» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 02-23-2014, 06:40 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Topton Pa Posts: 35 | Possible dumb question At this point my 97 Ti has an open diff w/ 4 new Firestone snow tires and went OK in snow conditions. I got stuck on a small patch of ice while pulling into the garage. Is a car w/ an open diff better for DDing in crappy weather or is a car w/ a LSD better? I've driven my e30 in snow before and it was terrible, granted it's lowered which causes it's own issues but it did have 1/2 wornout Blizzaks on it. Thoughts? | | | 02-23-2014, 06:46 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 283 | My 97 has traction control, i know it helps. But its parked in the winter | | | 02-23-2014, 07:51 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | I think an LSD would have helped in that situation. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 02-23-2014, 08:43 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 | Clutch type LSD would help, it would be pretty beast mode with snow tires too. Torsen style diff (from a Z3) will go open on slick surfaces or if a wheel is in the air, not good for winter conditions. Traction control just cuts engine power, it doesn't provide any power to the wheel that does have traction. __________________ ~Dave~ 98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop 11 128i space gray slicktop 13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry Search | RealOEM | | | 02-23-2014, 10:23 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Topton Pa Posts: 35 | Quote: Originally Posted by spidertri Clutch type LSD would help, it would be pretty beast mode with snow tires too. Torsen style diff (from a Z3) will go open on slick surfaces or if a wheel is in the air, not good for winter conditions. Traction control just cuts engine power, it doesn't provide any power to the wheel that does have traction. | Thanks for the quick explaination. I'll keep my eyes open for a medium case LSD 3.46 or 3.73. | | | 02-24-2014, 05:02 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | I used to have a Thorsen in the back of my Jeep. Loved it. Thorsens hold torque to the wheel with the most traction, depending on the gear ratio in them. They dont work well for really high torque engines, the gears eventually spall (I had a V8 in mine.. ) If mine was basically freewheeling due to low traction, lightly riding the brakes would instantly get me moving. Thing went like stink in snow, I would use one in any 2wd without hesitation. __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 02-25-2014, 11:59 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Torsen. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 02-26-2014, 12:28 AM | #8 | Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denver, Co Posts: 49 | I have the stock (clutch-pack) LSD. I think it helps in the snow, but having never driven a ti with an open diff, I wouldn't really know. | | | 02-26-2014, 08:44 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Quote: Originally Posted by 1996 328ti Torsen. | Freeking spell checker... arg __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 02-26-2014, 02:02 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | On the topic of diffs. I have a quaife which acts like a torsen I'm told. I love it on dry roads but felt my clutch pack LSD was better on wet. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-02-2014, 02:27 AM | #11 | Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Topton Pa Posts: 35 | This car is (supposed to be) a daily driver, snow, rain, dry etc so I'd like something that'll handle these tasks. It sounds like a factory LSD would be fine. I'm going to drive it a while stock and go from there. __________________ 1987 BMW 325is euroized 1997 BMW 318Ti daily driver 2005 Subaru Outback XT 5spd (wife's) | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |