LSDs
Author
Discussion

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
Hello,

I'm going to be honest here I don't know a tonne about cars etc. I'm test driving an E36 323i tonight and I'm just interested to know if they have a LSD as standard?

Can anyone also in lamens terms please explain what the hell it does?!

Thanks.

greggie87

213 posts

210 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
Your car will not have an LSD as standard.

LSD stands for limited slip differential. It basically means that when excessive power is sent towards the back wheels, the diff 'locks' and allows both rear wheels to spin. (This is why people like LSDs to do nice burnouts and go drifting)

Your car will have an open diff. This means only one will spin.

Think thats as basic as i can make it!

aeropilot

40,749 posts

257 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I've driven sheds loads of LSD equipped cars on the road and in competition (both gear type or clutch type) and none have ever prevented either wheel from spinning.
The first description above is the more accurate IMHO thumbup

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
right well i'm interested in tracking this new shed if I do indeed buy it. so are they a recommended mod? I'm not fussed about wasting money on tyres just to do burnouts or drifts although drifting can be fun I'm more interested in having fun on track.

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeahp I was thinking that way too. I'm thinking brakes, braces/struts whatever you call them and inlet manifold. I'm very new to this tell me if I'm doing something wrong. I'll no doubt inform the masses if I do buy it. hah.

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
pfft, Vehichle not as described, nice scrape on the left hand side...They didn't even bother to pump up the flat tyre it had ready for my test drive that I booked yesterday...what a ste dealer.

PJR

2,616 posts

242 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
I wouldn't use a 323 for a track car anyway. Its a detuned 325 engine. 2.5 6's are very nice n all, but in detuned form its quite lazy as BMW 6's go. Nice for cruising around on the road. But no good for track use.

P,

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
I see!

would a 325 be better suited then? there's more of them about so might make my search a bit easier =]

DSM2

3,624 posts

230 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Correct. Absolutely.

Why on earth would one want to create a device that was aimed at getting both wheels to spin rather than one?

The LSD is an aid to traction and optimises that. End of story.

Smashed

Original Poster:

1,886 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
that sounds right to me. well LSD can wait and so can a 325 as i can't find one and I think the insurance is a tad too much (I'm 20 with no NCB)

Job38

1,973 posts

266 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
Smashed said:
Hello,

I'm going to be honest here I don't know a tonne about cars etc. I'm test driving an E36 323i tonight and I'm just interested to know if they have a LSD as standard?

Can anyone also in lamens terms please explain what the hell it does?!

Thanks.
PistonHeads - where pedantry matters wink

layman |ˈlāmən|
noun ( pl. -men)
1 a nonordained member of a church.
2 a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject : the book seems well suited to the interested layman.

phelix

4,683 posts

279 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
start with the driver!

sniff diesel

13,127 posts

242 months

Thursday 11th June 2009
quotequote all
phelix said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
start with the driver!
For a track car start with losing some weight. I reckon I've shed 1/4 tonne from my 325i.