Bilstein B12 Prokit VS KW V3

90% people won't cross shop these two setups. I know. But after 10 years on V3s, two returns for repair of the rears (over 80k-90k miles), failed repair of the fronts and maybe because the ride deteriorated as the fronts wore out over the years I got tired of KW.
Maybe I just got tired of dodging imperfect pavement.

The V3s were incredible on smooth pavement. So much control. Car looked amazing sitting low. If you dont drive in the city, get them. You will love them. But even in the softest settings I was bouncing around in the city. To the point I was losing traction. Ya cant drive fast if you need to dodge every bump in the road. Maybe my impression got worse as the front struts deteriorated. 10 years is a long time.

The front struts went in to KW two months ago for a revision for the first time and they said they were fine. Hard to believe.. 10 years old 90k miles and like new eh? I did tell them they were squeaking like crazy over medium bumps. LOUD. Embarrassingly loud. I had to remind them while the struts were at KW to please check for squeaks and then they claimed they took care of it. When I reinstalled them, still squeaking.

This is despite changing every bushing on the front suspension. No squeaking with Bilsteins installed. KW fixed nothing.

The "experts" at KW also sold me 280 inch pound springs for the V3s which weren't intended for my setup. They apologized after the fact when I found I was riding on the bumpstops. Not once did they didnt offer a refund. Keep ya $200 ya fools...

I got the B12 Prokit installed on Sunday. Had to pull old parts off the ancient Koni Yellows with OEM springs I was using 10 years ago before the KW V3s went on.




I need to get an alignment before I drive much more but of course the difference is drastic. 220 vs 400 inch pound and much more suspension travel. I wont say more till I get I seat time.

KWs with rear bottomed out, front with plenty more lowering possible but any lower and will be rubbing fender wells on hard turns.:





With Bilstein B12 Prokit fresh outta the box, not settled in yet:

 

if youre having trouble getting the rear strut onto the bottom attachment point, use a large plier...works awesome.



This little tool works great for opening up the front strut receiver.

 

I found more success getting the new struts in the front by using a drum sander attachment on my Dremel and knocking down all the rust. Slid right in once the bore was cleaned up

 

I line mine with anitseize to keep it rust free.

 

I took all the paint off my Konis and the bottom where they slide into the knuckle and covered them in anti seize. I'll cross the bridge again with the Bilsteins this spring and decide what I want to do.

Lex I've seen where people just use the bolt and block the hole with a Nickle or Quarter maybe and use that to spread the knuckle.

 

Oh wow...stupid me didnt even think of that. Thanks my friend.

My other car has a through bolt and nut so that little blue gizmo comes in handy.

Which Bilsteins do you have?

 

I have B8s that I'm going to run with Swift Spec R springs. Currently the car is on OEM springs with Koni Active struts.

I didn't want to lower the car when it was still my DD.

 

No coilovers for you eh?

Its day 3, brought my car for an alignment and wheel balance. Its so 4x4....not happy at all about that. Steering feels almost as sharp as with the 400 lbs/in springs.

But I can go over bumps and not wince. Its always a compromise.

 

Instructions from Bilstein B12 ProKit 46190321

 

I'm driving on the new suspension yesterday through a construction zone and a lowered Acura is at a crawl, weaving to avoid the horrific pavement, and Im pretty much gliding over it and I though to myself, that was me 2 weeks ago...low and sexy, but handicapped in the City.

 

Been driving the car through the city and I gotta say that the difference is amazing. Control AND compliance.

I have winter tires on so the steering is def not very sharp but I dont feel a lot of loss of precision and now I can run her hard in the city without smashing into the bump stops. Of course the car sits 2+ inches higher which means more travel and more dreaded wheel gap. UGLY.

This is better urban set up. No doubt. 400 lbs/inch springs are not for the city. Dont do it.

When the struts are cold I get a little too much bouncing, but that seems to resolve after a few miles.

So far I'm in love.

I think these are the OEM strut pucks for the rears and they do not fit on the Bilsteins. sorry for dark image. They do not fit around the piston...too tight and will likely pop off. Could enlarge inner diameter with dremel...

 

Update. This Bilstein B12 suspension is totally outstanding for urban use on bad roads. Its as precise and almost as responsive as the MUCH stiffer KW V3 but with so much compliance, I'm sort of surprised. B12s have a little more body lean in hard turns, as you would expect with half the spring rate, but its not much.

I can cruise through construction zones and over speed bumps without upsetting the chassis at all, where as the V3 would have forced me to crawl and I would have lost contact with the road over large imperfections.

The only compromise is the car sits much higher than the V3s dumped down to the lowest setting, but if you want to dump your car you need to have ultra stiff springs to compensate for lack of travel.

If you need to drive through the city the B12s are outstanding. Compliance and control.

 

I just put the B8s and Swift Springs on last week and so far it's been great! I'm really happy with the drop and the ride.

 

how much was the drop with Swift springs? Lower than B12 kit?

 

They claim 1.2 inches front and 1.1 inches rear.