Can someone explain how the DSC on my works? Also when should I be turning it off and on? When I want to go faster I turn it off? I dont understand. Any help is appreciated.

 

Dynamic Stability Control works with All Season Traction to detect and correct abnormal under or over steer conditions that can result in a loss of control. By monitoring steering angle and individual front wheel speeds, DSC logic can immediately recognize loss of lateral stability. When this occurs, the DSC system selectively applies the brakes and adjusts engine power to help restore directional control (think of DSC as AST for the front wheels).

 

Hard to explain exactly how the mechanics of it work... heck, I don't even know how they do... but in essence it is this:

When a wheel (or wheels) begins to slip, power is immediately taken away from that wheel and given to the one with power. ABS is actuated as well for the front drive wheels, as well as the rears. So, what happens is this... you're entering a corner too fast without using the brakes... suddenly you go into a slide. The DSC will do its very bloody hardest to keep you on the road when you're being a moron. I'd say leave it one when you're driving in a spirited manner, but it can be a pain in the snow at times, I hear, as it can cut power from both wheels if they start spinning on the ice. I don't have DSC on my current Mini, so I can't really explain how it works firsthand... once my Cooper S comes in around March, I can letcha know better.

 

so what is the benefit to turning it off?

 

>>Also when should I be turning it off and on?

Came with the Sports package so I had no choice. It's the first hing that I flip off when I start the car. It's never on. I want to control the car, not a computer.

 

DSC is the one "feature" that I could do without. Thankfully, it can be turned off with just a switch. I always hated how my VW GTI would cut power to the engine when wheel spin was detected. Fortuately, it too could be disabled.

I do think that DSC will be useful when I am lazily driving on highways or when I offer the keys to a novice MINI driver. But on the track or when I am having fun with some "spirited driving", I will always turn DSC off.

 

Just wanted all to know that I think this was a very helpful chain of comments. My 2003 Yellow Mini is soon to be delivered (hopefully within 10 days), and I had the same question about the DSC. You can read the literature and listen to the dealer, but some practical tips are more useful. As I'm a Michigan resident, I'll definitely get to experience DSC in the snow, and will probably end up turning it off.

I've found these boards very helpful...keep up the good work!

 

Based on what I've heard & read, the following might be appropriate use of DSC:

1. If you're out "motoring"; and it may be raining, or there may/may not be ice around, or you don't know the area; leave it ON.
2. If you're involved in an autocross/slalom/track day, etc; try it both ways. "Some" of the folks say that it makes the car SLIGHTLY slower (like 0.5 sec max out of a 40 sec lap in one of the magazines that did a real test with/without the systems engaged). However, those same folks say that the car is SUBSTANTIALLY easier to drive with it engaged. If you find that it makes you slower, leave it OFF for those times you're competing.

I usually leave the "traction contol" on my GTI VR6 "on" all of the time. It really has very few bad side effects. If I'm trying for a particularly quick standing start sprint, I might turn it off (especially if the road is dry, good traction, etc). Just remember: most accidents happen under "normal" conditions, very close to home. Saving 0.5 seconds out of 40 seconds under those conditions won't "help" anything; but you just may find yourself spinning on a patch of oil you didn't know was there...

Bottom line: BMW & MINI put the switch on there for a reason... so you had an "option". Options are good! They also made the "default" state for DSC "ON"; because they know that most people need help in PREVENTING an accident MOST when they aren't planning on having one!
(...just think how bad you'd feel taking your DSC-equipped MINI in to the dealer for repairs; after spinning out with DSC dis-engaged!)

Final recommendation: for those of you that already HAVE your MINI's, and have taken the car to the track, or slalom; how about timing a few runs both ways, and reporting on both the TIMES and the FEEL of the car? With, and without DSC engaged? Data always is better than guesses!

 

>Can someone explain how the DSC on my works? Also when should
>I be turning it off and on? When I want to go faster I turn it off? I
>dont understand. Any help is appreciated.

First - my two cents... <soapbox> You should play with the car with the DSC off in wide empty paved lots after a fresh rain. (Preferrably at a driving school with an instructure. Whether you're 16 or 66 you can always slearn more about driving unless your name is Michael Schumaker.) Don't try to "go fast" without understanding what happens to your car when it is out of control. It is an eye opener when you've been thrown for a couple 360 degree spins because you late apexed or because you lifted off throttle too fast or just in general pushed the car further than you should have. </soapbox>

Second - just read this site: http://www.bmwworld.com/technology/dsc.htm and you'll have some information to digest.

-dq

 

I've never been to a driving school. I don't auto-cross. I apologize ahead of time if I upset anyone with what I'm about to say.

Think of DSC as being similar to ABS (anti-lock brakes). When ABS came out, people kept saying "I can stop the car better than the computer can." And, that might theoretically be true. If you can properly threshold brake (keep the brakes at the point just before they lock up), you probably can stop the car faster than the computer that runs the ABS can. But how many of us can actually do that during _every_ emergency stop? I know I cannot.

DSC is similar. Yes, it is theoretically possible that I could drive the car better than the DSC computer. But, in reality, I know _I_ cannot.

And, if you don't know what it does, leave it on :smile:

The only time I'll switch it off is when I am in severe low traction situations where the car cannot make forward progress without wheel spin (like starting on an icy hill or getting the car out of a parking space when I'm too lazy to shovel the snow out from behind the wheels). The DSC (actually, the just the traction control part of it, but there's only one switch and on a non S cooper, you cannot get ASC+T, just DSC) will _stall_ the car in these conditions as it tries to lower the engine RPM until the wheels grip instead of spin. In those situations, there are 2 options. 1) decide that the computer is trying to tell you something and you shouldn't be out driving if there's that little traction. 2) Turn the DSC off until you can get the car moving, then turn it back on.

Most of the people recommending turning it off are probably people who autocross and have had performance driving training. Most of the people wondering about how to use the DSC probably aren't/haven't.

[flameproof suit on]