[Killramos]

Hey guys, I was having a discussion with a friend about autocross classification for my car and I was wondering if anyone can confirm having a MY14 M235i with the M perf LSD port installed.

Debate basically comes down to if my car is still Stock class or has been bumped to Stock Touring by installing the diff.

The theory being if I can find another user who has a MY14 car with the option port installed there is a basis for classifying the car as stock as it was an available "Factory" ( with port installed counting) "line" of vehicle that I was matching my car to by installing the part. Trouble is due to delays most of the LSD's took to mid summer 2014 to get to customers so I don't know if any MY14 cars ever got one or just MY15's at that point.

End of the day it doesn't really matter as I don't race the car, just want to get to the bottom of this.

[EuroDude]

Simply power-brake your automatic and do a burnout if that's what you have or dump the clutch and burn some rubber that way. If you leave one mark or two will be your answer.

You can also jack up the car (with the rear diff) and spin a wheel. If the other wheel spins in the same direction.....there's your answer.

[Kolyan2k]

or just check the part #

[pruettfan]

Ask the dealer to run your VIN and they can tell you in about 30 seconds.

[MrBucket]

Wasn't available for me when I got my MY14, had it installed at the dealership after the fact.

[B_Rice]

I can run your vin

[Killramos]

I don't think you guys are understanding my question. I am the original owner of my car, i have the diff installed. I know it's an LSD. I had it installed after the fact at the dealer.

I am trying to find proof that SOMEONE in the world with a MY14 car has a port-installed LSD so that I can justify classing my car as Street for auto cross. Rather than a modified class such as touring or prepared which the car would fall into if I cannot prove the car was orderable with the diff installed at port.

MY15 would be easy, have seen lots of posts on here supporting that, but as far as the rules are concerned there needs to be someone out there with a MY14 port installed lsd in order for my car to be considered "stock".

[semclane]

Originally Posted by Killramos

Hey guys, I was having a discussion with a friend about autocross classification for my car and I was wondering if anyone can confirm having a MY14 M235i with the M perf LSD port installed.

Debate basically comes down to if my car is still Stock class or has been bumped to Stock Touring by installing the diff.

Are Stock and Stock Touring local classes or do you mean the SCCA Street and Street Touring classes?

I have a MY15 M235i with a port installed LSD, but I also run a square wheel & tire setup. My local BMWCCA region has a classification system that can handle this easily with points assigned for each mod from stock, but Ii have a problem with the SCCA classing. Last year I requested a "Street Touring" classification (STU) and was turned down because the classification committee didn't think the M235i was appropriate in the ST classes. To be legal in SCCA i get bumped up to "A Street Prepared" which would require mods I won't even consider, to be mildly competitive.

[mdputnam]

The M235i is placed in F Street.

Now for the differential, the September 2014 Tech Bulletin states that the "The limited slip differential for the BMW M235i is currently a dealer installed option and thus it is not legal for F-Street."

The June 2015 Tech Bulletin states that the "The SAC has verified that the limited slip differential for the M235i is a port installed option and therefore eligible for
use in competition in FS."

That September 2014 ruling classifies everything manufactured up to that point with an LSD as not legal for F-Street (all 2014s which stopped production in June 2014). Since the June 2015 ruling doesn't specifically negate the September ruling, if you found evidence that there were port installed 2014 M235i cars you would have to petition the SCCA SAC to negate or modify their September 2014 ruling that there were none up to that point. A very difficult and long road to travel since they already determined that there weren't any.

[Killramos]

Sorry I'm not very experienced with auto cross at all, a friend is just trying to get me to get into it. I do mean street.

My car is dead stock aside from the LSD but as far as the local club is concerned if I can prove the car COULD have been delivered with the LSD installed at port then I compete in street. Otherwise I have to move into a modified category as well which as you mentioned would require prettt significant mods to be competitive which I frankly won't do for a sport I haven't even participated in.

I personally wouldn't have ever fathomed that my car would be considered anything but stock but an LSD is apparently on the no go list for the rules.

[MrBucket]

I'm pretty sure that port installation was only available during 2015. I got one of the very last 2014 and it wasn't available when I took delivery, but a few months later when it was 2015 up on the site it was there for a time.

[mdputnam]

If you are just getting into auto cross don't worry about which class you are in, you race against the clock not each other. You have a lot to learn about how to go fast in an auto cross and no one cares how you do if you aren't among the top competitors. Compare you times against similar cars to see how you are doing and ignore the vaugeries of SCCA rule making. But, most of all have fun.

[Dylan86]

It's an OEM part, though. They probably wouldn't know you had one installed post factory if you didn't tell them yourself?

[mdputnam]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

It's an OEM part, though. They probably wouldn't know you had one installed post factory if you didn't tell them yourself?

Like I said, if you're not among the top competitors in your class no one cares. If you are, things can get very petty very quickly.

[Dylan86]

^^ That's a good point. I don't autoX, but a lot of my friends do. And from what I've heard with their experience, only the competitive top 5 cars get scrutinized, if at all. All depends on the group and league, I suppose..

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

Wasn't available for me when I got my MY14, had it installed at the dealership after the fact.

Same here at least in terms of not being available.

[innovason]

My 2015 had a port installed diff.

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Same here at least in terms of not being available.

And then people about a week after I took delivery got MY2015, so I think he's going to be out of luck for his 2014 if they play it strictly by the book.

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

And then people about a week after I took delivery got MY2015, so I think he's going to be out of luck for his 2014 if they play it strictly by the book.

But that's just for port installed. You can get the lsd for the 2014 model now and install it no problem.

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

But that's just for port installed. You can get the lsd for the 2014 model now and install it no problem.

Yes I understand that, but he is saying he needs to show that it was a port installed option for MY2014 to be able to run his car with the LSD at his local autoX event and have it not move him up into a higher class.

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by MrBucket

Yes I understand that, but he is saying he needs to show that it was a port installed option for MY2014 to be able to run his car with the LSD at his local autoX event and have it not move him up into a higher class.

Gotcha... that sucks! Just forge the options list :-p