The BMW G99 M5 Touring is an unusual engineering challenge for any suspension manufacturer. It combines 727 hp, 1,000 Nm of torque, M xDrive, plug-in hybrid hardware and genuine estate-car practicality in a package weighing more than 2.5 tonnes. The factory adaptive suspension has to make all of those characteristics work together, from long-distance motorway driving to genuinely fast cross-country performance.
For owners who want to take greater control of how the G99 behaves, KW Automotive has developed a dedicated V4 coilover kit specifically for the BMW G99 M5 Touring. Rather than simply lowering the car, the KW V4 replaces the factory dampers and springs with a three-way adjustable system that allows the driver to independently tune low-speed compression, high-speed compression and rebound damping.
The result is considerably greater control over the way the M5 Touring responds to steering, braking, acceleration, surface changes and larger road inputs, while retaining the ability to configure the suspension around road use rather than simply making the car excessively stiff.
The G99-specific kit carries KW part number 3A7200GL, offers 10–30 mm of adjustable lowering at both axles, uses aluminium damper construction and includes the modules required to deactivate the original electronic damper control system.
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What Are KW V4 Coilovers?
The KW V4 sits towards the upper end of KW Automotive's Street Performance coilover range. Its key difference from simpler coilover systems is the amount of independent control it gives you over the damper.
Where a KW V1 uses a fixed, vehicle-specific damper calibration, and systems such as the V3 introduce independently adjustable compression and rebound damping, the V4 separates compression damping into two further operating ranges. (For a full breakdown of the range, see our guide: KW Coilovers Explained: V1 vs V2 vs V3 vs V4 vs V5.)
On the BMW G99 M5 Touring, you can independently adjust:
- Low-speed compression – 13 clicks
- High-speed compression – 13 clicks
- Low-speed rebound – 16 clicks
- Ride height – 10–30 mm front and rear
That gives the V4 significantly more tuning scope than simply choosing between a softer or firmer overall suspension setting.
It is also important to understand that high-speed and low-speed damping do not refer to how fast the BMW itself is travelling. They describe the speed at which the damper piston is moving.
That distinction is central to understanding why a three-way adjustable damper can work so well on a car such as the G99.
Why Does The BMW G99 M5 Touring Benefit From KW V4 Coilovers?
The issue the KW V4 addresses is not that the standard G99 M5 Touring is incapable. Far from it. BMW has had to engineer one suspension system to accommodate an exceptionally wide operating window.
The G99 needs to carry passengers and luggage comfortably, accommodate its substantial vehicle mass, work with M xDrive and deliver the sort of performance expected from an M5. Those conflicting requirements inevitably result in compromise.
For an enthusiast, one of the most noticeable characteristics of a very heavy performance car is the amount of energy the suspension has to control when the body changes direction. Under braking, turn-in, acceleration and quick direction changes, the dampers are responsible for controlling a great deal of mass.
This is where the KW V4's greater damper control becomes particularly relevant.
KW developed the G99 V4 specifically for the Touring rather than simply reusing the G90 M5 Saloon hardware. KW states that the Touring version differs from the G90 in both its mounting points and component design, with the dampers developed and tested specifically for the G99 application.
The aim is therefore not merely a lower M5 Touring. It is a G99 that feels more controlled, more predictable and more precise when its weight begins to move around.
What Will KW V4 Coilovers Feel Like From Behind The Wheel?
This is arguably the most important part of the upgrade.
A well-configured KW V4 setup should not make the G99 feel like a stripped-out track car. The V4 is part of KW's road-focused Street Performance range and the breadth of its damping adjustment allows comfort and body control to be tuned independently to a much greater extent than with a basic sports suspension.
The first thing an owner is likely to notice is better body support.
During turn-in, the car should take a set more decisively rather than allowing the body to continue moving after the initial steering input. That can make the M5 Touring feel smaller and more manageable than its physical size and mass would suggest.
