E30 Zone

Hi guys ive got myself a 318is with an open diff. Im getting frustrated with the inside wheel spinning up and the back end feeling inconsistent under power. I want an LSD. I have heard that the standard BMW LSD's have quite a low percentage lock. Does anybody know what it is? and how do you all rate the standard BMW LSD's, will they let me have my sideways fun?

my advice is weld it up.

i have a welded diff,

it does make all sorts of noises lol but is good to go sideways, the noise maybe because my car is totally stripped lol

my welder is 100%, damn site cheaper and a million times better

Im not sure what the LSD on my M42 is from.. but it goes sideways in first gear, non of my older open diff E30's would ever do that

I went out my way to buy a car with an LSD because the volvo 340 16V i had with a welded diff was horrid to drive unless it was going sideways...

If its an all out drifter weld that mofo up

StuBeeDoo wrote:Non-M BMW slippers are 25%. M ones are 40%.

Thought only Hartge did a 40% lock?

I've drifted with an open diff, LSD and a welded diff.

Open diff - Not great to drift but doable, very unpredictable.

LSD - A lot better, will go sideways in first. Can be controlable.

Welded diff - A hell of a lot better than LSD for drifting. Makes the car understeer if pushed and very very sketchy in the wet on a road.

welding it up is not an option for me to be honest. It is an everyday car and I think it will be more hassle than its worth and I want it to be saleable in the future. So it looks like standard BMW LSD for me. Anybody had any problems fitting from a small case to a medium case atall?

Thanks for the info guys

how rare / expensive are m diffs?

are they cheaper in e36 low ratio form?

im going to do an m52 conversion and want a good daily with sliding potential aswell, can i get away with a regular LSD or would it b better if i found an M one?

cheers

I have had 3 e30's, the first 2 had open diffs, and were no problem to get sideways, my current one has an LSD and is no problem going sideways! Stop messing around and put your foot down

Kemix wrote:I have had 3 e30's, the first 2 had open diffs, and were no problem to get sideways, my current one has an LSD and is no problem going sideways! Stop messing around and put your foot down

Concurred

Welded FTW

not that bad to drive, just make noises when turning tight at low speeds.

Great to drift!

What about fitting the rear with tyres that will give you less grip?

Small and medium cased diffs are interchangable.

i have a standard e30 325 m sport with a lsd and its very controlable and predictable when it starts sliding. i drive mine everyday and its perfect for the job! smooth to drive most of the time and when you decide to give it some round a corner you know what will happen. non lsd will be a little unpredictable, not knowing if the car will slide or just spin the wheel up.

Here we go again! Welded diffs on cars that are used on public roads are illegal, as I am certain that no insurance company will knowingly insure a car with one, and, if they are insuring it unknowingly, then your insurance is invalid.

Brianmoooore wrote:Here we go again! Welded diffs on cars that are used on public roads are illegal, as I am certain that no insurance company will knowingly insure a car with one, and, if they are insuring it unknowingly, then your insurance is invalid.

ahh i didnt know that. Well that just confirms no welded diff for me even more. Just need to find a cheapish LSD now. Thanx guys

Well that just confirms no welded diff for me even more. Just need to find a cheapish LSD now. Thanx guys

yeah thats the right choice real lsd all the way! last thing you want is to be going along the road/motorway and the welded diff sieses and locks up causing a huge crash! and as brian said they arnt for road use and also you will be changing tyres every 1000 or so miles!

StuBeeDoo wrote:Non-M BMW slippers are 25%. M ones are 40%.

rubbish

all 25% lock when new,

these days most are so fucking knackered from all the wanabe drif heros and 20 years of use they're about a 15% lock

to the OP

weld it

StuBeeDoo wrote:Non-M BMW slippers are 25%. M ones are 40%.

Wrong

Medium case 'Standard' and 'M' LSD's are the same, 25% lock. The variations are only in the ratios fitted.
Small case LSD's are also 25% lock but rate and more fragile

AFAIK Hartge offered a 40% LSD.



If you want to drift about a bit with a road car (especially a relatively low powered 318is) then a medium case 25% lock LSD will do the job fine. A 40% lock will improve traction and make it more controllable but mainly more fun.

i dont get this deal with welders being sketchy when pushing it or in the wet. whats sketchy is not being able to drive. ive had a welder for a year and a half now and not once has it ever caught me off guard and spun me out or made me understeer off the road. you wont even notice it over 10 miles and after few goes at parking you get used to it.

yeah_mick wrote: you wont even notice it over 10 miles and after few goes at parking you get used to it.

You wont notice it when parking but the rest of the car park will i work on a car with a welded diff and its a dog to drive. Also you still haven't answered weather you have told the insurance that your diff is welded!

If you want to drive a drift car on the road, give me a LSD (one that's been drifted to death is fine) and some folding and i'll put 4 clutch plates in and change the ramp angles to 30°. All the lock you'll ever need with a shed load more grip, better handling, less tyre wear and a valid insurance certificate...

and how much would you charge for this service if you dont mind me asking?

DHFiS wrote:What about fitting the rear with tyres that will give you less grip?.

and leaving your open diff - it's all to do with the way you initiate the 'loss of control' as the police will say. You're probably trying too hard just let the car go & put relatively little input into the whole ordeal, be patient, learn to read the car and its feedback - it'll click & you'll have the sideways thing wrapped around your little finger - not a lamp post for being over enthusiastic. Learn to walk before running!

My 3.91 is for sale give me a call - number pm'd..

I had a 3.91 ratio stock BMW LSD on my 320i



Proof it worked prefectly fine i think

Silverfang wrote:I had a 3.91 ratio stock BMW LSD on my 320i



Proof it worked prefectly fine i think

Love it!

Silverfang wrote:I had a 3.91 ratio stock BMW LSD on my 320i



Proof it worked prefectly fine i think

Nah, he's just getting lined up to park it... in style!

E30_Crazy wrote:Nah, he's just getting lined up to park it... in style!

now there's a man in the know...

Well... was in... Until Santa Pod broke my diff Wasn't even drifting!

e30-dk wrote:and how much would you charge for this service if you dont mind me asking?

PM on the way

Barx325i wrote:

DHFiS wrote:What about fitting the rear with tyres that will give you less grip?.

and leaving your open diff - it's all to do with the way you initiate the 'loss of control' as the police will say. You're probably trying too hard just let the car go & put relatively little input into the whole ordeal, be patient, learn to read the car and its feedback - it'll click & you'll have the sideways thing wrapped around your little finger - not a lamp post for being over enthusiastic. Learn to walk before running!

My 3.91 is for sale give me a call - number pm'd..

Best advice so far. When you get an LSD, it will be far more enjoyable. drifting in the rain at 2mph is pure joy!