Hi everyone. I am fairly new to the site and usually don't post very often, but I have ran into a roadblock with regards to which coilover set up to choose. My car is a 2008 535 with the Sport package, FBO, 20" Vossen CV4 wheels, but otherwise stock suspension.

I have searched this forum as well as others, and the feedback seems to be consistent that KW seems to be the golden standard in terms of ride, performance and overall preference of the community. However, I have no plans to track my car and mostly drive it on the highway since I travel for work a lot, so KW might be slight overkill for my purposes at the price point they are available.

Since all I am looking for is a slight drop while maintaining a comfortable ride and at least the same handling characteristics as the Sport package, I am beginning to wonder if other options might better suit my needs. I am particularly interested in the Bilstein PSS, the H&R Street and ST Performance coilovers. I am aware of other options out there like Megan, KSport, BC, etc., but I would like to avoid those for now. With that said, does anyone have any direct experience with the Bilsteins, H&Rs or STs that they can share? How do they handle compared to stock? How is the ride quality on the highway, as well as other road surfaces? I live in Florida, so we do not have too many pot holes but we have a ton of construction to deal with, how do they perform in those settings? Do they make any unusual noises? Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated to help me make a purchasing decision. Thank you in advance.

Ivan

 

Maybe i can help, i'm by no means an expert on this but i went around this round' about when i was searching for coils.
I ended up with a decent coilover working on a budget however the KW street comfort have had some awesome reviews along with the CKS. I have heard the CKS will ride just as good as the KW v3's which seems to be an excellent comparison point for a good ride. For that price, it better be
I wanted to go the kw street comfort route but couldnt justify that kind of money at the moment of purchasing. In the end i purchased ksport. So far, i really do love the way they ride and drive. Sometimes it can be a little harsh but for what i paid, i cannot complain!

I think in that price range while picking a coilover, expecting, and actually receiving great results shouldn't be any issue.


Edit: oops forgot to mention the ST performance. Assuming we are talking about the KW St's expect a ride nearly the same as the ksports or D2's
Goodluck!
-Bill

 

I have the ST Coilovers. I talked to KW and the gentlemen I talked to has the KW v2 Coilovers on his car. He said he left the settings in the medium setting. Which is the same setting of the KW v1 and the ST. He said you will be unable to tell the difference in ride between ST and KW v1. they are completely identical in how they feel. I have had mine running now for 5 weeks and I truly love my coilovers. The best way to put it, the car drives how it should have from the dealer. sometimes you forget that you have coilovers on. My wife still doesn't know I have coilovers on my car. she has been in my car at least a dozen times since I put them on. Drove it a couple times as well.
Best thing I can tell you is go with the reviews. H & R from what I read are nice, but a little on the stiff side. Bilstein not the softest ride, but not the harshest ride. People have been very pleased with them. ST, rides just like the KW V1. No one has 1 bad thing to say about the KW V1. I truthfully think between these 3, you will not be disappointed in which you choose. All are going to improve your vehicles handling and ride. Good Luck.

 

ST's if you're on a budget, KW V2/3 if you got some dough to play with. I have the V2's, my buddy has the PSS10's on his 535i and my other friend has ST's. I have ridden in each of their rides and we all agree the V2's have the smoothest ride without being jarring over road imperfections. The PSS10's were very firm and the ST's were a nice balance between ride quality and improved handling for less then $1k.

 

Thanks, guys. I appreciate your feedback. I was afraid that the H&R and Bilstein might be a bit too harsh for my taste so the decision really came down to ST vs. KW V2 (not really an apples to apples comparison). I exchanged messages with Ocean on another forum and the feedback he provided helped steer me towards the KW. I ended up getting a killer deal on a brand new set of V2s and figured I might as well get the best for my money and do it right the first time. The ability to adjust the rebound along with a greater re-sale value was enough for me to justify the purchase of the KWs. I got my fingers crossed in hope that the reviews will prove to be true.

Ivan

 

Cool. That's funny you should ask Oceans who got him hooked on KW's after going for a spin.

 

I would love some more info on the ST coilovers. I love the price and the fact that KW makes them. I am driving 40k a year so comfort is important to me. The stock springs sit perfect up front on my 07 550i sport package, the rear is just a tad too high. I am tempted to cut a half coil in the rear to see what happens. If it sucks then I will buy coilovers but I cant imagine much of a change.

 

Cutting your coils is not the way to go if comfort is important. Do it right and get coilovers. The ST's are a great way to go.

 

I've also heard a lot of good things about KW Street Comforts. Great for lowering the ride at the same time keeping the ride quality.

 

With the ST CO system my car drives better than factory. Handling is also improved with decreased body roll. I got mine for a steal. Almost bought the KWV1 but KW Rep told me the only difference was the galvanized steel and a 5 year warranty Vs life time. With me being in California it was a no Brainer.