How are the roads where you live and can you live with the settings either kit provides?
I have had KWs on various cars but am at a point in life where daily driving isn't about compressing my spine and feeling every pebble and expansion joint on the road. Wait...isn't that COMFORT MODE with the 4C?

KWs were good for what I wanted in my other rides but would always end up setting them at stock height and softest setting due to the roads where I live which can go from buttery smooth to cratered in the blink of an eye.
Bilsteins were always paired with Eibach springs (personal preference) so I can't comment on the B6+TME combo.

 

I feel like everyone says this but ya, roads aren’t good around here. I drive my car all year round including significant Canadian winters so I’m trying to improve the car’s daily driving comfort without sacrificing too much performance. I guess I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too.

 

I found the KWs on my 05 were in between Sport and Advanced, but some how more comfortable over rough roads than either. I have them dialed into the recommended specs, and dropped the ride height fairly low.

 

I opted for KWs mainly to be able to set the ride height and dampening to my taste, but even having never run the Bilsteins myself I don't feel like theres a wrong choice here. If adjustability wasn't a concern of mine I would have saved the money and opted for the Bilsteins. For whatever that's worth (probably not much).

 

Can you do the Bilsteins on a V70? I feel like each thread I've seen on it, has been specifically for the S60R.

 

Maybe there is a wrong choice then - my research never went that far

 

Isn't the rear suspension the same on S60R/V70R?

 

Yes but no. Different spring rates and sway bars.

 

Thanks for the useful input everyone. I think both options are good and would be an improvement over oem. Even though I just purchased the rear bilstein spring perches I’ll be going with KW. The adjustability (height and dampening) and lack of customization (machine shop for circlip groove and washers for top mount) won me over in the end.

 

The KWs are also stainless, and can be rebuilt by KW.

Mine have held up quite well through the winters here.

 

Haha yeah make sure to report back on how the car feels.

Going kw all round was what I always thought Id eventually do but after 6yrs just stuck w bilstein struts up front w stock springs. Zero maintenance just install and forget about it. forever

Rear shocks different story I figured cheapest lowest maintenance option just stick w stock monroe c1502's ... KDubs would be perfect if after install never needed to futz w it like the bilstien

 

It’s been a while but I thought I’d follow up on this thread since I’ve had the KW V2s installed for a few months now. Quite satisfied but it took a while to get it dialed in.

A strange thing happened when I ordered them, I didn‘t receive them for a couple months so I had to cancel the order and I then ordered Bilsteins instead. I was pretty surprised to find the KWs and Bilsteins delivered to my doorstep on the same day lol.

Anyways, I ended up going with the KWs and had them adjusted at the recommended 9 clicks open Front and rear. For height I had it at 330mm front and 340mm rear. I liked the ride but it was too low for me and the ride was a bit stiff.

I then had them adjusted to 12 clicks open front and 11 clicks open rear and for height 345mm front and 350mm rear. Much better ride and the height is perfect for me plus it doesn’t cause too much negative camber.

I left it at this setting for two months and while it was good I wanted to see if I could reduce stiffness further and increase the comfort since I daily drive the car. I adjusted it to 15 clicks open front and rear. I’ve been driving the car at this setting for a few days now and I absolutely love it! Probably not a popular setting to choose but for me it’s great and I find the performance and damping is still awesome even though I’ve set the rebound to essentially full soft.

I actually wonder if I could go even softer just to test it out but I don’t want to go against the instruction manual. If anyone knows how it works please let me know. The manual says there’s 16 clicks and that you shouldn’t go full stiff or full soft. The manual also states that the adjustability range is only 2.75 full turns, one turn being 6 clicks (the clicks are barely noticeable btw). When adjusting I get 3.5 full turns (from full clockwise to full counter clockwise) which would translate to 21 clicks. I didn’t want to go past 15 clicks from full stiff due to the instruction manual but I wonder if there’s more adjustability.

In summary, I recommend KWs for those contemplating suspension options. Height and rebound adjustability ended up being more important to me than I thought.

 

Cool thx for the update. What tires you have on the car?

When running Michelin PSS (not the all season's) I thought the VR handled great but still not even close to the handling of my SR in advanced back in 07. Been running PSS AS4's for years and ok w/ diminished performance trade off to drive the car in 50degrees and below!

So this weekend I banged the VR into a corner I know very well on hwy 84 here in sf bay (this 20 mile stretch of road between the beach and portola valley gets about ~2 deaths per week every week either motorcycle/ or johnny go fast weekend clowns) ... got some ridiculous understeer that wouldve ended badly had another vehicle been oncoming. This car is a heavy pig, a wooly mammoth that is nowhere nearly as fun to drive as the old SR now thinkin do I need Kdubs? for safety!

 

Cool thx for the update. What tires you have on the car?

When running Michelin PSS (not the all season's) I thought the VR handled great but still not even close to the handling of my SR in advanced back in 07. Been running PSS AS4's for years and ok w/ diminished performance trade off to drive the car in 50degrees and below!

So this weekend I banged the VR into a corner I know very well on hwy 84 here in sf bay (this 20 mile stretch of road between the beach and portola valley gets about ~2 deaths per week every week either motorcycle/ or johnny go fast weekend clowns) ... got some ridiculous understeer that wouldve ended badly had another vehicle been oncoming. This car is a heavy pig, a wooly mammoth that is nowhere nearly as fun to drive as the old SR now thinkin do I need Kdubs? for safety!

Hmm, make sure the alignment is dialed in, and drive it in advanced? Though, I will say KWs GREATLY reduced my understeer.

 

I have my winters on at the moment, hakkapeliita’s. I haven’t been driving very spiritedly due to the winter conditions so can’t comment much. Way more neutral than stock 4c though.

 

Nice, I forgot about this one, thanks for continuing the discussion! I've been at about 330mm (13ish inches) at all four corners with dampers set in the middle for about the last 500 miles. With that as my baseline I've been thinking to myself that the next time I get her off the ground I should add a little rake and maybe soften up the front dampers a hair. It's nice to see your experience speaks to that. I'll definitely follow through on that inclination and may even remember to report back an opinion once it's done.

Edit, errr postscript, or whatever: Sitting at 13 inches in the rear on an otherwise stock, 18 year old VR suspension and its very sad bushings will give you about 3 degrees of camber back there. Mentioned 'cuz science, I guess, or for that person lurking the forums desperate to add another data point to their "otherwise stock, 18 year old VR suspension and its very sad bushings vs. aftermarket coilover ride height and resultant rear wheel camber angle" spreadsheet. You're welcome.

 

Since we’re talking about ride quality I should add that I’m on 17” pegs for the winter with 45 profile tires.

I’ll be switching to 18” pegs in a few weeks so probably will have an effect. I’m definitely focused on ride quality but I might do something stupid. I have my eyes on some 19” Heico Volution Vs. That would throw away everything but look cool!

 

My 05 is on KWs and 18s. The ride was firm, but not jarring like the stock suspension.

I used to drive in Advanced all the time. Upon switching to KW, I'd say the ride is more comfortable, but firmer. If that makes sense...basically, I can feel everything in the road, but nothing is really jarring like the stock suspension.