Third-generation fortwo (453)
Code: W453, W454 (KW); 453 (Bilstein)
Good to know: KW's kit name reads "ForTwo (W453, W454)". Bilstein has two kits for the newer car, each marked 453.
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Smart ForTwo and ForFour Coilovers
Is your fortwo a 451 or a 453? The two fortwo generations overlap by a few model years, and KW and Bilstein both name the chassis code, so the code matters more than the year. We carry Smart ForTwo and ForFour coilovers from KW, Bilstein and Ksport, seven kits in all, and one of them is for the ForFour. BC Racing makes no kit for these cars.
Not sure if yours is a 451 or a 453? Call 1-800-460-9106.
451, 453 and ForFour
Smart ForTwo
Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.
Find your chassis code
Telling the fortwo generations apart
The chassis code tells you which one you have.
451
KW and Bilstein list it as 2008 to 2016.
453
It runs from 2014 to 2018. KW's kit name also says W454.
Overlapping years
A 2014 to 2016 car could be either one, so check the VIN.
BC Racing coilovers and the smart
BC makes no kit for the smart
BC Racing does not make a kit for the smart fortwo or ForFour. The kits on this page are from KW, Bilstein and Ksport. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.
KW and Bilstein kit types
BC makes nothing for the smart, so here is what the KW and Bilstein kit names tell you.
KW
KW makes a kit for each chassis code.
Bilstein
It has two kit types for each chassis, four kits in all.
Ksport
Ksport makes a kit for the early ForFour only.
Smart ForTwo and ForFour coilovers from three brands
These are all the smart car coilovers we carry. Call 1-800-460-9106 to compare.
A 2010 fortwo, a 2017 fortwo and a ForFour
2010 fortwo
This is a second-generation car.
Kits to look at: KW 2008-2014 ForTwo (all) (W451), either Bilstein 451 kit
2017 fortwo
This is a third-generation car.
Kits to look at: KW 2014-2017 ForTwo (W453, W454), either Bilstein 453 kit
2005 ForFour
One kit fits it.
Kits to look at: Ksport 2004-2006 ForFour
Every smart kit we carry
We list the 453 first, then the 451, then the ForFour.
Second-generation fortwo (451)
Code: W451 (KW); 451 (Bilstein)
Good to know: KW's kit name says "ForTwo (all) (W451)". Bilstein again has two kits marked 451. One ends at 2015 and the other at 2016.
The ForFour
Code: Not in the kit names
Good to know: Ksport makes the only ForFour kit we carry.
Smart chassis codes and years
| Group | Years | What changes the kit | BC Racing series |
|---|---|---|---|
| fortwo 453 | 2014 to 2018 | Brand and kit type | No BC kit |
| fortwo 451 | 2008 to 2016 | Brand and kit type | No BC kit |
| ForFour | 2004 to 2006 | One kit | No BC kit |
Before you buy: what smart fortwo owners run into
These are the problems smart fortwo owners report most, from owner forums, recalls and service bulletins, and what each one means for your coilovers.
Creaking front end from worn bushes
fortwo 451, 2008 to 2016
The smart owners club site says the 451 front lets water and salt into its rubber bushes, causing creaks and bangs, most often from the anti roll bar bushes. Owners on TrueDelta report replacing sway bar bushes and front lower arms for the same noises. Coilovers will not cure a creak from tired bushes.
Before you install: Check the anti roll bar and lower arm bushes while the front is apart, and replace any that are cracked or noisy.
De Dion rear, fixed camber and toe
fortwo 451, 2008 to 2016
Edmunds notes the fortwo's De Dion rear axle uses one pivot and two lateral links, so rear camber and toe are fixed. A bushing maker says the main beam bush was only sold with the whole beam. There is no rear camber or toe to set, but a worn beam bush still lets it move.
Before you install: Inspect the rear beam mount bush before the install, and expect the alignment to focus on the front.
Smart fortwo history
In the US from January 2008
A December 4, 2007 release from New York, published by The Auto Channel, announced that "the 'smart fortwo' debuts in the United States in January, 2008."
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2008US launchThe 451 kits on this page start in 2008, the year the fortwo came to the US.
451 or 453 and other smart questions
How do I know if my fortwo is a 451 or a 453?
KW and Bilstein call the 2008 to 2016 car the 451 and the 2014 to 2018 car the 453. The years overlap, so read us your VIN and we will tell you which one you have.
Bilstein makes two kit types for each chassis. How do I choose?
Tell us how you drive the car and we will walk through both with you.
Does BC make anything for the smart?
Not that we carry. KW, Bilstein and Ksport make the kits for it.
What does "W453, W454" mean in KW's kit name?
That is how KW names the kit. Read us the VIN and we will confirm the kit for your car.
Is the ForFour kit for the later ForFour?
No. Ksport's kit covers 2004 to 2006 only.
My fortwo is older than 2008. Is there a kit?
The Smart ForTwo coilovers we carry start at 2008, but call us and we will check.
Other small cars
Coilover Kits by CarEvery car page.Fiat 500Another small car.MINI CooperThe small hatch.SuzukiSwift and Cappuccino.How to install coiloversStep-by-step install help.
Comfort and Stance on a Daily Driver: Setting Up Coilovers for BothA comfortable drop on a Smart ForTwo you drive every day.
How to Set Ride Height on CoiloversMeasure and set the drop on your Smart ForTwo.
After You Lower It: Alignment Timing, Driver-Assist Calibration and Headlight AimAlignment, driver-assist and headlight checks once the Smart ForTwo is lower.
Tell us if it is a 451 or a 453, and we will match the right Smart ForTwo coilover kit to your car
Weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern.