DSC on 330ci - and why you should keep it on...
Discussion
Hi All
I drive a 330ci...great car, bought it off my dad who looked after it very well. Its an 04 plate with 35k on...
Anyway I have had it superchipped (extra 7hp) not much I know, but it is much more responsive on the initial throttle....Which has caused a slight problem..A sharper throttle response will make the tail snap quicker, as I found out the other day when leaving a roundabout - but the DSC corrected me..
Although this was good I did feel slighly humiliated...sort of like I know how to handle a car, (I rally a 205 GTI on Special Stages) but it sorted it out before I could do anything.....grrrrrrr
Which brings on to the point...I think DSC/ESP etc should always be on, and for the life of me I cannot understand why people want it switch off for everyday driving...I mean if your on a track day turn it off fine...but the amount of times I read on forums about people always switch their system off is beyond me....
Put it this way, when I kicked the back end out, I noticed the DSC light flicker before the message from my brain had even started its journey down my arms to the steering wheel LOL!! The DSC had done its job before I even thought about it...
The average persons reaction time is 0.25 of a second, a F1 racer has a reaction time of around 0.18 second. A DSC system is 500 times faster than that!
With this in mind, I always smile when a driver thinks they are better than DSC...they aint! and never ever will be..A DSC system may get in the way, it may make things borning, but unlike a human will never forget to work, or get distracted, or feel ill, or be having an arguement with the wife etc etc....and you never know when an emergency may catch you out, when the DSC could save you..
Not sure what everyone else feels about this...
Cheers
I drive a 330ci...great car, bought it off my dad who looked after it very well. Its an 04 plate with 35k on...
Anyway I have had it superchipped (extra 7hp) not much I know, but it is much more responsive on the initial throttle....Which has caused a slight problem..A sharper throttle response will make the tail snap quicker, as I found out the other day when leaving a roundabout - but the DSC corrected me..
Although this was good I did feel slighly humiliated...sort of like I know how to handle a car, (I rally a 205 GTI on Special Stages) but it sorted it out before I could do anything.....grrrrrrr
Which brings on to the point...I think DSC/ESP etc should always be on, and for the life of me I cannot understand why people want it switch off for everyday driving...I mean if your on a track day turn it off fine...but the amount of times I read on forums about people always switch their system off is beyond me....
Put it this way, when I kicked the back end out, I noticed the DSC light flicker before the message from my brain had even started its journey down my arms to the steering wheel LOL!! The DSC had done its job before I even thought about it...
The average persons reaction time is 0.25 of a second, a F1 racer has a reaction time of around 0.18 second. A DSC system is 500 times faster than that!
With this in mind, I always smile when a driver thinks they are better than DSC...they aint! and never ever will be..A DSC system may get in the way, it may make things borning, but unlike a human will never forget to work, or get distracted, or feel ill, or be having an arguement with the wife etc etc....and you never know when an emergency may catch you out, when the DSC could save you..
Not sure what everyone else feels about this...
Cheers
Great Pretender said:
So you're a rally driver, but yet on a public road (and the modest speeds associated therewith), you were unable to sense that the limit of grip had been (or was about to be) exceeded.
Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
Why are you having a pop at him? Have you never made a mistake whilst driving?Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
On topic, I only have mine off in bone dry conditions and if I want 'Super Sport' on with the SSG box for quick shifts. Otherwise I agree fully with your point it would always stay on in winter/wet weather.
Great Pretender said:
So you're a rally driver, but yet on a public road (and the modest speeds associated therewith), you were unable to sense that the limit of grip had been (or was about to be) exceeded.
Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
I think you'll find he said he wasn't as quick as the electrickery, not that he didn't recognise it...Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
Might be wrong, of course...
Did you spot the deliberate mistakes...?
I'll give you a starter...YOUR
Next...
Great Pretender said:
So you're a rally driver, but yet on a public road (and the modest speeds associated therewith), you were unable to sense that the limit of grip had been (or was about to be) exceeded.
Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
Sorry! I knew what would happen, I am just normally very easy going on the road. Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
mybrainhurts said:
Great Pretender said:
So you're a rally driver, but yet on a public road (and the modest speeds associated therewith), you were unable to sense that the limit of grip had been (or was about to be) exceeded.
Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
I think you'll find he said he wasn't as quick as the electrickery, not that he didn't recognise it...Right.
>reaches for the popcorn<
Might be wrong, of course...
Did you spot the deliberate mistakes...?
