Turn traction control off in snow?
Discussion
I've never driven rear wheel drive before & wondered whether it would be best to turn the traction control off for getting up hills etc.
I've had problems with cheap FWD traction control getting confused when using snowchains but wasn't sure how good the traction control was on BMW's & whether that would get confused in snow?
I've had problems with cheap FWD traction control getting confused when using snowchains but wasn't sure how good the traction control was on BMW's & whether that would get confused in snow?
BMWs have the traction control linked through the stability control (if fitted). Dependant on the model there are various ways of switching off the traction control but leaving the stability control working - I'm afraid it's RTFM time... 
In my X3 I think it's all in one press, in the 130i it's different presses of different lengths to go through the options. I would say however that it does work very well and certainly in the X3 I don't switch it off - haven't used the 130 in enough snow to test safely.
In my X3 I think it's all in one press, in the 130i it's different presses of different lengths to go through the options. I would say however that it does work very well and certainly in the X3 I don't switch it off - haven't used the 130 in enough snow to test safely.
My wife was complaining she couldn't get to work because she couldn't get up a slight hill (mostly due to people going too slowly in front of her) & she asked if she should have turned the traction off. The car is a 135i & is supposed to have an electronic LSD but is very poor when compared to a real LSD. I would have expected the BMW TC to be good.
I used to have to do this going up a snowy slope in my Octy vRS. The traction control just cut the power to the front wheels and I used to slide backwards. It was mental. I turned it off and kept it in a high gear and although the wheels spun slightly they dug in every so often and gave enough traction to make progress.
In my experience, BMW traction control works extremely well in both their manual and automatic transmission-equipped cars. So well in fact, that you can pretty much plant the throttle and the car will just trickle off the line if the conditions are slippery. I don't necessarily recommend the technique but it works.
The last Audi I had (1998 vintage but a high-end one) was useless by comparison. The TC took so long to come in that the skid induced by excess power would have caused problems before the TC cut in.
rgds
Nick
The last Audi I had (1998 vintage but a high-end one) was useless by comparison. The TC took so long to come in that the skid induced by excess power would have caused problems before the TC cut in.
rgds
Nick
The owner's manual for our Freelander II says:
In some driving conditions it may prove helpful to deactivate Stability Controlto (DSC) improve traction, e.g. rocking the vehicle out of a hollow or when the wheels have sunk into the surface, pulling away in deep snow or a loose surface, driving along deep ruts, driving through deep mud. Deactivating DSC has no effect on the traction contol. In the majority of driving conditions, and particullarly on-road, it is recommended that you do not turn DSC off.
Obviously most of this relates to off-road conditions but the "pulling away in deep snow" is interesting.
In some driving conditions it may prove helpful to deactivate Stability Controlto (DSC) improve traction, e.g. rocking the vehicle out of a hollow or when the wheels have sunk into the surface, pulling away in deep snow or a loose surface, driving along deep ruts, driving through deep mud. Deactivating DSC has no effect on the traction contol. In the majority of driving conditions, and particullarly on-road, it is recommended that you do not turn DSC off.
Obviously most of this relates to off-road conditions but the "pulling away in deep snow" is interesting.
In my V50 you can only turn what is described as spin control off, the stability control remains on, though if you drive it like this you do seem to be able to :ahem: slide the car a bit more before the stability system kicks in.
I was told that the purpose of turning the spin control off is in situations where it is useful to allow the driven wheels to spin and dig in a bit to a grippier surface, eg slush with tarmac underneath.
I'd agree with whoever above said that sometimes youcan get much better grip with a bit of sensitivity than simply relying on the electronics.
I was told that the purpose of turning the spin control off is in situations where it is useful to allow the driven wheels to spin and dig in a bit to a grippier surface, eg slush with tarmac underneath.
I'd agree with whoever above said that sometimes youcan get much better grip with a bit of sensitivity than simply relying on the electronics.
hman said:
Why would you drive with it on even in dry conditions?
Can you not modulate your control inputs to drive the car safely and in control without the intervention of a safety device?
Its like riding a bicycle with stabilisers on....
Can you not modulate your control inputs to drive the car safely and in control without the intervention of a safety device?
Its like riding a bicycle with stabilisers on....
It sounds as if - like me - you're not used to these newfangled systems.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
one of my cars even has a switch to turn off the ABS (old quattros have this)!!!
I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
hman said:
one of my cars even has a switch to turn off the ABS (old quattros have this)!!!
I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
Similar argument to not wearing a seat belt because you might get caught in a burning car. The situations where ESP will prevent an accident will overwhelmingly outnumber those where it will be a problem.I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
I can understand switching ESP off to play with drifting if you have the skill and judgement to do it safely, but leave it on the rest of the time. Two reasons to leave ESP on:
It can recover you from situations which even the best driver could not control - because the driver does not have a system to control the brakes at each wheel independently, and
The system will be alert and ready to deal with the situation if an animal jumps out in front of you on a dark night - even the best driver might not be so ready.
Edited by waremark on Saturday 6th December 01:53
BMW recomend turning it off in certain situations - exiting deep snow, for example. As has already been mentioned, the system cuts power to the engine, which can lead to the car "bogging" down, when you would be better off with a bit of wheelspin to lurch out of a snow drift, or when driving up a steep hill.
Other than that, I usually leave it on.
In a previous winter I volunteered to get my wife's car out of deep snow, then drove around the block, opposite locking for fun like the silly boy I am, and then left the engine running for my wife to drive away. Phone call later telling me the car was particularly tail happy that morning(because I'd forgotten to switch the traction control back on).
Other than that, I usually leave it on.
In a previous winter I volunteered to get my wife's car out of deep snow, then drove around the block, opposite locking for fun like the silly boy I am, and then left the engine running for my wife to drive away. Phone call later telling me the car was particularly tail happy that morning(because I'd forgotten to switch the traction control back on).
Topical subject, traction control. We just had a lot of snow in our village last week and an Audi A4 (5 year's old) couldn't get up a slight hill which was covered in compacted snow. The lady driver was in a bit of a state so asked if someone else could "have a go". I got in, and tried to drive it up the hill without success - with flashing lights all over the dashboard. I switched off the ESP button and the car sailed up the hill with a bit of wheel spin, but taught me a lesson for my own car if it happens to me!
waremark said:
hman said:
one of my cars even has a switch to turn off the ABS (old quattros have this)!!!
I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
Similar argument to not wearing a seat belt because you might get caught in a burning car. I've had experiences with ESP where it actually induced oversteer to kill a slight understeer situation, it then spent some time fighting its own inputs to get the car sorted out!!!.
Due to this I generally switch off the systems as part of my pre-drive checks.
Edited by waremark on Saturday 6th December 01:53
BOR said:
BMW recomend turning it off in certain situations - exiting deep snow, for example. As has already been mentioned, the system cuts power to the engine, which can lead to the car "bogging" down, when you would be better off with a bit of wheelspin to lurch out of a snow drift, or when driving up a steep hill.
and switch it off if you've got chains on too
ETA: That's after the plough had been through....
Edited by Ranger 6 on Monday 8th December 09:19
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff