KW Variant 3 vs. Dinan Stage One

Team Plutonium · 05-12-2012, 07:04 AM

Just switched to the KW Variant 3 coilovers to replace my Dinan Stage One suspension... I'll be driving back from Chicago to Upstate Ny today so I'll have some more thoughts by the end of the drive, and once I'll take it to the track I'll have even better seat time for a review.

But for now the handling is so much sharper, the ride is a tad harsher but it feels better (hard to explain). The car feels much more planted, and I prefer the way the steering feels. I know it is not really a totally fair comparison since the Dinan suspension is basically just springs and bump stops, but I'm very happy I made the switch. I kept the Dinan camber plates - works perfect with the KW V3's. The car rides a little lower now as well... let's see how I'll do in Upstate NY, but for now this is one of my favorite mods so far.

edu09 · 05-12-2012, 09:11 AM

Wrong forum

dex37 · 05-12-2012, 09:13 AM

Why didn't you take the Clubsport. Especially if you track your car. I am also thinking about a different suspension in the future. My only concern about the Clubsport ist that it might be a bit too firm.

Team Plutonium · 05-12-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edu09

Wrong forum

Yup... messed up on the iPhone. Sorry.

Team Plutonium · 05-12-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex37

Why didn't you take the Clubsport. Especially if you track your car. I am also thinking about a different suspension in the future. My only concern about the Clubsport ist that it might be a bit too firm.

Yup, too firm for me.

bigjae1976 · 05-12-2012, 10:11 AM

Honestly, I don't think the Dinan Stage I really improves handling. Yes, it firms the car up and turn in is better. But I found that Dinan fell short when putting the power down from apex to trackout. Which is interesting because someone said in my Dinan toe link thread that the rear OEM non-EDC shocks are the issue...which Dinan does not address.

In to see your comparison.

Oh yeah...

WRONG FORUM

...couldn't pass up an opportunity to bust your balls!

kchu221 · 05-12-2012, 10:36 AM

congrats! how do you like the new seats??

radiantm3 · 05-13-2012, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Yup, too firm for me.

Don't the clubsports have to be rebuilt pretty often too? Seems like too much of a hassle for a daily driver.

Team Plutonium · 05-13-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Honestly, I don't think the Dinan Stage I really improves handling. Yes, it firms the car up and turn in is better. But I found that Dinan fell short when putting the power down from apex to trackout. Which is interesting because someone said in my Dinan toe link thread that the rear OEM non-EDC shocks are the issue...which Dinan does not address.

In to see your comparison.

Oh yeah...

WRONG FORUM

...couldn't pass up an opportunity to bust your balls!

Yeah, yeah, yeah... btw, next time you have to stop by at iND as well.

I agree with you regarding the Dinan suspension... car rides better and sits a tiny bit lower, but besides that it doesn't do anything better. I tracked with it, but I never tracked with the stock springs, so I had no reference really. In the end the Dinan suspension is just springs and a shorter bump stop - not much to it.

The KW's make the car feel much, much sharper - especially the steering. Car ride is harsher, but not too bad... but part of that is probably also that I switched to the OMP seats. I'm really excited to see how the KW's do on the track, there is no question in my mind that they will be great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchu221

congrats! how do you like the new seats??

Amazing! I drove 12 hours yesterday, and they felt very, very comfy. The OMP's are very snug fit, perfect for me, but if you are a big guy you probably need the Recaros. I'm 5'10, weighing 165 - love those seats, make you drive faster right away.

Seriously, they transform the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Don't the clubsports have to be rebuilt pretty often too? Seems like too much of a hassle for a daily driver.

Don't know about that... in the end I decided to go with the V3's over the clubsports because it is also my daily driver. I don't track enough to justify the clubsports and sacrifice the ride quality when I pick up the little one from school.

TX335 · 05-14-2012, 10:05 AM

Do the clubsports ride that much firmer than the V3s? I thought that I had read that the difference in ride quality between the two wasn't that big.

