Cheapest way to have fun.. Welded diff?

[flick-it]

I'm new to this BMW and rwd thing. I rally a front wheel drive most weekends but fancy trying my hand at rwd. I will only be using the car for auto solo's and autotest etc for now do wondering what the cheapest way to get it handling and mainly drifting better to see if I like it.

The car is insured and on the road as a spare so wondering if anyone has any experience with a welded diff? Obviously it will slide better but what will it be like for general driving? Dangerous? I have 2 325i diff's and housing as I still have the four door so could always put it back to standard.

What is the best value for money suspention? It doesn't have to be the best as its abit of a cheap project for now to see how it goes.

Any other advise or info people have i'd be very interested. Cheers

[jmc330i]

Lots of people with experience of welded diffs, but not many that will admit it on this forum.

I've recently tried one on my short oval racecar, wouldn't want one on the road personally. Try one of the drift forums, you will get more relevant answers to your question about welded diffs than you will on here.

[rich318i]

dont go there they are not nice. LSD only!!!

[flick-it]

In what way? Keep trying to push car straight on?

[Nobby_N]

what is a welded diff, ive not heard about them on this forum?
Anyway the cheapest way too have fun is a bit of disco dancing

[rich318i]

In what way? Keep trying to push car straight on?

cornering is not nice its 100% rear lock, the car jumps round corners or its sideways only!!!!

[maxfield]

They aren't as bad as some people make out. High speed cornering grip is very good. Slow speed isn't too bad, but expect oversteer.

There is a guy running one in a race series on here.

Wouldn't want one on the road though, not too pleasant especially as a daily.

[flick-it]

It's not a daily but will be used from time to time. Mainly worried about driving on main road at a steady 60 wondering whether it would try push the car straight on or not.

[steve_k]

Try www.trampdrift.co.uk as they'll be able to help you & you won't get half the flack you would on here for asking about a welded diff.

[maxfield]

All I can suggest is try it, I don't find them too bad. Drove many cars with welded diffs.

If you don't like it and you have a spare diff you can always change them

[flick-it]

Cheers guys

[blondboy84]

It's not a daily but will be used from time to time. Mainly worried about driving on main road at a steady 60 wondering whether it would try push the car straight on or not.

it's not too bad.

But have to be very careful on wet, slippery roads, you have to be on alert all the time.

as one mentioned above, it goes sideways on corners.
and imagine yourself driving on a rainy day to work/school/party/shop can't be relaxed, cause you can overspin/hit someone else in roundabout

that's about it, just have to be ready to counter steer when needed.
On dry it's ok. just a cracking sound from tyres as you turn at slow speed and the radius on inside tyre is smaller than on outside, but spin they at the same speed. So you can imagine ;)

[BATTS91]

I drive daily with a welded in my e30 with m50b25 .

Yes it CAN catch you in the wet or dry but only on a tight tight bend and your toeing it tbh

Yes handling is poo at low speeds

But its great for skidding !, ive got used to mine now and it doesn't really catch me out if you drive "normally"

Weld it and try it , if your unsure on how to weld it strong and correct look on tramp drift , theres a guide for newbies

[pony]

I drive daily with a welded in my e30 with m50b25 .

Yes it CAN catch you in the wet or dry but only on a tight tight bend and your toeing it tbh

Yes handling is poo at low speeds

But its great for skidding !, ive got used to mine now and it doesn't really catch me out if you drive "normally"

Weld it and try it , if your unsure on how to weld it strong and correct look on tramp drift , theres a guide for newbies

Nice to u go drifting ?

Btw why didn't you get a LSD ?

Is it hard to learn ?

[Rancid]

As Batts said, it's a bit of a bugger when in a slow turn, and people look at your wierd when you're parking as it shudders and skips, but so long as you don't mind people looking at you in comparison to the fun you can have with it, they you'll be fine.

Have owned a couple of cars with welded diffs, and while my next e30 will be getting the LSD treatment, I've not experienced welders to be anywhere as bad as most people on here will make out. As stated above, you tend to need to be on alert, but then alert is the best way to be whilst driving anyway.

[tomislav]

Drove my e30 for a couple of years with a welded diff, bit crap in the wet sometimes but as long as you're alert you'll be fine...... and EPIC fun.

Weld it, fit it, drive it, skid it! simple