I just started racing my 05 MINI Cooper S in my local SCCA Solo races. To my dismay, I find out that MINI offers a LSD on 05 MCS's (which I obviously didn't get) and that I could remain in G stock if I had it. So, my question is, has anyone been able to nab MINI's factory LSD system and had it installed on their non-LSD MINI? I've tried and I've had no luck. I would naturally get myself a Quaife or Phantom Grip, but those would bump me out of G stock, because they're not sourced from MINI. Are there any other ways of getting my 05 MINI equipped with LSD w/o sacraficing bumping up my MINI out of stock?

I would appreciate any help on this!!

Thanks

 

Hi, I am interested in this also, but to a much more casual degree. When you say you have tried to 'nab' a Mini LSD... What exactly does that mean ? Did you contact a dealership's part department ? What was their response ? What type of price was quoted ? I know the price for specing at time of order is $500 or $550 USD, but I am wondering what type of response you got.

thanks and good luck.

 

The LSD was available for the 05 MCS only starting with January 05 production, price $500. It's a friction unit, although it doesn't use a conventional clutch pack.

I'd imagine it's possible to order the LSD as a replacement part, or possibly to transplant a complete LSD/gearbox assembly from a wreck - although good luck finding one this early in the game. Installation is, obviously, non-trivial. The LSD option also gets you a less intrusive DSC program, although that wouldn't matter for you since you'd have it turned off anyhow.

Considering how well Minis hold their value you'd have to wonder if ordering a new 05 with LSD and selling yours wouldn't be better. OK, not better, let's say "not as bad as it might be."

Neil
05 MCS w/LSD

 

Yeah, when I say "nab", I meant getting the LSD through my local MINI dealer. Almost everyone I talked to didn't even have a clue. I talked to their parts dept. and he told me MINI has never offered LSD and that they are only for RWD vehicles anyhow. Sadly enough I had to embaress him and ask for the Manager. Once I talked with the manager he regretfully informed me that they are unable to get just the LSD parts, because MINI won't allow them to do so. So, I'm stuck with my non-lsd system unless I can buy one from a 2005 MINI in a junkyard, which is highly unlikely. I have to look for a racer who is looking to upgrade his 05 OEM LSD to a Quaife or something similar, which I've found a couple people interested for around $700, but not for sure.

I've also looked at the possibility of screwing the whole idea of switching parts and just selling my 05 and order me up a new 05 with LSD. I havn't even looked into it. My MCS was 26,500 MSRP, what should I plan on with only 5k miles on it??? Anyone sold one with that low of miles.

 

what exactly does the LSD get you.. I ordered it on my MCS and it should be here in July or Aug. I pretty much got all the performance goods minus the JCW

 

Well, there is probably someone who could explain it better than I could, but LSD (limited slip differential) does just that, it limits the amount of slip in your front tires when gas is applied. In cars w/o LSD what will happen is, power will go to the path of least resistance, or the tire with the least amout of weight and traction (this is what causes most of the problems when you're stuck in snow) and will cause your wheels to slip and spin. What the LSD system does, is it applies power to both wheels as equally as possible. So, it's mainly the best in starting gates and sharp turns with a lot of gas. It's not the best explaination, but that's the general idea of it.

 

Speaking from experience, you'll feel it most when you mash the gas when coming out of a turn. It will "pull" you through the turn. I love it... it was most fantastic on the Dragon last month.

 

Thanks for the explanation. Now I'm glad I got it