DSC / Traction / Sport button

[Raify]

M = All or nothing. :roll:

It's a shame, since there's that clever track mode on the CSL that allows a little bit of slip.

 

[Z4//MMY]

i think you all need to read page 49/50 of your handbook.

Briefly pressing the button so the DSC light comes on in the dash limits the DSC - dynamic stability control and DTC dynamic traction control - according to the handbook for use in special circumstances such as roads covered in deep snow. It gives maximum forward traction, but at the cost of stability.

Pressing the button for 3 seconds illuminates the triangle warning symbol in the dash. In this position DTC and DSC are OFF. The handbook doesnt highlight a usage for this mode.... however this is your track mode.

According to the handbook there is no limited slip type mode ( as per the OP's question). The fact that IN DSC mode the stability is sacrificed for forward traction means you have more freedom to play with the back end, and you may end up getting off the line quicker.

In the //M (page 17 of supplementary handbook) 1 press turns everything off. there seems to be no middle ground.

 

[Raify]

Good work.

Update the sticky with this?

 

[Siftah]

Briefly pressing the button so the DSC light comes on in the dash limits the DSC - dynamic stability control and DTC dynamic traction control - according to the handbook for use in special circumstances such as roads covered in deep snow. It gives maximum forward traction, but at the cost of stability.

I don't believe this is quite correct...

Briefly pressing the DSC button makes the DTC light come up on the dash. That allows the wheels to slip a little more, but it will still regulate the braking to try and keep the car from spinning. You can still spin the car, but it will try and stop it, just not as soon as in full DSC mode.

If you look at page 50 you'll see it says ""DTC is active and regulates tractive and braking forces", I'm taking this to mean that ASC-T is still active and so is DBC, it just allows a little bit more slip before it kicks in.

As far as I can tell - and there seems to be a lot of confusion about this;

• 
  ASC-T = Automatic Stability Control + Traction.
  DTC = Dynamic Traction Control (Seems to be DBC and ASC-T but with less intrusive intervention of the ASC-T)
  DBC = Dynamic Brake Control (hydraulically applying or removing braking effort to each wheel in order to maintain optimal traction)
  DSC = Dynamic Stability Control (a combination of ASC-T, DTC and DBC together)

Welcome to see corrections, because I've never been able to find a definitive answer - this is a combination of my experimentation, the handbook and various forum posts.

 

[Smokin]

I look at it this way--around town, leave the nannies on, that is, no lights lit. When it snows, press DTC once, briefly, so the rear wheels are allowed to spin just a bit if necessary. Press and hold DTC + sport mode-hold on to your @ss!!!!!!!! :driving:

 

[PCBung]

does it not also stiffen the suspension a touch, for flatter cornering?

people seem to say it doesn't but I'm pretty sure it tightens the suspension up. I will even prove to people at Wales by going over pot holes at my expense lol

 

[Tweed]

people seem to say it doesn't but I'm pretty sure it tightens the suspension up. I will even prove to people at Wales by going over pot holes at my expense lol

I always thought it did too... But checking the handbook it makes no mention of it, so I guess the others are right!

Think it was the sales woman who told me it did, not as bad as being told it all works the other way round, but still, stupid sales lady!

 

[Raify]

How could a button, controlling an electronic system possibly affect your suspension?

 

[gannet]

How could a button, controlling an electronic system possibly affect your suspension?

in our cars it doesn't, but in others it can - audi magnetic dampers, also ferrari have a system.

think the later Adaptive M Suspension on the new z4 can do it too

 

[ksher]

How could a button, controlling an electronic system possibly affect your suspension?

in our cars it doesn't, but in others it can - audi magnetic dampers, also ferrari have a system.

think the later Adaptive M Suspension on the new z4 can do it too

BMW call it Electronic Damper Control (EDC) on other models.

 

[Siftah]

people seem to say it doesn't but I'm pretty sure it tightens the suspension up. I will even prove to people at Wales by going over pot holes at my expense lol

I have to say, I think it does feel like it does something to the suspension too - I say this because with the sport button on it's much easier to get the back end out, I'm not sure if maybe it's just psychological because the throttle response is sharper and so less throttle is required, but it does feel that way. Perhaps in Sport mode the ECU gives you more lee-way before it inteferes? or maybe it's just when I have the sport button on I've always disabled DSC at the same time. :roll:

The only way to work this out is with a large empty car park and a *lot* of tyre wear in a very short period of time

I guess this is reminiscent of the old trick - weakening the spring on the accelerator, makes people think their cars suddenly got more power. Or the loud exhausts which instantly make you feel like you've 20bhp extra.

 

[Siftah]

How could a button, controlling an electronic system possibly affect your suspension?

Iit could change the way the brake control is utilised, which would definitely give the "suspension" a different feel.

 

[shambolic]

On the E89 with adaptive sport suspension pressing the sport button DOES lower the suspension and firms it up as well as the gears throttle and steering
Unfortunately I dont have it :roll:
The settings on ours are normal, Sport, and Sport + with a DTC off button seperately.
Sport changes the steering an throttle response and backs of the traction control slightly but doesnt effect the stability control
Sports+ also cuts of the DTC completely, Sport doesnt as I have had the back end start to go out and it still cut in the stability control.
Pressing the DTC button in snow does feck all TBH as the car kept stalling on me in Manchester Airport carpark in 4" of snow, took nearly 20 mins trying to park as it kept stalling and just would not play ball at all :headbang: :headbang:
I think this makes sense but Ive been in the garden all afternoon drinking Red Stripe and Magners

 

[Siftah]

Sport changes the steering an throttle response and backs of the traction control slightly but doesnt effect the stability control

I suppose it's possible it also does this (ie: backs off the traction control slightly) on the E85 and other cars too - it doesn't look like BMW actually publishes any of the finer details of how the various modes work so I would suppose that means most of the information on the net is effectively hear-say... It's a theory

I think this makes sense but Ive been in the garden all afternoon drinking Red Stripe and Magners