[NGEE]

I wanted to document my experience with warranty claims on the KW coilover system. My V1 system was leaking and unable to pass state safety inspection, so needed repair/replacement. That system came with a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser - thankfully I’d saved all my documentation from when I bought the kit in 2013.

The KW ST V1 system is no longer offered. KW currently offers two kits for this platform - the XA and XTA Plus 3. Both come with KW’s standard 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty. They no longer offer lifetime warranty.

I contacted KW regarding the warranty, and they sent some forms to fill out in order to obtain an RMA. So, the car goes up on jacks and the system comes off. Although the rear shocks were not leaking, I took them off, assuming it would not be advisable to replace only the front struts. The bottom nuts on the rear shocks were so frozen that the shafts sheared off, essentially rendering the replacement question a moot one. The whole kit was boxed for shipment to the West Coast, and the required forms sent in via email. Then….I waited over a month to receive the RMA just so I could ship. Shipment via UPS cost $90 and took nearly a week. So five weeks and the system is on KW's loading dock.

That was a week ago. No word from KW yet. I started this thread to document what happens from here. But one thing is clear - warranty claims are obviously not practical for anyone using their car for DD, or otherwise for anyone that doesn’t have a garage to keep a car on jack stands for an extended period of time.

Since KW no longer offers the V1 system, I’m assuming that replacements are out of the question, and that repair is the only route. Unless they offer me some kind of credit to apply on a newer system, which I would accept. We’ll see….

[Ozzie335i]

The right thing for them to do would be to give you credit. And by that I don't mean prorating them down to nothing. The original warranty was to make them like new, so full value of the originals towards the replacements isn't asking much. I'd bet that it's not like they've had to honor the warranty all that often, if at all. Good will to you will go a long way on these pages. Keep us all posted.

[white46]

Hope everything goes well.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Ozzie335i

The right thing for them to do would be to give you credit. And by that I don't mean prorating them down to nothing. The original warranty was to make them like new, so full value of the originals towards the replacements isn't asking much. I'd bet that it's not like they've had to honor the warranty all that often, if at all. Good will to you will go a long way on these pages. Keep us all posted.

I don't know where KW was in 2013 in terms of maturity and market, but lifetime warranties are generally used to gain exposure, loyalty and market share. Once they have gained that, lifetime warranties go bye-bye. I expect them to reject the rears as they were not leaking. Also, it's just the struts, not the springs (which I still have). So they could probably just repair the front struts, throw in some new rears and call it a day.

[1sicke92]

Originally Posted by NGEE

I wanted to document my experience with warranty claims on the KW coilover system. My V1 system was leaking and unable to pass state safety inspection, so needed repair/replacement. That system came with a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser - thankfully I’d saved all my documentation from when I bought the kit in 2013.

The KW ST V1 system is no longer offered. KW currently offers two kits for this platform - the XA and XTA Plus 3. Both come with KW’s standard 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty. They no longer offer lifetime warranty.

I contacted KW regarding the warranty, and they sent some forms to fill out in order to obtain an RMA. So, the car goes up on jacks and the system comes off. Although the rear shocks were not leaking, I took them off, assuming it would not be advisable to replace only the front struts. The bottom nuts on the rear shocks were so frozen that the shafts sheared off, essentially rendering the replacement question a moot one. The whole kit was boxed for shipment to the West Coast, and the required forms sent in via email. Then….I waited over a month to receive the RMA just so I could ship. Shipment via UPS cost $90 and took nearly a week. So five weeks and the system is on KW's loading dock.

That was a week ago. No word from KW yet. I started this thread to document what happens from here. But one thing is clear - warranty claims are obviously not practical for anyone using their car for DD, or otherwise for anyone that doesn’t have a garage to keep a car on jack stands for an extended period of time.

Since KW no longer offers the V1 system, I’m assuming that replacements are out of the question, and that repair is the only route. Unless they offer me some kind of credit to apply on a newer system, which I would accept. We’ll see….

This is so crazy that I read this today as I never log on to E90Post as much as I used to. My car is in the shop with a leaking strut as well! And I am the original purchaser of the ST Coilovers V1 kit, bought in 2014! I was about to pull the trigger and just pay out of pocket, but after reading this I do remember them mentioning the lifetime warranty. I've just e-mailed them and fingers crossed hoping for the best for the both of us.

Thanks brotha! BUMP!

