Traction On/off?

[pixelblue]

^ I know generally what it does like everyone else. I was hoping for a more technical explanation. what does drag torque regulation mean or trailer stabilization do. the mechanics of it

[MarkR171]

Originally Posted by N55_BBM

Also, the biggest thing I feel when turning DSC off is the fact that the computer no longer cuts power to the wheels, regardless of how much they're slipping... no other way to do donuts for instance

That's the main thing I notice too, coming out of corners in autox, the DTC makes the car bog and accelerating is slow. DSC off, and my times improve significantly because the car isn't holding back.

That, and of course, it's easier to get the rear end to come out with DSC off, but again, that's on power.

[jsublime]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

That's the main thing I notice too, coming out of corners in autox, the DTC makes the car bog and accelerating is slow. DSC off, and my times improve significantly because the car isn't holding back.

That, and of course, it's easier to get the rear end to come out with DSC off, but again, that's on power.

You're talking about on track / Auto X, that's fine. But when people are told to turn off DSC/DTC on the street it can get dangerous, generally you shouldn't be at the limits of traction on street and if you are I hope you're not on the same roads I am. There really is no reason to go all TIM YOYO on street. Track / race is completely different and up to you.

[MarkR171]

You're right, and I don't drive like a maniac on the road, but I still like the throttle response and pick up for on ramps with dtc on or dsc off. The 135 is far from dangerous driving with dsc off in dry conditions. It's not a tail happy wild beast of a car. Even if you push to 70-80%, the car won't get out of hand with dsc off.

[N55_BBM]

Just drove from home to work (~14 miles, 90% highway, 10% city driving) with DSC completely off for the first time. And to be perfectly honest I noticed no difference at all. I know that DSC off gives you slightly better throttle control because I've tracked my car before and tried it out, but at least for me I only really notice it when I'm driving in an extreme situation on the limit of grip and DSC starts boggling the engine down and getting on my way.

The only time I really noticed traction control was off was when coming off of my garage ramp and taking a 90 degree right turn, i pressed the gas a little too heavily to make it to the green light ahead and got some wheels spin, which god dirt all over my rear bumpers. just washed my car yesterday for the first time in 2 months (its 68 degrees here out of nowhere !) so I'm pretty pissed now.

Anyway, my experience does not justify driving with traction control off. Although it wasn't really any different, it concerns me that if I ever hit a wet patch going fast on an access ramp curve for instance, or if I ever have to swerve suddenly from an object or what not, or if I ever turn too fast to beat a yellow light and end up spinning out or spinning into opposing traffic, that would not be good. Under these circumstances I'd like traction control to be there for my sake and for the sake of others around me.

Now if you're on the track/autoxing, it's a completely different story......

[GaryS]

FWIW I also leave the DSC on for street. I have never minded the intervention on street, but I've also never needed it - the car would have slid a little but was not going to spin out. I've been driving too fast in sports cars that have DSC for 6 years now, but before that, I drove too fast in sports cars that didn't have DSC for 32 years, and I'm still here to tell the tale.

[Lubo]

Originally Posted by N55_BBM

Just drove from home to work (~14 miles, 90% highway, 10% city driving) with DSC completely off for the first time. And to be perfectly honest I noticed no difference at all. I know that DSC off gives you slightly better throttle control because I've tracked my car before and tried it out, but at least for me I only really notice it when I'm driving in an extreme situation on the limit of grip and DSC starts boggling the engine down and getting on my way.

The only time I really noticed traction control was off was when coming off of my garage ramp and taking a 90 degree right turn, i pressed the gas a little too heavily to make it to the green light ahead and got some wheels spin, which god dirt all over my rear bumpers. just washed my car yesterday for the first time in 2 months (its 68 degrees here out of nowhere !) so I'm pretty pissed now.

Anyway, my experience does not justify driving with traction control off. Although it wasn't really any different, it concerns me that if I ever hit a wet patch going fast on an access ramp curve for instance, or if I ever have to swerve suddenly from an object or what not, or if I ever turn too fast to beat a yellow light and end up spinning out or spinning into opposing traffic, that would not be good. Under these circumstances I'd like traction control to be there for my sake and for the sake of others around me.