I'll give you a starter...YOUR
Next...
i drive with my traction control off on my monaro.......because its a crap system. eg when your overtaking and it cuts power. just pushes your pedal up. rubbish!
never experianced dsc but i still cant seem to fathom this subject that keep rearing its ugly head on the bmw forums,
its seems at times that bmw's are the only rear wheel drive cars on the road and always want to go sideways..
on most models with an open diff i find this hard to grasp.
i can always feel the limit of grip in my car and it NEVER steps out without me knowing so/causing it.
its always the driver at fault. never the car.
a little off topic and not a stab at the op but i just feel that i need to release some demons.
never experianced dsc but i still cant seem to fathom this subject that keep rearing its ugly head on the bmw forums,
its seems at times that bmw's are the only rear wheel drive cars on the road and always want to go sideways..
on most models with an open diff i find this hard to grasp.
i can always feel the limit of grip in my car and it NEVER steps out without me knowing so/causing it.
its always the driver at fault. never the car.
a little off topic and not a stab at the op but i just feel that i need to release some demons.
k15tox said:
i drive with my traction control off on my monaro.......because its a crap system. eg when your overtaking and it cuts power. just pushes your pedal up. rubbish!
never experianced dsc but i still cant seem to fathom this subject that keep rearing its ugly head on the bmw forums,
its seems at times that bmw's are the only rear wheel drive cars on the road and always want to go sideways..
on most models with an open diff i find this hard to grasp.
i can always feel the limit of grip in my car and it NEVER steps out without me knowing so/causing it.
its always the driver at fault. never the car.
a little off topic and not a stab at the op but i just feel that i need to release some demons.
fair point! I have never got the DSC on in the dry and never in the wet unless I am experimenting. If you activate the DSC you are driving too fast! and if you keep activiting it, you are driving too fast too often LOL!never experianced dsc but i still cant seem to fathom this subject that keep rearing its ugly head on the bmw forums,
its seems at times that bmw's are the only rear wheel drive cars on the road and always want to go sideways..
on most models with an open diff i find this hard to grasp.
i can always feel the limit of grip in my car and it NEVER steps out without me knowing so/causing it.
its always the driver at fault. never the car.
a little off topic and not a stab at the op but i just feel that i need to release some demons.
The DSC system on BMWs is pretty intrusive when fully on. Cannot disagree that it is significantly quicker to react than a driver though. It is designed to work within set parameters though which can be fine for everyday driving, but it can also be irritating at times.
For example, if you were to drive over a slight adverse camber and cause a degree of slip, the system often kicks in with a rather disconcerting thump as it tries to cut the power.
I personally find that the mid setting is perfectly fine for average driving, and allows navigation of these awful roads we have
The problem with so many modern cars is the actual existence of such driver "aids" in the first place. My first foray into rwd was in a honda S2000. The conscious absence of such systems made one drive smoother anyway. There is too much reliance upon these systems and, often, the misconception that they will help you overcome even the laws of physics
For example, if you were to drive over a slight adverse camber and cause a degree of slip, the system often kicks in with a rather disconcerting thump as it tries to cut the power.
I personally find that the mid setting is perfectly fine for average driving, and allows navigation of these awful roads we have
The problem with so many modern cars is the actual existence of such driver "aids" in the first place. My first foray into rwd was in a honda S2000. The conscious absence of such systems made one drive smoother anyway. There is too much reliance upon these systems and, often, the misconception that they will help you overcome even the laws of physics
snorkel sucker said:
There is too much reliance upon these systems and, often, the misconception that they will help you overcome even the laws of physics
That is very true for us petrol heads LOL! and for drivers who know their stuff...However, the average joe barely understands what DSC/ESP does, let alone relies on it...
This is such an stupid post... poeple turn DSC off because it's FUN to slide the back end out and correct it. Not very safe but very fun.
I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
Try to pull out of a wet junction in a remapped Octavia with the full TC on. It will kill ALL your power as soon as the wheels slip, and take about a second or two to put any back in. By which time the gap you were pulling into has vanished and you've pulled out in front of someone who has to brake to avoid you.
Craigwww said:
This is such an stupid post... poeple turn DSC off because it's FUN to slide the back end out and correct it. Not very safe but very fun.
I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
totally missing the point....yes this is fun on the track but:I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
1. anyone constantly driving like this needs a good kicking
2. anyone constantly driving like this will sooner or later have an accident.
