[CamboSlice]

Finally got around to fixing the stance of my Pre-LCI E90. (Not as aggressive as I'd like, but region I live in plays a significant roll in that aspect).

I drive a '07 328xi base model w/ cold weather package.

Just a quick background-- I have had my car for just under 2 years. I have added the performance exhaust, new rims and tires, fishcake depo v2 headlamps before I retrofitted pre-lci halogens with TRS Morimoto H1 6.0 bi-xenon HIDs w/ euro style clear sides to get rid of the ugly amber), tinted windows, windshield brow tint, and tail lights, matte black grills, pre-lci Mtech front bumper, m3 trunk spoiler, and hardwired an escort passport 8500ix to my fusebox.

And NONE of these mods have been as satisfying as getting the KW v1's installed. There's no doubt that the KW v1s are the best bang for your buck if you want to vastly improve the looks and handling of your xi.

I want to make it clear that I have never owned or driven a BMW before this car, so I never truly understood the "floaty" feeling as others have mentioned. After getting the v1's installed, I certainly do understand now. I know it's been said a million times, but its true and there's no other way of saying it. It should have been the first mod I did for this car.

To put an end to the "how do the v1s ride?" question. THEY ARE NOT JARRING OR HARSH AT ALL.
I live in New England. My house is in Vermont and go to college in Waltham, Massachusetts (~15 mins west of Boston). Vermont is known for its frost heaves and Massachusetts is notorious for its terrible roads and lack of care for the roads. My boy lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and every time I visit him, I can't believe how smooth the roads are; when he visits me he can't believe how bad the roads are. Anyway, it's safe to say that I experience TERRIBLE roads on a daily basis and anyone around the same area can back me up on this.

When I hit potholes my stock xi suspension would bottom out and sound like I just snapped my car in half. I would cringe every time hoping I didn't damage my car. So as you can imagine I was greatly concerned about how the ride quality would be affected if I decided to get v1s.

I have zero regrets besides not getting them sooner. Riding on v1's, the car is MUCH more planted to the ground and undoubtedly stiffer. When I say stiffer I mean that you don't bounce and feel like you're in a boat when going over bumps. It also has reduced body roll around corners, but its not harsh what-so-ever. You will be very pleased with how the car rides after installing them.

For the sake of how long this post is getting I'll get to the only part you guys actually care about lol.

I run a staggered setup.
Rims- F 18x8.5 et 35 -12 (23) R 18x9.5 et 40 -18 (22)
Tires- F 225/40, R 255/35

I put on Mach Schnell spacers, 12mm in the front and 18mm in the rear. (NO RUBBING ISSUES SO FAR)

For the v1's, the fronts have about 5-7 threads left and the rears have 3-4 threads left.

Here are some quick phone pics until I get time to take better ones.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and Enjoy!


Stock:


VS

KW V1 W/ SPACERS

[CamboSlice]

18s on STOCK suspension NO SPACERS:




KW V1 WITH SPACERS (12mm FRONT 18mm BACK):

[CamboSlice]

Reserved For More Pics

[zybar]

Looking good!!

Congrats on getting them installed.

George

[dave96dcm]

It was nice to meet you and it does look very nice.

[mrtigerb]

Originally Posted by CamboSlice

And NONE of these mods have been as satisfying as getting the KW v1's installed. There's no doubt that the KW v1s are the best bang for your buck if you want to vastly improve the looks and handling of your xi.


To put an end to the "how do the v1s ride?" question. THEY ARE NOT JARRING OR HARSH AT ALL.

This is exactly what i needed to hear in order to make my decision. Car looks great.

[KFJ512a]

dayuuuuuum. lol liking the way the drop looks. congrats and nice choice on rims

[CamboSlice]

Originally Posted by zybar

Looking good!!

Congrats on getting them installed.

George

Thanks George enjoy that new E90 M3! and post pics

Originally Posted by dave96dcm

It was nice to meet you and it does look very nice.

You too Dave. Thanks again

Originally Posted by mrtigerb

This is exactly what i needed to hear in order to make my decision. Car looks great.

Glad I could help. Thanks bro

Originally Posted by KFJ512a

dayuuuuuum. lol liking the way the drop looks. congrats and nice choice on rims

lol thanks Kareem. Wait until you see it in the miller parking deck.. looks so much better in person

[StevenY.]

Thanks for reconfirming that I didn't make the wrong choice. Can't wait to get mine installed, have them sitting in my living room at the moment!

[zipstic]

Looking good! I'm very happy with my KW V1's too.

What % tint do you have on your windows?

[CamboSlice]

Originally Posted by StevenY.

Thanks for reconfirming that I didn't make the wrong choice. Can't wait to get mine installed, have them sitting in my living room at the moment!

No problem man, you'll really enjoy the v1s when you get them on.

Originally Posted by zipstic

Looking good! I'm very happy with my KW V1's too.

What % tint do you have on your windows?

Thanks man. I have 50% front 20% rear. I've been pulled over multiple times due to VT state law I can't have any on the front .. but since i'll be living in Massachusetts after graduation I plan on going 10-15% all the way around.

[zybar]

Originally Posted by CamboSlice

Thanks George enjoy that new E90 M3! and post pics

Pics here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=966415

George

[SLOWER]

Cambo or Dave do you guys remember where these are set for height?

[CamboSlice]

Originally Posted by SLOWER

Cambo or Dave do you guys remember where these are set for height?

Dave has more insight as he was the one that adjusted the coils to less than a finger gap. I believe I stated it at the end of the first post.. but this was based off memory of him telling me how many threads left.

[Drock28]

Originally Posted by CamboSlice

Dave has more insight as he was the one that adjusted the coils to less than a finger gap. I believe I stated it at the end of the first post.. but this was based off memory of him telling me how many threads left.

at your current drop, at the front struts bottoming out..?

the drop looks very nice..

but given you are an Xi car.. you are surely lower then the KW recommended max range in front which is 1.8" on Xi cars..

you are probably closer to a 2-2.15" drop by those pics.

so that means the extra distance from 1.8", youve shortended strut travel and are compressing the springs. since the V1 struts were not designed to go past 1.8" in front on Xi cars..

so thats why I just want to make sure as you said, that the car is driving smooth etc..

[SLOWER]

Originally Posted by CamboSlice

Dave has more insight as he was the one that adjusted the coils to less than a finger gap. I believe I stated it at the end of the first post.. but this was based off memory of him telling me how many threads left.

You certainly did, I missed that.

So I'm thinking if I wanted to keep a little rake look and have the tires even with the fender front and back - leave about 10-12 threads all around.

[tambat]

did you re use your bump stops or go with the m3/z4 combo?

[Drock28]

Originally Posted by tambat

did you re use your bump stops or go with the m3/z4 combo?

I thought V1 has their own bumpstops under the dust boot..

[CamboSlice]

Originally Posted by tambat

did you re use your bump stops or go with the m3/z4 combo?

Originally Posted by Drock28

I thought V1 has their own bumpstops under the dust boot..

^ +1

[tambat]

Originally Posted by Drock28

I thought V1 has their own bumpstops under the dust boot..

oh ok good to know! mine just came in the mail on tuesday and i haven't even opened the box. i was going to order all new mounts and get new bumpstops, good thing i asked! thanks.

[CoolHandLuke]

awesome just what I was looking to hear

[Give_Em_The_DD]

Thanks for the review..convinced me to pull the trigger as well

Hopefully get them installed this weekend