Why does the car respond better when the Dsc is off. The car shifts better and everything. Including a better throttle control over the car.

Do I drive with it off all the time or what do i do? I'm lost

 

i turn mine off the minute i get in the seat and turn the ignition makes me feel like james bond

 

So its not just me then? Would some software from mth or someone make this any better? I had dsc interfear with my driving once and I didn't like the lose of power. The LSD should take care of all of that and pull me around a corner if need be...

HELP!

 

Im with Joker. If there are passengers in the car, I pretend like "this is the captain speaking" as I toggle off the dsc, and on the fog, down the windows, etc. I believe that there is a circuit available to purchase that keeps it off, but its easy enough just to turn it off as routine.

 

Ironically, I kinda like the dsc in case something happens, but I'm just not sold on it interfearing with my driving it normally. Is there a way for the dealer to make it less intrusive or something?

 

GBMINI's auto up window circuit and the newer auto up circuit whose name I can't remember both offer an auto-off DSC mode.

I've been noticing that the DSC in our 06 seems more intrusive than it was in our 04. I'm curious as well if there is a way to dial it back a little.

 

FlynH, unless you're breaking traction, and/or sliding sideways, the DSC has no effect. No sure what you mean by 'shifting better', unless you're chirping the tires between gears. You'll know when the DSC intercedes - the dash light will come on.
That said, if it makes you feel better, keep it off for normal driving, and just leave it on in inclement weather.

 

That's not completely true/accurate.

Try a 0-30mph without chirping the tires. Try it again with DSC off.

There is a great deal more low end power/throttle response with DSC off.

It's like DSC nerfs your RPMS to make sure you come no where near being able to chrip the tires, unless you push it faster than the DSC tries to compensate. Then you chrip, then the car goes limp for about a second.

 

I'm always game for an experiment. I always drive with DSC on, but can't say I noticed a difference with it off at Laguna Seca.

 

I autocrossed our 04 a few times and it didn't make a huge difference in my times if the DSC was on or off. The DSC in our 06 seems alot more intrusive. I wonder if Eric and Wagn swapped cars if they would notice an obvious difference in the DSC...

 

I like to drive my car (I like as many bugs on the sides as on the front) so I shut down the DSC when the roads are dry & most of the time when there wet, having a Cooper S is about having fun while you drive, more smiles to the miles & just a little .

 

Does turning off the DSC disable the ABS also?

 

no

 

guess we still don't have an answer if it's more intrustive or not? Maybe I need to play with some software upgrades for the car?

 

i find if im coming out of a corner in first and just one wheel starts to slip, it seems to apply a brake to the spinning wheel instead of cutting the power. If I give it too much power in a straight line and both wheels break loose the throttle is taken away and im thrown forward for a second before giving power back.
I do like the added security of having the dsc on because my car is very tail happy and im not always in race mode. the dreaded wet on and off ramps have saved my butt and sheet metal more times than i can remember. My ideal situation would be to have a separate switch for both DSC and ASC-T. Kinda like they have on my dads 5 series, where the first time you press the button it brings back the traction control so you can have some fun, but keeps the DSC on. If you hold the button down for 5 seconds it turns everything off if your feeling really daring.

 

both in the jetta and the mini and i did not like it!!
on the vw its 'esp' !?!?
im not use to it i feel its very intrusive in both cars..but that could be due to the way i drive

 

I've had the DSC come on in the middle of an intersection, and pretty much stop my car in its tracks. Unless it's solid ice on the ground, my routine is off DSC, on fogs.

 

Intrusive or not?

It depends on how your drive. If you are a normal driver (like my wife and young adult kids) then it is NOT intrusive and you'd want DSC on all of the time for safety reasons.

If you are a "driving enthusiast" that likes to push your MINI up through the gears approaching redline as much as possible (within limits), then YES, DSC can put a damper on your "fun level". In this case turn DSC off at will.

Having LSD will help all of the time both from a safety and performance perspective.

Under normal daily driving use I always leave DSC on and I don't find that it is intrusive at all (but I have added a Quaife differential). When at autocross, at the track or at driving school then I always turn DSC off.

 

Ironically, most of you have older minis though. Can you jump in an 06 and see if you feel the same way when driving. I'm interested to know .

My "Fun Level" is pretty high, and it does hamper it a bit. Maybe it's just the front wheel drive. I just am not used to it quite yet?

 

I have a late '05 and I will echo what Eric Rowland said. It makes absolutely no difference unless you are breaking traction. I can't imagine that would be changed for '06. Makes no sense. If your experience is different you might want to ask service about it.

 

I think I will when I go in next saturday. Maybe they might know of something. Could be me though?

 

It makes a noticable difference in my 05 MCSa - I have the same issues as FlynHawaiian. When I turn it off the car is perfect, so I bought one of Ian's circuits and life is good.

 

ARGGGG.. So it's not just me. Now I'm kicking myself for spending 500 bucks, to only use it in the rain. Sigh live and let learn I guess. Honestly there is no easy way to "tune the dsc" back a bit? Is this something the techs can do, or would that have to be done with a software mod?

 

im pretty sure MTH can tune the DSC to be less sensitive

 

Strange. I've left mine on for the most part the last month or so because it's cold/snowing/raining and I honestly feel no difference in normal situations and I DO NOT baby it! I certainly doubt that you are imagining it, so I wonder what is going on?