Yes, all MINIs have this issue, regardless if DSC is included. Sorry about my tone as I didn't mean to be condescending (big drawback to electronic forums). I used to have the same problem as you, but I actually was able to virtually eliminate it with throttle control. Maybe your MINI is just more sensitive then mine??? Do you have a LSD? Maybe they made traction control less sensitive for those of us that have it.

It's too bad BMW really screwed up the traction control. I've had several times on both my last car and my MINI where it really had worked well.

 

I wish I had a LSD. So, in Minis withou DSC, you can't turn off the traction control and would get the power cut? If that is the case, nobody should order without DSC.

Sorry I barked at you.

 

I don't have DSC. My MINI just has traction over control. I've run into situations like yours. Need power NOW & it cuts power. I also have a LSD & it will still cut power. I overcame the need to turn the traction control off when I need to scoot out in traffic. Pretty simple fix really. Get an Ian Cull auto-up circuit with track mode. Since installing mine my traction control is always off, unless I turn it on.

http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/

 

The DSC button works as a traction control button for those without DSC (as mentioned by Crashton). Don't worry about the barking. People get the impression that I'm stuck up all the time even when they meet me in person! Just the way I am, even though that's not my intention. lol

 

FWIW, right after I got my MCS I was telling a buddy about it who is a die-hard BMW fan (currently drives an X5, but has had several)- he said "yeah, a lot of BMW drivers complain about that same thing"...

 

Hmmm, from my 2003 MINI catalog we've got

DSC and ASC

ASC comes standard on the MCS is designed to harness the extra torque produced by the supercharged engine. It prevents wheel spin in a millisecond by reducing engine torque and or applying brake force to one or more wheels

DSC available on both models takes All Season traction Control to a whole new level. First the system uses sensors to measure the steering angle, yaw, and lateral accerleration to determine the direction you want to go. If you path is not what you intended, the DSC system will kick in by applying the right amount of brake pressure to individual wheels and manipulating the engine torque.

***********
Though my 2003 MC was optioned with DSC it didn't have ASC which was not an option on the MC. I still had the same safety issues that I have today in my 2005 MCS with LSD and DSC. The same wheel spin when exiting a driveway that happens to have water on the road. The same issues that other users who disable DSC have.

DSC on or DSC off, it your choice. Many of us who find that DSC On causes problems feel safer with it off, it's our choice, so don't make blanket statements that don't apply to everyone in their particular situation.

 

Well, I just learned something new. I thought traction control was on all MINIs (not just standard on the MCS). However, after checking my brochure under the options, it lists DSC (incorporates ASC). This means if you got DSC on a MC, you got traction control too. Sorry, you can't blame DSC that easily.

Blanket statements aside, it looks like I'm one of the lucky ones here where ASC and DSC work as intended by keeping me safe and in control of the car. During the next local tech session, I'll have to ask around and see what other people are experiencing. I'm sure those that have major issues are more likely to speak up than those that don't.

 

That's incorrect. ASC is not an option on the MC, nor do you get it just by adding DSC to the options. That's why I posted the definitions of DSC and ASC. By definition, ASC was added due to the Supercharger. If you've got an S, then you automatically have ASC whether or not you have DSC. This isn't true for the MC, so looks like you just learned something else. Never Assume!

Btw, I agree that you really do come out as arrogant in your posts, that's too bad.

ASC should be listed under the specs on my Window sticker shouldn't it??

 

My 06 does list ASC as an option in the performance package. BMW does need to reprogram their computer. Having ASC engage when your speed is enough to loose control of the Mini is one thing, having it stop you dead in the middle of the road when you are pulling out and an unexpected patch of gravel gets you is something else in total. I hate it for pulling out in traffic. And don't say we should be more careful, some times you make mistakes, sometimes the other guy is flying. If I think I may have to pull out in a hurry, it goes off. Scared the crap out of me the first time it stopped in the middle of a pull out. Thought we both were gonners.

 

Your sig shows you have an MCS. Are you talking about an MC or MCS??? As I was saying the ASC is not an option on the MC, atleast wasn't on my 2003 MC but it's standard on the MCS.

Regardless I agree with you on everything else anyways!

Richard

 

Still have to disagree with you. From my MINI brochure:


This makes sense. If you have all the components necessary for DSC, it's only minor programming to have ASC. Please show me where "by definition" ASC was only added to the MCS.

Agreed. It makes it a lot more difficult for me to get my point across if I'm labeled as arrogant or condescending, regardless if I'm right or wrong. Turn it off or leave it on, it's your risk. I would just hate to see somebody else pass on a very good safety device (it is more effective then airbags after all), just because others are confusing it with ASC.

 

To make things a bit more confusing

2003 MINI brochure seems to indicate ASC is standard on MC and MCS




2005 MINI brochure says ASC is not even an option on MC


When I had MTH on my 2003 MC, MTH said that they added ASC to Coopers that didn't have it, and tweaked it on MCS's that did to make it less sensitive.

So yeah, it's supposed to be a programming that that's easily implemented, but I'm still sticking to my belief that the MC does not come with ASC.

re: BY DEFINITION
See my post #31

"ASC comes standard on the MCS is designed to harness the extra torque produced by the supercharged engine."
That to me is BY DEFINITION of why ASC comes standard on the MCS since the MC does NOT have a supercharged engine.

 

You gotta love electronic forums. Things get so easily overlooked. The whole "by definition" thing was me asking where you found that MINI said traction control is ONLY available on the MCS (not that it's just standard on a MCS). Since ASC is provided with DSC, it is on some MCs that are DSC equipped. Thinking back, maybe it was the Canadian spec MC that had ASC as standard equipment? Or maybe they changed it from standard to DSC only between 04 and 05? Regardless, I still stand by what I said where it's the traction control system and not DSC that causes the loss of power that people complain about.

If only BMW programmed the traction control correctly, none of this would be an issue. But sadly, for example when somebody makes a hard right turn, the traction control thinks the left wheel is spinning under hard acceleration, when it's just simply rotating faster. That's why I say to keep off the throttle as much as possible during the actual turn. With less acceleration, ASC (at least mine) doesn't think there's wheel spin and won't pull back the power. Once I'm nearly going straight, I hit the gas and I'm off.

Really, I'm trying not to be an *** about this. It's just one of those things that really bugs me when people misunderstand different systems, so I feel compelled to correct them. I'm sure you feel the same way when people mix up polish and wax.

 

Sorry, ment DSC.