Turn traction control off in snow?

[jimmyb]

Funny my a4 is perfectly happy going up hills some 4x4's struggle to get up without having to turn anything on or off. Tc on. Foot off accelerator. Let clutch out gently and off you go no problemo. Even 4 up.

And thats a 2001 fwd diesel a4.

[PascalBuyens]

Don said:

In my Porsche switching off PSM would be really dumb. Personally I'd try with it ON and only switch it off if it's not working. i.e. You aren't getting up the hill.

I'll bet BMW's system is great and works really, really well.

Edited by Don on Thursday 4th December 09:57

But still, they advise to switch it off in the snow...

Had it last week, was being lazy, and tried to overtake a truck, but every time I drove into the second lane (freshly snowed motorway), the DTC/DSC cut in.

Tried the first setting (DTC off, but still no help, as soon as I went into the snow, the car started to fight himself).

In the end I had so much more fun switching everything off and let the car "do his thing"

[wax'n lyrical]

The problem is, in most cars - and I can't be specific not knowing your BMW model, that when traction control (TC) is turned on and you come to a halt on a hill, then when you try to start again the rear wheels inevitably spin a little and the traction control kills the power to the wheels. So you go nowhere! I can't speak for all cars but that's what happens in a Ferrari F430 with a manual box even with and all those cunning Manatino settings.

The answer is turn TC off and use the throttle VERY gently in a slightly higher gear than normal (probably 2nd and slipping the clutch) to get moving. Then if you wish, turn the TC on again. Personally, I'd leave it off and use the clutch and throttle very gently.

Another problem is the wretched ABS which, in every car I've owned which had it, just causes chaos because when you break and the the wheels lock - as they must do at some point on ice - then the ABS cuts off the breaking power and you end up, effectively, with no brakes and you go, ever so gently, into whatever is in front of you. Wow! Isn't technology wonderful!