Thank you BMW DSC!

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I was just about to make some kind high horse moralistic post about DSC being a safety device etc. etc. but it would seem Wikipedia disagrees.

"Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a computerized system designed to improve a vehicle's handling by intervening at the limits of traction and helping the driver maintain control of the vehicle."

...which is definitely toned more 'Allows the car to be driven faster' than 'saves your ass if something unpredictable happens'
 
divine` said:
I was just about to make some kind high horse moralistic post about DSC being a safety device etc. etc. but it would seem Wikipedia disagrees.

"Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a computerized system designed to improve a vehicle's handling by intervening at the limits of traction and helping the driver maintain control of the vehicle."

...which is definitely toned more 'Allows the car to be driven faster' than 'saves your ass if something unpredictable happens'
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maybe you have temporarily forgotten, but wikipedia is certainly not gospel, that comment was more than likely written by somebody with the same mindset as pmkeates.

I'm interested, no doubt Fox can help out here, but what does the the BMW manual have to say about it?

His comment about DSC light = screwup is stone cold fact in my eyes.
 
[TW]Fox;10698409 said:
Wikipedia is only as reliable as the last person to edit it.
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They'd have done well to change the tone of an entire article just because they like DSC though :p
 
Clarkey said:
maybe you have temporarily forgotten, but wikipedia is certainly not gospel, that comment was more than likely written by somebody with the same mindset as pmkeates.

I'm interested, no doubt Fox can help out here, but what does the the BMW manual have to say about it?

His comment about DSC light = screwup is stone cold fact in my eyes.
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The principle
DSC is designed to maintain driving stability in critical situations.
 
[TW]Fox;10698368 said:
You need to make a choice. It's a hard choice, but its a choice you MUST make before something happens.

A) Replace your car with a Focus 1.6
B) STOP driving like that and give the car more respect. DSC cannot and will not defy the laws of physics nor is it infallible. You should NEVER rely on it.

It's there to help you WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE and not to enable you to corner faster than you otherwise would. Every time the light goes on, it means you've screwed up. You've done something wrong. Usually with too much right foot.

Driving highish powered RWD cars takes responsbility. If you do not give the car the respect it deserves it WILL bite you.

For helping you out when you make a little error, like too much throttle off a roundabout, etc etc, DSC is fantastic, however.
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Care to read the whole thread before jumping in with your sweeping comments? I've already posted how I was exaggerating; I'm not exactly firing up DSC lights round every corner; I've put 9000+ miles on since getting the car and with some of the roads I've been on; if I was to have an accident it would have happened long before now if I really was as stupid as you think I am.
Re. your last sentence - in the dry I give it quite some beans off a roundabout if there are no cars in the vicinity in either lane - I say quite fast, but it's never going to remotely strain the DSC. I've seen what the DSC can really do - my cousin demonstrated the car to me and my dad when I went to buy it, and had it at speeds that (given the roads at that time) I would call absolutely stupid and I will never be capable of driving at. But even then (I'm talking 70 - 80+ round back roads - *edit* small, tight, 1.5-lane Irish country back roads) there was no sign of DSC lights or the car starting to lose it.
 
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Clarkey said:
His comment about DSC light = screwup is stone cold fact in my eyes.
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DSC light does not = screwup. It will light up if TC has been activated as well as the stability control system.

This means that driving around in the wet it's likely you'll see the DSC light blink every so often in various situations such as if you're pulling away on a slippery surface or driving over pothole covers.

It doesn't always mean that it's stopped you from driving into someone's lounge.
 
5tephen said:
Care to read the whole thread before jumping in with your sweeping comments?
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I've read the thread and I stand by what I just said. The attitude towards your car which you displayed in that post was worrying. Sorry, but thats how it comes across. You've admitted that you drive harder than you otherwise would becuase you 'know' DSC will save you.

One day, it might not.
 
NickXX said:
DSC light does not = screwup. It will light up if TC has been activated as well as the stability control system.

This means that driving around in the wet it's likely you'll see the DSC light blink every so often in various situations such as if you're pulling away on a slippery surface or driving over pothole covers.
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Technically it still means you screwed up becuase you obviously applied too much power for the surface you were on. Practically speaking, though, you will see it flash as it counteracts what in any other car would simply be harmless wheelspin. My light blinks when I go over greasy bits, pull away over manholes, etc etc.

But, when pressing on, DSC = 'you cocked that!'
 
[TW]Fox;10698471 said:
I've read the thread and I stand by what I just said. The attitude towards your car which you displayed in that post was worrying. Sorry, but thats how it comes across. You've admitted that you drive harder than you otherwise would becuase you 'know' DSC will save you.

One day, it might not.
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I then posted again stating how I was exaggerating to make my point!
 
I don't think it's been stated anywhere in the thread that DSC is active all the time, not only when you've lost control. It's continually calculating power delivery etc to the wheels to keep the car intact. DSC is active when the car goes round a corner at 20mph or 50mph - that's why it's possible to corner so much faster than (as used in a previous post) my 10-year old C250.
 
NickXX said:
Do these have ABS?
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Don't think so, might be optional. Mind you, ABS is of little to no help on ice anyway.

Mine doesn't, and in a way I'm glad it doesn't. Driving a car with no driver aids at all kind of naturally coaches you on good driving technique. No ABS teaches you to modulate the brake pedal nicely. I overstepped the line once and caused a big lockup, won't happen again. Likewise, skinny tyres and no traction control teaches you good accelerator technique, bad understeer teaches you the merits of left foot braking and Scandinavian flick (don't try this on the street kids ;), seriously!). These are skills for life and I believe it makes me a better driver, not only with car control but with general awareness, my car doesn't have any safety net so i'll try my best not to get into situations where I might need one, afterall I am not the Stig.
 
On a slightly unrelated note, I’ve just gone out and purchased a lovely Jaguar S Type R this afternoon which I noticed came fitted with DSC, is this the same system as fitted to BMWs or is it different?

Also, are there any downsides to DSC type systems? Are there any situations where it should be turned off?
 
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