I have finally decided on all of the options for my MCS that I will be ordering in a couple of weeks (my b-day present to myself).

I know from reading several posts here that a lot of people recommend the Limited Slip Differential as an option, but I am wondering if it is really necessary for what I will be doing with the car.

This car will be my daily driver so it's primary use will be for commuting, but will also be used for trips (no pun intended) and motoring fun. This car will never see a track and will not be used for any kind of racing whatsoever, but may see some limited "spirited driving". Otherwise it will be driven just like I would any other car, just with a much bigger smile on my face.

I do live in New Hampshire, so weather conditions are a concern. I have heard mixed things on LSD in snow and ice conditions, one that it can help get traction, but that it can also throw you in an odd direction because of the stronger grip on one wheel. Also would be concerned with the fact that it is another part that could go and be very expensive to fix if out of warranty.

I guess overall I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to me, or if I should use that extra $500 on something else. Any input is appreciated, but would also appreciate analysis based on the use of my car and not just replies that it is an absolute necessity, because if that were the case it would be standard equipment.

 

Its extra piece of mind in your "spirited driving" times and well worth the $500.00. Maybe some of the guys/gals that went to the Dragon this past weekend can comment on how well it worked in their "spirited driving". Its also a great thing to have for when the weather gets foul, win, win for you IMO

 

The main purpose of LSD is to prevent wheel spin on acceleration. Add two or more of the following conditions and you can easily get wheel spin with a front-wheel-drive car when starting from stopped: uphill, sharp turn (out of a driveway or intersection), wet roads, wheel crossing the white paint on an intersection, icy roads, the Exxon Valdez left an oil slick...

 

Added LSD will make for much more pleasant trips.

 

Anyone know the "cons" of getting LSD?

 

Cons:
1. $500 initial cost for uncertain degree of usefulness for the particular user.
2. Some say it amplifies the negative effect of torque steer.

IMHO, a good set of snow tires will do better than LSD alone in snow. The winter tires/wheels might cost more than $500 but they will work better. Getting both LSD and winter tires would be the best thing for the winter driving. If you go visit dpcars.net you can read on how much time you can save on the race track. The same driver was 2 seconds quicker, IIRC, with a R53 that had LSD vs. a R53 that didn't have LSD. On the track that could translate to 100 yards or more but for a sprited driving? Hmm... I decided to save money on that. If I had more money, I would have ordered it for sure.

 

I'd say yes to LSD just for winter traction. Having helped push cars that are stuck in our Colorado snow, cars with LSD are alot easier to get unstuck than cars without it. In fact, cars with LSD are much less likely to get stuck in the first place.

 

I would get it, especially if you live where it snows. As for 'throwing you in an odd direction" I haven't experienced that, but with slip control that would be compensated for. I don't see how it can amplify torque steer. Seems to me it would be inclined to do the opposite.

 

Every review I have read recommends it.( And I did order it on mine). I do plan on tracking my car, and also wanted it for snow conditions here in New England.

 

Why just where it snows? I live in Houston and hit a puddle on the freeway and sent a Miata into a spin without warning after hydroplaning. I'm sold on pretty much any safety feature that improves control. I bought LSD without question. BTW, it was my wife's Miata, and though she is very understanding, there was a cold period after that. If the $500 would have prevented that, it would have been worth it. Buy the LSD and be happy with the knowledge that you are that much closer to staying in control when something goes wrong in spirited or daily driving. Oh, and you can't help but get spirited in a MINI. Love my MCS.

 

just the fact that it's only $500 makes it worth it, considering how much it'd be for anyone who wants to retrofit it

so do it :P

 

After driving my R56 on the Dragon this past weekend, I firmly believe there are more positives than negatives with the LSD. Yes the torque steer is worse with LSD, with the tires hunting for traction. However, the traction that you do get in the corners is awesome compared to an open diff MINI. Right at the corner apex you can smash the gas, and the the LSD will literally pull the car through the apex and launch the car out of the corner. It's mega quicker than an open diff. Yes I wish the torque steer was less, but the traction gained is awesome. Definitely worth the 5 c-notes, IMO.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

I'm also voting for LSD. The torque steer is really only noticable and slightly detrimental on hard acceleration. The overall benefit in traction far outweighs the minor deficit of torque steer. IMHO, Definately needed with snow tires in sno country.

