Which E36 production runs had LSD?

[Jeff325i]

Hey guys,

Quick question. I'm currently co-driving a 1992 325i that has a stock LSD. I believe the final ratio is 3.73.

I'm looking into getting a second car so that my team mate and I can both take part in track days.

I'm looking at a 1996 BMW 328is and I'd like to know 1) if that production run came with the LSD and 2) if not, which production runs for the 3 series came with the stock LSD.

Thanks guys !

[Evil Spoonman]

- If the car has traction control, it will not have an LSD.
- LSD came only with the winter package (heated seats... etc).
- All M3s have LSDs.
- If the car does not have TC, and does have the winter package... jack up the rear and test to be sure. There seems to be no absolute rule with these things.
- 1997+ cars came with traction control as standard.
- I am uncertain if 1996 cars without traction control and with winter package came with an LSD.
- OBD1 cars with winter package had LSDs.

[LuvMy328is]

- If the car has traction control, it will not have an LSD.
- LSD came only with the winter package (heated seats... etc).
- All M3s have LSDs.
- If the car does not have TC, and does have the winter package... jack up the rear and test to be sure. There seems to be no absolute rule with these things.
- 1997+ cars came with traction control as standard.
- I am uncertain if 1996 cars without traction control and with winter package came with an LSD.
- OBD1 cars with winter package had LSDs.

Elaboration:

'96+ M cars have ASC & LSD

'96 Non Winter cars still had ASC (have no reason to believe otherwise, this has be discussed extensively)

A 1996 328 will have a 2.93 open diff.

~Phil

[nighthawk328i]

Unless you get an M3, the only 3 series to come with a factory LSD is the winter package 325i from 92 and very early 93. Since you are driving a 92, factory LSD is an option as long as the car has the winter package. All other 3 series have an open diff.

[96bmftw]

I've got a 96 328 with cold weather package and a 2.93 lsd. It has asc too but I'm not sure if maybe it was swapped in. Doubt it thought looks like nothings ever been changed under there

[LuvMy328is]

I've got a 96 328 with cold weather package and a 2.93 lsd. It has asc too but I'm not sure if maybe it was swapped in. Doubt it thought looks like nothings ever been changed under there

I highly doubt you have a 2.93 LSD, that is not an OEM part. Look on the tag on the diff, it will say X.XX S if it is LSD. No 2.93 diffs are going to have LSD from the factory.
~Phil

[svginferno]

- If the car has traction control, it will not have an LSD.
- LSD came only with the winter package (heated seats... etc).
- All M3s have LSDs.
- If the car does not have TC, and does have the winter package... jack up the rear and test to be sure. There seems to be no absolute rule with these things.
- 1997+ cars came with traction control as standard.
- I am uncertain if 1996 cars without traction control and with winter package came with an LSD.
- OBD1 cars with winter package had LSDs.

I agree with most of this.

-Also, 1994 M-Technics came with 3.15 LSDs
-1995 M3 had 3.15 LSDs while 1996+ M3 have 3.23 LSDs, I believe also that early Euro M3s had the 3.23 LSDs
-I think the cold weather package(winter package) rule only applies to pre-1995 cars. Or at least it was also offered as an option from the Dealer.

OP '96s do not have an LSD in the US. Unless it was installed after ownership by an enthusiast.
Also, you are in Canada, the LSD may have been offered on the '96+ models more so than in the US.

[99AMGJ]

My 95 325is has traction control as well as heated seats.

[bushwacstajoe]

if im not mistaken after doing some research i found my 98 328i non winter with ASC had a 3.91:1 ratio lsd OEM....is this true?

it seems like a had the link from somewhere on here

[Evil Spoonman]

And this is exactly why this topic sucks. As soon as you develop a rule to determine which cars have an LSD... you find out BMW actually made a couple cars with or without just to mess with you.

Long and short of it... jack up the back of the car and spin the tires... if they go the same direction... enjoy your LSD.

[bushwacstajoe]

btw that Thompson quote is amazing

[I3MW]

- If the car has traction control, it will not have an LSD.
- LSD came only with the winter package (heated seats... etc).
- All M3s have LSDs.
- If the car does not have TC, and does have the winter package... jack up the rear and test to be sure. There seems to be no absolute rule with these things.
- 1997+ cars came with traction control as standard.
- I am uncertain if 1996 cars without traction control and with winter package came with an LSD.
- OBD1 cars with winter package had LSDs.

