[Dark_Knight_335]

Need opinions- worth the bang for the buck? What exactly would it do in terms of drivability? Please share thoughts and experiences. Thank you!

[fasteddie222]

Yeah I have been thinking for an LSD for my car as well. I would like to know from experiences how well does it work and if it causes any problems.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Yea a little scary since it is a pretty major component on the car- but seems pretty damn good for putting the power down

[Dark_Knight_335]

Here Eddie, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIGvhvOhLHU

[BMW_Belgier]

Reading all those good reviews, i think a LSD would be a very good upgrade...

I'm Xdrive so i already have traction all day long

[Dark_Knight_335]

Hey brother how's it going?
Yeah something like X-Drive, but not the same...?

[fasteddie222]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Here Eddie, check this out:

Thanks I wonder if an oem m3 differential can be used.

[CombatNinja]

It is a fantastic upgrade but not one that is noticeable in "normal" everyday driving. If you don't track the car or really tear it up on backroads, I wouldn't bother spending upwards of $2000 for one.

[CombatNinja]

FWIW, I had one in my 328 wagon but have not yet taken the plunge on the 335.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

It is a fantastic upgrade but not one that is noticeable in "normal" everyday driving. If you don't track the car or really tear it up on backroads, I wouldn't bother spending upwards of $2000 for one.

I thought as much. Thanks bro.

[CombatNinja]

Don't get me wrong, it is a fantastic upgrade but one that is of questionable value in NYC. I thought your car was leased, no?

[Dark_Knight_335]

Nope, it's mine brother. Good point about utilization (or lack thereof) in the gridlocked tri state

[WildBee659]

I have thought about a LSD but like CombatNinja said, only if you drive it hard. It does help put power to the ground having both rear wheels digging in, it helps a lot. My SuperBee came with a open differencial and once I up the power, one wheel spins sucked. I installed a Quaife LSD and problem solved.

So far I haven't had any issues with the 335i but I'm sure once I up the HP, I may have to get one. It is an expensive mod. Let us know if you do it.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Well I haven't dynoed, but I am running DINAN stage III with upgraded oil cooler and intercooler- I'm sure I'm putting a decent amount more than stock down. That is why I was considering it- I can light em up with little effort, no lie
A nice side effect would be increased traction, no? ..and more even tire wear

[WildBee659]

I'm sure you're putting out some nice power and the LSD won't hurt. It will help with hole shots and also powering out through the curves, IMHO. Even tire wear would be a plus, the right tire sure wears out faster.LOL

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by WildBee659

I'm sure you're putting out some nice power and the LSD won't hurt. It will help with hole shots and also powering out through the curves, IMHO. Even tire wear would be a plus, the right tire sure wears out faster.LOL

Oh God dude, tell me about it. Well, it definitely won't be for awhile. We'll see. There is also long term maintainence to look at (I believe a LSD is more expensive to maintain / replace than an OD).

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Well I haven't dynoed, but I am running DINAN stage III with upgraded oil cooler and intercooler- I'm sure I'm putting a decent amount more than stock down. That is why I was considering it- I can light em up with little effort, no lie
A nice side effect would be increased traction, no? ..and more even tire wear

Dinan Stage 3 and an LSD... Have you done/considered any other suspension/brake work?

Or, perhaps an E93 M3?

As always very nice 335i.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by riM3

Dinan Stage 3 and an LSD... Have you done/considered any other suspension/brake work?

Or, perhaps an E93 M3?

As always very nice 335i.

Thanks brother- M3 wasn't in my plan- just too much upkeep long term IMO.
Suspension wasn't an option because of the vert option

I do have Dinan bushings and monoball lower control arms though.

I guess I'll just leave well enough alone for now.

[Initial G]

Hello Dark_Knight_335,

I thought I'd chime in here because I just had a Wavetrac LSD installed onto my 2011 335i recently. It's not an inexpensive mod - it costs around $1200-$1300 for the Wavetrac LSD unit (not the assembled pumpkin) and the shops will charge around $700 for the LSD install into your stock pumpkin and R+R of it. So total of ~$1900-2000 although you may be able to cut a deal on the labor to bring the total down to around $1700 or so. The recommendations I found in my research said that for my needs, 95% street/5% track, that a Wavetrac or Quaife helical LSD would be a good fit.

I kept my stock diff bushings as my car is mostly a street car with occasional track sessions and I didn't want the potential of increased NVH from urethane or delrin diff bushings. I also have stock power with not even a tune (only a CP and drop in filter).

