The dealer installed JCW Tuning Kit would have been around $6K on it's own

 

wow, I didn't know it was that much...

 

That's what I thought too, but there's no doubt about it being there.
I remember that when I ordered everything, the dealer basically said that the LSD and Sport Springs were bundled together as a package option.
I can't find the full sales receipt and paperwork for it right now, but that would explain the difference in sticker -vs- actual pre-tax cost, sticker shows about $8k less than actual cost, so factor out the $6k for the JCW Package and I'm sure it's where the rest went. I was going a little crazy at the time and simply ordering what I wanted, no matter what....had I only known then....

 

Yes, it was $6k installed.

 

When first released in 2003 the 200 bhp JCW Tuning Kit listed for $4,500. Add the cost of 10 hours labor to install ... about $150/hour in the SF Bay area.

In 2006 the JCW Package (JCW Tuning Kit, Sport Brakes and LSD) was $6,300 but required ordering the Sport Package for an additional $1,400.

 

That would put it close, sticker shows just over $29,900 and actual cost was just a touch under $38k, but when I bought, the brakes weren't offered yet.

 

The press release for the LSD wasn't made until the end of 2004. I suppose the dealer could have installed an after market LSD like a Quaife.

 

I have no idea, picked the car up, last week of Nov. '04.
It has the facelift Getreg 6 speed, so maybe the LSD was around a little earlier than the press release also.

 

RealOEM confirms January 2005 availability ...

 

Yup, that's it....



At least that's what it used to look like, figured I'd spruce it up a little while it was out, and the motor was getting fresh paint too...

 

Have you driven any r53s without LSD? Curious because I'm getting an LSD unit swapped in and I'm wondering if I'll notice the difference.

 

No I haven't, and this is the most powerful FWD car I've driven, so I couldn't even compare between different vehicles.
You'll definitely notice a difference of you break traction under power in a wet corner..., you'll also learn not to do that....

 

I notice a different autocrossing, I owned an r56 with an lsd and on straight stoplight pulls it wants to shift torque back and forth, and tramline bad I did not like that at all

but when autocrossing the inside tire spins freely, with LSD some of that power got put to the outside wheel

 

I notice my LSD in the snow the most, I haven't autoX'd my car yet, or been able to notice pushing it on the street unless leaving a light, then typically I lay down 2 lines of rubber. since it is only like a 20% engagement its not nearly as aggressive as a quaife

 

Kavs motor sports website says they can provide 11% pulley

http://www.kavsmotorsport.com/mini-t...charger-tuning

 

Thank goodness someone has considered the consequences of modifying a car when planning to track the car in a SCCA
sanctioned event. Do your Homework and get a rule book before you turn a wrench end up in a class you can't keep up with. Sometimes, even the most minor change to a car may bump you into a modified field. At this point you might have to spend more money, or retrofit your precious parts.