R50/53 DSC on or off??
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just got my MINI CVT , was told by the dealer at the time he was explaining my toggle switches NEVER to turn off the DSC. Am reading the posts here and see people are on in rain, off other times- would someone please tell me what the story is? I do mostly local driving- streets- some highway, but within a 5 mile radius. Why was the dealer so adamant about NEVER touching that toggle switch? Thanks! 
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Darmstadt, Germany
I have the six speed in my MCS, I turn the DSC off so that I can reduce the "LAG" that we get from a dead stop, and to let 'me' drive the car instead of the computer. The dealer probably is either unfamiliar with the system or is a real control freak. If it were going to kill you to touch the toggle they wouldn't have made it a toggle in the first place.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Good point, because it adjusts power and braking of the car using wheel spin (what I've been told) in bad weather conditions it may be a good idea to keep it on, however in dry or normal conditions or if your wanting quick starts you may want to keep it from kicking in. As you become more acustom to your car and driving the Mini most of us keep it off. I leave mine on most of the time, sometimes if I am playing in the right conditions I will turn it off. if your doing hwy driving and driving to work and back, leaving it on should not hurt, be careful going over bumps around curves at high speeds, this tends to cause the DSC to engague and flash and you will feel the car take control which can, if your expecting a different reaction, cause a real problem.
Their are many, many posts about this its a several hour project to read. I am sure there are many other MCO members that can explain it better and even help you understand what your looking for. My dealer told me the same thing but none of them are real Mini people, not yet.
Hope this helps some or gets you started.
Their are many, many posts about this its a several hour project to read. I am sure there are many other MCO members that can explain it better and even help you understand what your looking for. My dealer told me the same thing but none of them are real Mini people, not yet.
Hope this helps some or gets you started.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Just to clarify a few things:
DSC tyically will not at all kick in at or near standstill. DSC is supposed to stabilize the car if at higher speeds the computer determines the car to be near instability. DSC uses input from multiple sensors: steering angle, yaw, lateral acceleration, throttle position and brake pressure (to seeif you are braking) and wheel revolutions.
ASC (all season traction control) is the only of the multiple computerized systems in your MINI that will kick in at or near stand still. All MINIs have ASC, but for those that also have DSC, the ASC function is integrated into the DSC system. In this case if the indicator light comes on, either the ASC portion of the system is kicking in because of wheel spin, or if you are about to lose it at high speed, the DSC portion. If ASC detects wheel spin, it may do a number of things, including retarding the timing to reduce engine torque, and or applying selective braking. To my knowledge, torque reduction will kick in before selective braking.
My guess is the dealer will say "don't ever turn it off" for liability reasons. You can certainly turn it off, it will not harm anything in the car. However, it is obviously at your own risk to turn it off, since turning it off may prevent the computer from helping your traction at slow speeds, and from recovering your car in a moment of high speed instability.
Some people turn the DSC/ASC off, to help peeling out into fast moving traffic, or to avoid having the power cut by the ASC portion of the system as you pwoer around a tight, bumpy corner. I also have another issue that is specific to the MCS: The MINI has a 1.6L engine, and it does not have that much torque, especially at low rpms when the supercharger is not spooled up. The best way to launch the MINI is to bring the revs up to about 2-2.5k rpm and only then engage the clutch. One thing I noticed recently, is that the AC can have two effects that may contribute to a bogged down off the line feeling:
a) the AC sucks up a substantial amount of power on it's own.
b) when the AC compressor is engaged, this will slow throttle response of the already lethargic drive by wire system, and engine rpms will be even slower to come up. As a result, what happens to me is that I am used to giving a specific amount of throttle and time to bring engine rpms up and engage the clutch, but with the AC compressor engaged this is not enough gas and time, and I end up engaging the clutch with rpms too low. The result: boooooogggggg down.
What I do now is this:
Take my time to make sure rpms are high enough. If my Auto AC is on, make doubly sure.
If I anticipate needing to accelerate hard to cross a busy street, I turn the AC OFF.
