My new shoes + Renntech/KW Coilover review

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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 12:12 AM
  #1  
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My new shoes + Renntech/KW Coilover review

I do love this car. It reminds me a bit of my GTR, but with some class and maturity. It drives great, looks great, and sounds amazing, kind of what I've been searching for

Other than the custom Carbon steering wheel, and suede diamond stitching on the seats, only mod I've done so far is the Weistec diverter valves. I bought the black A45 exhaust tips, just need time to install them. I don't know if I'm going to do a tune, or jump straight to a hybrid turbo setup with Pure, via EC. Still to be determined., as I'm still enjoying the car in its stock form. (Especially now that I've worked out all those pesky interior noises)

For my wheels, I went with Velos Designwerks as I've had great success with them in the past, amazing customer service and knowledge. I let the owner Omar get creative with this set and pick the colours and designs... I think he nailed it.

Wheel / Tire Specs:
20x9.5 with 265-30-20 Michelin PSS
20x11 with 305-25-21 Michelin PSS
Velos Solo V Forged 3 piece step lip with floating spoke
Brushed double dark tint face, with matte clear coat
Polished with transparent gloss copper lips.

Renntech vs. KW Sleeves Review: (short version)
I wanted to give it at least a week before writing, and it was evident after 5 days. I had the KW on for about 4 months, and put less than 2,000 miles on them, and liked them a lot. It's my 5th car with KW sleeves, so I'm loyal to the brand. However, I did find the KW made the GTS sloppy on the lowest setting (initial setting for me). Especially in bumpy corners, like it sometimes didn't know what it wanted to do with itself. When I raised it, it handled much better, became more even and poised. But daily driving was vastly improved over stock. Far more comfortable, and less jarring.

I noticed the Renntech sleeves to be a bit tighter, more even, less bouncy and overall better handling (on lowest setting) and I really only figured this out a few nights ago on a cruise, and I took some Hwy onramps a little harder than usual. I felt like I had more confidence with the Renntech vs. The KW, and this was the deciding factor for me. The Renntech will sit lower, as they have claimed 1.5" drop compared to KWs 1", however I'm not convinced it's a whole .5" lower... Maybe .25". I do like my cars low, that is what is important for me as they never see the track. The Renntech sleeve was the right choice for me as it gave me the stance I wanted, and bonus of better handling.

All in all, I truly feel Renntech has built an awesome product, and I believe it is the better sleeve. (Sorry Tony)(he bought my KW)




















Last edited by AHI; Jun 20, 2016 at 12:59 PM.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 07:29 AM
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Yep well done on those wheels.

Looking forward to see that hybrid setup...
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 10:25 AM
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Thanks for write up on springs.
The car looks gorgeous with new wheels.
Care to expand in the hybrid turbo upgrade? Sounds very interesting.
Would love to see interior pics as well
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 10:38 AM
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Can you please also share the part number for the A45 tips and where you bought them?
Looks like you painted the star one piece grill? How easy was it to take out?
Can you give us some feedback on the diverter valve?
I don't have my car yet but lining up the mods

Last edited by emericr; Jun 20, 2016 at 10:45 AM.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Thanks for write up on springs.
The car looks gorgeous with new wheels.
Care to expand in the hybrid turbo upgrade? Sounds very interesting.
Would love to see interior pics as well
Thanks! So the idea is to use the existing factory turbos, send them to Pure where they will bore them open, put in a bigger wheel, and then we can see 720+whp numbers, all while it looking completely factory when the hood is open. Pure turbo has been doing this for awhile with great results and reliability. I'll try and snap some interior pics and add them to the main thread of pics tonight.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Can you please also share the part number for the A45 tips and where you bought them?
Looks like you painted the star one piece grill? How easy was it to take out?
Can you give us some feedback on the diverter valve?
I don't have my car yet but lining up the mods
I found them on eBay from a seller in Greece.
Part#'s A1764900327 / A1764900427

But please don't buy them yet until I try and make them work, just in case they dont. Probably wil be tomorrow.

As far as the diverter valves, very straightforward installation, near the air intakes. Takes the recirculation hose out of the airbox, and puts it into the diverter, which in turn dumps it atmospherically. It's not your typical "blow off" sound, but like a little sneeze when it releases. I like it, the more sounds I can get out of this thing, the happier I'll be!

