[BLK235iNJ]

Has anyone seen a before and after comparison between a non-lsd and lsd equipped 2 series?

It seems this is a pretty big deal so I'd like to understand the HUGE benefit everyone keeps talking about.

cheers

[ORIGIN M.]

It's HUGE as Donald Trump says.

It makes it a completely different car IMO.

Originally Posted by BLK235iNJ

Has anyone seen a before and after comparison between a non-lsd and lsd equipped 2 series?

It seems this is a pretty big deal so I'd like to understand the HUGE benefit everyone keeps talking about.

cheers

[BLK235iNJ]

Any data that I can review? Or is it more of a driving feel change?

I've talked to several folks and gotten mixed feedback. At the driving event the instructors stated that if i'm not tracking or autocrossing that the lsd is not worth it for the street. My buddy (sr. tech at BMW) also said the same thing.

I'm all for improvements...I'd like to drive one with the lsd to see the difference.

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

It's HUGE as Donald Trump says.

It makes it a completely different car IMO.

[one1er]

They are right! It's pretty much worthless for a sensible driver, or just driving around town, in traffic, etc.

LSD is valued for those with aggressive driving styles, as it enables better, longer, more controllable powerslides, and much better traction coming off a corner under hard acceleration. These are the main advantages, if you don't fit in, save your LSD money

[///MCFC]

it is nearly invisible in comfort mode. put it in sport+ (or DTC off if you dare), give it some throttle in a tight corner, and the back end will slide out beautifully. i love it but ymmv. looking forward to snow...and I hate snow!

[BLK235iNJ]

So I drive in sport+ 99% of the time does this mean for me to play with the lsd I need the DTC off? You don't feel it as much in sport+?

[NYHoustonman]

Originally Posted by BLK235iNJ

So I drive in sport+ 99% of the time does this mean for me to play with the lsd I need the DTC off? You don't feel it as much in sport+?

You'll feel the effects of an LSD with DTC on, too, in the form of greater traction at corner exit. Without an LSD, these cars are prone to inside-rear-wheel spin, leading to a waste of power. With an LSD, even with DTC on, you'll have better grip and better use of power exiting corners.

The bigger difference would be if you like to drive with DTC off, where you can really feel the rear of the car dictate where you go through a corner. But as others have said... This really isn't something you should be doing on public roads .

FWIW, I've had fun enough on public roads in my 135i without an LSD. The rear still moves around, but I do still get some of that 'one-tire-fire' occasionally if I'm being a complete idiot.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by one1er

They are right! It's pretty much worthless for a sensible driver, or just driving around town, in traffic, etc.

LSD is valued for those with aggressive driving styles, as it enables better, longer, more controllable powerslides, and much better traction coming off a corner under hard acceleration. These are the main advantages, if you don't fit in, save your LSD money

It should help a bit in rain and snow as it transfer power to the other wheel if it slips. If you live in dry climate and never drive aggressively, you don't need it. If you live in Seattle and drive semi-enthusiastically, might be worth it.

[Guynamedsean]

If you tune the car you will want it. My 235 never really loses traction in corners but all of my tuned Bmw's have.

[hyperzulu]

I think if you're going to spend $3k on a diff, you better have the car in DSC off mode quite a bit, which isn't something I recommend on public roads. Sport+ will use it a bit, but you generally won't get enough unbridled wheel spin to really use it. You have to really be an ass on public roads to need anything more than DTC.

You will get the most use out of it on the track and even then newbie track drivers aren't confident enough to use the throttle to correct their line or power out of turns that they may never get full use of it.

This is a track worthy item (it would be welcome on the street, but BMW doesn't want to make it standard on this car so...), I think you should take your car out to a few events and learn its dynamics before investing money on something you'll never use.

[///MCFC]

just my .02 but I think you need to actually drive one w/ the LSD before you can draw any conclusions about the LSD's usefulness *to you*. i can feel the diff working on a dry street even without driving like an a**hole. in snow, it should be even more fun.

[jeffclev]

It would be great if someone can post pre/post 0-60 times &/or 60' times. For lap times there are too many variables. For a drag strip it should be pretty clear …

[BLK235iNJ]

Today when in sport+ and I lose the rear the DTC kicks in pretty quickly. And I'm pretty sure my tune only works in sport or sport+.

Either way I'll have to drive one to see if its worth it to me.

+1 on the videos I'd like to see a before and after. All this sounds great but are you really using it outside of a track?

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

I think if you're going to spend $3k on a diff, you better have the car in DSC off mode quite a bit, which isn't something I recommend on public roads. Sport+ will use it a bit, but you generally won't get enough unbridled wheel spin to really use it. You have to really be an ass on public roads to need anything more than DTC.

You will get the most use out of it on the track and even then newbie track drivers aren't confident enough to use the throttle to correct their line or power out of turns that they may never get full use of it.

This is a track worthy item (it would be welcome on the street, but BMW doesn't want to make it standard on this car so...), I think you should take your car out to a few events and learn its dynamics before investing money on something you'll never use.

Originally Posted by jeffclev

It would be great if someone can post pre/post 0-60 times &/or 60' times. For lap times there are too many variables. For a drag strip it should be pretty clear …

[NYHoustonman]

For what it's worth, here's a video Chris Harris did a few years back with a 335i (in stock form uses a similar EBD - electronic brake differential - system to the M235i) with an aftermarket LSD:

He loved it.

Here's a video of a stock 135i (EBD) in similar conditions:

I've seen various video reviews of the M235i sans-LSD and it seems similar to the 135i - driftable, but not as controllable as with LSD.

I don't think an LSD would make any difference in straight-line acceleration. My 135i leaves full 11's when I "aggressively accelerate" - it's using the traction well.

[Cyberdemon]

This thread is worth a read to understand the differences:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=719012

Without driving both side by side take a simple look at what the diff is going to do for you.

When you are corning and apply power there is 1 of 2 things that will happen:

-The car puts the power down, the tires hook up, you drive off happily. - In this situation, which is 95% of normal driving on the street (unless you drive like a hooligan, which depends on your driving style) the differential offers you no benefits. You have not lost grip, you gain nothing from a differential.

-The car puts power down, and a wheel breaks traction - the standard car will use the brakes to generate friction to help control the wheel spin. In the car with the mechanical diff, the diff itself is responsible for this. This results in the handling feeling different between the two. The brakes doing the work is slightly less predictable, and on a race track (Where you are constantly pushing the car past 95%) the diff will make you appreciate the predictability.

If you are just hooning it up on the street, and not worried about lap times or how long you can hold a drift for then it's certainly not worth the investment.

[jhall1957]

I may get a chance to experience the difference as I ordered my m235 with LSD(because the value of this addition should still count if/when I sell) and since I am do a PCD in SC the end of Oct, I'll likely drive one of their card without LSD. Now mine is a manual and most Performance Center cars are automatics, but we will see!