- Joined
- Jan 21, 2005
- Messages
- 27,433
- Location
- Mittel England
- Car
- Smart ForFour AMG Black Series Night Edition Premium Plus 125 Powered by Brabus
If you're not familiar with what a Quaife ATB LSD is, you may find this webpage a useful introduction.
In short though, an ATB LSD improves acceleration and cornering speed, by sensing which of the driven wheels has the most grip, and smoothly channels power to that wheel.
In many real life conditions, a modern car may have greater power at it's disposal than grip will allow to be transmitted to the road, and so ESP intervenes. With an LSD more of that power can be deployed more of the time.
In addition to the obvious performance benefits, the ATB LSD can help in any low grip conditions (wet, snow, ice), especially useful for relatively powerful RWD cars with wide tyres.
In recent years it's been cheaper to use computer technology to take the place of an LSD. Whilst the safety aspects of technology are welcomed, there's no substitute to a mechanical LSD for optimum performance.
That's not to say that an LSD and computer technology can't work together though - they can - it's just that the ESP isn't required so much as the LSD maximises the way in which the available grip is used.
Sounds good? So what are the options?
Kleemann offer an own-brand LSD with upto 60% lock-up which they claim can reduce the 0-62mph time by 0.3 seconds!! Read more about the Kleemann LSD here.
Kleemann charge £1795.00 + VAT for parts and £451.00 + VAT for fitting (about £2650 all in) - although this is based upon 2005 prices as they won't respond to my enquiry!!
Birds offer Quaife LSDs and they've received great magazine reviews recently having fitted one to their Hartge BMW 335i recently. Read more about the Birds/Quaife LSD here.
Birds charge £1173.20 for parts and £550.45 for fitting (about £1725 all in) - not sure if that's inclusive or exclusive of VAT though - I suspect VAT is extra though.
Still sounds good? Wouldn't it be better if they were cheaper though?
I've been in touch with Quaife directly to see if there's a deal to be had. And there is!!
Quaife will charge £675.00 + VAT for parts and £125.00 + VAT for fitting (about £940 all in) - and that includes VAT. They do warn though that there may or may not be an extra charge should they find any bearings or seals that need replacement.
My contact there is very open to negotiate further if we can arrange a group buy.
That's already an excellent price for the improvement in performance on offer - especially when you consider the part has a lifetime warranty. To get an equivalent improvement in performance from engine tuning would very likely cost a lot more.
All prices quoted above are for the C32 AMG, in the interests of parity. Quaife use the same LSD for the W203 C32K and W210 E55. They also list separate parts for the W211 E55K, and 500 SLC.
That means that there's an application for the 32K, 55 (N/A), and 55K engined cars. Given that the same engine and gearboxes appear in other AMG models too, I'm guessing that the may be potential for other models too - just that they've never been installed. We'd therefore need to check about suitability for CL55, CLK55, S55, CL55K, CLS55K, S55K, etc.
For now all I'm looking to do is gauge interest only to see if there is the opportunity to negotiate a keener price.
Please post on this thread if you're interested.
In short though, an ATB LSD improves acceleration and cornering speed, by sensing which of the driven wheels has the most grip, and smoothly channels power to that wheel.
In many real life conditions, a modern car may have greater power at it's disposal than grip will allow to be transmitted to the road, and so ESP intervenes. With an LSD more of that power can be deployed more of the time.
In addition to the obvious performance benefits, the ATB LSD can help in any low grip conditions (wet, snow, ice), especially useful for relatively powerful RWD cars with wide tyres.
In recent years it's been cheaper to use computer technology to take the place of an LSD. Whilst the safety aspects of technology are welcomed, there's no substitute to a mechanical LSD for optimum performance.
That's not to say that an LSD and computer technology can't work together though - they can - it's just that the ESP isn't required so much as the LSD maximises the way in which the available grip is used.
Sounds good? So what are the options?
Kleemann offer an own-brand LSD with upto 60% lock-up which they claim can reduce the 0-62mph time by 0.3 seconds!! Read more about the Kleemann LSD here.
Kleemann charge £1795.00 + VAT for parts and £451.00 + VAT for fitting (about £2650 all in) - although this is based upon 2005 prices as they won't respond to my enquiry!!
Birds offer Quaife LSDs and they've received great magazine reviews recently having fitted one to their Hartge BMW 335i recently. Read more about the Birds/Quaife LSD here.
Birds charge £1173.20 for parts and £550.45 for fitting (about £1725 all in) - not sure if that's inclusive or exclusive of VAT though - I suspect VAT is extra though.
Still sounds good? Wouldn't it be better if they were cheaper though?
I've been in touch with Quaife directly to see if there's a deal to be had. And there is!!
Quaife will charge £675.00 + VAT for parts and £125.00 + VAT for fitting (about £940 all in) - and that includes VAT. They do warn though that there may or may not be an extra charge should they find any bearings or seals that need replacement.
My contact there is very open to negotiate further if we can arrange a group buy.
That's already an excellent price for the improvement in performance on offer - especially when you consider the part has a lifetime warranty. To get an equivalent improvement in performance from engine tuning would very likely cost a lot more.
All prices quoted above are for the C32 AMG, in the interests of parity. Quaife use the same LSD for the W203 C32K and W210 E55. They also list separate parts for the W211 E55K, and 500 SLC.
That means that there's an application for the 32K, 55 (N/A), and 55K engined cars. Given that the same engine and gearboxes appear in other AMG models too, I'm guessing that the may be potential for other models too - just that they've never been installed. We'd therefore need to check about suitability for CL55, CLK55, S55, CL55K, CLS55K, S55K, etc.
For now all I'm looking to do is gauge interest only to see if there is the opportunity to negotiate a keener price.
Please post on this thread if you're interested.