The grill wa a little annoying to remove. You are basically pinching the wings slowly and wiggling the clips out of place. It took me about 20mins or so. Once the entire wing is out, you can take the star and chrome winglets out to paint. 4 pieces total. I painted the wing of the grill itself Satin black, the star is gloss black, and the winglets body color.... Just got creative there.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 12:57 PM
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Thanks for info.
A close pic of your grill would be awesome, pretty please.
I have ordered the same color and you are making me drool lol
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Thanks for info.
A close pic of your grill would be awesome, pretty please.
I have ordered the same color and you are making me drool lol
Haha I was already working on it. I updated the main post with more pics. Sorry about the blurry one, I'll get a better one later.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 01:59 PM
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Someone loves carbon fiber. It looks amazing
I assume you got cf sills. Are they illuminated?
I did order the gloss interior upgrade but left the center piece brushed aluminum.
If the sills are not illuminated, I am debating ordering the brushed one that do have light.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 02:21 PM
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 03:12 PM
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I have illuminated silver sills. My center console was silver, but wrapped it black... along with the vent Surrounds. I didn't like the silver everywhere inside, I don't mind subtle hints, but it was too much.

Originally Posted by emericr
Someone loves carbon fiber. It looks amazing
I assume you got cf sills. Are they illuminated?
I did order the gloss interior upgrade but left the center piece brushed aluminum.
If the sills are not illuminated, I am debating ordering the brushed one that do have light.
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 05:11 PM
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Wish you guys were local. Tony can you chime in on ride quality change as well?
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 08:51 PM
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The wheels look great!
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Old Jun 20, 2016 | 11:46 PM
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Originally Posted by AMG 17GT
Wish you guys were local. Tony can you chime in on ride quality change as well?
as soon as i work out the kinks, will let you know LOL. Looks like the dynamic suspension is really sensitive to spring rate changes. I need to get the suspension code reset from my dealer.






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Old Jun 22, 2016 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Can you please also share the part number for the A45 tips and where you bought them?
Looks like you painted the star one piece grill? How easy was it to take out?
Can you give us some feedback on the diverter valve?
I don't have my car yet but lining up the mods
Exhaust tips do not work.
They are too small.
Going to modify existing ones and powder coat black
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Old Jun 23, 2016 | 01:36 PM
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Thanks for the feedback. 2 bad.
I am sure you will share your mod with the OEM ones
I wonder how the forum shop was able to make it work on the car they posted.
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Old Jun 24, 2016 | 12:11 AM
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Looking great! But what is going on with your center console?

Can you share what offsets your wheels are? Any rubbing?

John
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 02:19 PM
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When you get rid of your GT-S for the GT-R, I claim first dibs on your aftermarket parts if you sell them separate
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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Thanks for the feedback. 2 bad.
I am sure you will share your mod with the OEM ones
I wonder how the forum shop was able to make it work on the car they posted.
Those in that thread, are definitely not the A45 ones. It's something different they made or found. Cause it's not even close.
We're basically welding a metal slit in the factory tip on an angle, to make it look like the A45 one. Well smooth it out, then powder coat it. I'll post pics after its done for sure.

Originally Posted by JB C63S
Looking great! But what is going on with your center console?

Can you share what offsets your wheels are? Any rubbing?

John
It's just red vinyl camo. Comes off. Just felt creative, I have it on my rear strut brace too.

I don't know my offsets to be honest. I will try and get the info and share it. I am using a 3mm spacer front and rear as well, and will be switching to a 5mm rear on Tuesday.

Originally Posted by emericr
When you get rid of your GT-S for the GT-R, I claim first dibs on your aftermarket parts if you sell them separate
Haha, ok!

Last edited by AHI; Jun 28, 2016 at 05:58 PM.
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 01:00 AM
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amazing machine Allen, look forward to seeing the new AMG GT-R
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Old Jun 30, 2016 | 03:30 PM
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Ahi

Could you comment a little more on the overall ride quality between stock and the Renntech coil overs? I know you mentioned earlier that first set KW's took away a lot of the stock jar over rough pavement. You said it was vastly improved, so how?

And as I'm probably not going to slam my car as low as yours LOL I was curious as to the intermediate setting ride quality as I maybe drop it less than an inch and my car will be a DD

Last edited by AMG 17GT; Jun 30, 2016 at 03:34 PM.
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Old Jul 5, 2016 | 02:49 PM
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Front page news!

Very nice! Thought the front page would appreciate as well...
https://mbworld.org/articles/sls-loo...nd-suspension/
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Old Jul 5, 2016 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by MBWorld Editor
Very nice! Thought the front page would appreciate as well...
https://mbworld.org/articles/sls-loo.../> suspension/
Ahoy Patrick. It's not an SLS. It's a GTS....
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Old Jul 5, 2016 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by AMG 17GT
Ahoy Patrick. It's not an SLS. It's a GTS....


LOL whooooooooops that's a big mistake
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Old Jul 6, 2016 | 08:20 AM
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