Under braking, greater low-speed damper support can help reduce excessive forward pitch. During acceleration and rapid load changes, the same principle allows the suspension to manage weight transfer more deliberately.
KW describes the V4-equipped G99 as responding more predictably during load changes, with more precise steering and better directional control through tighter corners.
The difference should therefore be noticeable even without driving the car at its limit. Roundabouts, motorway slip roads, quick direction changes and fast B-roads are all situations where improved damper control can make the car feel more settled and connected.
Perhaps more importantly, that additional control does not automatically mean sacrificing ride quality. That is exactly why KW separates the different areas of damper adjustment.
How Does Low-Speed Compression Adjustment Work?
Low-speed compression is primarily concerned with relatively slow damper movements generated by the movement of the vehicle body.
Think about:
- Braking
- Acceleration
- Steering into a corner
- Long sweeping bends
- Weight transfer from one side of the car to the other
Increasing low-speed compression damping gives the body greater support as the damper compresses.
On the G99 M5 Touring, increasing this setting can therefore make the car feel more immediate during direction changes and reduce the amount of pitch and roll permitted before the chassis settles.
Reducing low-speed compression allows more movement and can create a softer, more relaxed response.
There are 13 adjustment clicks available, allowing changes to be made progressively rather than forcing the owner to choose between only a few broad presets.
How Does High-Speed Compression Adjustment Work?
High-speed compression is different.
It deals predominantly with fast damper movements caused by the road surface itself, rather than the speed of the vehicle.
Examples include:
- Sharp potholes
- Bridge joints
- Broken road surfaces
- Sudden ridges in the road
- Kerbs during circuit driving
This adjustment is particularly useful on a road car because it allows sharp surface inputs to be treated differently from slower body movement.
You could therefore configure the suspension to provide strong body support during braking and cornering through the low-speed circuit while retaining greater compliance when a wheel encounters a sudden bump.
That separation is one of the main reasons the V4 can provide considerably more sophisticated behaviour than simply fitting stiffer springs and dampers.
The G99 V4 again provides 13 clicks of high-speed compression adjustment.
What Does Rebound Adjustment Do?
Rebound controls what happens after the suspension has been compressed.
Once a wheel has travelled upwards over a bump or the body has loaded one side of the suspension through a corner, the spring wants to extend again. Rebound damping controls how quickly that extension takes place.
The KW V4 for the G99 provides 16 clicks of low-speed rebound adjustment.
Increasing rebound damping slows the rate at which the suspension extends. This can make the chassis feel more controlled and tied down, particularly during transitions.
Reducing rebound allows the suspension to return more freely and can improve comfort and compliance.
As with any adjustable suspension, more damping is not automatically better. Excessive rebound can prevent the suspension recovering quickly enough across a succession of bumps, which is why having a properly developed baseline setting is important.
KW supplies the system with a vehicle-specific setup, giving owners a known starting point before any individual changes are made.
How Much Can KW V4 Coilovers Lower The G99 M5 Touring?
The KW V4 provides a 10–30 mm lowering range at both the front and rear axles of the BMW G99 M5 Touring.
This gives the owner considerably more control over ride height than a conventional fixed lowering spring.
A subtle 10–15 mm reduction can tighten the factory wheel gap without dramatically changing the character of the car, while a setting closer to 30 mm creates a significantly more purposeful stance.
The important difference is that ride height can be set during installation rather than being dictated by a fixed spring.
This also means the chassis setup and the visual ride height do not have to be treated as the same adjustment. The car can be positioned at a sensible road-going height while the damper characteristics are configured separately.
Does The KW V4 Retain The BMW Adaptive Suspension?
No. This is an important distinction between the V4 coilover kit and a height-adjustable spring system.
The KW V4 replaces the original electronically controlled dampers with KW's manually adjustable three-way dampers.
KW therefore supplies electronic damper cancellation modules as part of the G99 kit. These are designed to deactivate the factory electronic damper control system correctly when the original dampers are removed.
