[k726]

2011 335is, welded diff.....

Anyone know of a place in Miami that can work with me on the weld?

Anyone know if I can replace it with an M3 diff?

[Bimmer This]

I think any LSD is a bank breaker. But, it's all worth it!

[DJKhan85]

The cheapest option for me turned out to be the Dinan LSD. It was still a wallet breaker but less than the rest.

Jury is still out on the improvement it provides. Makes it more dangerous in slick conditions until you get used to the increased tendency to oversteer.

[Bavarian E92]

Originally Posted by DJKhan85

The cheapest option for me turned out to be the Dinan LSD. It was still a wallet breaker but less than the rest.

Jury is still out on the improvement it provides. Makes it more dangerous in slick conditions until you get used to the increased tendency to oversteer.

Shouldn't it provide more traction in slick conditions?

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by DJKhan85

Jury is still out on the improvement it provides. Makes it more dangerous in slick conditions until you get used to the increased tendency to oversteer.

It is a huge improvement in almost any condition.

However, if you fear oversteer under wet conditions, I would advise you to book a (sports) driver's training in order to get to know your car better. I also do that regularly. Otherwise just leave the nanny controls on and you'll be fine.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[Bavarian E92]

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

It is a huge improvement in almost any condition.

However, if you fear oversteer under wet conditions, I would advise you to book a (sports) driver's training in order to get to know your car better. I also do that regularly. Otherwise just leave the nanny controls on and you'll be fine.

Alpina_B3_Lux

I figured traction control would kick in before any unwanted lateral movement would happen. DSC off completely is a whole other story

[DJKhan85]

I should correct what I said above. The car handles differently in slick conditions now. That's why I went out during the rain yesterday. I am not saying it is more dangerous for everyone. For the new uninitiated driver it is. I still have to get a feel for the way the car reacts during a turn. It is much more managable in a turn BUT the oversteer tendency comes on much much sooner(depending on throttle input). I found the best "mode" to drive in while getting used to this is DTC. Everything off will get you in trouble real fast.

I should also note that I specifically went out to a big empty parking lot in the rain to figure out precisely how the car reacts now. Better to learn it in an empty parking lot than on a public street.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by DJKhan85

I should correct what I said above. The car handles differently in slick conditions now. That's why I went out during the rain yesterday. I am not saying it is more dangerous for everyone. For the new uninitiated driver it is.

Once you get a bit more used to it you'll realise that it's actually easier to drive because it's much more predictable. With an LSD you can actually powersteer the car if you are so inclined, as any oversteer / drifting is much more linear due to both wheels having traction. In spirited driving or on a race track a RWD without LSD is a complete no-go because its reactions are almost completely unpredictable. And if for safety reasons you then leave the DSC completely on, you'll lose all your power in every corner, which is not much fun.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[dmurray14]

Originally Posted by DJKhan85

I should correct what I said above. The car handles differently in slick conditions now. That's why I went out during the rain yesterday. I am not saying it is more dangerous for everyone. For the new uninitiated driver it is. I still have to get a feel for the way the car reacts during a turn. It is much more managable in a turn BUT the oversteer tendency comes on much much sooner(depending on throttle input). I found the best "mode" to drive in while getting used to this is DTC. Everything off will get you in trouble real fast.

I should also note that I specifically went out to a big empty parking lot in the rain to figure out precisely how the car reacts now. Better to learn it in an empty parking lot than on a public street.

Good call on the parking lot. I always recommend people do that, especially in the snow, to get a feel for the car. Once you practice enough, it becomes muscle memory in the times when you actually need it.

I, like everyone else who commented, think you will find the LSD to be a big improvement once you're used to it. Whereas the open diff is more reluctant to break loose, it's not consistent as to when it does so. With the LSD, you have the consistency and control to power out of sticky situations - again, assuming you're familiar with how it handles.

Enjoy it!

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

Once you get a bit more used to it you'll realise that it's actually easier to drive because it's much more predictable. With an LSD you can actually powersteer the car if you are so inclined, as any oversteer / drifting is much more linear due to both wheels having traction. In spirited driving or on a race track a RWD without LSD is a complete no-go because its reactions are almost completely unpredictable. And if for safety reasons you then leave the DSC completely on, you'll lose all your power in every corner, which is not much fun.

Alpina_B3_Lux

+1

[k726]

Okay the dinan LSD is for bolt on applications. I need to work around the welded diff or replace completely. Can I swap in an M3 diff?

Thanks!
-Adrian

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by k726

Okay the dinan LSD is for bolt on applications. I need to work around the welded diff or replace completely. Can I swap in an M3 diff?

Thanks!
-Adrian

Replacing with an M3 diff is possible, but certainly the most time and cost consuming option.

Why don't you shoot Harold@HP Autowerks a message, he distributes Quaife and Wavetrac and can certainly help you out.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[creaminz]

+1 for Harold @ HP Auto, competitive pricing, and probably one of the best when it comes to this type of modification.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by k726

Okay the dinan LSD is for bolt on applications. I need to work around the welded diff or replace completely. Can I swap in an M3 diff?

Thanks!
-Adrian

What? I don't know for sure about 3-series, but Dinan has a LSD for 1-series with welded diff - same price, $2595.00.

[DJKhan85]

Originally Posted by k726

Okay the dinan LSD is for bolt on applications. I need to work around the welded diff or replace completely. Can I swap in an M3 diff?

Thanks!
-Adrian

I had a welded diff. Mine was a 2008 335.

[cstavaru]

Originally Posted by k726

Can I swap in an M3 diff?

Everyone would do it if it was possible, it is cheaper than any of the aftermarket options. But to do this, you need to modify the driveshaft...it's not easy at all but somebody on this forum managed to do it.

Basically, putting an M3 diff in a 335i is a non-option.

[Doug007]

What's the ballpark cost for the Dinan LSD installed? $2600 seems reasonable but installation might be $$$ at the dealer.

VAC motorsports will trade a welded diff for a Quaife for $3000. Install could be done by an indy shop but i'm not sure how much you would save

http://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac-...px?Thread=True

[Yankees 2010]

^^^ wow they are way over priced for the bolt on kit

[k726]

Thanks a lot Doug. Saving up some cash so I can just get this thing over with.

[Doug007]

^^ I'm with you on that. I've done a bit of research but am curious about what installed costs run.

[k726]

The install is the easy part for me. Ill just have one of my dealer mechanics do it!

[DJKhan85]

I got the dinan diff installed by the dealer for 2900. This was including labor, tax, loaner car and all the fixins of a dealer visit. Just ask your Dinan guy for a discount and he will drop the price 10 to 15 percent right off the bat. I could have gotten more but I needed 2 people to get the diff and I couldn't scrounge up another local person who wanted one.

I did get some quotes from local installers and they all said in the ballpark of 400-500 for installation. So technically I could have gotten my diff for 2600 installed if I had bought the dinan diff and had another shop install it for me.

[Nedim]

Why is it not standard for BMW to put LSD's in the car...