I have Automatic Stability Control (ASC, standard). A $500 option was Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). Can anyone tell me what DSC adds to the picture? I'm guessing it adds something to the braking system when the car is under acceleration and is losing traction. But I'm not sure obviously. I'm just curious what it is that I do not have in controlling the car in a bad situation.

 

The information on DSC is available on Miniusa.com under the Learn pull down menu, select Facts, Figures, and Specs, and then Mini Cooper S, if you click on next it will cycle through three sets of information, one of them includes DSC, click on DSC and it will give you the specifics of what it does.

Unfortunately it is part of a Flashmedia presentation so I'm not able to copy and paste the text from it. The DSC option also incorporates the hill assist feature for the manual transmissions.

 

ASC detects wheel spin, and cuts the power to the drivetrain to stop it. DSC uses various sensors, including a yaw sensor, to detect (among other things) the direction of the car's travel, desired direction of travel (based off of steering input), etc...

If it detects a "problem" (like the results of understeer or oversteer), DSC tries to correct by applying brake pressure to a given wheel to compensate.

 

DSC is more comprehensive than ASC. TC is part of both.

 

DSC has the hill assist function. ASC does not

 

Now this is not a general dis on ASC-DSC, but personaly, I'd rather the computer let me drive the car. I DO like anti-lock brakes though.

 

This thread will probably go downhill quickly...

ASC is "traction control". When you get over-enthusiastic with the gas pedal, it will remove some power from the engine so the wheels don't spin.

DSC is "stability control". It does everything ASC does, and then some. The main extra is that when you screw up a turn, it will try to save your bacon. If you go into a turn too fast, the car will want to go straight (understeer). Imagine trying to turn in snow / ice. The DSC will apply the brakes to individual wheels to try to make the car turn the way you want it to. It's also possible to get a MINI to fishtail / spin / oversteer in rare circumstances. DSC will also try to correct things in these situations.

If you screw up badly enough, DSC will not be able to save you. But it is very good at what it does. If you drive in snow / ice, I highly recommend DSC.

 

Totally agree with you, I live in Toronto so I get snowy/icy(slippery) roads for half of the year. DSC has saved my butt a couple times.
Once I was making a left turn too quick, it was early in the morning and the road was very slippery(but stupid me didn't know), the rear end kicked out but the DSC saved me big time. It works wonders for us canucks.
If you don't drive too spiritedly or no snow around your area, chances are you don't need it. (Or if you're a good driver, unlike me. lol)