Hi All -

I'm about to purchase a 2007 Cooper S; however, I wanted to get feedback on Dynamic Stability Control and Limited Slip Differential options.

In speaking with the dealer that I am working with he says that not many customers go with these options. I'm not sure how much this is true so wanted to get input on the pros and cons of these two options and whether they are really worth getting.

Thanks!

Mark

 

I would say definitely yes on DSC. DSC adds in Hill Assist if it's a manual transmission in addition to the features of DSC itself. If you have a lot of inclement weather in your area, DSC is a must have.

LSD, now, that depends on how you plan on driving the Mini. My wife has an automatic and I've ordered an automatic so I can't say from first hand experience but many here on NAM have indicated that it isn't all that usefull unless you plan on running it at a track.

 

I didn't order either. 10 years ago there were no DSC on my cars and I survived so decided to save some money. I would have gotten both if I had a better paying job. I would have also gotten Xenon, homelink, leather seats, JWC body kit, and etc..

 

LSD totally worth it for $500 cause of all that low end torque.

 

I think both are worthwhile on an MCS. DSC is a safety feature. It can save your a$$ in an emergency situation. There have been insurance studies that have shown it to be more effective at lowering accident rates than ABS. In a few years it will be mandatory on all cars.

The '07 MCS has a lot of torque. Getting that to ground can be a problem in front wheel drive cars. In my '90 Integra I would often squeak the tires starting at a stop light (slippery paint stripes at the intersection) or turning right from a stop. The Integra has much less torque that the MCS. I don't have this problem with my LSD equipped MCS. Perhaps ASC will cover it, but that controls things by braking the spinning wheel. LSD sends power to the wheel that has grip.

If you get LSD from the factory it is $500. If you wanted to add it later it would be much much more. I don't think you can add DSC later.

 

Also, DSC includes a hill assist feature. When you are on a hill -- clutch in and brake pedal holding you -- release the brake to put your foot on the gas and the brake will hold for a couple of seconds to prevent it from rolling backwards. It works quite well.

 

In a word...YES!

 

I ordered both with my new car after my hubby did some research. I haven't gotten the car yet so I can't say if it is worth it or not. I would say it probably is...JMO

 

'Worth it' is always subjective, but if I were buying new I'd get both. $500 is cheap for an LSD, and $500 for DSC is insurance that you only pay for once.

 

DSC a definite yes. I have a MC not MCS and still think DSC is worth the money.

 

yep on both

 

DSC is theoretically useful (it is a FWD car that is very forgiving), but the LSD is very useful on the Cooper S. i have to navigate a lot of very short onramps and get up to 55mph immediately or risk getting run over by trafffic and the LSD kicks in in dry weather.

i'd hate to think what would happen on slick roads trying to merge with traffic.

it's $500 well spent. in the snow, for example, when ASC and DSC will basically kill engine power to prevent wheelspin, you will find yourself in situations where you'll want to kill DSC totally and get through the deeper snow with your limited slip diff.

 

I am happy to have ordered both -- partly for snow, ice, mud, and rain, but the DSC mainly for hill assist, and that aspect is an obvious plus every day.

For example, yesterday in Kansas City I was starting in reverse from a steeply sloped parking lot. There was a tall concrete barrier about 2 feet from my front bumper. DSC kept the brakes on while I operated gas and clutch. Then it released after the car started to move.

Stopped at a light, going uphill on an incline in traffic, with that familiar pickup or SUV waiting just off my bumper, DSC frequently saves my clutch and my nerves.

 

I have just the DSC. Wish I had LSD.
Tire spinnie torque-steer whoa happens, even when it's not raining.

 

Would at minimum go for the DSC. It works.
jason

 

I agree for the most part.
I went with LSD for trudging through the snow though.

 

Man, that selective quoatation totally changes what R56 said. Are you a reporter? 30 years ago, they didn't have child car seats and whole bunch of things they got now. Civil War soldiers didn't have automatic weaposn or even camo. Some of them survived, too. R56 said he didn't have the money to spend. That's a whole different matter than rationalizing that because you managed to survive without before, it's not worth getting.

 

Nope not a reporter. Just an engineer.
I was just tryin to say that i too wanted to keep the price low, so I opted out of the DSC. Since i have never owned a car with DSC I didn't see a need for it.

 

to studies on the benefits of DSC. I will get it on every street car I ever purchase, as that stats show it would be stupid not to.

LSD is a good one too, but wasn't available in 02! Boo hoo!

Matt

 

Like many others here, I agree that DSC is a must...great safety feature.

LSD is more important if you plan on driving your S agressively. (And who can honestly say that they wont? )

I ended up getting a Cooper instead of an S, so it was not an option (or necessary, really), but I had it spec'ed out on the S model I was considering.

 

I got both. LSD is a must. I definitely wanted Xenon headlights and 17" wheels so I just added the Sport Pkg and got DSC included. I mean, an extra $500 bumps your payment up like, what, $7 or something. Go for it!

 

I'm not sure how well the software on the DSC has changed over the years, but in my 2003, I have never, ever kept my DSC on. Even with the application of moderate power, the engine kills it's own power output. I hate it. Don't hesitate to get the LSD...it's nothing but goodness at a fair price.

 

We are about to enter the "DSC Zone"! No need to adjust your telivision....

The horse has been beeten on this one. Well past death....

Matt

 

Hey, that's ok Matt... it takes time to try and sift through all 8,000 previous threads on this subject. I'm just trying to help out the new guys/girls!

 

torque steer on my auto, I would say definitely yes on the LSD. DSC, absolutley.