny i spent. adjusting is so easy except for the rear strut which i have to completely take out, but raising and lowering requires only a hex key and simple turning with your hand.

 

anyone know how low these supposedly go?