When I had entered the freeway several miles earlier I had another car a little close behind me. So I goosed the MINI into a sweeping entrance ramp and was amazed by how well the 22mm sway bar, that I installed last weekend, held the car level. I probably pulled more lateral force than I ever had before. It was awesome!

So, when I got ready to exit, on a ramp with a fairly sharp 180, I waited to break, knowing that I could pull this ramp a little faster than in the past. I began braking at a point that I thought would allow me to ease off as I entered the curve, and then accelerate out of it. I Imagine my surprise when the anti-lock breaks kicked in and the break pedal began to pulse! I guess it was the build up of oil and grime on this ramp, which I should have anticipated, but I wasn't able to slow as much as I'd planned. I had to keep my foot on the break as I entered the curve. I felt the back end start to shift. An then the car did something completely unexpected. It just stabilized (pedal still pulsing), and stayed straight on line through the curve.

Next time I'll leave a little more margin for the unexpected. That's the thing about driving aggressively on public roads. Its not a controlled environment, and you never know... But, thank you DSC!

 

Sounds like you got by with one. I'm glad. And, I'm glad to hear that you learned a lesson. Sharing your story is commendable. We yap a lot about how quick and surefooted our MINI's are. It's important to remember that even MINI's aren't exempt from the laws of physics.

 

DSC kicked in for me twice a few weeks ago in heavy rain. I am sure glad I have DCS.

 

Since I live in the East Bay, I'll be on the look out for a crazy MINI exiting the freeway at 95 mph....

 

Reminds me of an article in EVO a few months ago The month before, their comments about their FQ-340 (a 340 hp Lancer Evolution sold in Europe) were that "the AWD keeps the car so sure footed that all danger of an off-track excursion is gone" (paraphrased). The NEXT MONTH they show some amateurish night shots of a FQ-340 wrapped around a lightpost Apparently the staff writer got a bit overeager in a sweeper and spun out, totalling the car I think. He walked away unhurt

 

There may be more to watch out for...

 

My God, they're everywhere!

 

Take your aggressions out on the track. Keep America's streets safe for other motorists!

That way they can keep yapping on their phones, eating and applying cosmetics in peace. J/K. We do have an obligation to use our powers for good and not for evil.

 

Well... I'm not *that* crazy. BTW I drive 'normaly' 90% of the time and 100% of the time in traffic. But, when I see an open corner or curve...

The on-ramp was strong acceleration through the curve up to about 70mph, and then a safe merger into traffic.

The exit ramp was about 50-55 mph on a 35 mph ramp. I actually wasn't trying to take the ramp at an unreasonable speed for the MINI. My error was waiting too long to break. Had I lost it, I would have been into the guard rail. Had I gone through the rail, I would have been in a field. No cars close in front or behind, it would have been just my butt on the line, but thanks again to the DSC.

 

Agreed. I'm guilty of yapping. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

Yeah, it could be me!

 

It sounds like ABS was working, not as much the full stability control. Usually, it takes some slip angle to get into the DSC.:smile:

 

ABS is GOOD, just means you are using your brakes hard,

DSC works wonders on the track (Roebling Road in Savannah, GA last week) during heavy rain .... Definitely an eye opening experience, starting to slide out and have the "car" take over and straighten the car up, over and over ... As I passed 2 more cars who couldn't keep their car straight

 

ABS is good, because it bails you out in a panic situation. However, if you are willing to sacrifice some rubber, try this. Find some deserted road, etc (track is better), then run the car up to a speed (say 45 mph), then slam the brakes down, and get into the ABS. Then try it again, staying just out of the ABS. With just a bit of practice, you will find that you can brake in a shorter distance yourself. If you overbrake, ABS kicks in - which is great. But learning how to do it better yourself - priceless.

I almost never track in the rain, but if I was, and I saw someone relying on stability management to stay in control, I would exit the track. It's there to save you, and it cannot overcome the laws of physics - if you push it too hard, you're off the track, or spinning, or whatever.

But, for tracking the MINI!

 

is ASC standard? (I mean anti-slip, not DSC)

 

Actually, it was the ABS (and my own judgment) that got me into a position where I needed the DSC. I'd planned to threshold break, easing up as I entered the corner, but I got the ABS pulsing and wasn't able to slow as much as I'd planned.

It may be that road grime just didn't give me the stopping ability I thought I'd have, or it may be that the ABS is just touchy. Whatever. The result was that I entered the curve with the breaks on and the back end starting to break away. That's when the DSC magic happened. I can't describe it, except to say that the back end stopped sliding, in a way that I didn't expect.

 

It sounds to me (from reading both of your accounts) that the ABS did it's job... not the DSC. My experience has been that the DSC is working when under a throttle condition... not breaking. The fact that your Mini straighten up, under breaking, is a function of the ABS.

Oh well, A B C D E F G... what every it was... THE MINI'S SURE HANDLE GREAT!

 

I reread your original post, and I would agree I jumped the gun. ABS first, then DSC. That must have a bit hairy! My ABS comes on all the time b/c there is stop sign near my house that has a cattle grate just before. I can activate the ABS at will, especially if it is wet.

I'm glad everything worked out

 

Glad you didn't trade paint with the guardrail!

This brings up a point I feel strongly about. Everyone should try out their ABS brakes so that they know what it feels like when they engage. It should be done in a safe place so nobody rams you. There have been several instances of people being frightened be the pulsing pedal and taking their foot OFF the brake! Of course then guaranteeing an accident. I know the enlightened members of NAM would never do this, but amongst the "great unwashed" that drive SUV's, it occurs.

I suggest trying it in the wet for two reasons: 1. Not as hard on the mechanical components of the car and 2. You get a feel as to your ability to brake in the wet. (there are different levels of "wet" but you begin to get a feel)

Dave
Sunny San Diego
2003 DS/B MCS 15%, RO_JA's, AVS's and ABS, DSC, and when my wife is in the car PMS! (I am soooo glad she doesn't read this!)

 

Fandangio is the coolest NAM handle I've seen yet. Nice work...

 

mmmmmm, saved bacon

 

As a very car-savvy freind of mine is known to say: "Those guys at the factory ain't dumb!"

 

Your friend hasen't ever worked at one of those factories I'd assume

I actually find myself turning off my DSC whenever im out and about. I consider myself an agressive driver (safe, but aggressive), and the DSC seems to be the overbearing parent I've never had.

Granted I have two schools, 10 years of auto-x, and plenty of track days under my belt...all in non-ABS/DSC/traction control/power steering *flexes forearms* cars. I keep my DSC on in the rain, and when it snows Ill keep it on, but I was amazed at how quicker the car felt with the DSC not scolding me every time it thought I might spin a wheel for a 1/2 second

Anyone else daily drive with the DSC off?

-Jake

 

I stopped playing the off ramp speed game when I spun my old Integra after a guy lost his oil on the ramp. One second the car is gripping great next second I was in the grass pointed the wrong direction. I was luck there were no other cars around and there were no walls next to the ramp so just a bunch of grass and mud under the car. The big issue on off ramps is not knowing if there is something in the blind part of the turn, you never know when there is going to be something around the bend out of sight.

 

OK, ya got me. I've concluded the same thing and begun using the same approach. Right now I'm about to order Ian's famous one-touch-up & Track-mode-DSC module.

The DSC systems are just as conservative in BMW's as they are in our MINI's. When you get to the track, the first step is to turn it off. Since they're RWD, it's a bit more acceptable day-to-day. Just be mindful, when you elect to disable it, you're on your own - Big Brother can't save you.