C63 PPP - KW V3 Coilovers

[whitenemesis]

I can highly recommend David at D-Class. I have just had the headlining done in Alcantara on the CL55 and also the rear parcel shelf, a first class job.

David is very professional and accommodating.

Many thanks for taking the time and sharing with us your very articulate write ups, very enjoyable.

Thanks Peter - it is indeed David at D:Class that I'm dealing with. Seems a nice enough chap!

Seconded! I can highly recommend David, he diid my interior retrim.

 

[Jack Wood]

Palm, I wonder why you have Contisportcontact 3's when I have 5P's on mine and I got my car before yours?

I'v replaced mine, and have a feature and final report to go with my tire wear thread, but I've been unable to get to thise site for the last week or so, has it been down?

I ended up with 7772 miles out of my rears with the 5P's

I'm wondering still if it is the diff that is reducing the wear rate on these cars.....Both you and I have got more than most have managed out of ours.

 

[Palmball]

Hi Jack, thanks for the input!

My tyres are actually doing even better than I thought - I bought a tyre depth gauge yestetday and found that I still have 2.5mm on the rears so although I've ordered my new tyres, I won't be replacing them until aftermy next 'ring trip.

Your car must have been one of the first with 5P's...maybe as yours was made in Bremen they got the newer tyres first as this tyre would have only just been released when your car was made? How do you find the 5P's then...would you recommend?

 

[nick.ged]

235/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 3's with between 6 and 7mm of tread depending on what part of the tyre is measured.

i will have em off you, im only up the road, so can meet up when youve took em off, pm me.

 

[RBYCC]

Palmball, until I read this thread I'd never heard of KW, or coilovers for that matter. I've never even considered doing anything to modify the performance or suspension of my cars. Yet I've found your posts thoroughly engaging, and am very impressed with the attention to detail you've applied to the process of improving a car that most owners would have already regarded as superlative.

The CLK63 Black Series comes from the factory with an AMG modified fully adjustable KW coilover setup.
Also has carbon fiber brakes and front and rear strut tower braces.

Adjustable coilovers are the best choice for a vehicle that you will track !

 

[Palmball]

Adjustable coilovers are the best choice for a vehicle that you will track !

They're not too bad for road use either - the body control they offer over standard suspension has blown me away! It feels like a different car.

Of course, having adjustable suspension has it's own problems. It goes a bit like this....

It's far too hard....it needs to be softer.

Oh, it may be a bit soft now...erm, no, it's fine.

Nope, its too firm....maybe it needs turning down a notch.

Softer? What was I thinking...it needs to be firmer.

Just a bit this way...nope, that way...hang on, wasn't it there before?

Actually, how about.....

 

[whitenemesis]

It's a shame Bilstein don't do RideControl for the C class. I'd fit it like a shot!!

PSS 9/10, ridecontrol^®

 

[APM]

i had kw v3's fitted to my B7 rs4 along with hotchkis arb's fantastic set up for road or track.

 

[lopes80]

Very nice! Can't wait to see it on the 8th!

 

[Palmball]

Very nice! Can't wait to see it on the 8th!

It 'looks' the same as last time you saw it lol Not sure if those KW's are going to give me any advantage at Fighting Torque....but the Brabus kit might like to have a say!

But thats my aim - to keep it as genuine looking as I can.

 

[whitenemesis]

It 'looks' the same as last time you saw it lol Not sure if those KW's are going to give me any advantage at Fighting Torque....but the Brabus kit might like to have a say!

But thats my aim - to keep it as genuine looking as I can.

After all you have done to it?

 

[Palmball]

After all you have done to it?

Yes...you will find most modifications are either AMG supplied and fitted or a company that AMG use in other models (such as KW).

OK, the Brabus part is stretching that a bit but it's the closest to an official tune that you can get....especially as it's only MB dealers who sell it in the UK!

Exceptions to the above rule are the carbon diffuser that I'm trying to locate and my alcantara headlining which D:Class are doing (but with genuine MB fabric)

 

[Simon_M]

Not quite the final chapter...I've still got to source a carbon fibre rear diffuser to replace the standard plastic one. But I can only seem to to find 'big fin' versions as opposed to the 'small fin' design that AMG fit.

I've seen that article in Mercedes enthusiast! TBH, that one looks far too low and the wheels are not to my taste but theres no denying that it's got some power. I may also approach them for my diffuser as the one on that car is exactly what I'm looking for!

My overall aim is to upgrade the parts of the C63 that are less than perfect whilst still keeping the car looking as original as possible, hence I'm carefully choosing components that are either supplied by AMG (such as the whole interior - all offical Mercedes materials) or feature in other AMG's (such as the KW's which AMG already use on their Black versions and hence the guy setting it up can get my units revalved with a bespoke setting).

The carbon diffuser will be my first port of call so as always, I shall watch with baited breathe.

