[Edslittleworld]

I was playing on the www.shopbmwusa.com website for the BMW M Performance Limited Slip Differential to be installed on my 2017 M240i and it shows the installation charge only to be $350 (see below). This labor charge seems low although it does say "estimated". I hate to click on the checkout button without knowing the full charges.

The local dealership has quoted me both $1200 and $750 (at different times) for the installation in the past.

Can this $350 installation charge be correct?

[Pray for Mojo]

Its 3.5hrs book time, so that sounds about right. Anything more is a ripoff.

The LSD job instructions are out there somewhere and it has the hours right in it. They can't really argue that if you print it off and walk in with it.

I went in and got mine installed by the local dealer after buying it from ECS.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Edslittleworld

I was playing on the www.shopbmwusa.com website for the BMW M Performance Limited Slip Differential to be installed on my 2017 M240i and it shows the installation charge only to be $350 (see below). This labor charge seems low although it does say "estimated". I hate to click on the checkout button without knowing the full charges.

The local dealership has quoted me both $1200 and $750 (at different times) for the installation in the past.

Can this $350 installation charge be correct?

Yes, that charge certainly can be correct. The $1,200 quote was to tell you what they really think of you, and the $750 quote would also have made the dealership owner, service manager, and "tech" quite happy.

I'm probably going blind, but where in that image does it say that the installation charge is an estimation?

[Phillymb75]

When I bought mine in June they quoted $502.98 as the labor charge.

Make sure you get the 20% discount off the part. I think you have to start at this link.

https://www.bmwofmtlaurel.com/bmw-se...-laurel-nj.htm

[msej449]

On my UK dealer MP LSD retro-fit invoice the service code they used was 'A 3310017' and charge was £337.50 (US$ 433.12) before tax. Service rates here are sort of in-between London vs somewhere out-the-way.

[XutvJet]

I was charged 3.5 hours to install mine at a local BMW dealer (about $450). I'm certain they did it in less than 1 hour, but 3.5 hours is the book time so that's what they'll charge. No way around it.

[wt888]

I went through this shopping for the LSD. The 20% off coupon ONLY works at BMW St. Laurel if you buy it there. You can change your location on BMW's site to play with the coupon and pricing.

Every dealer sets their own price and labor. Some places charge more for labor, some less. Some charge more for the part, some less. You cannot mix-match labor/parts from different dealers to get a pricematch. When you buy the parts directly through BMW, the dealer gives a price break on the labor online that they won't give you if you call for a quote.

IMHO, ~$400 for installation is a fair price, plus 1/2 liter fluid to top it off, tax, shop materials, etc. Book time is 3.5 hours but honestly it's a 2 hour job, then they are supposed to let the threadlocker sit for 2 hours. My local BMW dealer quoted $600 for install, which is, as expected, high.

Contact getbmwparts for their best price on the LSD, multiple people including me, bought it for ~$2125 shipped, which is a steal. It's up to you to install it, if your local BMW dealer doesn't want to be competitively priced then it's on them. FYI, make sure to get 1 liter of gear oil to top it off, the diff has a weep hole and the packing on the diff wasn't as tight as it should have been, it moved a little in shipping and lost some oil out the diff hole. I also had to clean the oil off the case while covering the weep hole to avoid getting degreaser into the case. Gear oil really stinks so wear gloves and disposable clothes while handling it.

[Edslittleworld]

Thanks! Everyone here has been really helpful. My only fear is the clause by the "*" under the subtotal (see attachment above) which states that "Installation charges will be applied at the time of installation." I just wonder how solid that $350 online charge really is.

I checked out the GETBMWPARTS for the pricing and it's a whopping $500 cheaper, but will most BMW dealers install a part not directly sent to them?

Plus, my dealer has mentioned twice that the differential part numbers are backwards (auto vs manual) on some of these websites. Sound fishy?

[2slo]

After seeing this thread I ordered the LSD Monday, it arrived at the dealer today and is scheduled for install tomorrow. The cost of the unit from BMW was just over $2600 with tax (10% here) and I took the option of pro installation which showed as $300 on the site. I will see tomorrow what the dealer charges. I expect to get the original part back, hopefully I can sell it and cover the installation cost.

This is the first of several mods on the car which I plan to do one at time over the next few months. I bought the car used a few months ago with just a bit over 40k miles. It was the only clean carfax 6mt I could find at the time - flew to Daytona,FL and drove back to Montgomery, AL. It has just under 54k miles now - I really like this car.

Here's the order I expect to follow (I am open to suggestions):

Diff
Yellow Stuff pads and Motul 600
Stainless lines - sometime after the pads are fully bedded in.
Dinan sway bars
Dinan Springs and bump stops
Dinan monoball
Square 255/35/18 on 18x8.5 or 18x9 Apex EC7s
Short shifter kit.
Along the way, I'll address any wear items that need attention.
If the brakes are still not to my liking - who knew that a G37S would ruin me for brakes - I'll do a BBK.

Once it turns and stops to satisfaction, I'll decide about power. The car doesn't seem fast to me but it's not slow either.

