Dsc/traction

[domsz4]

Is there a way to completely turn off the traction control/dsc etc.
I really miss the way I could throw the back end of my westfield around.

Don't get me wrong in the wet etc, around town and for the most of the time im happy for it to stay on but every now and then a bit if tail happy fun would be nice and I find the way it cuts the power etc can be slightly disconcerting ESP when your used to catching it. I know you can press the dsc button but it doesn't seem to stop it all.

While I'm asking do these cars have a LSD or is it just an electronic thing?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Press it once, to change mode, press and hold to disable it.

Be careful!

 

[BMWZ4MC]

domsz4, the ///M has an LSD but none of the other models do. With DSC off, the Zed is fairly predictable when provoked, just like a Westfield (see my sig below) Due to the short wheel base it can snap into oversteer pretty suddenly though, especially when it's skittish over poorly made tarmac or if you hit a slippery spot...be a little careful to start with until you're familiar with its behaviour, then :evil:

 

[Adamski]

Always best to drive normally and gradually find the limits with DSC off. Never spank it into a corner trying to provoke a slide, or you may end up in a tree


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Steve220]

How resilient is the first stage of DSC to letting the car drift? I remember my old 330clubsport would get tail happy with it off, on it wouldn't twitch and 1st stage it was a nice compromise

 

[Adamski]

It's not very generous. Too restrictive IMO - but very suitable for road use :roll:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[domsz4]

Oh right I expected some lights or summat to change a bit more ... Maybe it did and I wasn't paying enough attention. I'll have a proper go at it as ive been too busy to give it too much attention, rather just getting in and going where is needed. I'm loving having the roof down whenever.

I think the warnings ought to be the other way tho... Don't drive your westy like you drive the beemer! Mine is in the process of going up for sale and at the mo is being kept somewhere, I gave it a run last Sunday and needless to say you can't just floor it and not expect some response it was quite amusing as that bush approached

 

[ben g]

How resilient is the first stage of DSC to letting the car drift? I remember my old 330clubsport would get tail happy with it off, on it wouldn't twitch and 1st stage it was a nice compromise

i drifted round half a roundabout with it on the first 'off' stage in work. certainly makes you look like some sort of Drift King to other people as it catches the drift and pulls you back in line.

 

[mad4slalom]

likewise , i gave it a squirt today around a medium sized roundabout in second gear flicked right then left expecting a little slip but all i felt was the power bled away so no response ,felt quite put out, not what i expected at all. am i right that if i press but dont hold it will give a bit of slip but not let me kill myself and if i press and hold then its full on kamikaze mode ?

 

[Mowflow]

Correct. Good luck.

 

[ga41]

I was under the impression that non-M Z4's had a sort of dual stage stability control. When normal everything is ON, both Traction Control and Stability Control. When you press the button once Traction Control is switched OFF but Stability remains ON. So you can spin the tires as long as the rear of the car doesn't move laterally. Correct? When you keep pressing the button everything switches OFF.

On the M it's different. One simple click and everything is switched off. Both traction control and stability control.

 

[WizzEssex]

It can be disabled as described above but should you be coming round a bend in the opposite direction to me on a public road... PLEASE DON'T!

 

[krusty]

I was under the impression that non-M Z4's had a sort of dual stage stability control. When normal everything is ON, both Traction Control and Stability Control. When you press the button once Traction Control is switched OFF but Stability remains ON.

Nope.

Summary for non-M Z4s:
============================================
Normal driving: DSC = ON, DTC = OFF
Single press: DSC = ON, DTC = ON
Press and hold for 3 seconds: DSC = OFF, DTC = OFF
============================================


DSC = Dynamic Stability Control.
DTC = Dynamic Traction Control: this may be a good thing to do when driving on snow ... it increases traction.

 

[Tommy_hf]

1 short press on non-M. The DTC mode allows for more wheel slip and activates the ADB. DSC is off, yes you can spin out now.
long press: All systems off, one wheel peel mode on.

The Z does need an LSD to get controllable tail out actions like Drexxler or Quaife. The latter is much more affordable. It doesn't swing the tail out as easy as a 3-series with an open diff.

 

[ga41]

I was under the impression that non-M Z4's had a sort of dual stage stability control. When normal everything is ON, both Traction Control and Stability Control. When you press the button once Traction Control is switched OFF but Stability remains ON.

Nope.

Summary for non-M Z4s:
============================================
Normal driving: DSC = ON, DTC = OFF
Single press: DSC = ON, DTC = ON
Press and hold for 3 seconds: DSC = OFF, DTC = OFF
============================================


DSC = Dynamic Stability Control.
DTC = Dynamic Traction Control: this may be a good thing to do when driving on snow ... it increases traction.

We're essentially saying the same thing... It's just that BMW calls the "intermediate" mode DTC whereas i described it as one thing with separate operating aspects (the wheel slip and the rear slide).

 

[bcworkz]

We're not confused, it's BMW that's confused. The general consensus in the automotive community is that Traction Control is the computer controlled modulation of brakes on a slipping wheel of a vehicle with open diffs, as well as attenuation the throttle to prevent the other wheel(s) from spinning out in turn. This is the default mode of the DSC system.

The problem is, this concept can be taken too far and the system can cause the car to bog down in slippery conditions. The wheels aren't spinning, but the car isn't moving either. Thanks a lot. So for snow country drivers that know what they're doing, a little slipping, sliding, spinning is OK, it'll get you where you want to go. So conveniently, BMW puts in a DSC mode to accommodate this style of driving. Brilliant!

But inexplicably, they call this less intrusive mode "Dynamic Traction Control". When in fact they are actually (partly) turning off the function that the rest of the community knows as Traction Control. Like their model number/letters weren't confusing enough.

Based on my experiments in snow, this middle mode doesn't turn anything on or off, it only changes the thresholds at which the various control methods kick in. Not only can you slide some (but not a lot), you can spin the wheels quite a bit, but the wheel spin still seems limited to me. While I can spin the wheels a lot, I should be able to spin them up to redline, but that doesn't seem to be possible. Wasn't a very scientific test though.

I quite like this mode. It keeps you from getting into real trouble, or doing something stupid, but it's clear that you've reached the limit and lets you have a bit of fun.

 

[ga41]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[TINO]

Wow some one who can drive by the seat of there pants and does not relay on computers. never had such luxery when I was a kid many years ago on drum breaks and rack & pinion.

 

[krusty]

I was under the impression that non-M Z4's had a sort of dual stage stability control. When normal everything is ON, both Traction Control and Stability Control. When you press the button once Traction Control is switched OFF but Stability remains ON.

Nope.

Summary for non-M Z4s:
============================================
Normal driving: DSC = ON, DTC = OFF
Single press: DSC = ON, DTC = ON
Press and hold for 3 seconds: DSC = OFF, DTC = OFF
============================================


DSC = Dynamic Stability Control.
DTC = Dynamic Traction Control: this may be a good thing to do when driving on snow ... it increases traction.

We're essentially saying the same thing... It's just that BMW calls the "intermediate" mode DTC whereas i described it as one thing with separate operating aspects (the wheel slip and the rear slide).

No - we are not saying the same thing. What you wrote is simply false.
Nor is there an 'intermediate' mode.

 

[ga41]

Well you've showed me then. :thumbsdown: Lighten up mate.