Quaife LSD review

[moveswiftly]

So recently purchased an LSD from Harold @ HPA. Hoped to help plant my horsepower, increase rear end traction, increase my times on the track, and make the car safer in the rain / snow.
I opted for the full 3.46 final drive since my car is an automatic, and wanted an easy bolt on solution. Shipping took 3-4 days from California and the box was very well packaged.



Cornering Improvement and the ability to power out of turns
As a person who does a few track days a year, I go by the rule slow in fast out... Normally i'd lay off the throttle till I'd straighten out before gunning it. With the LSD I immediately noticed the cars desire to want me to gun it in the turn. I'd go into the turn, hit the apex and give half to 3/4 throttle immediately with very little DSC intervention. At times the tail would come out a little BUT it was controlled. I love the way i can take corners now, feels amazing. Very controlled. RECOMMENDED FOR ANY TRACK DRIVER!

Straight Line Acceleration Improvement
being that I'm still on runflats with only 3-4/32n'ds of tread in the rear this wont be as accurate with someone with really good sticky tires. But previously if i would want to gun it from a light, I'd give light gas till the wheels gripped then floor it. Now, I can give half- full throttle off the line, have BOTH tires spin, as i feel the LSD fighting it's way for grip and then just go. DSC kicks in far less than it wouuld previously. The annoying throttle cutting function of DSC is gone, and I have to say good riddance... I can seriously say that it's much easier for me to accelerate hard. Some info about my performance mods: JB3(swtiching to Procede :P), Dual Cone Intake, BMW Performance Exhaust.

Rain performance
In the rain the car is so much fun... I took DSC fully of the other day and was taking some hard turns allowing the tail to come out. God it was fun to use steering correction wihle staying on the throttle to keep a perfect drift with both wheels spinning. VERY controlled... Felt like an m car =)

Overall. Third best mod I've done to my car after KW V2 Coilovers and Jb3. car should've come like this... I'll post some hard acceleration videos too. I just got my car detailed so I'm trying to keep it clean :P

[mineo77]

did you do anything to the rear suspension? Sway, bushings? I have heard mixed advice about this. My LSD is on order and wondering if you will need to do anything.

[skeltah]

How does it work with the ediff?

[moveswiftly]

Originally Posted by mineo77

did you do anything to the rear suspension? Sway, bushings? I have heard mixed advice about this. My LSD is on order and wondering if you will need to do anything.

I was going to do rear sway bar and bushings but finances limited what I could do . Next year...

[moveswiftly]

Originally Posted by skeltah

How does it work with the ediff?

DSC / DTC still work fine. But They kick in FAR less with the LSD... With the LSD I really don't have to click dtc to allow a little slippage. the LSD allows a little slippage off the bat...

[BMW86]

Nice review. Can you do some comparisons in what it's like to launch the car? I've always launched with DSC/DTC completely off. Also, OT: how come you're switching to Procede? Jb3 ftw

[moveswiftly]

Originally Posted by BMW86

Nice review. Can you do some comparisons in what it's like to launch the car? I've always launched with DSC/DTC completely off. Also, OT: how come you're switching to Procede? Jb3 ftw

Yeah I'll do a few videos later. I just had my car fully detailed and I'm tryign to keep it as clean look as possible.

Why the switch to procede? 1. Timing Control. As I'll be adding Downpipes soon and possibly Methanol Injection next year I want to be sure that the boost I'm running isn't causing my engine to knock and isn't gonna hurt my engine in the long term. Plus Procede makes about the same horsepower on lower boost levels... gives you something to think. Yes, JB3 is going to go CAN and is supposedly going to have Timing control BUT it'll still be behind the game compared to Procede.. Anyways, i'm digressing. DOn't wanna start a JB3 vs Procede debate again :P

[The1]

can't wait to see the vids!

congrats on the new toy...

i'm super jealous right now, still waiting for mine to show up on the doorstep....

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by chesterfan1230

Yeah I'll do a few videos later. I just had my car fully detailed and I'm tryign to keep it as clean look as possible.

Why the switch to procede? 1. Timing Control. As I'll be adding Downpipes soon and possibly Methanol Injection next year I want to be sure that the boost I'm running isn't causing my engine to knock and isn't gonna hurt my engine in the long term. Plus Procede makes about the same horsepower on lower boost levels... gives you something to think. Yes, JB3 is going to go CAN and is supposedly going to have Timing control BUT it'll still be behind the game compared to Procede.. Anyways, i'm digressing. DOn't wanna start a JB3 vs Procede debate again :P

Fair call, I was just curious as to your reasons for the change. I'm aware the Procede is currently ahead in the features department but hopefully the JB3 Gen4 will close the gap with CAN. I'm not starting a tuners debate, to me they are both on the same level and the difference in performance is minimal. Also, I read your thread on n54 a while ago and considering the Procede car had a full turbo back exhaust plus a FMIC he only beat you by 1 car length, I find that rather impressive for the JB car, hence the curiosity http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10303

I look forward to seeing some videos of your LSD in action

[HP Autosport]

Nice write-up!

