How do I know if my car has LSD?

[speedracerf4i]

Hi All,

This is my first post and am very happy to have found this awsome website.

I purchased a red 1 owner 1998 ti with sport on ebay. The car is in PA and I live in CA, so the car is slowly getting here by Friday (4/27/07). I can't wait.

My current ride is an 05 545i SMG. I sold my 96' 328i back in 04 to get the 545i and I have missed it ever since. I miss the heel and toe action and the slick shifting of my 328i and so I got the 318ti to relive that feeling.

I know the M44 does not have the grunt of M52, but I crave nimbleness rather than shear pulling power now, so 318ti should foot the bill.

I haven't seen my car yet, but I would like to know if my car had the optional LSD ($595 option) or not. Since the car was used in the snow-belt area, it would make sense that a LSD was opted by the previous owner. Is there a picture someone can show me how to tell if an LSD is intalled or not?

Thanks a lot.

[windnsea00]

LSD was not available for your year (I think early `96's were the last ones that were optional or it was only `95's). However, that's not a hard thing to change. You can get a small case or large case LSD diff from a Ti, E30, or Z3. The ratio is 3.45 and I personally would want to stay pretty close to that with the stock M44.

[speedracerf4i]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

LSD was not available for your year (I think early `96's were the last ones that were optional or it was only `95's). However, that's not a hard thing to change. You can get a small case or large case LSD diff from a Ti, E30, or Z3. The ratio is 3.45 and I personally would want to stay pretty close to that with the stock M44.

So, if LSD was not offered in 98', then do I have any type of traction control?
Mechanical or electronic?

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by speedracerf4i

So, if LSD was not offered in 98', then do I have any type of traction control?
Mechanical or electronic?

You have ASC-T. All Season Control - Traction

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by speedracerf4i

So, if LSD was not offered in 98', then do I have any type of traction control?
Mechanical or electronic?

Like 1996 328it said, you have ASC+T...which means you have an open diff and the car will apply your rear brakes/adjust throttle to help you from spinning your rear tires. Like your E60 which has DTC but that is far more advance and monitors all four wheels and will control slides and so on. In the end, these systems don't replace a LSD if that's what your after.

[jkilla71]

I found a LSD diff on ebay from an auto 318i, 4.27 bidding is at $350

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...19828776QQrdZ1

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by jkilla71

I found a LSD diff on ebay from an auto 318i, 4.27 bidding is at $350

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...19828776QQrdZ1

That wouldn't be too fun with a 5-spd M44. I'm at like ~3900 rpms doing 80mph already...1st gear would be non-existent haha. Like I said earlier, sticking closest to the stock 3.45 ratio is wise IMO.

[speedracerf4i]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

You have ASC-T. All Season Control - Traction

I see, I did not have ASC-T in my 96' 328, I now remember that it became standard in 97's cars.

If I don't track my car, do I really need an LSD?

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by speedracerf4i

I see, I did not have ASC-T in my 96' 328, I now remember that it became standard in 97's cars.

If I don't track my car, do I really need an LSD?

You can track your w/o LSD also...it takes some training for one's skills to become good enough that an open diff is actually holding them back on the track.

[speedracerf4i]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

Like your E60 which has DTC but that is far more advance and monitors all four wheels and will control slides and so on. In the end, these systems don't replace a LSD if that's what your after.

Eventhough I have DTC in my E60, I still have to be gently as not to spin the wheel and burn the rear tire. I guess I don't like the idea of using brake to modulate traction a la DTC or ASC+T. All power should be used for forward movement. I guess LSD is a better choice in this case.

[M3_KILL3R]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

That wouldn't be too fun with a 5-spd M44. I'm at like ~3900 rpms doing 80mph already...1st gear would be non-existent haha. Like I said earlier, sticking closest to the stock 3.45 ratio is wise IMO.

im doing the same on the freeway around 4000k. But i dont know if i have a LSD.
Im guessing if ur doing the same rpm range as me then i must have a lsd too loll

[windnsea00]

Originally Posted by M3_KILL3R

im doing the same on the freeway around 4000k. But i dont know if i have a LSD.
Im guessing if ur doing the same rpm range as me then i must have a lsd too loll

I don't have a LSD since it wasn't even available on my `97 but that doesn't have anything to do with your rpms, that's the gear ratio. All manual Ti's came with the 3.45 ratio so were all experiencing the same rpm's if were 5-spds

[M3_KILL3R]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

I don't have a LSD since it wasn't even available on my `97 but that doesn't have anything to do with your rpms, that's the gear ratio. All manual Ti's came with the 3.45 ratio so were all experiencing the same rpm's if were 5-spds

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ok lol thanks for clearing that up for me...i think our ratios r good but not for freeway because 4k is soo high for a 4bangger and my exhaust is so annoying at that tone, after a long time on the freeway i get a headache lol

[scabzzzz]

Just find an automatic E30 of your choosing and use that. The automatics got 4.10's and some received 3.73's. If you're still curious after this thread, jack up the rear and spin one of the wheels, see if the other side spins with it. Or, check the differential tag. Should take S to let you know its LSD.
www.diffsonline.com

[Mad-Machine]

Originally Posted by windnsea00

LSD was not available for your year (I think early `96's were the last ones that were optional or it was only `95's).

Just for the record, my February build 96 has an LSD, so it appears that the early 96's still had them