I just have a habit of pulling the car hard off the traffic light. Should I have DSC off for my kind of driving or it's ok to keep it on?

One time I experienced that I dropped the clutch and the car just did not move even though the clutch was totally let off. I did stepped on the clutch again and do a smooth release then the car just took off. Was that an action of DSC?

 

Yep. I pretty much leave my DSC off when I am doing a lot of stop-n-go in the city (dry weather). Its nice when the car goes when you ask it to.

 

It's ok to keep it on (won't hurt anything), but the car won't do what you want it to. The DSC will cut throttle until the wheels stop spinning. If it's a recurring thing for you, you might want to get Ian Cull's auto-up, 'track day DSC' module. This will allow you to automatically turn the DSC off if you so desire. The auto-up windows would be a bonus.

 

Why not just learn to accelerate w/o spinning the tires. Lots of people have learned to do it.

LOL

 

Clutch and tires will last a lot longer and what ScottinBend said.

 

Yes, DSC off for you.
Yes, DSC in action for you.

Sounds like you should just turn off the DSC routinely. Some owners do that.
Sounds like you might do well with a Quaife differential but it's rather expensive unless you live in southern california near Steve's Auto.

I think you might be wearing out your clutch and/or your tires sooner than later.

 

thanks for different opinions..

Today is my third time in one year of driving that I turn DSC off.

I think my question should be driving the car hard is bad for DSC or just bad for the tires and clutch only.

 

DSC is bad for city driving... hit a pot hole and it cuts off most of your acceleration, horrible for on-ramps, etc

 

That answers a lot of my experiences with DSC.

 

Engaging the DSC isn't 'bad' for it - it just utilizes the throttle and brakes, which get used every day anyway. As has been said, it's tough on the tires and clutch though.

 

I haven't heard reports of this with MINI's, but in some VW's that use EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) to selectively brake one of the front wheels (this is part of DSC), there have been reports of differential damage from doing excessive burnouts. The presumptive cause was the violent braking action of the EDL sending shock waves back through the diff, while the engine was applying power in the opposite direction.

I'd say, if you plan on spinning your tires, turn the DSC off.

 

I did try DSC off this lunch time and I think it helps in a couple of things. First, it does help to reduce the vibration on accelerating and second I can feel that the car is a little free and a bit lighter.