Go hurt yourself, but dont put innocent drivers at risk. I know some amazingly talented professional rally drivers, but even they make daft mistakes....at times...now apply this to "the words best driver" who, probably the closest they have come to motorsport is ordering the sports pack on their car...and you see how their aids help you...
I have been out with people who insist they are in control and the sad fact is, they aint. I think they call it unconscious incompetence...
Edited by robert78 on Monday 25th October 17:35
robert78 said:
Craigwww said:
This is such an stupid post... poeple turn DSC off because it's FUN to slide the back end out and correct it. Not very safe but very fun.
I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
totally missing the point....yes this is fun on the track but:I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
1. anyone constantly driving like this needs a good kicking
2. anyone constantly driving like this will sooner or later have an accident.
Go hurt yourself, but dont put innocent drivers at risk. I know some amazingly talented professional rally drivers, but even they make daft mistakes....at times...now apply this to "the words best driver" who, probably the closest they have come to motorsport is ordering the sports pack on their car...and you see how their aids help you...
I have been out with people who insist they are in control and the sad fact is, they aint. I think they call it unconscious incompetence...
Edited by robert78 on Monday 25th October 17:35
So I told you.
I presume you didn't really want to or need to know the answer, you probably just felt a bit embarassed that the DSC stopped YOU from making a total tool of yourself and realised you really do need it have it switched on. But I hope you have managed to rationalise this realisation by finding some like-minded folk to agree thats it's an absolute necessity!
Oh and I have a 330i and drive with the DSC on 95% of the time...
Edited by Craigwww on Monday 25th October 18:01
HereBeMonsters said:
Try to pull out of a wet junction in a remapped Octavia with the full TC on. It will kill ALL your power as soon as the wheels slip, and take about a second or two to put any back in. By which time the gap you were pulling into has vanished and you've pulled out in front of someone who has to brake to avoid you.
Agreed. There is a junction near me that I always turn off the TC on the 5 series for. I can use the throttle to modulate a little bit of wheel spin, but with TC on the camber of the road means it cuts in and leaves you stranded for too long before allowing power to cut back in. Bloody dangerous 
Craigwww said:
robert78 said:
Craigwww said:
This is such an stupid post... poeple turn DSC off because it's FUN to slide the back end out and correct it. Not very safe but very fun.
I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
totally missing the point....yes this is fun on the track but:I seriously doubt anyone would claim they are faster to react than a 'black box' of tricks but humans react in a different way; with steering input aswell as throttle input and if you are a decent enough driver 99% of the time you can correct safely and enjoy the experience.
You keep it on mate, I think you might need it.
1. anyone constantly driving like this needs a good kicking
2. anyone constantly driving like this will sooner or later have an accident.
Go hurt yourself, but dont put innocent drivers at risk. I know some amazingly talented professional rally drivers, but even they make daft mistakes....at times...now apply this to "the words best driver" who, probably the closest they have come to motorsport is ordering the sports pack on their car...and you see how their aids help you...
I have been out with people who insist they are in control and the sad fact is, they aint. I think they call it unconscious incompetence...
Edited by robert78 on Monday 25th October 17:35
So I told you.
I presume you didn't really want to or need to know the answer, you probably just felt a bit embarassed that the DSC stopped YOU from making a total tool of yourself and realised you really do need it have it switched on. But I hope you have managed to rationalise this realisation by finding some like-minded folk to agree thats it's an absolute necessity!
Oh and I have a 330i and drive with the DSC on 95% of the time...
Edited by Craigwww on Monday 25th October 18:01
HereBeMonsters said:
Try to pull out of a wet junction in a remapped Octavia with the full TC on. It will kill ALL your power as soon as the wheels slip, and take about a second or two to put any back in. By which time the gap you were pulling into has vanished and you've pulled out in front of someone who has to brake to avoid you.
umm..if you meant that a one second delay caused the following car to brake then I guess you should have waited for a bigger gap in traffic...(or get a faster car like a BMW hehehehe!!!!)HereBeMonsters said:
Try to pull out of a wet junction in a remapped Octavia with the full TC on. It will kill ALL your power as soon as the wheels slip, and take about a second or two to put any back in. By which time the gap you were pulling into has vanished and you've pulled out in front of someone who has to brake to avoid you.
umm..if you meant that a one second delay caused the following car to brake then I guess you should have waited for a bigger gap in traffic...(or get a faster car like a BMW hehehehe!!!!)Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff