So I just got word from the shop that is installing these that the KW's did not come with top mounts, which led them to disassemble the OEM shocks so that they can remove the tops.
This added a few extra hours of work, and to be honest here I am shocked that such a high priced item would be missing this piece.

Did anyone else have this problem?

 

You should have known that you need the oem top hats before you bought the KW's.

 

damn, that was a first. I've lowered 5 cars and never had this mixup

 

yeah unfortunately they require use of the OEM top hats. Going to be installing a set myself in the near future.

 

Does anyone know if the only way to remove them is to cut them off? Sounds like the shop did it some other way (I hope)

 

Yah,.. your shop should've looked at the instructions,... or YouTube! I installed them myself with the laptop on YouTube in the Garage.

 

KWv3 for every car requires the use of stock top hats.. this is to ensure OEM quality with improved driving feel.

 

Can I reuse the hats that were put on the V3s on the OEM shocks which they were taken off from? Would that require welding?

 

You will be able to reuse the rear top hats, but not the front. The front top hats require a modification to work on the KW's.

 

yeah, all kw v3's are like that due to some safety issue in europe being different then the US.

 

So does that mean if I want to go back to stock I need to purchase new front OEM shocks?

 

That is correct! You will need new top hats for the front.

 

That moment when you realize perhaps you pulled the trigger a bit too soon.

 

Why modify the suspension at all? The car is setup perfect from the factory.

 

I don't think you've ridden on KW's before then! I couldn't stand the ride before