2007 335i

[MikeE30325i]

THANK YOU. bmw has never made a v6 for a 3 series. just the V8 for the M3 recently.

they had v12's in some models in the 80's 750il's didnt they? what "e" is that gen btw?

[Eric Giles]

I thought the e46 m3 had no lsd.

It does-I believe it is called an 'M Variable Differential' or something to that effect. They work fine, its just once they get a few miles on them they become very 'clunky' during shifting.

[silversleeper]

badass car! i love the power delivery, oh, and the seatbelt assist thingy is cool too!

[Mike325]

they had v12's in some models in the 80's 750il's didnt they? what "e" is that gen btw?

The 750il e38 had a v12 as well as the e32 maybe? The e31 8-series had an optional v12 as well. The current v12 is in the e66 760il.

[Denton]

Sorry to disagree-but an open diff feels like an open diff regardless of what electronic gizmos you use to try to mask it. I know people get tired of me mentioning this, but I have owned 3 E46's and the lack of LSD really hurts-and DSC doesn't help make up for it at all in aggressive driving.


What BMW should do is at least offer the LSD as a seperate option for around $500 or so. But it's probably never going to happen.

No, I do agree with you, especially on the E46 comment. It's not uncommon for the more hardcore to be trading their 330ci's for an E36 M3.
And a limited-slip should be an option, but corresponding with the direction BMW is going, they feel that electronics more than compensate.

I call bullshit too, but it's slightly better than an open diff, just not nearly as good as a limited slip.

[Garageaholic]

Like i asked before, can you swap an e46 diff into an e90/e92?

[325iCabrio]

Like i asked before, can you swap an e46 diff into an e90/e92?

I might be wrong, but it seems like the E46 LSD is electronically variable, so I'd think installing one would be a PITA what with wiring and stuff. But, like I said, I could be wrong.

[Brew]

Most of the reason BMW doesn't put LSDs in their non-M cars nowadays is because the majority of their customers are inexperienced drivers who have no idea what to do when the rear end steps out while they're trying to accelerate around a corner.

[Garageaholic]

Then why were they offered so plentiful 20 years ago?

I say cost, but that's just me.

[325iCabrio]

Then why were they offered so plentiful 20 years ago?

I say cost, but that's just me.

Like 2002Maniac said, it's because it'd be competition for the M3, and from a business perspective, that's bad. Plus a lot of regular people probably think the electronic aides are better, and while they offer benefits, the mechanical ones are superior.

I was reading in Automobile that BMW was very angry American customers wanted a six speed in the new M5 because they thought the SMG was crap. Seems to me that everybody in the M division would understand why customers would want that. I hope BMW doesn't water down their stuff like Mercedes has, but so far it doesn't look good.

[Brew]

Then why were they offered so plentiful 20 years ago?

I say cost, but that's just me.

Because people are sue-happy nowadays. This was BMW's excuse was for not putting an LSD in the Z8.

[ptownTSI]

Because people are sue-happy nowadays. This was BMW's excuse was for not putting an LSD in the Z8.

what/!? blasphemy, i wanted one of those until i read that.

[ptownTSI]

Most of the reason BMW doesn't put LSDs in their non-M cars nowadays is because the majority of their customers are inexperienced drivers who have no idea what to do when the rear end steps out while they're trying to accelerate around a corner.

it should still be an option though. you can get LSD's on mustangs, SRT-4's, the camaro when they made it...all those people weren't "experienced" drivers. it would be nice to know the truth behind all our guessing.

[ptownTSI]

I thought the e46 m3 had no lsd.

only M cars after 1995 got LSD's. nothing else!

[mtechnik]

well good thing that there are aftermarket options regarding LSD's . Diffsonline, for example.