OK ive done the limited slip search, but didnt find all my answers.

First off im currently a MCS shopper, looking to replace my M3 due to life changes and found the MCS to be the funnest car in my budget.

But since im currenly looking for an 06 or low milage 05 i surely cant order LSD. :(

LSD is really something i want, but what i need to know is how much it would cost to retrofit it?

My M has LSD and i love it. Never want to live without it again, but once again unless i order an 07 (and other than being a fan of Peugeot i like the current cooper) Im going to have a hard time finding it.

I learned one thing with my M3 if nothing else, is that if you want to have fun upgrading the car you need the perfect base to start with or it will cost you a ton of money to get what you want as a final project.

So ive been looking for just the right car and have been looking up what is affordably doable your self, such as Chorme line interior, and what is too much of a pain, like Xenon Lights. And I just want to know where to put LSD on my priority list of options for this car.

 

LSD was a factory option for 05 and 06 so you might be able to get a used car with it. It was only a $250 extra charge if I remember correctly. Many buyers, like myself, tagged this option... keep in mind that the factory LSD will not be as good as some of the aftermarket options, or the one on BMW's...

 

True, but until the warranty is up, no non warranty covered upgrades for me. :P

As far and what ive found shopping around, an new 06 i can get for what seems to be a better price than ppl are asking for used 05's with 15k+ miles on them.

And the new 06's are generally just dealer orders with common packages on them. LSD doesnt seem to be on of the options so far that ive found on the color combo of CR/W im looking for with hopefully the Tartan red seats.

But theres still time, as ive only looked at a few hunded cars so far.

Anyone know what the dealer would charge to install LSD?

 

LSD was a $500 factory option for '05-'06, so keep your eyes out for one with it. Don't know egg-zactly, but getting retrofit (or aftermarket a la quaife) should be quite a bit more $$$..

My dealer did have a couple LSD-equipped cars when I was ordering last spring, so ya might find one around at neighboring dealers. Worth a shot.

And yeah, the LSD is a must-have option as far as I'm concerned.

 

If you are going to add one of these, spend the $$$ on the best parts because the labor might cost about as much as the parts themselves.

It is on my dream list, but I need to have something in the transmission go wrong before I take it apart and add my LSD. . . .

 

From what I remember a new manual transmission would be needed for a factory LSD retro-fit. It would be cheaper (but still in the $1000s) to just install a quaife lsd.

 

you can put a LSD on a any year MCS. It costs a lot though. However, if you read up on it, you can get one that is even better/more durable than mini's. Well, better for whatever you want. For me, the I bought 06 august and had that put on. I am happy with it. When I want to get gnarly and mean, it locks up and launches me a bit easier. 100% needed? no, not at all. not even to go fast and win a race.

I have DSC and LSD. I sprung for a few things like that. I am not sure what I would do if i wanted to buy now. I would probably wait for the spring/summer when all of the options are available for the MCS 07. I do not know how mini's upgraded system is. I know my HK is beautiful. Looks like mini is trying to make everything their own. I hope that it is worth it. I remember pontiac firebirds with their upgraded yet non bose systems. 9 speakers in the new body. It was muddy and eh. 400-600 more for it wasnt worth it. I fear the same route with 07.

 

If you can afford it, don't get the factory LSD. Get a Quaife unit, they're available for the modern Minis. More expensive, but a much better LSD.

http://www.quaife.co.uk/What-is-a-Qu...B-differential

http://www.quaife.co.uk/BMW-MINI-ATB-DIFFERENTIAL

 

I'd recommend driving one with the Quaife unit before buying, this make was put in the RS Ford Focus here and whilst great if you are a world class rally driver, they caused lots of problems at day to day speeeds as they kept making the car wander off line and made it difficult to drive in a straight line.

 

Thanks for the info.

Heres the thing with LSD.

I live out in the country and have some really sweet driving roads, and often take my M3 out there into some great corners and have alot of fun.

While the Mini may not have the zip as the Em, it feels so similar in resposive steering and cornering, and this type driving is my favorite kind of driving.

To be honest ive never had my M3 over 135mph cuz im either scared of a ticket or a wreck.

But when i get into tight corners i love to go for it! And i expect thats what i'll be lookin for when takin the Mini out for drives.

So while i dont track i do like whoopidy doos and tight turns so i really would like LSD if i can get it.

But im always scared to do perfomance mods to a car with warranty.

Ive looked into ordering an 07 with all the right features, but some of the features just arent as retro as the 06 Minis such as the speedo and other interior options. One thing i like though is the Peugeot involvment though.

Hopefully i can get this figured out. I already told the dealer i was very interested in this feature, but with all the 05 06 searching ive done ive found very few that have it. :(

THanks again for the help. Im sure this isnt my last post with Mini questions while im still shopping.

 

the 07 engine is very similar to the 06 engine. they pay the right monkey the right money and give them the same plans, not a big difference. negligible horsepower difference. however, I do hear of a lower center of gravity. 1 inch would make it a lot faster. if more, then yes definitely so.

that having been said, there is no question that 06 or prior is more retro. I have chromeline and all British racing green with 60's 70's style 15 inch panasport like wheels (Konig rewinds from OPEK on long island). I made it as retro looking as possible adding chromeline package, no rear fog, and driving lamps from mini.

that's my taste though.

As far as better lsd, there really isnt any. when it locks up, it locks up. the sooner it locks up is NOT good for driving around town. there are many types of LSD systems and all of them have a use specific to their racing needs. Drive in the rain to the store with shitty roads like I have on Long island? morons turning out in front of you? eh, might not want to lock up. Keep in mind that all cars have differentials that control on turns if your car is front wheel drive. People act like front wheel posi is the same thing as '68 corvette rear wheeled drive with posi. totally different reasons and functions. the Mini is much more advanced and has front wheel drive. the posi helps me often when I want to tear away, but in a race, your car will not use it constantly, actually very little.
telling people to spend thousands of dollars on some different type of system is a tad useless. throw a better exhaust, increase psi on the supercharger/turbo, etc, those youll see it smoke.

put it this way: if you drive this car as a regular car and like to race around, AND style of 06 is important, LSD shouldnt be very important. Yes, I own it, but it was an option for me, so why not? that's about it

 

I think im going to keep looking for it though, as it really appeals to me, and will be so much cheaper if i can find one already installed.

All this car searching is driving me nuts btw.

 

Well, it might be a hard thing to find. Like, really hard to find. not many mini's are custom ordered with LSD even when the customer has the choice to get one. You will have to call every dealer in the country. not that hard of a task, there are so few really.

no dealer will admit that it exists at another dealer of course, so youll have to call.

 

You might want to check out the all new $400 OBX helical LSD w/ lifetime warranty. There are a few on ebay now. I have been pleased with the OBX products I have heard about and used, so I will probably get this LSD within the next year.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-M...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Well this seems to be the real obsticle.

Heres an add that does not mention LSD, but it does however post a picture of the original slip that shows that it is in the car.

Add
2005 MINI COOPER, 20K mi,in chili red with wht roof, warranty, sport pkg, fully loaded with factory Aero kit, new tires, babied and perfect

slip
http://images.autotrader.com/images/..._A.440x421.jpg

Thats from a private seller. The dealers on the other hand just say its black or red or whatever they really dont take the time to give any details, and i doubt that they even go over the cars properly to check all the features other than what you can see from the pictures.