M Performance LSD in the M240

wdc330i · 10-13-2017, 10:50 AM

This is for Josh:

After living with this change for the last 300-plus miles, I have to say the improvement is stunning. The car handles seemingly better in every way. It is a joy to drive now on any kind of road and at any speed. It feels more competent, capable, and powerful. Driving straight feels more planted and composed, and any kind of wheel-turning road is a delight.

BMW should make this a factory-install option on every RWD car it builds.
Having installed this, I can't see letting go of this car for anything but another, better LSD-equipped car. But I'm hard pressed to imagine a car with a better combination of characteristics (except for a manual version of this car and/or an M2 convertible, which BMW doesn't make, of course.)

I'd be interested to hear Rumatt's thoughts about the E46 now-equipped with an LSD...

Jeff_DML · 10-13-2017, 11:06 AM

yeah it would be nice if BMW offered a LSD upgrade option for a reasonable price like I think they did with the E30s. But 99% of their current clientele do not care and are fine with brake based psuedo lsd so I do not see it happening.

Josh (PA) · 10-13-2017, 11:07 AM

$$$$ As I browse over to BMW accessories website to price it out and get an install quote from my indie.

Thanks for the write-up. I'm not surprised it is a big improvement. I'll need to look at it hard.

Edit: I don't see one for my car in the M-Performance catalog.

wdc330i · 10-13-2017, 12:07 PM

Ugh. Yeah, I'm not sure I'd foot a huge bill to do it on an older car or one that I didn't expect to keep for the long haul. But maybe Rumatt has some arguments in favor.

Josh (PA) · 10-13-2017, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Ugh. Yeah, I'm not sure I'd foot a huge bill to do it on an older car or one that I didn't expect to keep for the long haul. But maybe Rumatt has some arguments in favor.

That's the nice thing with the 1er. Nothing has given me a 'bug' to swap it for something different. It's just about to turn 80k miles, but I expect to keep it for at least another 3 yrs and 50k miles so I'd get my moneys worth on a new pumpkin.

*Plaz* · 10-13-2017, 01:04 PM

I wonder if that's the same diff as the one in my car.

EDIT: Nope, yours is 33108659987, mine is 33122283321

equ · 10-13-2017, 04:03 PM

I love that finally I have some cars with diffs, the m3 and the boxster. I'd like one on the f10 535i, but I don't think there is one for manual cars. At a reasonable cost..

bren · 10-13-2017, 05:56 PM

Yes, a real diff is absolutely necessary. It's really dumb that they are so hard to come by. That brake bias crap isn't even close.

John V · 10-13-2017, 09:32 PM

The importance of an LSD increases as general chassis competence decreases. On FWD stuff as on BMWs, an LSD is absolutely essential. On Porsches, Lotuses, etc it's sort of a "meh" for me and for street use the LSD can cause more problems than it solves, depending on the type.

wdc330i · 10-13-2017, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

The importance of an LSD increases as general chassis competence decreases. On FWD stuff as on BMWs, an LSD is absolutely essential. On Porsches, Lotuses, etc it's sort of a "meh" for me and for street use the LSD can cause more problems than it solves, depending on the type.

Agreed. The Boxster doesn’t feel at all like it needs one. That said, I’ve never driven a Boxster with PTV.

10-13-2017, 10:50 AM	#1
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,282	M Performance LSD in the M240 This is for Josh: After living with this change for the last 300-plus miles, I have to say the improvement is stunning. The car handles seemingly better in every way. It is a joy to drive now on any kind of road and at any speed. It feels more competent, capable, and powerful. Driving straight feels more planted and composed, and any kind of wheel-turning road is a delight. BMW should make this a factory-install option on every RWD car it builds. Having installed this, I can't see letting go of this car for anything but another, better LSD-equipped car. But I'm hard pressed to imagine a car with a better combination of characteristics (except for a manual version of this car and/or an M2 convertible, which BMW doesn't make, of course.) I'd be interested to hear Rumatt's thoughts about the E46 now-equipped with an LSD...

10-13-2017, 11:07 AM	#3
Josh (PA) Hello. Join Date: Mar 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 5,528	$$$$ As I browse over to BMW accessories website to price it out and get an install quote from my indie. Thanks for the write-up. I'm not surprised it is a big improvement. I'll need to look at it hard. Edit: I don't see one for my car in the M-Performance catalog. __________________ Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3

10-13-2017, 01:04 PM	#6
Plaz ••••••• Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M Location: Churzee Posts: 17,741	I wonder if that's the same diff as the one in my car. EDIT: Nope, yours is 33108659987, mine is 33122283321 __________________ 2011 1M

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10-13-2017, 11:06 AM	#2
Jeff_DML Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI Location: San Diego Posts: 8,560	yeah it would be nice if BMW offered a LSD upgrade option for a reasonable price like I think they did with the E30s. But 99% of their current clientele do not care and are fine with brake based psuedo lsd so I do not see it happening.

10-13-2017, 12:07 PM	#4
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,282	Ugh. Yeah, I'm not sure I'd foot a huge bill to do it on an older car or one that I didn't expect to keep for the long haul. But maybe Rumatt has some arguments in favor.

10-13-2017, 04:03 PM	#7
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,583	I love that finally I have some cars with diffs, the m3 and the boxster. I'd like one on the f10 535i, but I don't think there is one for manual cars. At a reasonable cost..

10-13-2017, 05:56 PM	#8
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	Yes, a real diff is absolutely necessary. It's really dumb that they are so hard to come by. That brake bias crap isn't even close.

10-13-2017, 09:32 PM	#9
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	The importance of an LSD increases as general chassis competence decreases. On FWD stuff as on BMWs, an LSD is absolutely essential. On Porsches, Lotuses, etc it's sort of a "meh" for me and for street use the LSD can cause more problems than it solves, depending on the type.