[orangeglim]

A little over a week ago I had the BMW M Performance limited slip diff installed in my 2016 M235i. I haven't yet put the recommended 500 miles on the car since it was installed so I've been taking it easy while driving. Even still I've noticed what feels like skipping in the car when making a turn while accelerating. For example, making a quick right hand start from a stop sign into traffic. If I get on it, even a tiny little bit, I feel some skipping in the car that was not there when the stock diff was installed. I'm not getting any traction control lights or anything flashing on the dash when this happens. I also don't hear anything abnormal.

I'm assuming, maybe incorrectly, that something isn't right. Anyone else with an LSD installed notice the same thing?

[amw896]

mine was installed right away so I can't compare to driving without but it does sound like the lsd clutch packs are breaking in as intended. I believe the clutch packs also engage under load and angle, not only when you break traction. I am not an expert though. Is it super jerky or noisy? I would probably ride out the break in period moderately and then revisit if it's too much.

[orangeglim]

It is jerky yes, that's exactly the issue. I haven't heard any noise from it though. I'll give it a little more time, maybe I need to drive it harder to break the clutches in more?

[syclonedriver]

Is it full of the correct fluid?

[orangeglim]

I assume so? It comes with whatever oil is requires already installed.

[amw896]

pretty sure they are delivered with the oe fluid and they bolt right up. Don't drive it too hard, stay within the limits for the first little while (I think break in is 500 or so miles).

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

A little over a week ago I had the BMW M Performance limited slip diff installed in my 2016 M235i. I haven't yet put the recommended 500 miles on the car since it was installed so I've been taking it easy while driving. Even still I've noticed what feels like skipping in the car when making a turn while accelerating. For example, making a quick right hand start from a stop sign into traffic. If I get on it, even a tiny little bit, I feel some skipping in the car that was not there when the stock diff was installed. I'm not getting any traction control lights or anything flashing on the dash when this happens. I also don't hear anything abnormal.

I'm assuming, maybe incorrectly, that something isn't right. Anyone else with an LSD installed notice the same thing?

Originally Posted by amw896

mine was installed right away so I can't compare to driving without but it does sound like the lsd clutch packs are breaking in as intended. I believe the clutch packs also engage under load and angle, not only when you break traction. I am not an expert though. Is it super jerky or noisy? I would probably ride out the break in period moderately and then revisit if it's too much.

Originally Posted by orangeglim

It is jerky yes, that's exactly the issue. I haven't heard any noise from it though. I'll give it a little more time, maybe I need to drive it harder to break the clutches in more?

It's likely just breaking-in and normal operation.

I just installed mine last week and wrote a DIY writeup: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...=982938&page=8

I put over 500 miles on it and replaced the original fluid with Castrol Syntrax 75w140.

[orangeglim]

Do you get any chattering or skipping when turning under acceleration? Mine seems to occur most often when starting from stopped.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

Do you get any chattering or skipping when turning under acceleration? Mine seems to occur most often when starting from stopped.

It will 'chatter' a bit. The clutches in the LSD are working. Clutch based LSDs are not completely silent. You shouldn't get too much "skipping".

[orangeglim]

I guess I should clarify, I don't hear any sound coming from the diff. I feel what I would describe as skipping from the rear end under acceleration while turning.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

I guess I should clarify, I don't hear any sound coming from the diff. I feel what I would describe as skipping from the rear end under acceleration while turning.

Strange. What tires do you have?

[orangeglim]

Just the stock pilot super sports, have about 8800 miles on the car. It almost feels like wheel slip, but I'm not on the gas hard enough for it to be breaking grip. I'd say it happens on anything slightly higher than normal acceleration. Its quite jerky.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

Just the stock pilot super sports, have about 8800 miles on the car. It almost feels like wheel slip, but I'm not on the gas hard enough for it to be breaking grip. I'd say it happens on anything slightly higher than normal acceleration. Its quite jerky.

I'm glad you mention this; I have noticed the same issue on my 2016 235i with the LSD Installed. After pulling a sharp left turn from my driveway to the main street, the back ends sounds almost like the tires are losing grip but it doesn't feel like it because the car pulls strait ahead, without hesitation.. Weird.. I just assumed it was the LSD clutches scavenging quickly for grip, upon an immediate load. I wouldn't worry too much about it; I've had my car for over a year without any drivetrain issues..

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by sunil_linus

I'm glad you mention this; I have noticed the same issue on my 2016 235i with the LSD Installed. After pulling a sharp left turn from my driveway to the main street, the back ends sounds almost like the tires are losing grip but it doesn't feel like it because the car pulls strait ahead, without hesitation.. Weird.. I just assumed it was the LSD clutches scavenging quickly for grip, upon an immediate load. I wouldn't worry too much about it; I've had my car for over a year without any drivetrain issues..

That sounds like how mine feels which is about right.

[orangeglim]

Thanks all for the input. I'm going to keep an eye on it to try to better determine when it happens.

Could it be that the inside tire is actually sliding (being pulled?) horizontally from the power being delivered by the outside wheel? In other words, is it being shoved around the corner and the grip from the PSS tires is causing some skipping of the inside tire? I could get my IS250 to do something similar by accelerating into corners, a little slide, and then back to normal. That car didn't have an LSD though, and certainly didn't have tires with the same grip as the PSS on my BMW.

[LiuC]

Back when I build my drift car I had to brake in doing figure 8 and it got gradually better. Vary the acceleration and deceleration, it'll get better.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by LiuC

Back when I build my drift car I had to brake in doing figure 8 and it got gradually better. Vary the acceleration and deceleration, it'll get better.

First gear figure 8's are the best way to break in an lsd

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by LiuC

Back when I build my drift car I had to brake in doing figure 8 and it got gradually better. Vary the acceleration and deceleration, it'll get better.

^This. Gentle and steady figure 8s. The LSD needs to break in and is why BMW tells you to go easy on it for the first 500 miles. Just like a brand new manual transmission, the LSD needs to a few thousand miles to really set and settled. When new, it can be somewhat mechanical, especially at slow speeds and tight turns.

[mdputnam]

I had a similar experience with my LSD. Switching to the BMW differential fluid with friction modifiers helped. See my previous post here.

[schnell1982]

i agree with performing the figure 8 turning.
It is the best way to break in the diff, and I would also check the fluid level just to make sure it is filled correctly

[HP Autosport]

Sometimes an additional friction modifier is needed to quiet down a clutch type LSD.

[Wagerd]

So, for all of you who have the LSD, is it significantly better than without? This is my first BMW without LSD, and it is a bit odd in the way it moves under high acceleration. Much prefer both wheels doing something predictable.