Videos Autocar: LSD makes the difference.

[Yperion]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Tarek]

Gorgeous car,definitely one of the best looking coupes outhere

 

[Centurion]

That looks fun.

 

[Mr. M]

Why did BMW stop including LSD into their cars?

 

[chonkoa]

Why did BMW stop including LSD into their cars?

I wish there is a good answer for that other than wanting LSD to be exclusive to M cars.

 

[Deutsch]

Why did BMW stop including LSD into their cars?

I wonder the same about why they decided to stop putting dip sticks in their engines and left that job up to a computer? Cheap turds...

 

[Mr. M]

I wish there is a good answer for that other than wanting LSD to be exclusive to M cars.

ENI!!!

 

[EnI]

I wish there is a good answer for that other than wanting LSD to be exclusive to M cars.

BMW wanted to differentiate M-models from the regular models as much as possible - regarding driving dynamics. LSD is that important difference that gives M-cars that special crisp over the regular model (beside more power & more aggressive other settings): giving M-models that specific drifts.

I guess nobody would buy M cars if regular models offered same or even similar driving fun. M cars should offer some added value over standard models - beside more HP output.

But ...

With competition being more & more aggressive BMW will soon be forced to introduce LSD-like system to regular models as well: mind DPC system which is also mentioned to be featured also in RWD models, not only in AWD ones (Dynamic xDrive). I guess in future some special sport non-M editions can come with DPC - yet will less aggressive setting.

I wonder the same about why they decided to stop putting dip sticks in their engines and left that job up to a computer? Cheap turds...

Technological progress goes on. In the era when sensors monitor numerous engine functions & status, it is logical also the oil level is controlled via sensors. One can say it's over-engineering - beyond necessary. Yet I'm sure most of BMW buyers find this new systems more convenient then checking the dip stick manually - especially women.

Mind that today most of BMW buyers are not enthusiasts like eg 20 years ago. Today BMW is much more luxurious, and customers wanted some convenient features (eg. mind belt-delivery-system in E92, interior decorative lighting, etc).

BMW are quite schizoid today - they have sports & performance genes, yet they strive to be more luxurious. And the customer needs are very different : the sports oriented drivers want more engaging stuff (temperature gauge, oil dip stick, driver oriented cockpit etc), while luxury oriented drivers want more convenient features, more "open" cockpit, etc. So the current BMW models are perhaps a bit too luxury, and less sport in this respect. New models will come with some feature to please sports oriented drivers again (eg. driver oriented cockpit).

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Unless you drive your car on the racetrack hoping to drift/oversteer out of corners with stability and traction control turned OFF, a LSD is NOT a necessity for most people who drive their cars on everyday roads. From cost point of view, it makes sense for some manufacturers to omit such a feature for their cars, as most consumers will never need it.

Having said that, it does suck that some performance oriented manufacturers, like AMG, do not include a standard LSD for their cars, EXCEPT for the absolute top of the line "65" cars.

AMG does offer an optional LSD for some of its models. For some models (like the C55), the only way is to go through the AMG Performance Studio, which means there is no option to order this if you live in North America.

 

[Zafiro]

LSD would help a lot for 335i when compared to S5. S5 has both quattro and LSD and that helps a lot for the traction while 335i has nothing and have more problem putting grip to the tires. Therefore a S5 will do better on a track than 335i.

 

[donau]

As has been pointed out above, limited slip differentials are the preferred diff for track work since they provide lock-up on both acceleration and deceleration. The draw back with the LSDs (that I know of) is that they have clutches that wear. This means maintenance that is not necessarily inexpensive. Those who can afford the expense that results from tracking their cars probably don't really care because there are so many other things that need replacing and maintenance very frequently, and they obviously have the budget for something like that as well.

For street cars a torque-biasing differential, that provides lock-up only on acceleration, is a nice device to have since it is also completely mechanical (the ones I know of) and requires no maintenance since there are no clutches that wear etc.

 

[donau]

I'd be curious to know how BMW's new Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) device differs from the LSDs in their M cars since from what I have read, the DPC sounds like an LSD where they have added an additional planetary gear set and a pair of electronically controlled multi-plate clutches to the differential.

I know LSDs come with different lock rates etc, but is this a case where the DPC is just a less aggressively set-up LSD? Or is there much more to it? (as I suspect there would be).

I would be interested to hear from those in the know regarding the difference