[Edslittleworld]

Originally Posted by 2slo

After seeing this thread I ordered the LSD Monday, it arrived at the dealer today and is scheduled for install tomorrow. The cost of the unit from BMW was just over $2600 with tax (10% here) and I took the option of pro installation which showed as $300 on the site. I will see tomorrow what the dealer charges. I expect to get the original part back, hopefully I can sell it and cover the installation cost.

This is the first of several mods on the car which I plan to do one at time over the next few months. I bought the car used a few months ago with just a bit over 40k miles. It was the only clean carfax 6mt I could find at the time - flew to Daytona,FL and drove back to Montgomery, AL. It has just under 54k miles now - I really like this car.

Here's the order I expect to follow (I am open to suggestions):

Diff
Yellow Stuff pads and Motul 600
Stainless lines - sometime after the pads are fully bedded in.
Dinan sway bars
Dinan Springs and bump stops
Dinan monoball
Square 255/35/18 on 18x8.5 or 18x9 Apex EC7s
Short shifter kit.
Along the way, I'll address any wear items that need attention.
If the brakes are still not to my liking - who knew that a G37S would ruin me for brakes - I'll do a BBK.

Once it turns and stops to satisfaction, I'll decide about power. The car doesn't seem fast to me but it's not slow either.

I'm interested to see what your dealer actually charges. Congrats on you newish M235i, BTW! What kind of (flash?) tune are you considering after those mods?

[UltDrivingMachine]

Anyone with the RWD have this and notice any difference w/ daily driving?

[2slo]

Originally Posted by Edslittleworld

I'm interested to see what your dealer actually charges. Congrats on you newish M235i, BTW! What kind of (flash?) tune are you considering after those mods?

I will likely go the Dinan route. I admire a well balanced package like their S3 1M and S3 M235i. I don't know if I'll go for the big turbo or not - depends on the health of the motor as the miles accumulate.

[2slo]

So I am sitting at the dealer mob programming with my team while waiting for the Diff installation. Got here at 10:20, car went back by 10:30, stat with the lights on and the door open until 11:30 when they put it up in the air and came to ask me about the OBD2 sender plugged in and tell me there's a cat fault - which I knew about. Put the box with new diff behind the car at 11:35. It's 12:38 now and nothing else has happened yet.

When I checked the car in, I mentioned that the BMW parts site estimated a $300 labor charge and the service manager did not object.

Oh, somebody just looked at the diff in the car and then walked away... Maybe we're gonna start working - I can hope.

[2slo]

1:10pm: There is a guy with wrenches wrenching on the car.

[harma24]

Originally Posted by 2slo

1:10pm: There is a guy with wrenches wrenching on the car.

It's now 7:15 (6:15 where you are I think). Please tell me they have finished by now.

[2slo]

[QUOTE=harma24;26747527]It's now 7:15 (6:15 where you are I think). Please tell me they have finished by now.[/QUOT

I got a loaner at 4:30. The diff was in but there's some epoxy involved apparently with a 2 hour cure time. The exhaust was still on the ground. Folks at the dealer were very nice to me while I used their waiting room as my office for the day.

[2slo]

Final numbers buying from BMW and installed by my local dealer:

Labor: $300.00
Parts: $2300.78
Misc: $45.00
Sales Tax: $230.00

$300.00 -- Labor
$2300.78 -- Parts
$45.00. -- Misc.
$230.00. -- Tax
$2875.86 -- Total

No impressions yet as I'll need to drive it a bit more than my trip back on the interstate.

[Edslittleworld]

Wow! You did great! Was that $2300.78 for parts from the website I attached above? If not, how did you link the $300 labor charge to it?

If shipping is totally included, then my total will be around $3000. My main question overall is IF the quote labor charge of $350 on the website would be valid. In your case, that appears so.

Thanks for being the Guinea Pig on this!

[2slo]

It was indeed from the website linked above. I have the old pumpkin too - haven't decided whether to try selling it or keeping it in case I want to get a wavetrac leter.

[wt888]

Originally Posted by UltDrivingMachine

Anyone with the RWD have this and notice any difference w/ daily driving?

I drive spiritedly and have a very sensitive seat of the pants feel. The car just feels more stable, like you put 150 lbs in the trunk. If I peel out from a stop while making a sharp turn, it's super noticeable, it feels like it's rotating me through the turn. I don't notice anything while driving on the highway.

I've had another RWD car with LSD, but it had way more rear traction, so it wasn't noticeable unless at the track. This car has way less rear traction so it can be appreciated even at city speeds unless you're driving miss daisy.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by UltDrivingMachine

Anyone with the RWD have this and notice any difference w/ daily driving?

You will notice a significant difference under any and all low-traction conditions.

These include: wet, snow, ice, race track, autocross course.

If performance driving isn't your principal focus, there's probably not much reason to consider buying an LSD.

If you wish to get the most out of your car, even during daily driving, it's the first improvement to consider after tires.

[2slo]

I found not having the LSD to be weird and unpleasant - my last two RWD cars (G37S sedan and ND Miata Club Sport 6mt) both had LSDs. My wife's trucks (a succession of Tahoes and a QX80) all had LSDs. I got a chance to do some back road driving last night and the car feels right now. There were a lot of places where the eLSD would kick in before - which I hated - where it doesn't now.

How do you code out the eLSD?