Thank you BMW DSC!

Over Clocker · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:29

Was driving home, and came up to a shiny bit of road (leaking water main on that road this week), so slowed down a lot. It is on the lead up to a fairly sharp left right left. As i came up to it in 3rd, I noticed it had turned to black ice, and my DSC light came on quite a bit.

Anyway, as I was playing seeing what the DSC did when I did things on the black ice that I would not normally do, I notice a car in my mirror, fairly sideways, skidding towards the back of my car! I come off the brake and speed up, whilst going the left right left, on black ice, DSC going mad, but car stays pretty true around the bend, whilst the car behind heads into a hedge! (driver was okay though.)

Good stuff! If I was in my old Focus, I'd either have a car in my rear end, or be in said hedge too!

melbourne720 · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:36

Phew! What Beemer do you have? I am a new member of that club

zain · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:39

ESP has saved me a fair few times

Over Clocker · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:39

2002 320i

Was initially going to get a 318, but then decided on the 320 as the 6 cylinder 2.2 sounds nicer

rare · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:42

Some driver aids would be nice some times. Glad you are ok!

My 2.7 E30 was brilliant in the winter...so much so I sold it to a friend who wrote it off in under a week.

PMKeates · 15 Dec 2007 at 23:58

DSC is great. Officially.

I've said it more than once!

jamoor · 16 Dec 2007 at 00:37

Indeed, doesn't replace common sense though sadly.

NickXX · 16 Dec 2007 at 00:42

It is great, and despite the luddite non-believers, it really can make a difference.

To the DSC developers - I salute you

Dogbreath · 16 Dec 2007 at 01:06

NickXX said:
It is great, and despite the luddite non-believers, it really can make a difference.

I don't think anyone would argue that. The problem stems from people that believe it should be used as a standard method of extending the car capabilities, i.e. use it all the time rather than as a "save your silly arse" device.

Skeeter · 16 Dec 2007 at 01:13

Ahh, the "Stop It, Your Driving Like An Idiot" light proving it has some use other than telling you off! lol

I have one of those in my Fiesta... only its a noise, comes from the front wheels, while they understeer...

NickXX · 16 Dec 2007 at 01:28

Dogbreath said:
I don't think anyone would argue that. The problem stems from people that believe it should be used as a standard method of extending the car capabilities, i.e. use it all the time rather than as a "save your silly arse" device.

It works - a lot of people here won't believe it though.

Skeeter said:
Ahh, the "Stop It, Your Driving Like An Idiot" light proving it has some use other than telling you off! lol

I have one of those in my Fiesta... only its a noise, comes from the front wheels, while they understeer...

A powerful RWD car is different to your Fiesta.

-westy- · 16 Dec 2007 at 02:09

NickXX said:
It works - a lot of people here won't believe it though.

I can put my hand up and say that I do believe it, I've been in PMKeates' car while he's been arsing about (no offence dude

) and it just..kept him exactly where he wanted to go. I wouldn't want to have to rely on the system though.

A powerful RWD car is different to your Fiesta.

I think he may have been joking

.:MBK:. · 16 Dec 2007 at 02:11

thanks for the reality check, now im even more worried about stacking it this winter

even if my car is a gutless fwd shopping trolley, ice is ice and this is my 1st winter as a motorist

Tom|Nbk · 16 Dec 2007 at 02:15

While DSC has helped you this time, don't keep relying on it in the future

.

Gaygle · 16 Dec 2007 at 02:49

Pfffft.....real drivers turn DSC off permanently

mrk · 16 Dec 2007 at 03:43

I know ASC is not as good as DSC but ASC has saved me on a wet day few weeks back on a medium roundabout !
I was going round in 2nd gear maybe 15mph and just as I'm about to exit building up speed ready to switch to 3rd I feel the rear end begin to swing left...within a split second it swings to the right then to a straight position.

Whilst this happened I noticed the ASC light flash.
It all felt very awkward and is hard to explain in a specific way other than it was as if some big giant grabbed the rear and gave it a quick bosh in the other direction to stop it from swinging out!
Doesn't have to be a powerful RWD to swing out on wet conditions though the fun factor is a fair bit higher in a bigger engine for sure!

Looking forward to a bigger engine to have sensible fun with

Sparky · 16 Dec 2007 at 08:55

My boss has a 320i and when he 1st got it he took me for a blast.I asked him what the DSC button was for and he replies "Does Something Clever" I guess he was right!

Tesla · 16 Dec 2007 at 09:20

.:MBK:. said:
thanks for the reality check, now im even more worried about stacking it this winter

even if my car is a gutless fwd shopping trolley, ice is ice and this is my 1st winter as a motorist

If you are aware of this it makes you a better driver than 99% of other road users so good on you. Just take it steady and remain observant of the conditions. Smooth driving, no sudden changes of direction or speed and you'll do great

NathanE · 16 Dec 2007 at 09:59

Tesla said:
If you are aware of this it makes you a better driver than 99% of other road users so good on you.

That is very true actually. So many motorists out there (generally they are the ones that crash in the winter and look confused about it) just have no clue about road conditions and most of them continue to drive as though it is the summer!

helpimcrap · 16 Dec 2007 at 10:04

zain said:
ESP has saved me a fair few times

having a mid 90s escort i have to rely on this too.