[silverado]

Originally Posted by jc777

I "tested" my DSC a few weeks ago, driving the pa turnpike at night. Curise set to 73. I hit some standing water from an earlier storm and the rear end started to drift. Before I could say oh sh**, the DSC straightened the car out and tripped off the cruise. I think I could have handled it myself, but DSC is a beautiful thing.

Was that on a curve or were you going straight.

[silverado]

Tierfreund,

Very informative comments that make very good sense, as always. I really appreciate your input on this board.

[fredtoo]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Its Oregon state here, and its raining everyday.

Today morning, I was late to go somewhere. I had to turn left(no signals or stop signs, you are on your own). I gave about 80% throttle and took off pretty aggressive while turning towards the left. All of sudden I feel my car losing traction in the rear(raining hard, VERY slippery road), and for a second there, nose of my car was about to face somewhere else I wouldn't want to imagine. I thought it was over. All these images/thoughts went through my mind during those few seconds.

THEN, something immediately "stopped" my car from sliding(I think i was still slightly pressing on the gas pedal), and it literally "kicked" it self back to the original position(direction I was headed to), and I immediately I was back to normal driving. I was simply amazed of what happened.

I never experienced anything like this before with my previous japanese cars I owned. It saved my a$$ and $42000. If this is related to BMW technology...

I have been playing with the car in the wet with DTC on and off.

Way Big Difference

With DTC on, you can go around a tight wet corner, nail the throttle, and the will slide a little, and then fall on it's face as it cuts power to the wheels, and puts the brakes on.
Same corner -DTC OFF - Whack the gas, revs go to red line, and the car steps out big time, as the rear end tries to pass the front of the car. Step out of the gas and counter steer, or things get ugly way fast.

[ben1364]

As someone else said, a driving school or several is in order. I cringe when I think of untrained people driving like this, especially on the street.

[jc777]

Originally Posted by silverado

Was that on a curve or were you going straight.

I was going straight. A temporary concrete barrier was set up on my left and I think that is what was holding the water on the highway.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Xens

SHUUUURE.

Anyways, on topic yes BMW's quality engineering has saved many lives, not just by their stability control system but also the car's overall rigidity or however you spell it.

Every man should know how to spell rigidity.

[turbo]

Anyone tried their babies on track days?

It's by far the best way to learn to know your car! In my opinion it is best to experience the handling limit (With DSC on and off) in a controlled environment.

I started a few years ago, trying out my own limits. After attending a few times, I was amazed how quickly I learned! I now regularly do track days through the local Porsche club

Investing in driving skills is by far the best investment I've done when it comes to car related stuff.

Now I love to take my 1973 Porsche 911 out for a spin, even on rainy days. (With no electronic nannies what so ever) It is a good feeling to push the rear end out, and hold it there trough some open twisties.

I've only tried an E90 320d demo car, but found it extremely controllable! With the mid-range torque it was easy to control just with the pedal through the turns, even with the Steptronic slush box! Can't wait to get my E91 on Tuesday.

[visor]

Originally Posted by AW330i

God that would be such an anoying feature, (if it beeped), My car would never shut up! LoL

[ABR]

Got my DTC working today. It is crappy rainy day in Toronto, I just pushed a bit harder in DS mode on the turn from the stop sign and got system working right away (light come on). I didn’t get any skidding at all.

I was tempted to try even more harder, but decided not to... don’t want to meet with stop sign post

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

All these little things are amazing me day by day.

Firstly lux.sh, let me start by saying that I'm glad you (and your e90) were/are ok after the slip/slide.

Secondly I too am impressed and amazed day by day, every driving day about all the little (and big) things about the entire car, so I know and wholeheartedly agree with what you are saying.

Everyone, as we all know, BMW are all about safety and all the technological innovations that go into the car are so safety oriented for EXACTLY the situation that lux.sh found himself in. They did their job, but no doubt, so did lux.sh. His reaction no doubt helped as well. It was unfortunate but we are human and judgement errors do come into play for EVERYONE.

Lux's point was to share with everyone that the safety features on the car really do work as described (within the laws of physics) and helped save him and his car from being hurt.

Thanks BMW for your fine efforts in safety that will filter down to all makes and models of all cars.

[mr_blond]

A man's got to know his limitations.

Rain? What's rain? And what are there winter tires I keep reading about?

Orange County, CA checking in.

[Fastdriverinca999]

jc777... i doubt your car started to "drift" just because you drove through "some standing water". Hydroplaning is not drifiting, and if you had the wheel pointed straight ahead, the car would not suddenly drift sideways from water. On the other hand, if you lifted off the throttle and/or turned the steering wheel at the instant you entered the water, that might do what you describe

[flipmde786]

You wanna know why the summer tires suck in rain? The same reason the all-seasons suck too...these runflats suck. If anything, a good summer tire isn't phased by rain at all. Again, everyone has their opinion, so I'll leave it at that.

DSC is great, but what if you're not applying throttle at the moment you start slipping? I don't think it works then. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the stability control only works when you're applying throttle.

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by Broken1

Driving in the rain is not something to be messed with.
Most poeple don't understand the consequences. I get scared sometimes when driving in the rain...not because of me. I know I will be carefull, and DSC should help if I slip up - but other people...in crappy cars without DSC....

Dude, I totally know what you mean. Im on the freeway going slow to make sure and never lose grip, and in my mirror I see some punkass flying up to me and past me in some piece of shit. I would be so pissed if he hydroplaned at the moment he was next to me and caught me up in his crap.

[BMerDRMer]

I've yet to have the pleasure of experinecing DSC in real world driving, although in a couple instances I am surprised it didn't kick in. I did get to experience it big time at Spartanburg during delivery ........ it was unbelievable on the skid pad ....... with DSC on simply could not force the car to tail out, even with pedal to the floor on a wet turn.

I am curious, with the experience on this thread, how AWD and Xi, interleaves with the DSC / DTC programming? I have drvien the car in some "straight ahead" snow conditions. Shocked at how agressively it can pull forward in the snow ......... for instance if you kick it for a quick start in the snow ........ will DSC or DTC kick in before, during or after traction is transferred to front wheels??

[RiXst3r]

I test my DSC button every day, so far it turns off just fine
If I leave it on, I cant even accellerate through a turn without the dang thing kicking in... too much torque!

[daves335i]

Originally Posted by RiXst3r

I test my DSC button every day, so far it turns off just fine
If I leave it on, I cant even accellerate through a turn without the dang thing kicking in... too much torque!

Yes! coming from my Audi S4, I'm a bit surprised on just how often the little light flashes at me. however, it was more noticable on the effects of the car on the S4, where on the BMW, its usually less noticable (on straights).

On turns, I was a bit surprised at first, but then I realized the Audi would understeer like crazy. so, either the butt comes out for a second, and then slips into place, or you understeer and need to correct.

I'll take the butt slipping! (no jokes please -- not that there's anything wrong with that!)

[RiXst3r]

nothing wrong with a little butt slipping....