If I need to blend into fast moving traffic around a tight corner, I additionally disengage the DSC / ASC system, to avoid wheel spin affecting my peel away speed. However, I usually re-engage the DSC after that. Overall, I personally think it is a useful and improtant safety feature that can save your a$$ in tricky situations. I only found it to interfere with my driving under very specific conditions, such as bumpy corners, that I can anticipate and deal with.
Hope this helps,
M.
DSC tyically will not at all kick in at or near standstill. DSC is supposed to stabilize the car if at higher speeds the computer determines the car to be near instability. DSC uses input from multiple sensors: steering angle, yaw, lateral acceleration, throttle position and brake pressure (to seeif you are braking) and wheel revolutions.
ASC (all season traction control) is the only of the multiple computerized systems in your MINI that will kick in at or near stand still. All MINIs have ASC, but for those that also have DSC, the ASC function is integrated into the DSC system. In this case if the indicator light comes on, either the ASC portion of the system is kicking in because of wheel spin, or if you are about to lose it at high speed, the DSC portion. If ASC detects wheel spin, it may do a number of things, including retarding the timing to reduce engine torque, and or applying selective braking. To my knowledge, torque reduction will kick in before selective braking.
My guess is the dealer will say "don't ever turn it off" for liability reasons. You can certainly turn it off, it will not harm anything in the car. However, it is obviously at your own risk to turn it off, since turning it off may prevent the computer from helping your traction at slow speeds, and from recovering your car in a moment of high speed instability.
Some people turn the DSC/ASC off, to help peeling out into fast moving traffic, or to avoid having the power cut by the ASC portion of the system as you pwoer around a tight, bumpy corner. I also have another issue that is specific to the MCS: The MINI has a 1.6L engine, and it does not have that much torque, especially at low rpms when the supercharger is not spooled up. The best way to launch the MINI is to bring the revs up to about 2-2.5k rpm and only then engage the clutch. One thing I noticed recently, is that the AC can have two effects that may contribute to a bogged down off the line feeling:
a) the AC sucks up a substantial amount of power on it's own.
b) when the AC compressor is engaged, this will slow throttle response of the already lethargic drive by wire system, and engine rpms will be even slower to come up. As a result, what happens to me is that I am used to giving a specific amount of throttle and time to bring engine rpms up and engage the clutch, but with the AC compressor engaged this is not enough gas and time, and I end up engaging the clutch with rpms too low. The result: boooooogggggg down.
What I do now is this:
Take my time to make sure rpms are high enough. If my Auto AC is on, make doubly sure.
If I anticipate needing to accelerate hard to cross a busy street, I turn the AC OFF.
If I need to blend into fast moving traffic around a tight corner, I additionally disengage the DSC / ASC system, to avoid wheel spin affecting my peel away speed. However, I usually re-engage the DSC after that. Overall, I personally think it is a useful and improtant safety feature that can save your a$$ in tricky situations. I only found it to interfere with my driving under very specific conditions, such as bumpy corners, that I can anticipate and deal with.
Hope this helps,
M.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
I second MG-BGT's offerings. Zipping through turns properly doesn't engage the DSC unless they're really bumpy and erratic, and even then the DSC doesn't take a hard line on corrections- it flashes on briefly. It is entirely possible to get crazy through the curves w/ the DSC on, as long as it's crazy in a good way- taking the right line and accelerating through and out of the radius- enough G's can be pulled to make most any navigator's knuckles white. Another story if you're into full-on 4 wheel drifts, then the DSC might get in the way. With wet pavement situations, if you're used to front wheel drive cars in rain then it's not a surprise when it kicks in, as the car's instability in these conditions is based more on the drive system than anything else, and it's helpful at these times. It took me a long time to get used to front wheel drive response on slick roads after years of rear wheel vehicles. Still don't like it nearly as much.
