Newbie Question from New Owner - LSD on stock 525i manual?

[repenttokyo]

Hi everyone,

I just purchased a 1991 525i 5 speed, Calypso Red. I love the car and I am second owner. Luckily, the original owner was a maintenance freak! I used this board a lot to research the e34 before I made my decision, so for that I thank you.

I performed a search, but I couldn't find an answer to my question: Does my car come with an LSD stock? And what is the rear gear ratio of my car?

Thanks!

[Fetch]

I know this post won't be too helpful, sorry lol, but here's what I've got for you & a bump:
See if you can see a tag on the diff, I know I'm not being very helpful, but there is a 'different' tag for LSD...

or, Jack both rear tires off the ground, spin one tire by hand, if the other tire spins in the opposite direction, you don't have LSD. If the tires spin the same direction, you do have LSD.

[steve0suprem0]

99.9% sure no 525 had LSD

[repenttokyo]

fair enough, thanks guys.

[colo525i]

My 92 525 has the LSD, the lift one wheel up definitely works, just block the front wheels so the car doesn't go rolling away. Don't know what the standard diff looks like, but i do know LSD was a pricey option as listed on the window sticker.

[repenttokyo]

is there any way to decode from the vin number whether it was selected as an option or not?

[Fetch]

No, but you can play with this if you'd like:

http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi

[colo525i]

Don't think so, even with my VIN into real oem, it lists both the LSD and the standard diff. From looking at the diagrams the housings don't look different either. I am pretty sure it was not a common option. Another (more fun) test is to put one wheel on pavement, one on dirt, and then let loose with the throttle. If it just spins, no LSD, if it tire on the pavement grabs traction and goes, you have an LSD

[Fetch]

Another (more fun) test is to put one wheel on pavement, one on dirt, and then let loose with the throttle. If it just spins, no LSD, if it tire on the pavement grabs traction and goes, you have an LSD

haha, I forgot about that test, and it is more fun!, just make sure your ASC is off if you've got it ;)

[fujioko]

I also have LSD on my 92 525i. It appears the origional owner optioned the car with all the right stuff. Black with black leather, 5 speed, LSD and heated seats.

[bjl4776]

If you have ASC i doubt you have a LSD. Do a burnout or the back end off the ground trick, But when BMW came out with ASC they thought it was a more civil way to get traction was with ASC

[repenttokyo]

I don't have asc as far as I know. no button.

[MPD47]

'89 525i, no heated seats, but I certainly have an LSD.

http://www.mturck.com/e34/DSCF6246.jpg

[Paul in NZ]

the diff will have a tag with the ratio and if its an LSD it will have a letter ussually an S

[BMWCCA1]

LSD was an option on the 525i in your year. ASC was not, until 1994 model year in the U.S. and then it was ASC+T. Ask any dealer to run a "vehicle history" for you and it will list the option string. IIRC, LSD was option code 209 and cost something like $500. It's only a 25% lock, so don't be surprised if you can't tell if you have it by driving it.

[525ikicker]

just get some wet pavement, or just lift the car and spin the tires if the both tires spinn the same way u got lsd

[hk20000]

today got stuck in the back alley of some dude in surrey

yes it has LSD it intermittently spins both wheels (about 50% of the time)..... not locking hard enough for breaking out of the back alley, I spun both wheels to like 100km/h and steaming up the snow from doing so....who the hell blocks an alley in the middle of the block with a concrete barrier and make me stop right on some thick snow?? WTF?

out came the shovel.