318is LSD queries......

[Stifla]

Hi all, im new to the forums so forgive me for being naive....

Ive just bought a white e30 318is and i love it to bits,im really impressed with it.
A friend of mine who is a regular here used to own one of these which impressed me ebough to want one, it had the usual things like recaros front spoiler etc but it also had an lsd.
Are lsd's standard on these or was it an option?
I had a play in mine earlier in a wet car park to try and get a feel for it but the back end took some persuading to step out which makes me think mine hasnt got one.
Ive done a search on here but with no luck,any ideas?

Cheers!

[Simon]

Sounds like you haven't got one I'm afraid.

They were optional on the 318is unfortunately, they should have been standard though.

Best way to have a look is to get the rear end off the floor, and spin a wheel, if they both turn the same way it's an LSD, if the other spins in the opposite direction it's an open diff.
There's also a tag on the diff which will give a ratio, and LSD's are prefixed with the letter S.

[Stifla]

Ok cheers for that, ill have a look when i get chance.
Shame as i was looking forward to some easy sideways action, and ive been told lsd's are a bit hard to come by or stupidly expensive.....

[Cava]

If your still not sure you can ask your local BMW dealer (the parts departments are usually good for this) for a factory spec printout on your car - just give them your reg or chassis number. Got them for my cars and they are useful to find out what they came out of the factory with.

[billgatese30]

like simon said if you lift up the rear of the car (so both wheels are off the floor) then spin them, they should turn the same way.

if you only lift one wheel off the floor and try to turn them, it should lock if there an LSD there, if it just spins, then theres not one there

[m-dtech]

one for the "Technical Section"

[Stifla]

Just a thought, do they slacken or wear over time?
My is has 149 thou on the clock so i wondered if it just needs an overhaul or not?
Its been serviced all its life but ot all at bmw garages.

[Lordschleife]

Probably wishfull thinking
Hardly any had an LSD, the small case 4.10 ratio ones are rare as fook

[astondg]

They do wear out with use, mine was worn out when I got it, but like Lordschleife said it is probably that you don't have one. Can you see the tag on it? I think even when mine was worn out both wheel still spun the same way when I lifted the back up and turned one.

Aston