Guest
Posts: n/a
>>Just to clarify a few things:
>>
>>DSC tyically will not at all kick in at or near standstill. DSC is supposed to stabilize the car if at higher speeds the computer determines the car to be near instability. DSC uses input from multiple sensors: steering angle, yaw, lateral acceleration, throttle position and brake pressure (to seeif you are braking) and wheel revolutions.
>>
>>ASC (all season traction control) is the only of the multiple computerized systems in your MINI that will kick in at or near stand still. All MINIs have ASC, but for those that also have DSC, the ASC function is integrated into the DSC system. In this case if the indicator light comes on, either the ASC portion of the system is kicking in because of wheel spin, or if you are about to lose it at high speed, the DSC portion. If ASC detects wheel spin, it may do a number of things, including retarding the timing to reduce engine torque, and or applying selective braking. To my knowledge, torque reduction will kick in before selective braking.
>>
>>My guess is the dealer will say "don't ever turn it off" for liability reasons. You can certainly turn it off, it will not harm anything in the car. However, it is obviously at your own risk to turn it off, since turning it off may prevent the computer from helping your traction at slow speeds, and from recovering your car in a moment of high speed instability.
>>
>>Some people turn the DSC/ASC off, to help peeling out into fast moving traffic, or to avoid having the power cut by the ASC portion of the system as you pwoer around a tight, bumpy corner. I also have another issue that is specific to the MCS: The MINI has a 1.6L engine, and it does not have that much torque, especially at low rpms when the supercharger is not spooled up. The best way to launch the MINI is to bring the revs up to about 2-2.5k rpm and only then engage the clutch. One thing I noticed recently, is that the AC can have two effects that may contribute to a bogged down off the line feeling:
>>a) the AC sucks up a substantial amount of power on it's own.
>>b) when the AC compressor is engaged, this will slow throttle response of the already lethargic drive by wire system, and engine rpms will be even slower to come up. As a result, what happens to me is that I am used to giving a specific amount of throttle and time to bring engine rpms up and engage the clutch, but with the AC compressor engaged this is not enough gas and time, and I end up engaging the clutch with rpms too low. The result: boooooogggggg down.
>>
>>What I do now is this:
>>Take my time to make sure rpms are high enough. If my Auto AC is on, make doubly sure.
>>If I anticipate needing to accelerate hard to cross a busy street, I turn the AC OFF.
>>If I need to blend into fast moving traffic around a tight corner, I additionally disengage the DSC / ASC system, to avoid wheel spin affecting my peel away speed. However, I usually re-engage the DSC after that. Overall, I personally think it is a useful and improtant safety feature that can save your a$$ in tricky situations. I only found it to interfere with my driving under very specific conditions, such as bumpy corners, that I can anticipate and deal with.
>>
>>Hope this helps,
>>M.
>>
>>
Wow- thanks for all the info- my Mini is a CVT-and I have to say pulling out onto the Highway has so far not been a problem- I am still getting used to the whole feel of this new motoring experinece, as my ancient 5 speed went from 0 to 10 in about 2 minutes :smile:
>>
>>DSC tyically will not at all kick in at or near standstill. DSC is supposed to stabilize the car if at higher speeds the computer determines the car to be near instability. DSC uses input from multiple sensors: steering angle, yaw, lateral acceleration, throttle position and brake pressure (to seeif you are braking) and wheel revolutions.
>>
>>ASC (all season traction control) is the only of the multiple computerized systems in your MINI that will kick in at or near stand still. All MINIs have ASC, but for those that also have DSC, the ASC function is integrated into the DSC system. In this case if the indicator light comes on, either the ASC portion of the system is kicking in because of wheel spin, or if you are about to lose it at high speed, the DSC portion. If ASC detects wheel spin, it may do a number of things, including retarding the timing to reduce engine torque, and or applying selective braking. To my knowledge, torque reduction will kick in before selective braking.
>>
>>My guess is the dealer will say "don't ever turn it off" for liability reasons. You can certainly turn it off, it will not harm anything in the car. However, it is obviously at your own risk to turn it off, since turning it off may prevent the computer from helping your traction at slow speeds, and from recovering your car in a moment of high speed instability.