You consequently lose the ability to alter the physical damper stiffness through BMW's original adaptive suspension control.
Instead, the damper behaviour is set directly through the mechanical KW adjustment system.
For many V4 customers, that is precisely the attraction. Rather than asking the factory electronics to select from BMW's predefined damper maps, the suspension can be configured specifically for the owner's preferred roads, tyres, vehicle use and driving style.
KW V4 Vs KW H.A.S. For The G99 M5 Touring
There is an important distinction between these two products.
A KW H.A.S. height-adjustable spring kit is aimed primarily at owners who want adjustable lowering while retaining the factory BMW adaptive dampers.
The KW V4 goes substantially further by replacing both springs and dampers and introducing three-way independent damper adjustment.
If your main priority is reducing the wheel gap and retaining the OEM adaptive suspension functionality, a H.A.S. system can make more sense.
If your priority is changing how the G99 actually controls its mass, responds to steering input and behaves over different road inputs, the V4 is the more comprehensive suspension solution.
That distinction is especially important on the G99. The V4 is not simply an expensive method of lowering the car. The majority of its value lies in the damper technology and the amount of chassis tuning it makes possible.
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High-Strength Aluminium Construction
The G99 V4 dampers are manufactured from a high-strength aluminium alloy rather than KW's familiar stainless steel construction used on certain other applications.
KW selects the damper construction according to the suspension architecture of the vehicle. On the G99, the aluminium design provides a strong and lightweight solution appropriate for the M5's front and rear suspension layout.
The latest V4 design also integrates its damping technology without requiring the external reservoirs seen on some previous-generation multi-adjustable suspension systems.
That makes the package cleaner and more compact while retaining separate high-speed compression, low-speed compression and rebound adjustment.
BMW M4 GTS Technology In The KW V4
There is also an interesting OEM connection behind the V4 range.
KW's three-way adjustable damper technology has been used in suspension programmes for vehicle manufacturers, with the F82 BMW M4 GTS being one of the earlier production BMW applications to use suspension technology based around the KW V4 concept.
That does not mean the G99 kit simply uses M4 GTS dampers. It does demonstrate where this level of KW technology sits within the company's range.
Every application is developed around the vehicle in question, and the G99 has its own damper construction, mounting arrangement, springs and vehicle-specific base calibration.
Is The KW V4 Too Firm For A Daily-Driven M5 Touring?
Not necessarily, and this is one of the most common misconceptions around high-end adjustable coilovers.
A more capable damper does not inherently need to be a harsher damper.
In fact, being able to separate body-control inputs from sharp road inputs can make it easier to achieve the balance many performance-car owners actually want: stronger chassis control without making every road imperfection unnecessarily aggressive.
KW specifically positions the V4 within its Street Performance range rather than its more circuit-focused Clubsport family.
Owners can also adjust the system away from the supplied baseline if they want a slightly more compliant road setup or a more tightly controlled configuration.
For a daily-driven G99, we would normally recommend making small, documented changes rather than immediately winding every adjuster towards its firmest position.
The objective should be balance, not maximum damping.
Who Is The KW V4 G99 M5 Touring Kit For?
The V4 makes the most sense for the G99 owner who wants more than a visual lowering modification.
It is particularly relevant if you want:
- Greater body control from the M5 Touring's substantial mass
- More precise response during steering and direction changes
- Less pitch and roll during hard braking and cornering
- Adjustable ride height rather than a fixed spring drop
- The ability to fine-tune comfort separately from chassis support
- A suspension setup that can be configured around different tyres and driving styles
- More control than the factory adaptive damper presets provide
- A high-end road-focused coilover rather than a dedicated circuit setup
If you simply want the car 20–30 mm lower while retaining BMW's original adaptive dampers, a height-adjustable spring kit may be the more appropriate route.
