There's about as good an explanation as you're going to get over in this thread. I'm still not sure what DTC is.

 

Basically, DTC relaxes the rules for DSC.

DSC is intended to allow no wheel slip and no car sliding. When you turn DSC off, and have DTC, then the DTC mode kicks in. DSC will brake and alter the throttle to accomplish this.

DTC allows for a limited amount of both wheel and car slip, so that if you're in icy/wet/sandy conditions where traction is reduced, it won't stop you from moving. Consider DSC, allowing no slip, in snow. It might well cut throttle or brake the wheel(s) and prevent you from moving at all, because the tires were slipping. DTC also will give you back throttle control more quickly than DSC does.

With both DSC and DTC off, the car will still have "EDLC", which attempts to achieve a similar goal that a LSD does. It is not a limited slip differential, but it does try to control wheel slippage. EDLC does not engage any throttle changes nor does it try to control stability, just wheel slip.

 

Good explanation...

It seems like there it's all basically the same system and that all the different Acronyms are just different levels of system intrusion. From what I've read, the continuum goes as follows... from max intrusion, to minimum intrusion.

ASC/DSC = Max Intrusion (All)
DTC = Minimal Intrusion for "Sprited Street Driving" and "Poor Traction" conditions such as snow/sand (DTC-equipped cars)
OFF w/ eDLC = No intrusion except electronic LSD (DTC-equipped cars)
OFF = No intrusion (non-DTC equipped cars)

Obviously, cars with mechanical LSD could have "intrusion" from that if equipped, but that is outside the realm of ASC/DSC/DTC/eDLC.

 

Thanks, I gotta give at least partial credit to Krut though (he's my MA). My discussions with him are the core of my description, with some info from Mini USA and other discussions on the board.

I think I'd only quibble on the "Performance Driving" description you give DTC. As I understand it, DTC enabled is more like "bad weather" driving. I think, for Performance Driving, you'd want a DTC equipped car and then turn DSC and DTC off while on the track which would get you the electronic sort-of-LSD.

This is how i see it:

ASC/DSC = Max Intrusion (All)
DTC = Minimal Intrusion for "Poor Traction" (snow,ice,sand) (DTC-equipped cars)
OFF = electronic LSD for Performance Driving (DTC-equipped cars)
OFF = No intrusion (non-DTC equipped cars)

To me, DTC seems like a good fit if you plan to drive in snow and other slippery conditions or if you want something like an electronic LSD.

 

Yeah, I agree with your thoughts on DTC... By "Performance" driving, I meant more like "Spirited" Driving (in the case that you still want some intrusion *just in case* like on the street... not Auto-X or Open Track, in which case, you'd turn DSC/DTC "OFF") and I should add "Poor Traction" conditions, as well.

I'll edit my previous post, in fact.

 

Ok, so the '09's all come with DSC . If you order the DTC, is it that the DTC (w the eLSD) has no effect on the car UNLESS the DSC is turned off? It only comes into play when the DSC is tirned off?

 

People keep saying that, but I've found DSC does allow some slip if you train it properly. DSC seems to react to driving style and if you push it more it lets you do more. (Or vice-versa as I found after the wife drove the MCS for a while.) I talked to the dealer when I was surprised how much slip I could get on the 07 MC and they seemed to think it was normal.

 

You could be right that it might adapt somewhat, but it could also be that you're overwhelming the system's ability to come up with "safe" solutions. After all, intent to never slip and actual ability to do that safely aren't always the same thing

 

I think you have the following modes, but I don't know if it's a matter of turning off DSC or having DSC on and turning DTC on as well:

DSC + DTC - I label it like this, because DTC alters the rules of DSC rather than being a separate system.
DSC
EDLC (this is both DSC and DTC off and sort of like an electronic LSD)

[Edited because I'm not sure what order of switches/toggles get those modes, but they are the only modes that make sense]

 

So i am building an 09 right now. I am not getting the sports package but i do want to get either the DTC or LSD. Which should i get? The car will come with DSC standard. From what i gather on this thread the DTC is an electronic form of an LSD. What are the benefits of a DTC over LSD and vice versus. Basically which is worth my $500.

 

I've been meaning to write up what DTC actually does and how it actually works on the street. When I received my 09 JCW last summer the owner's manual didn't even have it listed. When I called MINIUSA they had no information to describe it to me. I've been looking for some scenarios that describe when you should use DTC and when you shouldn't. I'm going to consult the updated owner's manuals today.

 

After reading this thread I think I have a decent understanding of DTC. I'm possibly going to be ordering a MCS Automatic. Is there really a point in getting the optional DTC when I will be using the car in normal suburban and highway driving? I'm in Jersey so it does snow. Is it worth the cost when getting an automatic?
Second, if I don't get it, is there an empty space on the console because no DTC was ordered?

I have a MC about to arrive, didn't get it in the MC (Daughters). Didn't even consider it on the MC automatic.