[I335]

I've read a lot about the advantages of having an LSD for our cars but it seems to me that if you don't track the car you wouldn't realize the benefits nearly as much. Just how hard must the car be pushed to feel the virtues of an LSD on the street? Can you feel it all the time or only when you're pushing it? Care to share your experience from the purely street perspective?

[oc_bimmer]

you feel it every time you corner or accelerate (unless you drive like a granny

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by oc_bimmer

you feel it every time you corner or accelerate (unless you drive like a granny

Agree. You feel both wheels pushing instead of DTC clamping down the brake on one wheel to stop slipping. DTC intervention is nearly gone unless you throw it sideways.

The car accelerates faster, but is also more predictable than the open diff. I consider it a safety mod as well as better performance.

[flip4335]

Originally Posted by scottp999

The car accelerates faster, but is also more predictable than the open diff. I consider it a safety mod as well as better performance.

+1000

I drive everyday with the nanny controls off, so I never wear out my brakes. I really enjoy the way the car drives through the corners and sweepers without the incessant blinking on the dash telling me that I overreached. That's not to say that I drive it like I stole it every time I am behind the wheel, but that the capability is there whenever you have a need for it. Especially in the rain or snow. Yes, I have driven in the snow and let me tell you, there is nothing as refreshing as constant traction when plowing through a snow bank, or fishtailing through a deep puddle (before LSD).

Besides, the tremendous torque that our cars put out almost requires one to have an LSD to ensure that the full power of the car is transferred to the pavement.

I drive with utter and complete confidence knowing that my LSD will help me through any situation.

In fact, I am going to go out now to have some fun, because this thread just got me all pumped up to do some errands! LOL!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Originally Posted by I335

I've read a lot about the advantages of having an LSD for our cars but it seems to me that if you don't track the car you wouldn't realize the benefits nearly as much. Just how hard must the car be pushed to feel the virtues of an LSD on the street? Can you feel it all the time or only when you're pushing it? Care to share your experience from the purely street perspective?

My LSD should be installed this Friday. I'll let you know what I think then.

[DJKhan85]

Originally Posted by I335

I've read a lot about the advantages of having an LSD for our cars but it seems to me that if you don't track the car you wouldn't realize the benefits nearly as much. Just how hard must the car be pushed to feel the virtues of an LSD on the street? Can you feel it all the time or only when you're pushing it? Care to share your experience from the purely street perspective?

I have to say we think alike. I was starting to price out my next mod being a LSD. I think I'm going to go with the dinan diff since it works out the same as getting a diffsonline diff installed at Bavarian Performance group or going with Turner(who just goes through diffsonline). Get ready to drop 3k or near that due to the welded gear ring . Let me know if you find another place that does it cheaper.

[BoostLover99]

+1

You'll definitely notice the difference when power goes to the ground rather than into the brakes (via DTC).

Mega difference if traction is reduced by rain, sand, gravel, etc.

Have someone with an Evo or STi take you for a demo/hell ride - you won't like the comfort coming from a 335i/335xi but you'll see what grip is truly possible with good LSDs.

[Eyeman]

I335, I was shocked at the difference an LSD made. My car is heavily modded but I installed my LSD a few months before recently installing a tune (Procede). This past winter my untuned car a few times basically sat still burning my cold, worn tires, one at a time, while fighting traction control. I installed new tires and an LSD about the same time. The warmer weather helped, but funny enough after installing the LSD and new tires, I went a few months without my traction control light ever coming on. For sure I was spinning tires at times but with new tires and the LSD I never broke traction enough to kick in traction control. I gradually tried harder and harder but I was amazed that I never had a substantial traction control kick in with my untuned car for nearly 3 months!

I went to Procede recently. My traction control light kicked in the first time I drove the car, and I really wasn't being that aggressive. I can now break my tires loose pretty much anytime I floor it in 3rd gear or lower. But even now traction control doesn't go crazy or shut me down like it did before without a tune and mainly before the LSD. I can only imagine how bad it would be without my LSD. An LSD is definitely needed on our cars, especially if you have a tuned car.

[I335]

Thanks guys - really appreciate your insight. So let me add just a bit to the equation here and let me know if that changes anything...

I certainly don't drive like a granny but I also don't drive aggressively very often at all. As such, I almost never see the traction control light with my style of driving as it is unless the roads are wet and even then I don't see it that often. My level spirited driving is probably a notch or two below yours if you guys were seeing the light all the time. I certainly have driven hard enough a few times to set it off but that's not the norm for me. That should give you a fairly decent idea of my driving style (which I still consider fairly aggressive for a 50 yr old guy). So given that, will I still feel the difference enough to appreciate the expense? Thanks again, men!

Oh, forgot to ask, what do you guys think about changing the gearing while I'm at it. I'm thinking if I did that I'd get more acceleration with the same input on the gas pedal and that I'd probably enjoy, but I don't know if I'd enjoy that gearing on the highway. The guys as BPG told me it would pretty much be like driving on the highway in 5th gear...

[scottp999]

You are 6mt? I like the stock 3.08 gearing. I could not see needing torque multiplication from the 400+wtq it is at now. My suggestion is go 3.46 only if you are really into drag racing, not just the occasional friendly run.

[DJKhan85]

I thought long about changing the gearing to 3.46 and finally realized that it would just mean that we would be leaving our power band that much quicker. 1st and 2nd are already gone in a flash and only gets worse as you get more and more powerful. I can't imagine nailing 1st with a 3.46 rear end. I wouldn't be able to shift fast enough.

[flip4335]

Originally Posted by I335

Thanks guys - really appreciate your insight. So let me add just a bit to the equation here and let me know if that changes anything...

I certainly don't drive like a granny but I also don't drive aggressively very often at all. As such, I almost never see the traction control light with my style of driving as it is unless the roads are wet and even then I don't see it that often. My level spirited driving is probably a notch or two below yours if you guys were seeing the light all the time. I certainly have driven hard enough a few times to set it off but that's not the norm for me. That should give you a fairly decent idea of my driving style (which I still consider fairly aggressive for a 50 yr old guy). So given that, will I still feel the difference enough to appreciate the expense? Thanks again, men!

Oh, forgot to ask, what do you guys think about changing the gearing while I'm at it. I'm thinking if I did that I'd get more acceleration with the same input on the gas pedal and that I'd probably enjoy, but I don't know if I'd enjoy that gearing on the highway. The guys as BPG told me it would pretty much be like driving on the highway in 5th gear...

I don't want to give you the impression that I drive erratically, always pushing the vehicle to the limit.

I drive 99 percent of the time like any normal guy with a powerful car. I respect the power under the hood, but I also like to have fun once in awhile.

With that said, I REALLY, REALLY appreciate the enhanced capabilities that the LSD provides. Some people spend $2K on wheels; I spent that money on my LSD, first (bolted diff, innards swapped).

Safety was my first reason for the Quaife diff, with performance enhancement a by-product of the mod. I especially enjoy the performance on wet pavement or gravel. You will not regret the choice, should you decide to pull the trigger.

I would not recommend a higher gearing on your car, since you probably won't track or take the car to the drag strip. The only mod I made, besides the blacklines, was the Quaife, and I am totally satisfied with the existing power in its current state.

[I335]

Yes, my car is a 6mt and no, I don't plan on doing any tracking. I just like a powerful car that drives well. So it sounds to me that more aggressive gearing is not needed... And thanks again for the additional insight - very much appreciated.