If you want the suspension itself to become one of the defining upgrades to the way the car drives, the KW V4 is aimed squarely at that use case.
KW V4 BMW G99 M5 Touring Specifications
| Specification | KW V4 G99 M5 Touring |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | BMW G99 M5 Touring |
| KW part number | 3A7200GL |
| Front lowering | 10–30 mm |
| Rear lowering | 10–30 mm |
| Low-speed compression | 13 clicks |
| High-speed compression | 13 clicks |
| Low-speed rebound | 16 clicks |
| Damper construction | High-strength aluminium |
| Factory electronic dampers retained? | No |
| Electronic cancellation modules | Included |
| External reservoirs | Not required |
| Product family | KW Street Performance V4 |
| Vehicle-specific development | Yes |
The specification above is confirmed by KW's G99 development information and the R44 Performance product listing.
What Warranty Do KW V4 Coilovers Have?
KW Automotive UK states that its suspension systems carry a two-year manufacturer warranty, with warranty coverage increasing to up to five years when the suspension is installed through a qualifying KW specialist dealer, subject to KW's warranty conditions.
Warranty terms can vary by territory, installation method and supplier, so the exact coverage applicable to a particular order should always be confirmed at the time of purchase and installation.
For a suspension system at this level, professional installation is strongly recommended regardless. Correct ride-height setting, damper configuration and a proper four-wheel alignment are fundamental to getting the intended result from the kit.
Frequently Asked Questions About KW V4 Coilovers For The G99 M5 Touring
Are KW V4 coilovers available for the BMW G99 M5 Touring?
Yes. KW offers a dedicated V4 coilover kit for the BMW G99 M5 Touring under part number 3A7200GL. It is a G99-specific application rather than simply the G90 M5 Saloon kit.
How much do KW V4 coilovers lower the BMW G99 M5 Touring?
The approved adjustment range is 10–30 mm at the front and 10–30 mm at the rear.
Are KW V4 coilovers adjustable?
Yes. The G99 V4 provides three-way damper adjustment: 13-click low-speed compression, 13-click high-speed compression and 16-click low-speed rebound adjustment.
Do KW V4 coilovers retain BMW adaptive damping?
No. The original electronically adjustable dampers are replaced. KW supplies cancellation modules with the kit for the factory electronic damper control system.
Will KW V4 coilovers make a G99 M5 Touring uncomfortable?
They do not need to. Because high-speed compression, low-speed compression and rebound can be adjusted independently, the V4 can be configured to provide increased chassis control while retaining useful compliance over poor road surfaces.
Are KW V4 coilovers suitable for normal road use?
Yes. The V4 forms part of KW's Street Performance range and is designed to combine road comfort with substantially greater damper control and adjustability.
What is the difference between KW V4 and lowering springs on a G99 M5 Touring?
Lowering springs mainly change ride height and spring characteristics while continuing to use the original dampers. KW V4 coilovers replace the springs and dampers, add adjustable ride height and introduce three-way independent damping adjustment.
Are KW V4 Coilovers Worth It On The BMW G99 M5 Touring?
For the right owner, the V4 addresses one of the most difficult aspects of modifying the latest M5 Touring: how to make a very fast, very heavy car feel more controlled without turning it into an unpleasant road car.
A simple lowering spring can change the stance. The KW V4 changes the way the suspension itself manages the G99's mass.
The ability to independently adjust the forces controlling body movement, sharp road inputs and suspension rebound is what separates this system from a conventional coilover kit. On a vehicle weighing more than 2.5 tonnes, that level of control is especially valuable.
Set up properly, the biggest transformation should not simply be how low the G99 sits. It should be the way the M5 Touring takes a set into a corner, responds to steering input, controls pitch under braking and settles after a change in direction.
For owners who still use their M5 Touring as an M5 Touring – commuting, travelling long distances and carrying passengers – but want considerably more control when the road opens up, the KW V4 is one of the most comprehensive suspension upgrades available for the G99 platform.
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