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by 1sicke92

This is so crazy that I read this today as I never log on to E90Post as much as I used to. My car is in the shop with a leaking strut as well! And I am the original purchaser of the ST Coilovers V1 kit, bought in 2014! I was about to pull the trigger and just pay out of pocket, but after reading this I do remember them mentioning the lifetime warranty. I've just e-mailed them and fingers crossed hoping for the best for the both of us.

Thanks brotha! BUMP!

I'm guessing that an earlier comment is correct - there can't have been that many claims since MTBF is probably around 7 years - ppl generally don't hold onto cars that long, and/or otherwise forget about warranties.

[M-technik-3]

Back in my VW days Koni warrantied my set up without qualms, Just had to have the original receipt.

Thinking KW would be the same. I did have a problem with my Tein on my E36 M3 They were fantastic till a seal let go but then they were no longer supporting them and seemed to disappear and nobody would respond. Shame, ended up sending them to a third party which rebuilt them and promptly put them in our Chump car.

[1sicke92]

Originally Posted by NGEE

I'm guessing that an earlier comment is correct - there can't have been that many claims since MTBF is probably around 7 years - ppl generally don't hold onto cars that long, and/or otherwise forget about warranties.

Just heard back from ST today and the rep said that the warranty was for 5 years only even though I do remember them being lifetime when I bought them back then. I have the receipt but no mention of the warranty. I guess I'll have to decide to replace or rebuild.

[Ozzie335i]

I have been here at e90 for a while, and recall people bringing up the warranty as another reason to buy them. Ditto for the same warranty for Bilsteins. As NGEE indicated, how many will require either company to honor them? I live in the DFW area and used to see a lot of e92 328s and 335is. Not any more. Pretty sad that ST won't at least prorate what you guys have.

[CoralRed335XI]

Do you have KW or ST coilovers? KW still have lifetime warranty and ST have always had only a 5 year warranty. KW V1 are still part of their products line.

I submitted a warranty claim a few months back for my KW V1 set that are 8 years old.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by CoralRed335XI

Do you have KW or ST coilovers? KW still have lifetime warranty and ST have always had only a 5 year warranty. KW V1 are still part of their products line.

I submitted a warranty claim a few months back for my KW V1 set that are 8 years old.

Um... yes? You will have to educate me. They were KW ST.



What became of your warranty claim?

[CoralRed335XI]

Originally Posted by NGEE

Um... yes? You will have to educate me. They were KW ST.



What became of your warranty claim?

You have ST coilovers, which are the lower-end models from KW parent company. ST only have 5 year warranty. Functionally, ST perform the same as KW, but KW has higher quality "Inox-line" stainless.

My warranty went through fine because I have true KW, not ST.

[CoralRed335XI]

Do you need to replace your front struts or rear shocks? I have my warrantied rear shocks still in box…

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by CoralRed335XI

You have ST coilovers, which are the lower-end models from KW parent company. ST only have 5 year warranty. Functionally, ST perform the same as KW, but KW has higher quality "Inox-line" stainless.

My warranty went through fine because I have true KW, not ST.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Strange then that they would have me ship them out for warranty work (at a cost of $90). I am getting old so my memory is not reliable, but it seems that they had a lifetime warranty when I purchased them.

If they were to come back at this point to inform me that the ST coilovers only had a 5 year warranty, after sending them my original receipt (their request), I would absolutely blow a [OFHG] gasket.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by CoralRed335XI

Do you need to replace your front struts or rear shocks? I have my warrantied rear shocks still in box…

Both. But stay tuned

[1sicke92]

Originally Posted by CoralRed335XI

Do you have KW or ST coilovers? KW still have lifetime warranty and ST have always had only a 5 year warranty. KW V1 are still part of their products line.

I submitted a warranty claim a few months back for my KW V1 set that are 8 years old.

After doing some digging on old E90Post threads I realized this yesterday night as well. Unfortunately ST's are 5 years and KW are lifetime. They're very similar but hey it is what it is

[NGEE]

Pinged them today. "30-40 days before it is inspected"

[Jeffman]

Any update? My KW V1s are 12 years old and 60K miles on them. Pretty harsh over the bumps now, but I never saw any oil leaking. Maybe it all leaked out? I’d probably just throw a new set on them as it is my DD. Thoughts?

[NGEE]

Completely forgot about this thread. The "inspection" took so long that I just bought and installed a new set. Then I gave the car away.

KW did eventually complete the inspection and send me a new set, which I sold on this forum.