>>
>>Some people turn the DSC/ASC off, to help peeling out into fast moving traffic, or to avoid having the power cut by the ASC portion of the system as you pwoer around a tight, bumpy corner. I also have another issue that is specific to the MCS: The MINI has a 1.6L engine, and it does not have that much torque, especially at low rpms when the supercharger is not spooled up. The best way to launch the MINI is to bring the revs up to about 2-2.5k rpm and only then engage the clutch. One thing I noticed recently, is that the AC can have two effects that may contribute to a bogged down off the line feeling:
>>a) the AC sucks up a substantial amount of power on it's own.
>>b) when the AC compressor is engaged, this will slow throttle response of the already lethargic drive by wire system, and engine rpms will be even slower to come up. As a result, what happens to me is that I am used to giving a specific amount of throttle and time to bring engine rpms up and engage the clutch, but with the AC compressor engaged this is not enough gas and time, and I end up engaging the clutch with rpms too low. The result: boooooogggggg down.
>>
>>What I do now is this:
>>Take my time to make sure rpms are high enough. If my Auto AC is on, make doubly sure.
>>If I anticipate needing to accelerate hard to cross a busy street, I turn the AC OFF.
>>If I need to blend into fast moving traffic around a tight corner, I additionally disengage the DSC / ASC system, to avoid wheel spin affecting my peel away speed. However, I usually re-engage the DSC after that. Overall, I personally think it is a useful and improtant safety feature that can save your a$$ in tricky situations. I only found it to interfere with my driving under very specific conditions, such as bumpy corners, that I can anticipate and deal with.
>>
>>Hope this helps,
>>M.
>>
>>
Wow- thanks for all the info- my Mini is a CVT-and I have to say pulling out onto the Highway has so far not been a problem- I am still getting used to the whole feel of this new motoring experinece, as my ancient 5 speed went from 0 to 10 in about 2 minutes :smile:
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
OFF!!!!
I almost feel as thought it is an accident prone devise.
For example, if you pull out into trafic quickly, your turning and hitting the gas, the car almost dies in a sence, thus preventing you from jumping out into traffic. I hate it. I thought something was wrong when I first got my car.
It is quite scary making that left turn at the light and hitting the gas, and the car doesn't go.
I feel much more secure with it truned off.
My opinion.
I almost feel as thought it is an accident prone devise.
For example, if you pull out into trafic quickly, your turning and hitting the gas, the car almost dies in a sence, thus preventing you from jumping out into traffic. I hate it. I thought something was wrong when I first got my car.
It is quite scary making that left turn at the light and hitting the gas, and the car doesn't go.
I feel much more secure with it truned off.
My opinion.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
>>Just got my MINI CVT , was told by the dealer at the time he was explaining my toggle switches NEVER to turn off the DSC.
Take a quick look in the MINI owner's manual, and the dealer will be quickly countermanded about NEVER turning off the DSC.
Take a quick look in the MINI owner's manual, and the dealer will be quickly countermanded about NEVER turning off the DSC.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
When I first got the car, I would punch it around corners she would lag. I thought the car had an problem. Then I noticed that symbol flashing on the speedo.
From that point forth, I turn off the DSC whenever I want to really drive or Auto X.
What a fun car !
His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, MINI-Motorsport Airbox Mod, Magnaflow Exhaust, BMP spark plug wires, RDR rear sway bar and Helix P/D 15% reduction pulley.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE stock.
From that point forth, I turn off the DSC whenever I want to really drive or Auto X.
What a fun car !
His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, MINI-Motorsport Airbox Mod, Magnaflow Exhaust, BMP spark plug wires, RDR rear sway bar and Helix P/D 15% reduction pulley.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE stock.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
I leave mine on all the time. I have driven on racetracks with it on and feel more confident knowing that it's working (could be a false sense of security, who knows). I've been i a couple of situations in highway driving where I know it has saved my butt. I leave it on all the time.
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