[CP911]

Hi guys and gals,

First, I realize there may be a sub-forum for stuff like this, but the regional forums see such little traffic that I figured I'd get a much better response in the general discussion forum.

Who is the best BMW Center in the area for getting the M Performance LSD installed? I'd like to take it somewhere where they have extremely competent and well-trained techs for M Performance parts installations. Price and respect for my car are also important factors to me. I don't need anyone taking my car out for redline pulls immediately after a cold start.

Thanks!

[emtrey]

Knauz BMW in Lake Bluff if you prefer a BMW dealer

or Axels Automotive in Lake Bluff, l probably less costly. ( tell him Jerry Fisher sent you ). Top notch indy shop for German cars.

[CP911]

Thank you, emtrey!

Anyone else have suggestions or experiences to share?

[r0nd3L]

I'm looking for the same in Chicago!

[wdc330i]

I just had my local dealer do it. It's really not rocket science. And, as it's a BMW part, it is covered by warranty.

[CP911]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

I just had my local dealer do it. It's really not rocket science. And, as it's a BMW part, it is covered by warranty.

I do not like my local BMW dealer. I will go out of my way and drive to IL if it means getting a better experience and price.

[petegtsv10]

Performance-Solutions in Schaumburg, IL is by far the best shop I've ever dealt with. I am Extremely picky about my cars and they exceeded my expectations! (no other dealer or shop has ever done that) They've worked on our Minis, M235 and just had my new AMG GTS in there for mods and ceramic. I did a lot of research before choosing them and many trusted recommendations from both the Viper and the BMW communities led me there. Talk to them and you'll be amazed at their expertise.

Performance-Solutions.net

[petegtsv10]

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

I'm looking for the same in Chicago!

See post #7.

[CP911]

Thank you, petegtsv10!

My next question is, can an indy shop do something like the LSD where programming or access to latest software, etc. might be required for proper cooperation with the DSC system? I'm not really sure how that works.

I'm naturally leaning towards an authorized BMW Center for that reason, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

[orangeglim]

Can't comment on a place out there to get it done, but make sure to have the fluid changed at the 1200 mile mark. BMW says it isn't necessary but it made a big difference in how it felt in mine. Mine was very choppy/skippy until I had it done.

[petegtsv10]

Originally Posted by CP911

Thank you, petegtsv10!

My next question is, can an indy shop do something like the LSD where programming or access to latest software, etc. might be required for proper cooperation with the DSC system? I'm not really sure how that works.

I'm naturally leaning towards an authorized BMW Center for that reason, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

You need to call P-S for that specific question, but I do know that they do have a lot of Euro-specific electronic equipment. LSD is a reasonably common installation there. While you're there, ask about the high-end detailing and ceramic they can do. My NEW AMG looks far better than the day I picked it up.

[petegtsv10]

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

I'm looking for the same in Chicago!

I just noticed you're in Lombard.(we used to live in Bartlett) Go see Omar at ChicagoMotorCars (one of the premier exotic dealers in the country) on North Ave. in West Chicago and ask him how he feels about using P-S.

[CP911]

Bumping this thread a year later. Desperate to get the LSD installed soon at a reasonable cost.

I called my local dealer, BMW of Schererville (the one I said I would avoid at all costs), just to see what they would quote, and they said, "Unfortunately, we don't deal with any of the Performance parts. We recommend contacting some of the dealers in the Northern Illinois area since some of them do this kind of thing." What a freakin' joke!

I also contacted Performance-Solutions last summer per petegtsv10's recommendation above, but they never returned my call after leaving a few voice messages. Doesn't sound like they want my business and I'm not interested in dealing with a shop that doesn't have good communication with their clients.

Today, I contacted Knauz BMW, which is 2 hours from where I live, and they quoted me $3900 all in! What the hell?! I'm going to call them back tomorrow to try and negotiate down to $3k.

To make matters worse, the LSD part itself was available on www.bmwpartspros.com for $2000, but now the price seems to have gone up to $2240.

Has anyone else in the Chicagoland area managed get this LSD installed at a reasonable cost and without any issues? If so, please help a guy out and point me in the right direction!

[dradernh]

Even though it's a simple swap, I prefer race shops that specialize in BMWs for this sort of work. In the Chicagoland area (a region with which I have no personal familiarity), I'd take a look at Fall Line Motorsports, a builder and sponsor of successful BMW race cars: https://www.facebook.com/Falllinemotorsports/. These sorts of shops generally work on street cars, too, and they tend to be capable when it comes to the ins and outs of related issues - e.g., coding.

If you're willing to drive further, I highly recommend TC Kline Racing in Hilliard, OH. They're immediately west of Columbus. They did my LSD install and all of the other work I had done on my car. TC has been building BMWs for many years now, and he used to run a big race team operation as well. He also took care of the coding for the eLSD and EDC deletes on my car. I dropped my car off and got back a fully and well set-up street/track car.

[John in VA]

I don't know the Chicagoland area well (although my son lives intown), but Ben Thongsai at B&D Import (Westchester IL) has a strong reputation.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/b-and-d-imp...ir-westchester

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

I just had my local dealer do it. It's really not rocket science. And, as it's a BMW part, it is covered by warranty.

