335i LSD Install Costs (Wavetrac / Quaife)

saint01 · 05-25-2010, 01:59 PM

I absolutely need to get an LSD installed on this car. Looking at the major two players...Wavetrac and Quaife.

Local Dinan shop quoted me 8.6 hours ($1000) for the install. That seems extremely high. I have had aftermarket LSD's installed on my Supra and my Z and each was around $400. Is it the fact that this is not a drop-in install that is costing this much time, or what? Just seem crazy high on time and price.

Thoughts?

scottp999 · 05-25-2010, 02:25 PM

4 to 4.5 hours for just a swap with a "complete final drive unit" which means not just the pumpkin but also a new insert nut and output flange shaft assembly.

If you are asking them to un-weld your ring gear, install the new gearing, then I could see them quoting 8.6 hours. There is no shortcut here, you either pay for the labor in the price of the final drive unit or you pay for it in the install costs if you want them to install the gearing in the diff you already have.

saint01 · 05-25-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottp999

4 to 4.5 hours for just a swap with a "complete final drive unit" which means not just the pumpkin but also a new insert nut and output flange shaft assembly.

If you are asking them to un-weld your ring gear, install the new gearing, then I could see them quoting 8.6 hours. There is no shortcut here, you either pay for the labor in the price of the final drive unit or you pay for it in the install costs if you want them to install the gearing in the diff you already have.

I haven't looked at the Quaife that closely yet, but I thought the Wavetrac was just a drop in. I talked to Wavetrac and they had be send them my unit and then they send me the completed pumpkin (FDU) to be reinserted. Maybe they were quoting the unwelding. That would make more sense.

scottp999 · 05-25-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saint01

I haven't looked at the Quaife that closely yet, but I thought the Wavetrac was just a drop in. I talked to Wavetrac and they had be send them my unit and then they send me the completed pumpkin (FDU) to be reinserted. Maybe they were quoting the unwelding. That would make more sense.

Yeah, you should see if it is a complete final drive unit or just the gears that you swap out. Makes a big differece.

Here is a complete final drive wavetrac unit from Harold at HP autowerks. $1995 + $1000 core charge you get back when you send him back your stock unit. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=3.46

For that is should be about a 4 hour install charge. Harold got my unit to my door step in 3 business days. Great experience.

ultimateendz · 05-25-2010, 02:46 PM

Talk to Harold at Hp Autoworks....i sent mine to him to install into a final drive unit...hes charging me around 500ish for install i believe and 800 for the final drive unit that will be completely refunded when i ship my old one back to him.

Bomis · 05-25-2010, 02:48 PM

here in sweden i paid 500$ for my wavetrac installation...took aprox 5 hours

stressdoc · 05-25-2010, 03:25 PM

Metric Mechanics is about the same price, that is where I got mine installed. There are no inexpensive options that I know of here in the STL-KC area.

If you have reason to drive up to Cleveland then Koala can do a great job for much less.

JDLM · 05-25-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Metric Mechanics is about the same price, that is where I got mine installed. There are no inexpensive options that I know of here in the STL-KC area.

If you have reason to drive up to Cleveland then Koala can do a great job for much less.

Where in KC did you look?

I can name about 2-3 competent shops in the area (well maybe 2)

GaryS · 05-25-2010, 03:46 PM

Dinan specifies 4.8 labor hours.

scottp999 · 05-25-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryS

Dinan specifies 4.8 labor hours.

Yeah, and that's a little high for their complete final drive unit. I got mine installed while I waited at a dinan authorized place and I made notes on the time:

9:10 am - Pulled car in and started work
10:40 am - old diff out, cover pulled, new unit ready to go in
12:25 pm - off lift install done, driving out of the bay for test drive
12:45 pm - test drive and packup of old parts complete, car sitting out front and key in hand.

Total 3 hours and 35 minutes.

YMMV depening on the techs experience level.

Former_Boosted_IS · 05-26-2010, 06:07 AM

3 hours most if you are doing this yourself and you get a final drive with the LSD already installed. I got my through VAC and just needed to swap the pumkin out. It is a simple job if you have access to a lift. Drop driveshaft, drop half shafts, un-bolt final drive and reverse.

thwgw24 · 05-26-2010, 06:20 AM

$713 after tax for my Wavetrac with bolt on gear ring.

Fapout · 05-26-2010, 09:30 AM

I'm just keeping my eye out for a totalled M3 so I can steal it's LSD.

stressdoc · 05-26-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fapout

I'm just keeping my eye out for a totalled M3 so I can steal it's LSD.

