KW ver.3

[Kobe Maserati]

Does anybody have experience with KW version 3 coilovers on a GS?

 

[conaero]

Never heard of them, can you give us some more info?

 

[Kobe Maserati]

KW is a German company, and the coilovers are 3-way adjustable.

http://www.kwsuspensions.com/kw-gewindefahrwerk-variante-3-inox-9296.html

As a brand, KW comes highly recommended, but wondering what the experience is on a GS.

 

[philw696]

Had KW suspension on my BMW Z3 M Roadster was very happy with it.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

A well know suspension, mainly used as upgrade on the M3.

But for me the 4200 with the FD springs is great. Don't you have skyhook?

 

[AG2728]

I have used KW coil overs a couple of times but not on a Maserati. I put a set of Variant 3s on my Mitsubishi Evo and was very happy with them.

I was about to buy another set for my next car, an Impreza Sti but had the opportunity to drive a similar car fitted with KW Version 1s straight out of the box and was impressed enough to save myself about a grand over the Version 3s as they worked well on this particular car. (The Version 3 had adjustable rebound and compression, whereas the Version 1 didn't).

I thought they were good quality and reasonably priced and would use them again. I did not know they did a Maserati fitment.

 

[Kobe Maserati]

A well know suspension, mainly used as upgrade on the M3.

But for me the 4200 with the FD springs is great. Don't you have skyhook?

Thank you so much for your reply. Skyhook is there (and will be lost after installing the coilovers). Don't care for the non-sport setting at all, and even in sport there is a bit too much pitching/rolling for my liking. That's what I'm hoping to address with KW, but without lowering the car (too much) or sacrificing the comfort. It is a GT after all.

 

[Kobe Maserati]

BTW, as this is my first post, allow me to briefly introduce.

I'm living in Japan, and my GS is a Japan-only special edition, called "10th Anniversary" commissioned by Cornes, Maserati importer for Japan.

It was a run of 35 cars (15 black, 17 white) at the end of the GS production run in 2007 (mine is one of the last 99 GSs produced).

It's cosmetics change only, with a look between a standard GS and an MCV: Leather & alcantara combination seat & dash, 10th Anniversary palte on Center Tunnel, 10th Anniversary design carbon silplate, Vintage graphic blue meter panel, Italian flag recessed on Fender (no V8 badge), 19" Trofeo Chrome chrome Wheel (which I had changed to grigio mercury), blue-weave carbon rear wing, blue weave carbon & nero leather steering wheel, leather headlining, seat heater, rear park sensor, Xenon.

 

[mjheathcote]

I think if you are after reducing the pitching and rolling changing the springs to say Formula Dynamics Sports Springs would be a good move, and cheaper. FD have a sale on at the moment, 20% off.

 

[Kobe Maserati]

A few pics (sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[Kobe Maserati]

I think if you are after reducing the pitching and rolling changing the springs to say Formula Dynamics Sports Springs would be a good move, and cheaper. FD have a sale on at the moment, 20% off.

Thanks for the advise. Reading the FD website, I got the impression that installing the sport springs would end up lowering the car (is this correct?).
Problem is that my house is up on a hill, and at this moment I barely clear the incline with a standard ride-height....

 

[MAF260]

I thought Japan was a right hand drive market?

 

[mjheathcote]

Thanks for the advise. Reading the FD website, I got the impression that installing the sport springs would end up lowering the car (is this correct?).
Problem is that my house is up on a hill, and at this moment I barely clear the incline with a standard ride-height....

Give FD a ring or drop them an email. They are very helpful.
Being on adjustable platforms it may be possible to keep the standard ride height, or they could supply slightly longer springs.
Lovely car by the way!

 

[mjheathcote]

I thought Japan was a right hand drive market?

Good point.
With the road tax payable (I think) for older cars in Japan, some nice European RHD cars are often imported (back) to either Australia or the UK.

 

[Kobe Maserati]

Japan is right hand drive, basically.

But it's a bit of a fashion/status thing. Especially for luxury European cars, you just need to have left hand drive. Which is kind of funny, seeing all those Bentley's with LHD

As a result, you will find few RHD Maserati's in Japan (most likely on recent QPs).

All in all, it's not too much of a bother. The only really annoying time is when entering a paid parking lot (as there are hardly any places to park out on the street for free), and the ticket machine in only located for RHD.

 

[Kobe Maserati]

Give FD a ring or drop them an email. They are very helpful.
Being on adjustable platforms it may be possible to keep the standard ride height, or they could supply slightly longer springs.
Lovely car by the way!

Thanks for the advise, and your nice comment! She has done just 15,000...

To be honest, I had been reading for years all these great comments on FD and their customer service. So dropped them an e-mail once (on a totally different subject), and the reply I got back was polite, but not very engaging. So I didn't bother to continue the conversation. Let me try again.

 

[mjheathcote]

When I was looking into buying a Porsche 928GTS a few years ago I did notice a few LHD Japan specified cars available. It did seem strange at the time!

 

[Kobe Maserati]

Decided to take the plunge, and get the KWs installed. Should give for a better balance between damper/spring than the FD sport springs on the standard skyhook dampers.

Car in the workshop now, won't be back for a week or so. Need to decide on the ride height to settle on. From reading the previous post, 1 cm seems to be the recommendation? Has anybody dropped the front more than the back to counter lift at speed (while making it a bit more balanced visually)?

 

[hodroyd]

We have a problem here in the UK dropping the front too much, as we have speed control bumps in the road, too low and you rip the fronts off..!!

 

[Kobe Maserati]

Luckily there are no speed bumps in Japan, so good there.

Planning to settle for this ride height.....how do you think this looks?

(but now it looks like I should add spacers as well. This really is a Pandora box.....never ending once you start)