So why did I go through the time and expense of getting an LSD? Well the last track event I went to, I had to turn off the electronic nannies, esp. the e-diff, as it kept cutting in and was overheating my rear brakes. With no DTC/DSC, I had to be very careful with the throttle to keep the rear inside wheel on the edge of traction and not spin it or risk having the rear end get unsettled at speed. I know there are some workarounds to keep the throttle pedal above that point but the main issue was that I wasn't able to take advantage of putting the full power down to the pavement and going through turns was an exercise in restraint and more work than fun.

And I have only have stock power; I can't imagine what it would be like with a modded engine. So if you track your car at all, plan to in the future or hit the go pedal on the street and spin the inside rear tire having the traction control blinking, highly consider getting an LSD. From what you said earlier in the thread, you do often feel the one wheel spinning under power.

I haven't had the opportunity to take the car on the track yet and push it hard but even in lower speed street driving, I can feel/hear the LSD at work especially powering out of sharp low speed turns. As the others have said who got an LSD, it makes a night and day difference in terms of putting power down to the pavement.

Regarding maintenance, the gear/helical based LSDs like Wavetrac and Quaife only need an occasional diff fluid change (in fact these use the same fluids as the stock open diff). Of course, if you ever had to replace it, it would be expensive but from all the research I did, these type of LSDs should last the life of the car and beyond. And the Wavetrac has a limited lifetime warranty just in case plus it has the feature of still doing some torque transfer even in a no load situation i.e. wheel lifted off the ground when going up a sharp parking lot driveway entrance.

Hope this helps.

[Dozhdbog]

Thanks for that detailed explanation, intitial G. That really helps me determine what my next mod will be.

[Dozhdbog]

Or... maybe I'll just leave well enough alone for a couple years and buy a new M3.

As it is, I've invested enough in my car to have just purchased an M3 in the first place.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by Initial G

Hello Dark_Knight_335,

I thought I'd chime in here because I just had a Wavetrac LSD installed onto my 2011 335i recently. It's not an inexpensive mod - it costs around $1200-$1300 for the Wavetrac LSD unit (not the assembled pumpkin) and the shops will charge around $700 for the LSD install into your stock pumpkin and R+R of it. So total of ~$1900-2000 although you may be able to cut a deal on the labor to bring the total down to around $1700 or so. The recommendations I found in my research said that for my needs, 95% street/5% track, that a Wavetrac or Quaife helical LSD would be a good fit.

I kept my stock diff bushings as my car is mostly a street car with occasional track sessions and I didn't want the potential of increased NVH from urethane or delrin diff bushings. I also have stock power with not even a tune (only a CP and drop in filter).

So why did I go through the time and expense of getting an LSD? Well the last track event I went to, I had to turn off the electronic nannies, esp. the e-diff, as it kept cutting in and was overheating my rear brakes. With no DTC/DSC, I had to be very careful with the throttle to keep the rear inside wheel on the edge of traction and not spin it or risk having the rear end get unsettled at speed. I know there are some workarounds to keep the throttle pedal above that point but the main issue was that I wasn't able to take advantage of putting the full power down to the pavement and going through turns was an exercise in restraint and more work than fun.

And I have only have stock power; I can't imagine what it would be like with a modded engine. So if you track your car at all, plan to in the future or hit the go pedal on the street and spin the inside rear tire having the traction control blinking, highly consider getting an LSD. From what you said earlier in the thread, you do often feel the one wheel spinning under power.

I haven't had the opportunity to take the car on the track yet and push it hard but even in lower speed street driving, I can feel/hear the LSD at work especially powering out of sharp low speed turns. As the others have said who got an LSD, it makes a night and day difference in terms of putting power down to the pavement.

Regarding maintenance, the gear/helical based LSDs like Wavetrac and Quaife only need an occasional diff fluid change (in fact these use the same fluids as the stock open diff). Of course, if you ever had to replace it, it would be expensive but from all the research I did, these type of LSDs should last the life of the car and beyond. And the Wavetrac has a limited lifetime warranty just in case plus it has the feature of still doing some torque transfer even in a no load situation i.e. wheel lifted off the ground when going up a sharp parking lot driveway entrance.

Hope this helps.

Incredible and much appreciated help here G. This is making it a real possibility for me. Warranty for the Dinan LSD would be 4 years matching the BMW factory warranty- serviceable by any BMW dealer.
I'm waiting on this new Dinan love however first- if they deliver on this 400 to the wheels wet dream I'll pull the trigger.