Did you add camber plates to your V3s?

Team Plutonium · 05-14-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX335

Do the clubsports ride that much firmer than the V3s? I thought that I had read that the difference in ride quality between the two wasn't that big.

Did you add camber plates to your V3s?

Yeah, clubsports are firmer (to firm for my light track use). I have the Dinan camber plates with the V3's - feels and handles great.

05-12-2012, 07:04 AM	#1
Team Plutonium Major General Drives: 911 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate Posts: 8,457 iTrader: (1)	KW Variant 3 vs. Dinan Stage One Just switched to the KW Variant 3 coilovers to replace my Dinan Stage One suspension... I'll be driving back from Chicago to Upstate Ny today so I'll have some more thoughts by the end of the drive, and once I'll take it to the track I'll have even better seat time for a review. But for now the handling is so much sharper, the ride is a tad harsher but it feels better (hard to explain). The car feels much more planted, and I prefer the way the steering feels. I know it is not really a totally fair comparison since the Dinan suspension is basically just springs and bump stops, but I'm very happy I made the switch. I kept the Dinan camber plates - works perfect with the KW V3's. The car rides a little lower now as well... let's see how I'll do in Upstate NY, but for now this is one of my favorite mods so far. __________________ Gone... ESS VT2-625 \| ESS Tune \| M24 Oil Cooler \| Brembo 380mm BBK \| Dinan 4.10 Diff \| KW Variant 3 Coilovers \| Dinan Camber Plates \| Dinan Strut Tower Braces \| Dinan X-Pipe \| Akrapovic Exhaust \| Vorsteiner GTS3 Bumper \| Varis System One Diffuser \| OEM Performance Spoiler \| Stack Gauges \| GTS Door Sills \| Volk TE37 \| Falken Azenis RT615K 275/315 \| Pulled Fenders \| Turner Stud Kit \| OMP ARS Racing Seats New: 991C2S
	Tweet

05-12-2012, 09:11 AM	#2
edu09 Captain Drives: 2011 M3 E93,JB,Akra Evo Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Doral, FL Posts: 701 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 E93 [4.75]	Wrong forum __________________ 2011 M3 E93 \| Jerez Black, Black Novillo, Carbon Leather trim, M Double-clutch Transmission, Enhanced Premium Sound Sys Mods: Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust / ESS Direct Flash Tune / ADV1 wheels / KW coilover sleeve kit / OSS kit / OEM Rear Lip Spoiler / Macht Schnell Performance filter / RPI scoops / BMW Performance Black Grilles / BMW Wind Deflector / Vorsteiner Front Spoiler / JB side gills

05-12-2012, 10:11 AM	#6
bigjae1976 Brigadier General Drives: 04 330Ci, 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 4,046 iTrader: (8)	Honestly, I don't think the Dinan Stage I really improves handling. Yes, it firms the car up and turn in is better. But I found that Dinan fell short when putting the power down from apex to trackout. Which is interesting because someone said in my Dinan toe link thread that the rear OEM non-EDC shocks are the issue...which Dinan does not address. In to see your comparison. Oh yeah... WRONG FORUM ...couldn't pass up an opportunity to bust your balls! __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-12-2012, 09:13 AM	#3
dex37 Private First Class Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 148 iTrader: (0)	Why didn't you take the Clubsport. Especially if you track your car. I am also thinking about a different suspension in the future. My only concern about the Clubsport ist that it might be a bit too firm.

05-12-2012, 10:36 AM	#7
kchu221 JDM whore Drives: 2012 E92 6MT Space Grey Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: los angeles Posts: 2,269 iTrader: (5)	congrats! how do you like the new seats??

05-14-2012, 10:05 AM	#10
TX335 Private First Class Drives: 08 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 156 iTrader: (0)	Do the clubsports ride that much firmer than the V3s? I thought that I had read that the difference in ride quality between the two wasn't that big. Did you add camber plates to your V3s?