Question: Is it possible? Is it probable? Is it available?
Is it better than a Quaife? Dealer installed and warrantied?

from motoring file:

"The LSD is made by GKN and is what they call a cone-clutch type. It allows a 30% difference in front wheel relative speed before it engages and transmits torque from the wheel that is slipping to the wheel that is gripping. From what I've read, it seems that this LSD is designed so that it does not suffer from clutch wear like a typical clutch-type LSD. Additionally, it works on deceleration as well as acceleration."


Answer: God I hope so.

 

same question!

 

According to MINI....

big fat NO, its been posted on MotoringFile if i remember correctly.

 

Get Quaife!

 

Answer is NO.
Better than Quaife for the MINI? Not likely but we need to see the LSD and test it head to head first.
Warranty from MINI? Yes, but only because the LSD is ordered and factory installed at this point.
Which leads to the next logical question.

Can the new LSD be retrofitted after purchase of an '05 MCS with manual transmission? Answer likely Yes but-
The parts cost of the LSD after purchase is likely to be very high AND
the dealership or garage labor charge for the install may be very high like $1000 to $1500 AND
The warranty won't be a 4 year MINI one like you get from the factory.
I'd guess that a one year warranty would be the best to hope for.

Which means, if you are ordering a new MCS then order the LSD from the factory if you can.

 

If I were in the market for an '05 lsd, I would give it a couple months, then start searching the junkyards for a complete transmission. Save labor cost, and not have to worry about any interoperability issues. This is all assuming that I would do the actual tranny swap myself - where the majority of the labor lies.

I'm definitely expecting them to be swappable. There would be no good reason to develop a second set of transmission internals just to accomodate the lsd. Manufacturers have done stupider things in the past though.

You're right though, the cost of a new differential from the factory is going to be at least as much as a quaife. I don't see it as a viable option, at least until a significant number of minis have been sent to salvage.

 

the answer is yes. we have a customer that blew up his tranny and ordered an 05 LSD, he drove off the lot!

 

thanks all for taking interest in this thread.

trust me, im all about the quiafe... just curious.

what year was the car he blew up?

 

Are you saying they replaced just the differential? or the entire transmission.

If he, in fact, "blew up his tranny" a differential wouldn't be the only fix required.