330ci welded differential (100% lock) anyone done it?

May sound like a stupid idea but I just really want to get sideways and the cost a clutch type LSD installed is rediculous (£1300+ in the UK and that's as cheap as they get here), so as many of the drifters on a budget do, welding is an option as I could get one all done for £500.

Question is, has anyone done this, if so what is it like? I know it will skip like crazy at low turning speeds but will the DTC have a fit? What's it like for every day driving? Motorways etc? Any help would be great!

we've had a discussion on BFC about this. I didn't have the balls to ever post in this forum because i know i was gonna get flamed. lol.

I thnk the dsc will have a major fit when your in slow speed situations where teh inside wheel skips.

I was really close to doing it. its just i don't want to run it every day so i'm waiting to get a 2nd diff so i could swap it in and out when i want.

My friend has one in his s14 which i've driven quiet a bit. As far as drifting goes... its absolutely great. the slightest flick and your sideways. If you trying to drive it in the rain, its a bit tricky, but hey that's just going to make you learn throttle control. lol. As far as parking lots, it gets annoying because it skips. Canyoning or track is where it fails, since it is 100% lock you can't really power out of corners like you want to be able to so it'll slow you down in that sense.

buy an e36 i think they come with lsd's and theyre dirt cheap now. sorry i dont really know about what you mentioned above.
is it not possible for us to get sideways with an open diff? obviously its not as great, but is it possible at all?

Originally Posted by mav909

buy an e36 i think they come with lsd's and theyre dirt cheap now. sorry i dont really know about what you mentioned above.
is it not possible for us to get sideways with an open diff? obviously its not as great, but is it possible at all?

its definitely possible, you have to pitch it in there with some speed and you can drift.

I don't know if you've ever drifted a car with lsd vs one without, but there is a lot more control with lsd.

It sucks without. I've had other cars with welders and 2-way's, 1.5-way's and they make a massive difference.

The fast driving in the twisties does bother me too, which is why i'm really unsure how much i'll comprimise the car with one. It's a daily driver too.

Plain and simple: you don't want to do that to a daily driver.

I had a welded center differential in my AWD Talon. (Result of too many 6k clutch drops). It was good for launching, but pretty annoying in parking lots.

Originally Posted by mav909

buy an e36 i think they come with lsd's and theyre dirt cheap now. sorry i dont really know about what you mentioned above.
is it not possible for us to get sideways with an open diff? obviously its not as great, but is it possible at all?

+1 on finding an early model E36 with a LSD from the factory. Look for a 1994 or earlier model with sport package and cold weather package and you're fairly likely to find an LSD.

Originally Posted by TxZHP04

Plain and simple: you don't want to do that to a daily driver.

Yup, it is hell in a daily driver to go around turns with a welded diff

Does a 01 330ci have a medium case diff (Type 188) i think? If so, do you mean find an earlier version med case lsd and build that into mine?

Could be a plan worth exploring.

Your car will be optimized for one thing (sliding sideways) and ruined for everything else. Just spend the money for a good lsd (Blanton or Metric Mechanic).

Yeah, I've written the idea off. Going to have to save up for a Kaaz I think or do some research into building an LSD from an earlier model into the 330 casing, which could be as costly in time + labour.

There is no older model LSD that is a direct fit. From the Performance Gearing web site:

Because of the ring and pinion offset and smaller confines of the main housing itself, no existing stock limited slip unit will fit any of the following '95 and later models: E39 (except M5), E38 (3/96 and later), E46 (except M3), Z8, X5, Z4, E65 and the new 5 series.

so does this rule out a LSD all together? can we put one in without the DSC going crazy? and will tracking the car be better with an LSD or is it still for just going sideways?

an lsd will make a huge different when tracking the car. However a welded diff (i.e. full lock) is pretty much for only straight line launches and drifting.

man keep your eyes open for a member selling a diff. I saw an diffs online lsd going for $1500 not to long ago. my girlfriend wouldn't let me make the plunge though.

so whats better? 1.5 way/ 2 way? whats the difference?

Originally Posted by akb4

so whats better? 1.5 way/ 2 way? whats the difference?

depends on applications.

for instance, 1 way lsds only lock on acceleration, 1.5s lock on acceleration and partially when you slow down. 2 way is on acceleration AND deceleration.

can you give me an example of when locking would be good when slowing down?
and whats the advantage/disadvantages of having partially/full lock?