The switch for the DSC looks like it has an LED in it, like the switch for the Auto Start/Stop. I have tried playing with the switch ....press once and the Dynamic Traction Control is engaged, press the switch and hold for 5 seconds and the DSC is turned off, press once again and goes back to normal ....but the LED never lights up.....is there an LED on the switch or do they just have the little horizontal dark line on the switch to match the auto stop switch?

Also, on my '04 MC, there was the switch for DSC but it had no separate traction Control ......i would leave the DSC on all the time except in the snow trying to get up my driveway or going up a snow covered hill (otherwise the engine would almost cut off as the car would slow the wheels stupidly trying to find traction) ......so on my 2016, pressing the DSC switch once engages the traction control so that will be helpful going up a hill in snow, but when/why is it helpful to ever disengage the DSC ?

 

I turn off the DSC because I do not want the computer activating the brakes while I am in the middle of sliding the car around a corner in the middle of an autocross course.

I am grateful that this is possible, as I am not accustomed to software interfering with the task of driving.

On the other hand I might be an old fart.

Kind regards

Charlie

 

I was told by my MINI Advisor when I picked my JCW up last year to leave it on unless I track the car, then turn it off. It's probably best to leave it on for street driving as it can help in varying road conditions, especially wet conditions. I've never turned it off & I get plenty of thrills....the JCW is really fast even in stock form....I'm an old fart too btw & I hate too much computer gadgetry, thus I just have the radio & 6MT...love it! The torque on these cars is phenomenal!

 

Not sure about the LED question. But the helpful aspect of dsc being turned off is just as someone else posted below, it allows for the e-differential to work. In the case of your 04 you had to engage traction control, in this case it's the opposite. If you turn it off you'll cut back traction control and allow for a small amount of wheel slip, helping the car out the power down in a corner and combat torque steer. With dsc on the car just cuts your engine power in these situations instead and slows you down. Give it s try next time you're making a right turn from a stop and give a little extra gas. Not something I'd shut off every time I got in the car but once in a while on a quiet back road.

 

Interesting I have a JCW with a JB4 pushing close to 290hp. When I switch DSC off it feels like I'm off the line slower. The car wheel spins in 3rd so there is tones of traction issues....I can never floor the car off the lights - no point...so I am used to sitting right on the edge of power and traction. DSC definitely feels quicker.
Also I'm running Pilot SS tires.

 

In my 2015 3-cylinder the LED does not light up.

I tried DTC off and DSC off. The car was on, the engine was not running.

 

...

 

Maybe it flashes when the DSC activates? [not that I've noticed, but just speculating]