 

Thanks for all of your responses. I will probably end up ordering it, but will be the last decision. Hope I don't lose too much sleep.

I uess my only real concern with it at this point is durability and repair cost. Obviously an open differential would be less prone to failure, and I am curious as to the lifetime the LSD would have. With the R56, I am sure the data is not there, but I am wondering how the one in the R53 has done.

 

I didn't say "just where it snows," I said "especially where it snows" because the original poster asked about its performance in snow.

 

go with lsd for a few reasons:

1) 500 now or 1500-2k later if you decide you want it.
2) the lsd requires a different driving style. When the car starts to understeer you turn the wheel and nail the gas. (very very generalized) the front of the car will pull you through the corner. You'd be amazed what kind of looks you get through the rear view mirrors of evo's, sti's and rwd cars as you pull right up to them at the apex of the corner.
3) it's better to be applying power to both wheels then 1 when slipping... this includes rain, snow, mud and gravel. Better to be moving when you hit the gas instead of slipping one wheel and sitting there.

ummm I thought I had more but i guess that's it.

 

I have to order one new because the dealership here does not have a single car with LSD equiped! I'm all for it, and recomend you buy it, too. It will prolly add to the resale of your car later as it seem so many cars were ordered without by the dealer, so it could be a rare feature second hand owners will be looking for.

 

Again, thanks for the comments. Am hoping someone can comment on durability etc. I will more than likely order it now.

Hey LynnEl, I ahve been trolling in these forums for a long time now and read somewhere that Fizzi just recently arrived. Congrats. Meant to say it earlier but do a lot of reading on this while at work and was unable to respond at the time

 

Depending on type most lsd's last for about 50-70k with proper maint. (changing the fluid in them)

I forgot which type it is that is in my r53 and thus will be in your r56 but I'm sure it's the better of the two and has a life time around 100k-120k.

 

Yes, get it. If it was bad, why would they even sell it for $500?? If it was bad for the car, other car companies should pay you to get it so the car will be a total disaster and you will go buy a competitor's car. But the recent tranny failures seem to be somehow related to the LSD...

 

I was actually discouraged from getting the LSD by my MA as I would be ordering my MCS with DSC. In order for the LSD to really be useful the DSC needs to be turned off. Anyone else heard about this. I am so confused.

 

Is your MA confusing DSC with ASC? I don't see where DSC has much to do with LSD, while ASC and LSD overlap in function.

As I understand it, DSC applies brakes and controls engine speed when the car is not moving in the direction it is being steered.

ASC applies the brake to a drive wheel if it is spinning.

LSD transfers power from a spinning drive wheel to the other drive wheel. ASC is standard in the MCS, so BMW must have engineered it to be compatible with the optional LSD.

I have LSD and DSC in my MCS. When I go WOT it gets a bit squirrely with torque steer, but it doesn't burn rubber. With all that torque, I would think an MCS would leave quite a patch if it didn't have LSD.

 

Thanks for the response. Makes me stick with my first impressions of ordering the LSD.

 

It's a different beast because it's a separate diff on that car, but our BMW Z3 had 160k with no problems on the LSD rearend to date. Not sure why you'd estimate 50-70k on any part on a modern car. Seems like folks would be replacing them a lot under the 4 year 50k warranty if that were the case and BMW wouldn't offer it.

MINI's LSD is built into its transmission, so changing the fluid means changing the manual trans oil, right?

 

When the factory friction diff wears out, it just becomes an open differential; no noise, no odd vibrations, nothing to indicate that anything is amiss, except of course that it no longer works. The reason friction type LSDs are rarely replaced is because most people don't drive hard enough to realize when it's gone dead or even to wear them out. Of course if you lay two stripes of rubber everywhere you go, then it may well wear out as soon as after the first few sets of tires or the first clutch at 5k miles...

After the preload clutches in a Quaife wear out, it simply behaves like a Torsen, which virtually never wears out. The only difference is a Torsen cannot transfer any torque when one wheel is in the air or on ice with zero traction (early Torsen-equipped Hummers had a blurb in the owner's manual suggesting you apply both the brake and gas in such a situation; newer ones use traction control to automatically pump the brakes for you). If you think about it, ASC can actually prevent excess wear of the friction LSD too (of course by wearing out the brakes instead, but those are a lot easier to change).