Diff

[Thestig]

hi there, just new to the forum, just bought a 1990 325i SE, any idea on what diff it has on it, cos heard some people say it got a lsd and some say it has a normal one,
cheers le stig

[E30Mark]

LSD was an option on the SE model.

[Thestig]

cheers mate, is there anyway of knowin with out takin it to bits, cos sometimes it feels like its launchin off with both b ut then sometimes its doesnt, le stig

[Andy335Touring]

Find some where quiet to play and let rip in first gear........

Two black lines = LSD

One black line = open dif

or......

jack one wheel up, remove the hand brake and try to turn the wheel, if it's very hard to turn it's an LSD

or.....

Look for a metal tag under one of the bolts that hold the rear cover on the dif, if it's an LSD it will start with an S, the next three numbers are the dif ratio, like in this picture for an 3.64 ratio LSD dif

[Thestig]

cheers mate, will check it out moro! thanx again later le stig

[Brianmoooore]

LSD was an option on the SE model.

Sport and M3 where the only models with LSD as standard, IIRC, but it was a fairly cheap option on any model. Surprising there aren't many more around.

[OllieB]

Jack up both wheels and spin one by hand, if the other wheel spins the same way then it is locking up. If it spins backwards it is an open diff. Standing starts are not conclusive as open diffed cars will often spin both wheels if the surfaces are the same. Try and do a donut.....