[Mark's M]

Thank-you for voting everyone. Makes a difference!

Hoping to send BMW a clear, "no need to read a bunch of posts" message. The LSD issue has been discussed in thread after thread and it's obvious that it'll be a "must have" enthusiast option from the M Performance arm of the company. But it's going to be expensive and require retrofitting at either the POE or the dealership. With all of the favourable reviews that the M235 is garnering, and with the new "Track Pack" available for the 228 later this summer, why can't BMW make the LSD a factory option? Enthusiasts are screaming for it. As a non-standard piece of kit, it'll save face for those claiming that only true M/// cars should have it. As a factory option, it'll allow those who want it to have it for less money and lots less hassle.

In Canada for the 3 and 4 series, we have the choice of "M Performance Pkg" and "M Performance Pkg II" which adds the PPK and Performance exhaust for $2500 Cdn - from the factory and at a great value.

The 2 series M Performance versions (yeah, the Track Pack 228 will just about qualify for this designation) should also have an equivalent "Level II" option by offering the LSD and M Perf exhaust at a similarly reasonable pricepoint. Imagine the enthusiast reviews then!!

Easy vote: either "Yes - LSD should be a factory option" or "No - LSD should remain an M Performance item".

[five3three]

There's no poll set up here.

[M.barnes]

stick it as an option, i still wouldnt have bought it. Doesnt need it.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by five3three

There's no poll set up here.

Tis now sir. A little slow on the uptake this morning!!

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by M.barnes

stick it as an option, i still wouldnt have bought it. Doesnt need it.

Even if reasonably priced???

[BEM-S4]

Regardless if I personally want one or not (up in the air to be honest) it should absolutely be a factory installed option and not port / dealer installed.

[M.barnes]

well, sure if it was £500 or something maybe, but its going to be £1500 even as an option as its completely additional to what the car comes with now really, not like upgrading seats etc where its cheaper at build.

[BEM-S4]

Right, my underlying assumption was that it would be less expensive as factory option. But then again if the volumes are too low maybe not. At the very least the current situation here in the U.S. (at least when I ordered) of having to pay labor at the dealer is completely ridiculous.

[five3three]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Tis now sir. A little slow on the uptake this morning!!

Thanks. Of course I voted yes.

[grant]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Right, my underlying assumption was that it would be less expensive as factory option.

If it was a $500 factory-installed option, BMW would still make plenty of money on it.

[ska///235i]

You guys still dont get it huh? Its for the M2

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by grant

If it was a $500 factory-installed option, BMW would still make plenty of money on it.

For sure. If the two options are port installed or factory installed, it's definitely cheaper for them to do at factory. Purely from a labor standpoint they are paying someone to install a part, then paying someone else to remove it before installing a different part. Then you have the savings of not using 2 parts for 1 car. I think you're probably about right, in the factory setting around $500 as an upgrade is about where they'd need to start off.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Right, my underlying assumption was that it would be less expensive as factory option. But then again if the volumes are too low maybe not. At the very least the current situation here in the U.S. (at least when I ordered) of having to pay labor at the dealer is completely ridiculous.

Exactly. My dealer has quoted me "approximately $3500-$4000 Cdn installed". The "approximately" is because they don't have the official Cdn pricing for it yet. I'm sorry but these prices are "approximately" way too f'n much IMO.

[M.barnes]

Originally Posted by grant

If it was a $500 factory-installed option, BMW would still make plenty of money on it.

Plenty of money? Why what's the cost price on a drexler diff? I can't imagine $500 is achievable.

[grant]

Originally Posted by M.barnes

Plenty of money? Why what's the cost price on a drexler diff? I can't imagine $500 is achievable.

Remember than BMW makes or outsources parts for a cost that is way lower than retail (a fraction). Also, this is not entirely added cost - it means they don't need to install the stock open diff - their cost is only the difference between using an open diff and a torque biasing diff. It does not cost them much.

[Greenkirby21]

Yes please.

But I think it's more ridiculous that BMW NA doesn't know anything about it. This was suppose to be out at launch. It is now past launch, and my dealership and BMW NA don't know when it will be out, and at what price. I know we have the form here in the sticky, but we don't know if that price is port installed or dealership. What's the labor cost going to be? It's all speculation right now! It also says Q3.. Which sounds terrible if true!

I'm pretty let down. Hopefully they will see this and wake up! Poorly executed. And it's not only the LSD, the suspension is the same issue.

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

Yes please.

But I think it's more ridiculous that BMW NA doesn't know anything about it. This was suppose to be out at launch. It is now past launch, and my dealership and BMW NA don't know when it will be out, and at what price. I know we have the form here in the sticky, but we don't know if that price is port installed or dealership. What's the labor cost going to be? It's all speculation right now! It also says Q3.. Which sounds terrible if true!

I'm pretty let down. Hopefully they will see this and wake up! Poorly executed. And it's not only the LSD, the suspension is the same issue.

Thanks for bringing this up, I forgot to mention the promise of the LSD being available at launch and now, as you said, still not here and another 2 quarters away? "Wake up"is a little light. BMW needs a good kick in the ass!!!

[IZAGLO]

Makes no sense to me why BMW can not have the LSD a factory option. Putting this on the car when it is built is the best way to go and would save quite a bit of money not having to take the car apart to install it...I am POSITIVE when the M2 comes out this will be standard and factory installed like the 1M. and the rest of the M line up...NO reason it should not be a factory option to have it installed when building the car..none..Folks are spending $44-50 grand on this car...they deserve to have it done at the factory...just my opinion. M235i folks are just as important as M2, M3 folks and BMW should treat them as so.

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Thanks for bringing this up, I forgot to mention the promise of the LSD being available at launch and now, as you said, still not here and another 2 quarters away? "Wake up"is a little light. BMW needs a good kick in the ass!!!

Yup. I think I'm more mad that nobody has said anything. Dealership I understand, because they always get the news last! But when I e-mail BMW customer service, they don't know either. Who is suppose to know?

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by IZAGLO

Makes no sense to me why BMW can not have the LSD a factory option. Putting this on the car when it is built is the best way to go and would save quite a bit of money not having to take the car apart to install it...I am POSITIVE when the M2 comes out this will be standard and factory installed like the 1M. and the rest of the M line up...NO reason it should not be a factory option to have it installed when building the car..none..Folks are spending $44-50 grand on this car...they deserve to have it done at the factory...just my opinion. M235i folks are just as important as M2, M3 folks and BMW should treat them as so.

Well said. And now that BMW has gone and used the term "Track Pack" to describe the new pkg for the 228 they need to understand that just about every magazine/video review of the similarly equipped M235 on the "track" has commented on the absence of a true LSD. Yeah they all mention that one's available but where is it? And at what cost? BMW needs to rethink this one.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Well said. And now that BMW has gone and used the term "Track Pack" to describe the new pkg for the 228 they need to understand that just about every magazine/video review of the similarly equipped M235 on the "track" has commented on the absence of a true LSD. Yeah they all mention that one's available but where is it? And at what cost? BMW needs to rethink this one.

This is a very good point, if BMW are calling it a track pack...

[F30form]

What is the point of even offering it if seemingly no one is going to buy it? I see a bunch of people complaining that it is not available, and those same people saying they are not going to buy it because it is too expensive.