I agree with most of this.

-Also, 1994 M-Technics came with 3.15 LSDs
-1995 M3 had 3.15 LSDs while 1996+ M3 have 3.23 LSDs, I believe also that early Euro M3s had the 3.23 LSDs
-I think the cold weather package(winter package) rule only applies to pre-1995 cars. Or at least it was also offered as an option from the Dealer.

OP '96s do not have an LSD in the US. Unless it was installed after ownership by an enthusiast.
Also, you are in Canada, the LSD may have been offered on the '96+ models more so than in the US.

This is best version so far. I'm not sure what ratio the euro M3s are but they are different from the US counter parts, in that they don't just bolt up. Also 95 autos has 3.23s and 96+ had 3.38, all LSDs of course.

BTW, my old 94 318is w/ the winter package had one as well, but LSDs on non M E36s are pretty uncommon.

[Nataliator]

I've got a 96 328 with cold weather package and a 2.93 lsd. It has asc too but I'm not sure if maybe it was swapped in. Doubt it thought looks like nothings ever been changed under there

There was no 2.93 LSD from BMW. Your either swapped to a different ratio, or open diff.

if im not mistaken after doing some research i found my 98 328i non winter with ASC had a 3.91:1 ratio lsd OEM....is this true?

it seems like a had the link from somewhere on here

Your 328 did not have a 3.91 LSD stock. All 328s had a 2.93 from factory.

[Reuffeo]

my '96 328is has all packages available and ASC and came with an open 2.93 diff. if you have the ASC button, you don't have lsd, period. my first mod was swapping in a 3.15 lsd

[LuvMy328is]

There was no 2.93 LSD from BMW. Your either swapped to a different ratio, or open diff.



Your 328 did not have a 3.91 LSD stock. All 328s had a 2.93 from factory.

Auto has a 3.91 OPEN
~Phil

[bimmermane30]

Happiest day of owning my car= when i looked up the options list to my car and saw it had only the 18 button OBC, heated seats, and LSD

Although, being the idiot i can tend to be, i havent checked to see the ratio.. Any 92'ers out there that know what ratio they have? More than likely we have the same.

[Nataliator]

happiest day of owning my car= when i looked up the options list to my car and saw it had only the 18 button obc, heated seats, and lsd

although, being the idiot i can tend to be, i havent checked to see the ratio.. Any 92'ers out there that know what ratio they have? More than likely we have the same.

3.15, if its stock

[WoLF]

BTW, my old 94 318is w/ the winter package had one as well, but LSDs on non M E36s are pretty uncommon.

My 94 318is has a LSD. But no winter package.

[Evil Spoonman]

- LSD came only with the winter package (heated seats... etc).

My 94 318is has a LSD. But no winter package.

As soon as you develop a rule to determine which cars have an LSD... you find out BMW actually made a couple cars with or without just to mess with you.

[Kerwin81]

I have a 92 325is with lsd and no winter package

[Jeff325i]

wow - thanks for all the info guys.

The guy selling the car has two fully built track cars (both beamers) so I'm sure I could just ask him and he'd know.

I'll let you know what happens :P maybe this car will be another exception to the rule.

[zinda]

my 93 325i with winter package has a factory lsd. it made me smile when i jacked up the rear and spun the tires seeing them both go in the same direction. i didnt even know it had a lsd. it was when i just got the car, and was checking. low and behold... yeaaaaaah baby... especially since i got the beast for $800.

[Dirty Phil]

my 94 325is has a 3.23LSD but thats due to me swapping it with my buddy's M3, he wanted my 3.91 really bad so even swap there. the best way to check for LSD is look at the tag stamped on the LSD housing if its a "B" its open "S" for LSD

[Big Empty]

Ok what are the ratios that came for auto vs standard in the 325 and 328?

[Dirty Phil]

i am not sure about the 328i, but I know for a fact that my 325is came with a 3.15 open diff and its a 5spd, im almost positive that the auto's came with the same ratio