The "Yellow Sensor" Club

[fire-n-ice]

Any crazy drivers here will know what I'm talking about! I asked my personal BMW mechanic what it meant (while asking him about the front bumper sensor moments ago) when the yellow flashing light started blinking while driving a bit 'spirited'. He started laughing his ass off and said: "You lost tracking girl, DSC and non-sport mode saved your AS S"!!!.

So, who among my fellow thrill seekers have experienced the 'yellow sensor' light, and what were the circumstances? Me:...I was taking a very short ride this evening, and it lit up while taking a hilly curb at 92 mph. The smile was priceless!

T.

 

[AlanL]

Yup - been there.

Hard throttle on while straightening out the steering wheel heading onto a freeway ramp. Definitely a conservative sensor in my books and full reason to be switching the system off if I ever take my coupe out on a track.

I typically always leave all forms of traction control system on for street driving as there are far too many situations/distractions in every day traffic and public roadways where your concentration levels are not anywhere even close to where they would be out on a track.

 

[enfield]

Mine comes on infrequently. When I did my BMW Advanced Courses it was pointed out that one could oversteer all day and the DSC light would not come on - as long as the oversteer was done properly. Pierre (chief instructor) illistrated the point in an E46 M3.

Sudden shifts/shifts in weight, over/understeer etc. make the DSC light up.

 

[ay8306]

I've lit it up a few times myself especiaally on rough pavement

 

[561design]

Wet roads do it for me.

 

[fire-n-ice]

I've lit it up a few times myself especiaally on rough pavement

That's what did it for me! Very rough pavement and a curve. Straightened wheels coming down on a rough, curved pavement is just too fun for money!

I should probabably take up sky diving or something less dangerous :cpilot:

 

[IMZ4N]

Been there , done that, and didn't crash either. :roll:

 

[zednik]

Fire, funny you should mention the yellow sensor.......I noticed it for the first time just last week. A foolish soul in a jacked up F-250 decided to tailgate Zeddi in a splendid decreasing radius offramp.......ENOUGH, I SAID, and dropped two gears, punching it hard.......yep, just as I hit the tightest part of the ramp I saw it flickering. Two blocks later the guy in the truck had the class to give me a thumbs up.

 

[mmakay]

I don't recall ever driving and NOT seeing the DSC warning light! It either flashes on it's own, or comes on because I've disabled the system. But one way or the other, it's on! :evil:

 

[AlanL]

Mine comes on infrequently. When I did my BMW Advanced Courses it was pointed out that one could oversteer all day and the DSC light would not come on - as long as the oversteer was done properly. Pierre (chief instructor) illistrated the point in an E46 M3.

Sudden shifts/shifts in weight, over/understeer etc. make the DSC light up.

From what I have seen in the 3.0si I am inclined to think that understeer is the primary reason I have seen it come on. With the Sport package we have a pretty aggressive negative rear camber with wide tires and almost no negative front camber at all to match. We don't have anywhere near enough power to break the rear end loose like the ///Ms can and that leaves front end slip as my primary candidate. I am usually seeing the light when I apply too much power too soon coming out of a turn and no feeling of a loose rear end at all.

 

[Color]

I always have DSC off and sport mode on when on dry conditions. I find the DSC interferes with the acceleration when there is wheel spin, and I hate that. And I never go full speed around corners on public roads anyway to have under or oversteer and need DSC help.

I usually turn DSC on when on wet conditions, but driving a day in mixed conditions I have forgotten to turn it on, which have lead to dangerous situations. Just the other day entering a four lane highway I was in a slight turn and acelerated moderately, when in what must have been a slippery spot the rear end was instantly far out like 80 degrees, rear wheels in the other lane. Managed to salvage the situation without any damage, but it was a big scare (as well as a thrill). For a moment it seemed like the car would spin. That M power will bite you in your arse if you are not careful.

 

[Aebous]

My light usually flashes (rather frequently) when i'm accelerating, as I tend to floor it often. Damn foot peddle sticking I swear! I usually not accelerating too hard out of a corner to make it come on. I generally keep all safety things on for street/highway driving. Dunno why, i've done worse in my truck on dry/wet/snowy/icy pavement and all intentional, I may not give a textbook example on how to keep from loosing total control but I can control it. Reckon i'm just worried about scratching/denting the lady.

 

[ovrkll]

So, who among my fellow thrill seekers have experienced the 'yellow sensor' light, and what were the circumstances?

Trying to catch up with you, F-n-I!

Have it come on when I decide to drive a little spirited. As someone mentioned earlier, I usually find that it comes on with a bit of understeer either going into a corner a little hot, or coming out of one with heavy gas applied.
I used to leave DSC off all the time in my old car (MINI S) because it was too sensitive. I have found that the //M is set to a good level for everyday driving, so I just leave it alone unless I really want to have some fun without any other vehicles around or at the track.

Cheers!

 

[flyboyaj]

I don't recall ever driving and NOT seeing the DSC warning light! It either flashes on it's own, or comes on because I've disabled the system. But one way or the other, it's on! :evil:

X2 Just about every left turn at a light I make it comes on when shifting from 1st to 2nd and is accompanied by a cute little squeak from the back end (would be nice to get that squeak fixed, LOL). I used to just turn the darn thing off and drift a lot around the corners, but it's actually more fun for me now driving with it on. I can really just go nuts and not have to worry about loosing it. I hate it when it comes on during straight ahead acceleration cause it's always accompanied by a loss of torque as the computer takes control of the throttle to limit the slipping. I can't imagine how often I would see it if I owned an //M!!! :evil:

 

[fire-n-ice]

Hills involved combined w/rough, windy roads can make it happen too. Danny says I'm safest w/ DSC and Sport mode untouched , I'll take his professional word for it
T.

 

[flyboyaj]

fire-n-ice
If your not comfortable sliding around a bit, then yes, leave DSC ON! Sport mode on/off doesn't matter, just depends on wether you like tight steering and a touchy gas pedal. Didn't you take a driving course for your job? I thought I remembered a thread where you posted a video of a class you took on a track. Maybe I'm confusing you with someone else.

 

[fire-n-ice]

AJ: I've had EVOC w/police vehicles, Fire appartatus as well as ambulance EVOC. I'm a class III accident reconstruction investigator. I've had training and will continue to take classes and courses which improve my abilities as a pubic saftey officient.

I was merely commenting on what my freind said. I drive crazier in my Z then you probably realize. It behooves me to keep all my safety accutraments on. I can relax a little and enjoy the thrill. I wouldn't tell anyone just how fast I was going, my training along with the safety net my Z provides allow me to push hard and have fun. That's all I was saying.

T.

 

[fire-n-ice]

...oh and, anytime you wanna go for a spin, just let me know! :wink:

 

[flyboyaj]

Do you know how fast your Z goes at redline in 4th gear? Hehe. I do. I also discovered last night that the rev limiter doesn't work in 4th gear (oops). I looked down and it was at 6900 rpm. All this single handed as I was on the phone with my girlfriend (sorry, a girl I have been dating) on the drive home last night. Too much fun. She said I was crazy. I believe her. :evil:

Has anyone else experienced the rev limiter not working in 4th gear?

:hijacked:

 

[fire-n-ice]

...darling, I'd really rather you take me for in a ride in your plane! I get far too many thrills in vehicles...take me for a flight? :cpilot:
T.