E30 Zone

can somebody explain in lame mans language the difference and advantages , i need to know how bad a non lsd is and how i can benefit from a lsd .anyone using a non lsd ?

thanks

LSDs are considered old tech now, welding diffs is "de rigueur" now

But if you want to know:

An LSD will lock the rear axle if one wheel loses traction, making both wheels turn at the same rate. So if you were rounding a hairpin bend and driving with vigour, an open diff would have the tendency to want to spin the inside wheel, an LSD would prevent this allowing the power to be equally divided between both rear wheels, they would behave as if they where joined by a solid axle.

This is a very simplified expaination.

It will also make rudeboi doughnut action easier to perform sadly.

I used an open diff on my S50 conversion for moving the car around before I fitted the LSD. Only drove it up and down the road a couple times with the open diff. You won't notice any real difference if you drive like a Granny, but as soon as you try to use the S50 power you will just be spinning one wheel.

i just found out the car has a 3.73 non lsd on it and im wondering what the best for a b32 will be i almost spun it it the wet one day and then it was a poorly made b30! can somebody recommend a diff pls i need it to have high top end too and not rev high all the time the car will never see a track only road , just don't wan't to be racing ford hatchbacks so i need it to move (respect to the rs) of course .

Depends on the gearbox you have... M3 5spd will need around a 3.15 ratio to be good on road. If its the 6spd, anything from a 3.64 to 3.91 would be fine.


You will still be able to spin the car just as easily with an LSD fitted, it will just make the spin easier to catch.

thanks 3.15 it is then . what sort of money ? anybody got one priced well ?

You're running at 3.73 on an E36 M3 5spd box?? Bet that accelerates well

With the 5spd, you could run a 2.93 (from an E28), a 3.25 from an E30 M3 or the 3.15 from a Z3M. Of those 3, the 3.25 will give the quickest acceleration (and the same ratio as the E36 M3) and the 2.93 will lower the revs at speed. I used the Z3M 3.15 as it seemed a good compromise.

You'll be looking at around £400 for the E30 M3 or Z3M diff, maybe a little more now. The E28 diff might be hard to find and unless you're lucky and find a 2.93 LSD, you can build one using the LSD part from any medium case E30 LSD.

it accelerates like mad till 130 then no puff , the overtakes are nuts though , no good on the motorway too loud and people stare , making one feel like a twit lol

any ideas of who can build me one from the site here ?

Building one could cost just as much as buying a Z3M diff, once you have found a 2.93 and a sacrificial LSD. There is a member on here who can do them, but I can't remember his name, I think its Gareth but could have mixed up members names.

thanks you are quite helpful , i hate it when it runs out of puff and yet it still has lots to give ! i will never forget a volvo t5 wagon that drove away from me on the m54 ! From 0 to 100 it had no chance but would pull away in time !

Yes it is Gareth on here who rebuilds diffs, I'm sure I saw him posting today.

Some M3s came with a 3.15 too.

It is Gareth that builds LSD's

Ok ta if gareth is about give me a shout please :}