LSD in a '92 automatic vert?

[Wurst_e30]

Searched and couldn't find answers, apologies if it's a dumb question but I've heard that the automatic verts came standard with an LSD but wasn't sure if it was true or which kind they came with if it is true.

Also if said LSD was in an auto could it be paired with a manual transmisson?

[KenC]

Not all autos came with LSD. Yes, you can mate it to a manual.

[samiam3356]

Where about's in the Ham you from?

[hyperE30]

My 92 vert has a s4.10.. and it's auto

[u3b3rg33k]

My 87 325i (not iS) came with an s3.73.

[slammin.e28]

If I was peddling LSD, I certainly wouldn't have an auto 'vert....it'd be a 5sp.

[Garageaholic]

My unmolested 325i Convertible (turned 335i) came with a S3.73 when I bought it.

[Eecen]

Just steer clear of bat country and you should be good.

[LJ851]

LSD's were optional. If your car is auto it will have a 4.10 gear and if it's a manual it will have a 3.73. Auto's are more overdriven so both cars have a similar engine speed for a given road speed. If you put a 4.10 behind a 5 speed it will rev higher at a given road speed than the auto would. If you do a lot of highway driving, the 4.10 is a little much, but makes for fun around town.

[slammin.e28]

Just steer clear of bat country and you should be good.

....I'm already there....

[u3b3rg33k]

LSD's were optional. If your car is auto it will have a 4.10 gear and if it's a manual it will have a 3.73. Auto's are more overdriven so both cars have a similar engine speed for a given road speed. If you put a 4.10 behind a 5 speed it will rev higher at a given road speed than the auto would. If you do a lot of highway driving, the 4.10 is a little much, but makes for fun around town.

Perhaps... Mine was a s3.73 + ZF4HP22...

I promptly broke the ZF and replaced it with a proper 5 speed box.

[slammin.e28]

LSD was a option. The original owner of the car had to check the box for option #209 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (25%)

Sure, the factory could have just thrown one in there for shits and giggles but that's beyond the point. It will be listed on the option code list regardless.

Easiest way to tell is not by going online and searching "does my car have LSD?" First of all, yes, it probably does have some LSD somewhere, being a BMW from the 80s/ early 90s.

To really tell, you can put the car in the air, or so that both rear wheels are off the ground, and spin them. If they spin in the SAME direction, your car had illicit drugs in the diff. If they spin opposite directions, you have no LSD, or the clutches are burnt out from excessive drifting and shit, probably by someone on LSD.

If that fails, you can just crawl under the car and clean off the diff tag, and look for an "S", but that's only if you HAVE a diff tag (I like to collect them myself), and it's not corroded all to hell.

Failing that, take the rear cover off the diff and if you can see the planetary gears, your diff is open. Literally, you'll be able to see through an open diff. If it looks like a soup/soda can inside, you have LSD, don't open that can.

Hope this helps.

[Wurst_e30]

Wow, thanks for all the response guize :)

The thing is the question isn't whether or not it's on the car I bought but one I've found at a yard near where I live, and the thought of possibly passing up a cheap LSD that I could put into my 318i would make me feel like an idiot (more so than asking for help on here).

I was asking because if it is I want it but I also needed to know if it would mate up to a manual transmission with it being from an auto

If it is one I'd hope for the 4:10 just to get a little more pep out of the M10 of it till I do a swap later on.

Where about's in the Ham you from?

Pinson if you know of the place, it's more of a suburb about 15 minutes outside of Birmingham.

[Wurst_e30]

Failing that, take the rear cover off the diff and if you can see the planetary gears, your diff is open. Literally, you'll be able to see through an open diff. If it looks like a soup/soda can inside, you have LSD, don't open that can.

Hope this helps.

Thanks man this does help, I'll have to take a look this week.

[LJ851]

Wow, thanks for all the response guize :)I was asking because if it is I want it but I also needed to know if it would mate up to a manual transmission with it being from an auto

The diff does not know or even care what kind of trans the car has. However there are two different size diffs that came on E30's. 4 cyl cars have small case diffs and 6 cyl cars have medium case diffs. Since your car is 4 cyl, you need a LSD out of a 4 cyl car.