Did you buy the LSD from the same dealer or someone else?

[CP911]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Even though it's a simple swap, I prefer race shops that specialize in BMWs for this sort of work. In the Chicagoland area (a region with which I have no personal familiarity), I'd take a look at Fall Line Motorsports, a builder and sponsor of successful BMW race cars: https://www.facebook.com/Falllinemotorsports/. These sorts of shops generally work on street cars, too, and they tend to be capable when it comes to the ins and outs of related issues - e.g., coding.

If you're willing to drive further, I highly recommend TC Kline Racing in Hilliard, OH. They're immediately west of Columbus. They did my LSD install and all of the other work I had done on my car. TC has been building BMWs for many years now, and he used to run a big race team operation as well. He also took care of the coding for the eLSD and EDC deletes on my car. I dropped my car off and got back a fully and well set-up street/track car.

Thank you! I called Fall Line Motorsports and I think I'm in business.

Talked to JP and he was extremely confident and knowledgable about LSDs. Said he uses the BMW ISTA/TIS system all the time, so all proper steps will be taken. They charge $175 an hour and he said, "it's no more than a 3-hour job." That should put me right in the ball park of what I was hoping to pay. Just waiting for him to get me a price on the part if they end up sourcing it for me. Otherwise, they are cool with me buying online and supplying the part.

What about break-in for the M Performance LSD? I didn't notice anything in the BMW documentation about break-in warnings or procedures. I did, however, read somewhere that someone who had it installed was told by their tech to find an empty parking lot and do like 20 figure-8 laps to break it in... or something like that.

Reason I'm concerned about break-in is that I'm registered for a track day on May 18th. If the LSD gets installed in the next week or so, that only leaves me with ~2 weeks or less to break it in properly. If it's based on mileage, I'm worried I won't have the time to do it. Perhaps I'd be better off waiting until after the track event? Let me know what you guys think I should do here.

Thanks again for all the help!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by CP911

Thank you! I called Fall Line Motorsports and I think I'm in business.

Talked to JP and he was extremely confident and knowledgable about LSDs. Said he uses the BMW ISTA/TIS system all the time, so all proper steps will be taken. They charge $175 an hour and he said, "it's no more than a 3-hour job." That should put me right in the ball park of what I was hoping to pay. Just waiting for him to get me a price on the part if they end up sourcing it for me. Otherwise, they are cool with me buying online and supplying the part.

What about break-in for the M Performance LSD? I didn't notice anything in the BMW documentation about break-in warnings or procedures. I did, however, read somewhere that someone who had it installed was told by their tech to find an empty parking lot and do like 20 figure-8 laps to break it in... or something like that.

Reason I'm concerned about break-in is that I'm registered for a track day on May 18th. If the LSD gets installed in the next week or so, that only leaves me with ~2 weeks or less to break it in properly. If it's based on mileage, I'm worried I won't have the time to do it. Perhaps I'd be better off waiting until after the track event? Let me know what you guys think I should do here.

Thanks again for all the help!

Glad you found a shop that works for you.

Ask Fall Line what they recommend for a break-in procedure and the oil change interval. They'll be on top of both, and then you can decide how to proceed.

For the latter, my expectation is that they'll likely recommend changing the oil after the break-in is complete, and then every so many thousand miles after that (e.g., every 12K, 15K, 30K, or whatever). Someone here said that it's a lifetime fill in the MPerf diff, but if you're keeping the car or tracking it, you'll want to change it on some regular basis.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by CP911

Thank you, petegtsv10!

My next question is, can an indy shop do something like the LSD where programming or access to latest software, etc. might be required for proper cooperation with the DSC system? I'm not really sure how that works.

I'm naturally leaning towards an authorized BMW Center for that reason, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

My friend had his Quaife installed at an indy BMW shop, no issue. The LSD's install into these cars with no other changes, it's strictly a mechanical part. DSC-off will become life, post install

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

DSC-off will become life, post install

^ This...as nature originally intended.

[CP911]

Originally Posted by dradernh

^ This...as nature originally intended.

Ha! You guys are more brave than I am. Maybe I'd try it on track with track insurance, but I think the furthest I'll go on the street is DTC on. I've been scarred by all the YouTube videos out there of bonehead M car drivers oversteering into a crash. With an open differential and DSC off, at least one rear tire is always going to be stuck to the road. With a LSD, however, both wheels spinning at the same time means sudden oversteer is very possible. I'm hoping DTC on combined with much better rear traction from the LSD will allow me to throttle oversteer just a bit if needed when coming out of a sweeping turn, while still keeping me safe from sudden oversteer situations. I have no intentions of getting too sideways. Really, I just want to be able to accelerate hard without DSC cutting power and without veering out of my lane like with the open diff.

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

Can't comment on a place out there to get it done, but make sure to have the fluid changed at the 1200 mile mark. BMW says it isn't necessary but it made a big difference in how it felt in mine. Mine was very choppy/skippy until I had it done.

Thanks for your post. A couple of questions:

1. Which oil did you use for your change? BMW has a 75-140 synthetic LSD oil, but so do Castrol and others.
   
   
2. Did you change the oil yourself? If not, where and what did they charge?