You will need to steal more than that, and find a shop that can shorten a piece of drive shaft. This is not a bolt in swap.
And putting one into a xi is another issue still.

stressdoc · 05-26-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDLM

Where in KC did you look?

I can name about 2-3 competent shops in the area (well maybe 2)

There is one shop in KC (Jim Blanton) that is competent to swap out the chunk and get the shims that I know of. And none that will do the complete job -- we are not talking about just swapping pumpkins -- for $500. If you know of shops that will, by all means break the news!

scottp999 · 05-26-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressdoc

You will need to steal more than that, and find a shop that can shorten a piece of drive shaft. This is not a bolt in swap.

+1 - more trouble than going wavetrac or quaife. (unless you have a machine shop and like to do that kind of project).

stressdoc · 05-26-2010, 10:03 AM

Installing a chunk is no simple job. For that matter, swapping the pumpkin is not all that easy either. Yes, you can do these jobs relatively quickly, but there are some risks. I would never trust a shop that did not have extensive experience, all the right tools, the very difficult to get shims, and the patience to get the backlash and other variables exactly right. This is why I would stick with one of a few shops in the country that specialize in this job.

Bakeme521 · 05-26-2010, 10:31 AM

It's all dependent what your build date is on how much its going to cost.
manuals up to 3/07 bolted
manuals after 3/07 welded
3/07 can go either way
As for automatics, I'm not sure, I researched and got info for the 6MT.

If you have a welded gear its going to cost a pretty penny, but if you don't, and you buy the wavetrac from **********s not needing the install kit you should be able to get the whole thing installed for a total price of about 1600.

http://www.**********s.com/WaveTrac-ATB-E90-E92-E82.htm

Fapout · 05-26-2010, 10:47 AM

Sometimes I forget I have an XI... damn. You guys are right. I knew drive shafts needed to be modified but I have no clue how it would work with an XI.

OM3G@ · 06-24-2010, 01:04 PM

Some clarification please, are FDU (I assume that's final drive untit) and "pumpkin" interchangeable terms? I've only hear the term pumpkin used to describe a torque converter for an auto tranny.

Moxie · 06-26-2010, 03:07 AM

There's info to be found on the Quaife @ birdsauto.com

They are by Heathrow.

They ship internationally & provided me the best quote. Send them an e-mail for a quote. Too bad you're not local for the install.

emwonk · 02-11-2011, 08:32 AM

Sorry to bring this back from the dead.

Any more experience with install costs? I'm hearing $1350 from a shop a couple of hours from St. Louis but one of the Wavetrac vendors in CA said about $800.

My car was built in 2006.

