I've read many posts about the limited slip on the MCS and how it amplifies the torque steer. I don't really mind this so much if I am also gaining some advantage over a conventional diff. If this won't really matter for my street-only driving, then perhaps I should take it off my order while I still can.

Anyone have a opinion about the usefulness of LSD off the track? Thanks.

 

I ordered it because I like to corner aggressively at times, and with the LSD, I will be able to accelerate out of a corner much sooner, and with much more grip. In addition to that, the resale should be much better since adding an aftermarket LSD is big bucks. I got it instead of DSC actually. I'll bet the feeling during cornering will be well worth it.

 

You really don't need it for NORMAL street driving but it will help in the twisties or slick conditions. Resale value should be better with LSD. You also should consider the value of the factory LSD. To install a LSD later is say $1,100.00 for a Quaffe plus a few hundred for labor.

 

The factory LSD is really geared for regular road use and is a little too whimpy (too much slip) for any serious track use.
It's well worth the $500, the extra grip out of a corner or on a slippery road is worth every penny & then some. My Mini tracks like a tank through the snow with the all-season tires.

 

I agree that $500 factory LSD is good value compared to aftermarket LSD, but realistically I think adds very little to resale. The vast majority of used car buyers will not look for LSD (if they even know what it is) nor want to pay more for it.

 

Yes.

 

I don't have it. I don't need it. But I don't know where the $500 I saved went.

 

I have it on my R56 and I wouldn't trade it for the world unless someone was willing to give me a Quaife torque sensing diff with free installation. LSD is wonderful.

 

Please elaborate, why is it so wonderful? What are your impressions on torque steer in straight line acceleration? What is the feeling pulling hard out of corners? Thanks!

 

Another positive LSD user. oh, that didn't sound right....

For the amount of power this little car has, I experience little to no Torque steer when doing spirited motoring.

 

Nice to hear! That's why we keep "re-hashing" the topic. There is just so much conflicting information. Perhaps the non LSD fans are so because they don't have it? It appears that those that actually have it, love it. What is the best thing about it in your opinion?

 

Contrary what you may read by other folks on this forum on this particular topic, I get NO torque steer with my LSD. There are others who seem to think I don't know what I'm talking about but believe me I do. In fact, I was out today driving in moderate rain. From a dead stop at a traffic light I gunned it and I got absolutely no torque steer. I've done this also in the dry and no torque steer. I've driven on a track (Sebring International) and in corners, no torque steer. I've invited anyone who wants to come to Florida to drive my Mini but no takers. The LSD is by far the best spent money on this car that I can think of and I will continue to sings its praises. I am a very agressive driver when it's safe to do so and I've never had any problems with the LSD. My experience with front wheel drivers are a 1977 ot 78 Ford Fiesta (horrible horrible torque steer). Almost ripped the wheel out of my hands when accelerating hard. A 1992 VW 16v GTI. Not as bad as the Fiesta but some torque steer. Go for the LSD, you'll be happy you did.

 

Have one in mine, love it, torque steer is pretty bad on the mcs's and it helps control it

also helps on those tight low speed corners where your on the gas

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. This has convinced me to keep the LSD on my order sheet without a doubt. I do a good bit of nice twisty driving in the mountains near my home. I am also coming from years of driving Audi quattro cars, so I am very used to rock steady driving characteristics in foul weather. I would probably kick myself if I decided against the LSD in the middle of my ordering process.

 

Do you have your DSC turned on or off? Or do you even have DSC?

 

investigator do you by chance have after market tires? I'm guessing that it's the stock run flats that exaggerate any torque steer that is present in the system. I'm going to be replacing my stock wheel/tire with after market ones and will test my theory myself. I was just curious if you still had stock wheels/tires.

 

Excellent point mellow. I do indeed have aftermarket tires, Bridgestone Potenzas and it did not occur to me to consider that aspect in contributing to no torque steer. It does seem plausible with run flats having much stiffer sidewalls with virtually no give on acceleration which would tend to create torque steer. Thanks for thinking about it.

 

no problem. i recall reading about another member that had really really bad torque steer in one direction and when the tires were replaced it went the other direction. So i kind of put two and two together. I'll report back in a few weeks if the new tires/wheels reduce or eliminate the torque steer in my car.

 

I have LSD on my 2008 MCS and have awful torque steer, especially coming hard out of a corner in 1st or 2nd gear. Frankly, I'm having trouble getting used to it.... but then this is my first front wheel drive car (except for a very early Honda that didn't have enough power to create torque steer.) I wish there was something I could do to eliminate the torque steer.

 

In my day wasting money on LSD was a good thing.

 

Question to those here:

If LSD is supposed to control wheel spin, isn't that what the standard Traction Control does also?

Say I'm coming out of a tight corner and I mash the gas. Won't the standard traction control brake the spinning wheel before the LSD ever gets a chance to do its job?

Guess what I'm thinking is that LSD is really there for people who turn traction control and stability control off but still want to control wheelspin during autocross or track days.

I just can't see how they can work together when they're both trying to do the same thing: prevent the inside wheel from slipping.

 

traction control cuts the throttle, it drives me crazy

LSD sends power to both wheels all the time, but with a slipper clutch so it's not a straight axle and they can spin at different speeds

what you described is dynamic traction control like the new bmw 1 series has, I don't believe the mini has that, yet

 

Yup, my BMW X5 has that and it drives me crazy as well. It will cut back on the throttle when you least expect it to or want it to. I'm really looking forward to the LSD "pull" out of the corners.

 

I have the factory LSD, aftermarket wheels/tires and H&R springs. I had a little torque steer until I added the springs. Now, I have absolutely no torque steer.