Hey all-

OK, I have searched and searched. I can't figure out the DSC. Is it really any help at all. My daily drive is 15 miles of winding mountain/hill road. Rain and occasional ice in the winter, poor overall road quality.

So what do you all think, is DSC useful, especially under these circumstances?

Thank you all again. I will probably order next week! First car I have ever purchased, very nervous and unsure.

 

Most people with DSC that do serious performance driving turn it off at such times.

I do like having DSC because it is a great safety feature, especially in wet weather. For example, I once hit a puddle at highway speeds with only my right tires going through the deep puddle. The DSC kicked in and the MINI drove straight and true as if the puddle was not there.

DSC is not absolutely necessary, but I like having it even though I turn it off much of the time.

It is also good for those rare occasions that you let someone else drive your MINI. It will keep them from going too nuts

 

Considering your driving environment, I'd definitely get it. Especially with rain and snow on twisty roads. Give up some other option if cost is a factor.

It won't save you from stupid driving but it can probably save you from a wet patch on a blind curve...

You can always turn it off if you really want to when conditions permit -- you just have to know the limits of your driving skills and remember that you turned it off!

 

Think of DSC in a Cooper S as a safety feature for the average driver.
I leave it on all the time except when I do a track or autocross run.

 

I am still surprised that they chose to put the DSC switch right next to the driver's window toggle instead of in an isolated prominent place like the hazard light switch.

Somebody will probably be able to win a lawsuit claiming that they had crashed because they had inadvertently turned off the DSC and that a safety feature should not have a switch that is so easily bumped by a coffee cup, etc.

 

"Somebody will probably be able to win a lawsuit claiming that they had crashed because they had inadvertently turned off the DSC"

The claim doesn't even have to be that the DSC was turned off inadvertently -- the claim can be that the DSC applied inappropriate corrective action and caused the accident or made it worse.

I think we're going to see these kinds of lawsuits hit the roof in a few years when these intrusive electronic systems start misbehaving due to aging sensors, actuators, wiring harnesses, etc.

We're quickly reaching the point of having too much complexity in automobiles. It's just a matter of time before systems like adaptive cruise control start failing and create chaos on the highways.

 

>>The claim doesn't even have to be that the DSC was turned off inadvertently -- the claim can be that the DSC applied inappropriate corrective action and caused the accident or made it worse.
>>
>>I think we're going to see these kinds of lawsuits hit the roof in a few years when these intrusive electronic systems start misbehaving due to aging sensors, actuators, wiring harnesses, etc.
>>

This is highly unlikely. Extensive testing is done to ensure that DSC will not continue to operate if a sensor fails. The sensors are typically monitored in 5ms intervals. It takes more than a glitch in a sensor to make DSC react. You must have multiple sensors (wheelspeeds, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, steering input) to indicate that the vehicle is not behaving as desired. If this cannot be determined, DSC does nothing. If the sensors don't agree. A failure is set and DSC is passive.

You'll see my name on a lot of DSC/ABS posts. I develop this for an Automotive supplier. So take that as you'd like. What confuses me are people who say "I love DSC, but is have it disabled most of the time". To these people I wonder if you only get insurance when you think you will get sick and cancel it as soon as you think you won't?

minihune has it right. If you are on public roads doing normal driving, leave it on. It doesn't do anything until the car is unstable. If you are AutoXing turn it off and have fun with sliding. Those who turn if off most of the time, why? Are you afraid of it? I'm curious.

 

Oh my... Given that DSC, its merits, its proper use, and its difference from close-cousin traction control is one of the perennial topics here on NAM, I feel compelled to point you toward the following threads:

Advice on DSC as an Option
Shutting off DSC
Another DSC Question
Turning Off DSC
Fun with DSC

I'm sure that all the info you need -- including some links to sites that describe the technical operation of DSC systems -- can be found there. Oh, and lots of opinions. Which, btw, I agree entirely with mattcoon and minihune.
:smile:

 

I like the DSC and never turn it off. I have heard of people turning it off to show off and wrecking their MINIs.

 

thank you everyone for your input. I think I will go with it. It isn't as though it is going to break the bank, may as well get some added safety. :smile:

 

I was going too fast around an uphill curve on a freezing, wet road, and I went into slide, overcorrected my turn, oscillated a couple times.

When I first started sliding, I instinctively took my foot off the gas, and the first thought I had was, "Please don't let my Mini be hurt!"

I was headed straight for the guard rail. Based on past experience, I absolutely *knew* that I was going to hit it hard.

Amazingly, the DSC prevented that from happening.

I'm a below average driver and the DSC absolutely saved my butt.

 

>>thank you everyone for your input. I think I will go with it. It isn't as though it is going to break the bank, may as well get some added safety. :smile:

Assuming you are not the only person to ever drive your MINI, most people will do better with DSC on.
Therefore as a safety measure MINI has DSC on by default. In order to turn it off you have to hit the toggle switch each time whenever the car is started.

It is your choice to turn it off and watch for the orange light on the center dial to come on. Now DSC is disabled until you turn it back on (hit the toggle again) or turn the engine off.

I drive with DSC on in urban and highway conditions,or in dry and wet conditions and it works very well for me.

 

good thread!For my .02 cents worth: I have a totally twisty 33 mile ride to work that I commute at about 5 in the AM ,so there really aren't any cars(except the law)to deal with .The last street has a virtual 90 degree turn in an area totally devoid of cars at that hour ,and for information sake I started " pushing the envelope" every morning to "see what it would do", At about 40 miles an hour the dsc finally woke up and did it's thing, and I must say I was glad to know without there being some kind of emergency situation, just what it was supposed to do.Definately worth having.It's probably saved my butt without my even knowing it in the many snowy commutes I've had in the last 2 winters.As to the ABS, first time I got to experience that was to do with a diesel spill from a semi: no rain, no ice ,no snow, but it totally saved me from a sure fire crash peace Jock

 

I'll my tupence...

I love the "point and shoot" fun that the DSC gives the car. I can haul a$$ down the street, whip the wheel over to go down a side street and punch it without worrying about the who, what, where, when of what gear, how much brake, where the hell is the apex, etc.

I do plan on learning how to drive without it, I'm already feeling a sort of false sense of security with it on. I need to find a local autox to get me going!

Bob

 

I'm also a big fan of DSC. It's in my BMWs and my MINI. The Bentley manual for my 328i gives a fascinating description of DSC operation and how the data from the sensors is used to control the throttle and braking.

I live in the Northeast US and we get our share of rain and snow. DSC has proven itself time and again when the unexpected meets the moment. I also have three other drivers of the cars (spouse and two sons) so there is also the "peace of mind" factor.

Having said that, I have to admit that one of the best features of DSC is the "Off" switch. There are times whan I DON'T want DSC to intrude in 10/10ths driving. All I do is hit the switch! The beauty is: I have a choice! I'd much rather have DSC and turn it off than to not have it at all.

By the way, one of the more interesting pieces of engineering brilliance comes from Ian Cull (GBMINI). He has designed a cricuit that can be easily installed in the MINI to add an "auto-up" function to the windows of US MINIs. And, since he is "tapping" into the toggle panel, he can also add what is called "track mode DSC". The track-mode DSC modification allows the default state of DSC to be "off" when you start the car. Then, to enable DSC you just hit the DSC toggle. This is meant to help those who frequently track their MINIs and saves them from forgetting to disable DSC before each run. I think caution should be exercised when deciding about this option, however.

As you might expect, Ian is swamped with orders and is trying to work out the transition from hand-built circuits to a higher-efficiency approach. If you want to find out more, go to his website HERE.

My two pence,
Theo