05-25-2010, 01:59 PM	#1
saint01 Registered 2 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: US iTrader: (0)	335i LSD Install Costs (Wavetrac / Quaife) I absolutely need to get an LSD installed on this car. Looking at the major two players...Wavetrac and Quaife. Local Dinan shop quoted me 8.6 hours ($1000) for the install. That seems extremely high. I have had aftermarket LSD's installed on my Supra and my Z and each was around $400. Is it the fact that this is not a drop-in install that is costing this much time, or what? Just seem crazy high on time and price. Thoughts?
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05-25-2010, 02:25 PM	#2
scottp999 Brigadier General 136 Rep 4,764 Posts Drives: 4runner SR5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 BMW 335 [9.00]	4 to 4.5 hours for just a swap with a "complete final drive unit" which means not just the pumpkin but also a new insert nut and output flange shaft assembly. If you are asking them to un-weld your ring gear, install the new gearing, then I could see them quoting 8.6 hours. There is no shortcut here, you either pay for the labor in the price of the final drive unit or you pay for it in the install costs if you want them to install the gearing in the diff you already have.
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05-25-2010, 02:46 PM	#5
ultimateendz Vengeance is mine, I shall repay 134 Rep 4,656 Posts Drives: X3, CTS-V coupe Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	Talk to Harold at Hp Autoworks....i sent mine to him to install into a final drive unit...hes charging me around 500ish for install i believe and 800 for the final drive unit that will be completely refunded when i ship my old one back to him. __________________ Project: Vengeance[ACM's King of domestics, STOCK:501whp 489wtq \| 2.9L whipple stock bottom end: 706whp 688wtq] Callies Compstar motor build:NEXT
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05-25-2010, 02:48 PM	#6
Bomis Captain 64 Rep 989 Posts Drives: BMW E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sweden iTrader: (1)	here in sweden i paid 500$ for my wavetrac installation...took aprox 5 hours __________________ EURO E92 M3 2008 6MT Interlagos ///*Fully Loaded!* Evolve-R ECU Flash/Gintani Sport Exhaust/MS Stg2 Intake Kit/H&R Springs/MS 18/15 mm spacers/Bmw Perf. Grills/Gloss Black side gills/LCI Tails/LUX V3's/RD license plate leds
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05-25-2010, 03:25 PM	#7
stressdoc Moderator 659 Rep 10,865 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Metric Mechanics is about the same price, that is where I got mine installed. There are no inexpensive options that I know of here in the STL-KC area. If you have reason to drive up to Cleveland then Koala can do a great job for much less. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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05-25-2010, 03:46 PM	#9
GaryS Colonel 39 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	Dinan specifies 4.8 labor hours.
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05-26-2010, 06:07 AM	#11
Former_Boosted_IS Major General 315 Rep 5,175 Posts Drives: 4 Wheels Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Planet Earth! iTrader: (15)	3 hours most if you are doing this yourself and you get a final drive with the LSD already installed. I got my through VAC and just needed to swap the pumkin out. It is a simple job if you have access to a lift. Drop driveshaft, drop half shafts, un-bolt final drive and reverse.
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05-26-2010, 06:20 AM	#12
thwgw24 Major 60 Rep 1,065 Posts Drives: RB PWRED E90 N54 6MT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA iTrader: (19) Garage List 07' E90 335i [0.00]	$713 after tax for my Wavetrac with bolt on gear ring. __________________ RB Turbo/Procede V5/Vishnu PWM Meth Injection Kit/Vishnu DCI/AR Catless DP/AE Performance Exhaust(Sold)/Helix FMIC/Forge DVs/Rixster Vent Boost Gauge/Wavetrac LSD/KW V3/ACT Street Clutch Kit
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05-26-2010, 09:30 AM	#13
Fapout Zwhore Sdrive35i 47 Rep 560 Posts Drives: FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FERGUSON, MO iTrader: (10)	I'm just keeping my eye out for a totalled M3 so I can steal it's LSD. __________________ FTW.
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05-26-2010, 10:03 AM	#17
stressdoc Moderator 659 Rep 10,865 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Installing a chunk is no simple job. For that matter, swapping the pumpkin is not all that easy either. Yes, you can do these jobs relatively quickly, but there are some risks. I would never trust a shop that did not have extensive experience, all the right tools, the very difficult to get shims, and the patience to get the backlash and other variables exactly right. This is why I would stick with one of a few shops in the country that specialize in this job. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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05-26-2010, 10:31 AM	#18
Bakeme521 Some say... 251 Rep 4,296 Posts Drives: Fresh Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Baton Rouge n NOLA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.24]	It's all dependent what your build date is on how much its going to cost. manuals up to 3/07 bolted manuals after 3/07 welded 3/07 can go either way As for automatics, I'm not sure, I researched and got info for the 6MT. If you have a welded gear its going to cost a pretty penny, but if you don't, and you buy the wavetrac from ********s not needing the install kit you should be able to get the whole thing installed for a total price of about 1600. http://www.********s.com/WaveTrac-ATB-E90-E92-E82.htm __________________ I have exhaust and an intake...
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05-26-2010, 10:47 AM	#19
Fapout Zwhore Sdrive35i 47 Rep 560 Posts Drives: FORD WINDSTAR MINIVAN Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FERGUSON, MO iTrader: (10)	Sometimes I forget I have an XI... damn. You guys are right. I knew drive shafts needed to be modified but I have no clue how it would work with an XI. __________________ FTW.
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06-24-2010, 01:04 PM	#20
OM3G@ Private 10 Rep 93 Posts Drives: '09 AW 335i sedan Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, IL iTrader: (0)	Some clarification please, are FDU (I assume that's final drive untit) and "pumpkin" interchangeable terms? I've only hear the term pumpkin used to describe a torque converter for an auto tranny. __________________ '09 AW e90 335i w/steering wheel, gas pedal, seatbelts, windshield, and much more!
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06-26-2010, 03:07 AM	#21
Moxie Lieutenant Colonel 69 Rep 1,891 Posts Drives: AW 328d Touring/SG 335d Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (12)	There's info to be found on the Quaife @ birdsauto.com They are by Heathrow. They ship internationally & provided me the best quote. Send them an e-mail for a quote. Too bad you're not local for the install.
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02-11-2011, 08:32 AM	#22
emwonk New Member 4 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	install costs Sorry to bring this back from the dead. Any more experience with install costs? I'm hearing $1350 from a shop a couple of hours from St. Louis but one of the Wavetrac vendors in CA said about $800. My car was built in 2006.
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