[Bakeme521]

First let me start by saying thanks to mike@n54tuning for setting up the group buy and getting quite a few people this awesome piece of engineering for a killer price. The wavetrac got here pretty quickly and was itching to get it in and finally did so yesterday after having the unit for about 2 weeks.

The install got a bit frustrating, this is what happened along the course of the last 2 days...

I knew to remove the pumpkin it required a 50mm wrench and personally didn't wan't to buy the ar one b/c I THOUGHT that I would be able to just go to sears or a local tool shop to pick one up. I couldn't have been more wrong. Called every place in town and nothing. So I figured I would have to get creative, and I did. I am a mechanical engineering student at LSU so I have access to the engineering fab shop. I went over there looked through the scrap metal pile, gathered up a few pieces, measured out 50mm, and welded up my own wrench. Check it out.

So now that I had the tool I needed, I got to work and got that thing out, which wasn't to easy with just the back of the car up on jackstands, but after 2 hours it was out. So the next morning I brought it to the local diff shop. They told me this was their first BMW differential when I got there, which didn't excite me too much but it was the only specialized gear and rear end place within a 100 mile radius. About 2 hours after I dropped it off I get a call from them saying they bent both of the seals taking them out. So I get on the phone with local dealers trying to see how soon I could some new ones. I finally got them ordered and they were being overnighted and would have them the next morning. I call the shop back and let them know they will be there tomorrow morning and they say ok great we'll have it for you tomorrow morning. I was relieved after getting that all straightened out, but that didn't last long. I got another call from the shop about 30 min later and they tell me that I have the wrong one b/c they got the LSD in and its not even close to fitting. I then call wavetrac and they immediately ask for the shops number so they can call them. I then get a call back from wavetrac about 10 min later and they told me they got it all settled no worries it fits just fine, and then another call from the shop shortly after with the same news. So BIG thanks to wavetrac with awesome customer support, they had it settled in no time.

Now that everything is finally settled its officially out with the old.

And in with the new.

Picked it up the following morning, and once I got out of class I got right on the install. Putting it back in wasn't all to bad, and I got it back in in about 2 hours with a buddies help. Custom wrench worked like a charm again, I have a officially added a new tool to the tool box.

Now that I got it in let me start by saying GOOD GOD the car is whole other animal! The car literally feels completely different. The power delivery is 10 times better, and there isn't anymore light shows for your spirited driving it anymore. The car definitely accelerates much much harder than before, no more 1 tire fire and no more wavy feelings from power transfer between the rear wheels. Just straight hard acceleration under WOT. In tight turns the car feels so much more predictable, and instead of lifting and spinning the inside tire, it will actually try to oversteer on you until TC comes in. All in all I think this is the best thing I have done to my car yet and if anyone here is "thinking" about pulling the trigger on an LSD install, DO IT! I promise you its worth it and you won't regret it!

[balance]

i wish install rates were much lower on these.

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by balance

i wish install rates were much lower on these.

The actual chunk install was 125, not too too bad.

[Robmaster]

did you have the bolted or the welded version???

[dbjb]

MT or AT?

[BlakeAction]

Awesome man! That's great! I have a similar problem around here in that nobody wants to work on LSDs, so I'm having the shop remove the pumpkin (don't feel comfortable doing it myself) and then its being sent off for the swap. Then they will reinstall once they get the finished carrier back. It's gonna take about a week, but I can't wait! Now if only I could get the HPFP issue fixed....ha ha

[dzenno]

Congrats on your Wavetrac...reading your review gave me a flashback to the awesomeness I felt after the install as well...its the single best mod after the tune done to this car

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Glad you got it in..

Great job on the 50mm wrench.. Ghetto fabulous LOL

Mike

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by Robmaster

did you have the bolted or the welded version???

bolted

Originally Posted by dsbj

MT or AT?

6MT

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by maxnix

Yeah, the welded differentials are a lot harder.

Nice install.

Yeah I was lucky enough to have a bolted one, it transformed the car.

[WWM3]

Thanks for the write up. Sounds like a great mod!

[Forcefed3]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

The actual chunk install was 125, not too too bad.

Where at?

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by gbreeE90

Where at?

Zimmer gears, its right by y'alls powder coat place on choctaw.

[MKE_M3]

Congrats! I was part of the group buy as well, but UPS lost my diff (or was stolen). Now it will be another month or two before I get it. That will make it like 4 months since my intial down payment.

[nosey]

on a side note..haha..the custom 50mm wrench is awesome..

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Robmaster

did you have the bolted or the welded version???

Please explain further about bolted and welded.

I wish our cars came with this or atleast as a BMW factory option or performance upgrade. I could imagine the better handling and i want one to experience it myself!

[Forcefed3]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

Zimmer gears, its right by y'alls powder coat place on choctaw.

That sucks you had to order a new part because they bent it. I hope they paid for it. Not to many people know how to work on our cars around here for some reason, not sure why.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by nosey

on a side note..haha..the custom 50mm wrench is awesome..

+1

Mike

[Bimmer This]

I also have the Wavetrac LSD and I loving it! The car seems to "stick" to the asphalt and I can't seem to break the tires loose anymore. The car goes in a straight line during WOT so no more drifting into the other lane for fishtailing out of control during turns and giving it a little gas half way into the turn. It is awesome!!!!

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by Bimmer This

I also have the Wavetrac LSD and I loving it! The car seems to "stick" to the asphalt and I can't seem to break the tires loose anymore. The car goes in a straight line during WOT so no more drifting into the other lane for fishtailing out of control during turns and giving it a little gas half way into the turn. It is awesome!!!!

I was the same way until I got FMIC DPs and V5 and now it just roasts BOTH tires with no wavy feeling(except a little subframe movement). I am planning on ordering some rear subframe and rear control arm bushing from powerflex when I do a suspension upgrade.

[Bimmer This]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

I was the same way until I got FMIC DPs and V5 and now it just roasts BOTH tires with no wavy feeling(except a little subframe movement). I am planning on ordering some rear subframe and rear control arm bushing from powerflex when I do a suspension upgrade.

I have those mods too!

[cstmx_ryder]

Mike @N54tuning,

Can you please pm me more info on the wavetrac LSD?

I have an 08 E90 AT. built date 9/07.

TIA