Discussion
roofer said:
Assuming you mean DTC it will throttle back when wheels spin, DSC will throttle back when it detects slip angles. Press and hold button for 6-7 seconds..it will then detect nothing...
That's not how the traction control system works on the E39 M5 (or indeed any "M" car) as I understand it - holding the button down doesn't access another "level" of control (like it does on non-M BMWs). It's either on, or off. M5Board has discussed this to death, one of the guys on there works for the company that makes/made the systems. ETA - In answer to the question, I've never heard of the traction control system reducing power simply by being on, rather than modulating it when it detects wheelspin. If you're feeling reduced power, I'd say it was because your DSC is kicking in at WOT.
Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th March 21:55
Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th March 21:59
1974nc said:
Continental on rear Avon on front, all as new.
Continentals arn't the best for grip but good for comfort. Avon's are good at being cheap but not a good tyre.I consistantly run PS2's on mine and very rarley have the DSC come on in the dry at all. Have you lowered it or fitted harder suspension? That affects the system alot too. E39's prefer having the same (good) tyre all around as well, they are not as sensative as the E46 to it but it does make a difference.
roofer said:
Assuming you mean DTC it will throttle back when wheels spin, DSC will throttle back when it detects slip angles. Press and hold button for 6-7 seconds..it will then detect nothing...
Not so. On the //M5 at least, doing this merely locks the DTC on so that it can neither be engaged or disengaged until the car is switched off and back on again.It may be me being overcautious but I only switch DSC off when its bone dry and temps are above 5-6 degrees. I've not got accustomed to the car yet and it feels like a heavy old bus so I don't want it snap ovesteering on me in a trice if I'm a bit too zealous with the go pedal...Am I being paranoid? It feels like it would drive better without dsc generally but I dont fancy it going sideways everytime if I've got even a trace of steering lock on when power is applied.
_Neal_ said:
That's not how the traction control system works on the E39 M5 (or indeed any "M" car) as I understand it - holding the button down doesn't access another "level" of control (like it does on non-M BMWs). It's either on, or off. M5Board has discussed this to death, one of the guys on there works for the company that makes/made the systems.
I'd be very surprised if that was the case.Great Pretender said:
Not so. On the //M5 at least, doing this merely locks the DTC on so that it can neither be engaged or disengaged until the car is switched off and back on again.
That's interesting and useful, thanks - I tried this on the M5s I've test driven (just out of interest) - you don't get any light on the dash to indicate what you've done, but the DSC button is disabled, so I presumed the system stayed on.Patrick Bateman said:
I'd be very surprised if that was the case.
Well, perhaps you should be surprised then? 
It's properly-researched information, taken, as I said, from as near to the horse's mouth as you can get - I wouldn't have posted it otherwise.
Thread on M5Board is here. Not sure you can view if you're not a member.
1974nc said:
It may be me being overcautious but I only switch DSC off when its bone dry and temps are above 5-6 degrees. I've not got accustomed to the car yet and it feels like a heavy old bus so I don't want it snap ovesteering on me in a trice if I'm a bit too zealous with the go pedal...Am I being paranoid? It feels like it would drive better without dsc generally but I dont fancy it going sideways everytime if I've got even a trace of steering lock on when power is applied.
They're very docile really.Best thing to do is find somewhere safe and damp and have a play. That way you'll get a feel for what it takes to loosen the rear. Assuming you're running decent rubber, I think you'll be surprised at how much it takes for the car to slide. You have to be quite reckless to get it out of shape unintentionally, but on the other hand the beauty to them is the ease in which they'll dance if you ask them to Polka.
_Neal_ said:
Great Pretender said:
Not so. On the //M5 at least, doing this merely locks the DTC on so that it can neither be engaged or disengaged until the car is switched off and back on again.
That's interesting and useful, thanks - I tried this on the M5s I've test driven (just out of interest) - you don't get any light on the dash to indicate what you've done, but the DSC button is disabled, so I presumed the system stayed on.
Note that the reverse is true for non //M E39s though.
Depends on your driving style, road conditions, suspension and tyre choice.
In general mine is ok in the dry with the right tyres, but it's still running sport rims and winter tyres which are absoluteely shockingly bad in the wet and damp, without dsc I'd have been dead along time ago. It was absoultely unstoppable in snow though! :-)
In general mine is ok in the dry with the right tyres, but it's still running sport rims and winter tyres which are absoluteely shockingly bad in the wet and damp, without dsc I'd have been dead along time ago. It was absoultely unstoppable in snow though! :-)
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