Now if you're on the track/autoxing, it's a completely different story......

I feel completely the other way around. I'll rather get some spin and control it rather than have the car kick in and bog it down.
This is especially true living in the city, it has happened numerously to me that I have tried to avoid something/someone by accelerating and then the traction control did the exact opposite. tim yo-yo mode for me all the time unless I forget to turn it off.

[MarkR171]

^ I've had that happen too, need to accelerate out of the way and the car just bogs.

[Lubo]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

^ I've had that happen too, need to accelerate out of the way and the car just bogs.

and that catches me more off guard than some spin. The car is really nicely balanced and you would really have to go to extremes to lose it at legal speeds.

[1on135_deal]

This is really awsome really shows the different driving styles we have; also I turned both off today from a dead stop you can really only feel the difference when u get on it hard to car just wants to go; I guess major diff is that u get a better launch, that i have noticed and that going into 2nd gear tons of momentum idk does any one notice it at all. I drive the M3 with both off with limited slip the car is very predictable, the one not so much id have to say, but the 1 is more of a everyday car. So idk when this bs demand dies down poss look in to the 1M Limited Slip is Awsome.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

^ I've had that happen too, need to accelerate out of the way and the car just bogs.

Hmm. Never had that happen. Have experienced a bit of turbo lag though, not much, but enough to be noticeable by the pull afterwards. I wonder if different types of transmissions could be the issue.

pge

[MarkR171]

There is virtually no turbo lag in our cars. That's probably just traction control bogging the motor down.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

There is virtually no turbo lag in our cars. That's probably just traction control bogging the motor down.

I've got the N54 and yes, there's a bit of turbo lag, albeit not much. And in fact usually when the DTC flashes, I notice no delay at all, but then I'm on public roads not track.

pge

[MarkR171]

I've noticed the icon doesn't always flash when it cuts power. It only flashes if the tires already lost traction and it's working to recover.

[1on135_deal]

this for all you guys who posted enjoy =)

this what i mean with traction off the car does not budge

[1on135_deal]

this how you spank a 370 z =)

[MarkR171]

Wow those videos were both worthless. DSC was off in the M3 and it didn't seem to have a problem accelerating, so no idea why you're saying "car does not budge."

In the 2nd video, the 370z was just driving normally...

[Lubo]

I do not experience any lag on stock car. If you want to experience turbo lag go drive an STI.

[1on135_deal]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

Wow those videos were both worthless. DSC was off in the M3 and it didn't seem to have a problem accelerating, so no idea why you're saying "car does not budge."

In the 2nd video, the 370z was just driving normally...

normally when ppl drive 370z "normally" you dont have to redline out of 3 catch my drift broski

[N55_BBM]

always nice to see videos of M3's accelerating to the redline, but I have no idea how the videos relate to the topic of discussion lol...

[1on135_deal]

lol thought as bmw lubers we'd enjoy them lol

[GuamX1]

Originally Posted by bluesunit

DCT off unless weather sucks or I'm just cruising.

DSC on at all times except when autocrossing on slicks.

On street tires (Hankook V12s, don't know if it's the same for stickier streets), I found that the car is faster with DSC on as it limited on-throttle understeer.

Car does feel a little dopey if you punch it with DTC on.

With DSC on/DTC off, stability intervention is very progressive and it will let you get a little out of shape before it reels you in ("fun and safe").

This is a really nice considering many cars hit you with the brutal fuel-cut punish stick as soon as you even slightly spin the tires (looking at you, Infiniti).

Quick edit: My stability control was broken for about a month and a half while I waited to get my steering angle sensor replaced. During that month it poured frequently. The 135i is very, very predictable and neutral with no nannies on and is not trying to actively kill you (looking at you Corvette and s2000). You'd have to be driving like a complete and utter dumb-ass to get yourself in too deep. (Consider that a warning if you are a dumb-ass )

How do you turn these 2 functions on and off?