We at KW automotive offer the first height-adjustable sports suspensions aka KW coilovers in our delivery program. These always include a parts certificate for numerous models and versions of the current BMW 4 Series Coupe (G22), BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (G26; rear-axle drive, excluding the M440i), and all 4 Series Convertibles (G23) with rear-axle drive.

More specifically, we are talking about the KW V1, V2, and V3 coilovers. These are now available for all BMW 4 Series Coupes (G22), the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (G26; rear-axle drive, excluding the M440i), and all 4 Series Convertibles (G23) with rear-axle drive at our certified KW retail partners or directly at KW automotive.

No worries: More KW coilover kits for the BMW 4 Series Coupe (G22), convertible (G23), and Gran Coupe (G26) will be released in the following months.

Many passionate BMW enthusiasts are clearly aware of the fact that KW has been involved in selected projects from the Garchinger Daimlerstraße (Home of BMW M in the North of Munich in Bavaria, Germany) for many years. Moreover, some white-blue suspensions for vehicles with the most powerful letter in the world are actually yellow-purple.

However, we do not only equip rare special models such as one or another safety car. We are also working on other interesting and demanding projects.

This has been the case for years, as seen in the picture of the MotoGP BMW Z8, for which we even have a KW V3 coilover with a parts certificate in our delivery program. From 2022 onwards, all BMW M4 GT3s will come with our 5-way adjustable racing dampers.

Of course, all drivers of current BMWs, such as the 4 Series Coupe (G22), will benefit from our KW engineering.

1, 2, or 3? The differences between a KW V1, V2 and V3

Some people are often uncertain about the question of which KW coilover suits their individual needs the best. If you are primarily driving your BMW 4 Series Coupe (G22) on public roads, you won’t get around our KW coilovers listed in the “STREET PERFORMANCE” category.

We just released the KW V1, V2, and V3 coilovers for the G22 with or without all-wheel drive. All three coilovers allow a continuous lowering of 30 to 50 millimeters on the front and rear axle within the scope of the technical parts certificate.

All three suspensions enrich the BMW with sporty and harmonious driving performance. The damping is as tight as necessary and comfortable as possible. The three coilovers differ in their details.

While all of our coilover applications with a parts certificate for the BMW 4 Series (G22) are made of stainless steel, the rear axle dampers of the KW V1 and KW V2 coilovers are made of steel. From the KW V3 coilover onwards, the rear axle dampers are equally made of stainless steel.

A multi-link rear axle is used for modern vehicles such as the current BMW 4 Series. For constructional reasons, the shock absorber is separated from the spring, and they are no longer built according to the MacPherson principle. Hence, the lowering is set directly at the height adjustment on the spring.

The three KW coilovers also differ in their interior. Your KW V1 coilover is produced in our factory in Fichtenberg specifically for your BMW 4 Series.

During production, we use KW V1 valve components (valve springs, coil springs, valve carrier) for the compression and rebound, perfectly adapted to your BMW. The bottom valve aka compression valve as well as the rebound valve cannot be adjusted belatedly on the KW V1. Also, we do not yet use multi-valve technology.

In comparison, from the KW V2 coilover onwards, we rely on the KW multi-valve technology. In this case, the rebound has a two-part design. The high-speed rebound valve, which consists of a coil spring, shims, and valve springs, is preloaded for the specific vehicle. However, the low-speed rebound can be fine-tuned directly via an adjustment spindle.

At the top of the piston rod, you insert the purple adjustment wheel, which is always included in the KW Toolbox to adapt the predetermined setup to your own driving sensation. There are 16 clicks to choose from; therefore you can adjust the handling more directly or more comfortably via the rebound.

To facilitate the rebound adjustment on the piston rod, we included several “rebound extensions” in our delivery program for years. They are well suited for the piston rod on the rear axle damper.

If there is enough space in current vehicles, we integrate the rebound adjustment wheel directly into the piston rod of the rear axle damper on the KW Variant 3 coilover. Many dealers call this version “V3+.”

The reason why the majority of our customers opt for a KW V3 coilover when they seek to purchase a KW coilover for everyday use can be easily explained: it offers good value for the money like hardly any other coilover does. For example, it costs less than most car manufacturers’ extra charge list for a navigation or infotainment package.

What makes a KW V3 coilover so special when compared to a KW V2 or V1 is the separate damping force adjustment in the low-speed forces of the compression and rebound. As with the KW V2, the low-speed rebound of KW Variant 3 can equally be set with 16 clicks for more direct handling or less direct handling and increased rolling comfort.

There are twelve clicks to adapt the shock absorber. Adjustments made to the compression mainly affect the body’s pitching and rolling movements as well as its turn-in behavior. If the valves are opened, the compression is reduced and the vehicle dives more quickly during steering movements.

If the compression is increased, the piston rod dives more slowly. Therefore, the BMW 4 Series Coupe (G22), convertibles, or gran coupe become even more stable during steering movements. The turn-in behavior becomes more precise the more the compression is tuned.

Since we use a multi-valve technology in our coilovers, such as KW Variant 3, the non-adjustable high-speed valves open as soon as the wheel is driven fast over bumps or transverse joints.

This keeps the wheels on the road, and the coilover dampens the shock or vibration without the tires losing traction. The best thing about it is that even with a maximum lowering, a BMW 4 Series (G22) equipped with a KW V3 coilover remains true to the typical KW sporty and harmonious driving style.

You can find an authorized KW retail partner in your area on our homepage. Some KW Sales & Service Point and KW Performance partners also offer vehicles with a KW coilover for test driving – just visit one of our dealers.

Images KW, BMW Words C. Schmidt