Surely the carbon mirrors will be on your shopping list, will look good contrasting the White bodywork.

S

 

[Simon_M]

Not quite the final chapter...I've still got to source a carbon fibre rear diffuser to replace the standard plastic one. But I can only seem to to find 'big fin' versions as opposed to the 'small fin' design that AMG fit.

I've seen that article in Mercedes enthusiast! TBH, that one looks far too low and the wheels are not to my taste but theres no denying that it's got some power. I may also approach them for my diffuser as the one on that car is exactly what I'm looking for!

My overall aim is to upgrade the parts of the C63 that are less than perfect whilst still keeping the car looking as original as possible, hence I'm carefully choosing components that are either supplied by AMG (such as the whole interior - all offical Mercedes materials) or feature in other AMG's (such as the KW's which AMG already use on their Black versions and hence the guy setting it up can get my units revalved with a bespoke setting).

The carbon diffuser will be my first port of call so as always, I shall watch with baited breathe.

Surely the AMG carbon mirrors will be on your shopping list, will look good contrasting the white bodywork.

S

 

[Jack Wood]

Hi Jack, thanks for the input!

My tyres are actually doing even better than I thought - I bought a tyre depth gauge yestetday and found that I still have 2.5mm on the rears so although I've ordered my new tyres, I won't be replacing them until aftermy next 'ring trip.

Your car must have been one of the first with 5P's...maybe as yours was made in Bremen they got the newer tyres first as this tyre would have only just been released when your car was made? How do you find the 5P's then...would you recommend?

Unfortunately I'm not qualified to comment on that. I've only had these 5P's on the car so far. They work well, and I'm happy with them. No real need to change them. They give a nice balance of dry and wet grip. They let go very progressively when the rear steps out. And as an added benefit, they have lasted a faily decent mileage too.

Can't ask for much more.

I wouldn't be interested in sticking a wider set on myself. I think there is a really nice balance of grip and grunt. I do like the way that the rear can be pushed out with the throttle. I'm not sure I'd find more rear-end grip as much fun.

What did your chassis man think of the suggestion?

By the way, talking af chassis, what kind of geometry settings did they add when you had the suspension done? And did the guy in Germany change any of the settings, or did he only play with the damper setting?

 

[Jack Wood]

It's a shame Bilstein don't do RideControl for the C class. I'd fit it like a shot!!

PSS 9/10, ridecontrol^®

Those were my first suggetion to Andrew. I have them fitted on my Cayman and they are truly fantastic. I would recommend them to anyone.

 

[Palmball]

What did your chassis man think of the suggestion?

By the way, talking af chassis, what kind of geometry settings did they add when you had the suspension done? And did the guy in Germany change any of the settings, or did he only play with the damper setting?

With regards to tyre size, he thought it was fine given the relatively small change and he did agree that the C63 is somewhat undertyred.

Now, with regards to geometry! My car is bang on MB's recommended settings which he was not keen to veer away from - probably understandable given they're likely the settings that he had input in finalising!

So, not sure what to do here - I think it drives well but it is quite understeery - the Coilovers have impoved this but it is still understeer biased until deliberately provoked at which point it happily hangs it's back end out! On the flip side, it is extremely stable on the motorway which is where I spend a lot of my time so given this, and my track time being under 1% of the overall usage, it's probaly worth keeping it standard.

When I get it back in late August with his final damper settings, if I still feel there is room for improvement (particularly in the UK...I appreciate that it's all very well setting it up over in Germany but our roads are VERY different) then I will be paying a visit to Chris at centre gravity, just as you recommended.

 

[petermansell]

So, not sure what to do here - I think it drives well but it is quite understeery - the Coilovers have impoved this but it is still understeer biased until deliberately provoked at which point it happily hangs it's back end out!

How about stiffer adjustable ARBs? I used to have a similar problem and fitted H&R ARBs and this, along with an LSD (but you have that I think), addressed the problem.

 

[Palmball]

How about stiffer adjustable ARBs? I used to have a similar problem and fitted H&R ARBs and this, along with an LSD (but you have that I think), addressed the problem.

I don't really know much about ARB's - the benefits aren't hard to work out but what are the downsides or compromises?

 

[Jack Wood]

ARBs are not necessarily what you are looking for. Yes you can use ARBs to tune understeer and oversteer, but you should really use damping and geometry before you go down that route.

Really, it is pointless sorting out the understeer until the damping is sorted. The damping WILL effect the natural balance of the car. Once the damping and spring rates are tied down, then you'd move onto geo to address handling traits. It is all a bit chicken and egg, and still regarded as very much a black art. Just throwing an ARB or, or dampers, is not the be-all and end-all. Not is yu want the job done properly.

ARB are really there to eliminate body roll (hence their name Anti Roll Bar!) but they can and will also effec the handling balance once fitted. They will also effect ride compliance, so be warned!