The added traction really help you put the power down, to both wheels, not just one.

Why lots of people don't have this mod on their list is really beyond me, at least add it in behind power adders mods(JB3, Proceed or GIAC). Both Terry and Shiv knows how important a good LSD is, they have both purchased Quaife from us in the past.

[mineo77]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

Nice write-up!

The added traction really help you put the power down, to both wheels, not just one.

Why lots of people don't have this mod on their list is really beyond me, at least add it in behind power adders mods(JB3, Proceed or GIAC). Both Terry and Shiv knows how important a good LSD is, they have both purchased Quaife from us in the past.

Putting mine on order today or monday, trying to figure out between the Quaife and Wavetrac...pretty sure they are made out of the same factory but that is just a hunch.

Agree 100%, if you add power your car needs to handle it!

[scott135i]

I will have my Wavetrac LSD soon. I am volunteering Chesterfan1320 to do back to back comparisons of the Quaife LSD vs the Wavetrac with me. We have identical cars (except he is slightly cooler for now b/c he has KW V2s.... and tints, but I have lightweight wheels and better tires for now). The comparison will focus on the LSD only (if its possible to ignore the obvious awesome benefits of the KWs)

[Xaeryan]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

Nice write-up!

The added traction really help you put the power down, to both wheels, not just one.

Why lots of people don't have this mod on their list is really beyond me, at least add it in behind power adders mods(JB3, Proceed or GIAC). Both Terry and Shiv knows how important a good LSD is, they have both purchased Quaife from us in the past.

Why? Because for those of us with the welded-diff (manuals), it's a $3500+ ordeal for a 1400 dollar part.
Time for a black Friday sale Harold, $1000 off for manual guys only. ;-)

[The1]

Originally Posted by scott135i

I will have my Wavetrac LSD soon. I am volunteering Chesterfan1320 to do back to back comparisons of the Quaife LSD vs the Wavetrac with me. We have identical cars (except he is slightly cooler for now b/c he has KW V2s.... and tints, but I have lightweight wheels and better tires for now). The comparison will focus on the LSD only (if its possible to ignore the obvious awesome benefits of the KWs)

I'll be waiting

hopefully this comparo review comes soonerthen my Wavetrac does

[skeltah]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

Nice write-up!

The added traction really help you put the power down, to both wheels, not just one.

Why lots of people don't have this mod on their list is really beyond me, at least add it in behind power adders mods(JB3, Proceed or GIAC). Both Terry and Shiv knows how important a good LSD is, they have both purchased Quaife from us in the past.

Any thoughts on the 3.08 vs 3.46 gearing? is it really worth the extra cash in a manual 135i?

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Xaeryan

Why? Because for those of us with the welded-diff (manuals), it's a $3500+ ordeal for a 1400 dollar part.
Time for a black Friday sale Harold, $1000 off for manual guys only. ;-)

+1, need Black Friday pricing for us manual guys

[Lubo]

Originally Posted by ///M1

+1, need Black Friday pricing for us manual guys

LSD was my no.1 priority but the price is a bit steep for MT guys.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by Xaeryan

Why? Because for those of us with the welded-diff (manuals), it's a $3500+ ordeal for a 1400 dollar part.
Time for a black Friday sale Harold, $1000 off for manual guys only. ;-)

Mike@N54Tuning organized a group buy on Wavetrac LSDs last month. Complete assembled units for cars with welded diffs cost less than half of $3500.

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by GaryS

Mike@N54Tuning organized a group buy on Wavetrac LSDs last month. Complete assembled units for cars with welded diffs cost less than half of $3500.

Link? And you're talking complete unit for $1700, no core charge and I keep my current diff?

[GaryS]

^^ It is closed already, but here's the link. Also, no, you don't keep your current diff. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436479

[Xaeryan]

Originally Posted by GaryS

Mike@N54Tuning organized a group buy on Wavetrac LSDs last month. Complete assembled units for cars with welded diffs cost less than half of $3500.

To be fair, you should consider the core of $800 in the group-buy prices (or remove $1000 from my figure of $3500 before you compare) since the $3500 I posted up includes core pricing. So in the group buy case, it's a $2400 ordeal for a $992 part. Also, that is the Wavetrac, while my figure was for the Quaife. Change $3500 (in my earlier post) to $2995 if we wish to compare the Wavetrac. And to clarify, in both cases the prices are before S/H and labor fees.

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by Xaeryan

To be fair, you should consider the core of $800 in the group-buy prices (or remove $1000 from my figure of $3500 before you compare) since the $3500 I posted up includes core pricing. So in the group buy case, it's a $2400 ordeal for a $992 part. Also, that is the Wavetrac, while my figure was for the Quaife. Change $3500 (in my earlier post) to $2995 if we wish to compare the Wavetrac. And to clarify, in both cases the prices are before S/H and labor fees.

Exactly, in most cases a quaife is $895-$1395 depending on the vehicle plus the normal install fee. In our case it's a $1300 part plus custom machine work plus the normal install fee or we just buy an entire new pumpkin.