hello. i am trying to figure out and build the 08 MCS.

is Limited Slip Differential necessary??
I live in Ga right now and I don't usually drive on curvy roads.
I guess I am trying to find out, what are the benefits of having LSD?

thanks

 

I f you don't deal with snow/ice, don't drive fast on curvy roads, don't take off fast from standing starts, an LSD won't do much for you. I've got one, and I'm glad of it. In a front drive car its much easier to loose grip on the drive wheels under acceleration that with AWD or RWD.

 

It's definitely a good option. With DSC off, the streets slick, and 40-degree weather, the stock summer runflats light up even in second gear. Car still went exactly where I wanted it.

 

Under hard acceleration, the car always wants to swerve left or right (not sure which...); not only from a stop, but also when downshifting in traffic and accelerating. I should have ordered my car with LSD.

 

Price putting in one after the fact. I think you'll see it's very much worth it

 

No it's not necessary, but it's nice to have and will cost a lot to install aftermarket (it's located inside the tranny, so do the math). What is the objective, to go faster or to keep the car on the road? To find out the full 411 run a quick search on "LSD", "DSC", "ASC".

Very basically, all 3 systems limit wheelspin when one drive tire has less available traction than the other e.g. one tire on low traction surface, or the inside unloaded tire during cornering. LSD is a performance enhancing device, it allows more power to be put down to the road through the drive tires by mechanically limiting wheelspin. DSC and ASC are safety devices, they limit wheelspin by electronically reducing throttle and/or applying brakes.

Bottom line: if you want to be able to drop the hammer and accelerate out of corners or on straights faster, the LSD is it. If bad weather safety is what you seek, DSC is probably sufficient. If $ is no big deal, get the LSD and DSC, it can't hurt and might be useful even if you are not a track/autoX junkie.

 

I ordered mine with it--cuts down the torque steer.

 

Two words about the LSD: GET IT.

 

X2..... Ii just paid almost 2K for a quaiffe with labor and I think it is one of my better mods..... factory for that kind of money is a no brainer IMO

 

thanks guys! sounds like a winner!

 

Yeah, if your talking a MCS... it's not only "worth it", but "necessary" IMO.

Too much torque down low NOT to have it.

 

Agreed.

--Dan
Mach V Motorsports

 

Just to echo what everyone else's said.
It's the one MUST HAVE option for the Cooper S, or any fwd IMHO.
It's the difference between plowing forward out of control and going the direction your wheels are pointing. DSC & ASC can micro-manage your brakes, but only the LSD is going to put the power down to get/keep you going in the direction you want. Without a limited slip, the power is always transfered to the wheel with the least traction, causing wheel spin and sliding, that's when your DSC & ASC kick in. It's the difference between a pro-active and a re-active approach.

$500 at the time of build or $500-$1000 parts later plus another $1000+ in labor and the voiding of your warranty to get it aftermarket later.

 

I don't have LSD and I don't miss it because ....
1. I have never had a FWD car with LSD.
2. It's too late to add for $500.
3. My MCS kicks a$$!!

 

I didn't want to wait for my MCS, and unfortunately, the one I was able to obtain did not have LSD. If I had ordered a custom build, it would definitely have had LSD. For such a small amount of money you really can't go wrong.

 

I wonder how appalled non-drivers who google their way into this thread are at the rampant promotion of LSD in these parts. This ain't the 60's people!

That said, my MINI is properly laced.

~Neal

 

There's nothing like taking a long, strange trip with the LSD.

 

I ordered the LSD on my 08 MCS, because of the generally good reviews, potential safety factor, and the fact that it was considered a bargain at $500. I don't plan to race the car, and I don't drive particularly aggressively. Could someone tell me if I will even notice a difference with the LSD in normal commuting conditions? I'm hoping that it doesn't take away from the driving experience during normal accelerations and turns in the city.

thanks for your input

 

It wont take anything away. You would have to drive a non-LSD MCS for comparison to notice the LSD in yours. In normal driving, I think you will be less likely to chirp the tires when starting on crosswalk pain at an intersection, or up a hill. However, the difference might be subtle because ASTC should do the same sort of thing as LSD. The difference is that ASTC will slow the car to accomplish its goal, where LSD will transfer power to the non-spinning wheel. So, with LSD should seem a little peppier than without.

 

You'll probably start looking for curvy roads once you pickup your mini.

Since the R56 has more torque, i think the LSD can assist on launching the car from a stop. Get the LSD! $500 is cheaper than 2K down the road.

 

As far as safety goes, if you are making a left hand turn from a stop at a light and you have gotten yourself in a situation where you need to get out of the way really fast, the LSD could save your life. Cars without the LSD will light up the inside tire turning left like this and you won't move very fast, with the LSD, both wheels will pull the car in the direction that they are pointed. This feature is also very good for tearing out of corners at autocross events!!!

 

This only works if you remember to turn DSC OFF before putting your foot down. Otherwise the wheels will spin, the DSC will cut power, and you'll get hit.

This is my biggest complaint about DSC and usually why it's off when on dry pavement.

I'm editing this post to put in the caveat that this is my experience with every car I've ever owned with DSC. Obviously I don't have my MINI yet so I'm only guessing it works the same. It worked this way on the test drive. The test drive car did not have LSD so maybe the LSD is good enough so that DSC does not engage. I'd be interested to know for sure from any with LSD and DSC?

 

You are confusing DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) with ASTC (All-Season Traction Control). DSC is a handling routine that comes into effect when the MINI starts to slide. It has nothing to do with putting power to the ground. It is an optional feature.

ASTC is an acceleration routine that handles spinning drive wheels. When a drive wheel starts to spin, it applies the brake to that wheel and/or cuts engine power. ASTC comes with all MINIs. You cannot get one without it.

In the situation described by PistWalrus, LSD would be helpful because it would delay or prevent ASTC from coming into play. If you don't like ASTC, you want LSD.

 

I drove both MCS with and without LSD. You can fire out of corners with LSD much smoother . Combined with the sport button on makes a lot of fun !
(I think the LSD option in MINI is the 30% type LSD)

 

Well the MINI's isnt a torque biased LSD, and its more likely to cause more understeer with poor driver inputs than without. In a corner if you put down more throttle than the tires can take with the LSD you will end up spinning the outside tire and loosing grip. Without the LSD you would just light up the inside tire but the without crazy steering inputs there shouldnt be much understeer. The LSD really comes into play going out of the corners. Once you straighten out with the LSD you can pretty much mash it, but without you'll have to wait for the suspension to settle and get the loading back on the inside tire. With good driver inputs the LSD will be nice, just have to know you cant mash the throttle and expect the car to turn. Ive been autocrossing without the LSD and doing fine, I just have to pay very good attention to the throttle and it doesn't slow me down too much.