What does the E46 stability control system actually do?
Discussion
I'm curious. I've got a pre-facelift E46 330 Ci. I can feel the electronics limiting the power sometimes, but not actually spotted it grabbing a brake yet. Is it a full stability control system with individual braking or is it just a traction control system?
(Everything is working fine. I think I'm just not trying hard enough! Although it does desperately need an LSD when you start playing around...)
(Everything is working fine. I think I'm just not trying hard enough! Although it does desperately need an LSD when you start playing around...)
What year is yours? Then went to a later type DSC system around 2003.
Get yours onto a track
. I did. With the DSC on you'll have the rear wheel smoking if you:
a) Don't turn it off
b) Are careless with the throttle in the bends and/or have crap tyres.
Mine's been handy on the road a few times but it feels tame at all times.
Get yours onto a track
. I did. With the DSC on you'll have the rear wheel smoking if you:a) Don't turn it off
b) Are careless with the throttle in the bends and/or have crap tyres.
Mine's been handy on the road a few times but it feels tame at all times.
SebringMan said:
What year is yours? Then went to a later type DSC system around 2003.
Mine's a 2002 car. The TC occasionally makes itself known. To be honest, even with it switched off it seems to be pretty difficult to get it moving around - could certainly do with an LSD for hooliganism. 
It'll stop you spinning, under or oversteering if you drive like a fool, will prevent wheelspin, and can also do the emergency brake assist thing where it applies full braking power if you panic brake. DSC also has the ability to brake each of the four wheels at a time to prevent you from either oversteering or understeering. Some of the sensors DSC can rely on are:
Brake Pressure,
Steering angle,
Wheel speed of each of the four wheels,
Throttle position,
Yaw.
When switching off DSC there's two modes on the E46. There's DSC off which will just allow for stability off and the electronics to mimic an LSD. This can also be switched off by holding the button.
That's what I know off the top of my head. I would say it's a good system, and while a little slow it's something I would much rather have than not. I'm not at 100% all of the time, and swerving to avoid something or when I get it wrong it's another safety layer. With a good set of tyres (such as a Michelin PS4) I've found it hard to activate DSC intervention though driving like a tit, let alone regular, even spirited road driving.
Here's Tiff giving it a run down too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkzbavyv7Vo
Skip to around 6:10 for the ESP bits.
Brake Pressure,
Steering angle,
Wheel speed of each of the four wheels,
Throttle position,
Yaw.
When switching off DSC there's two modes on the E46. There's DSC off which will just allow for stability off and the electronics to mimic an LSD. This can also be switched off by holding the button.
That's what I know off the top of my head. I would say it's a good system, and while a little slow it's something I would much rather have than not. I'm not at 100% all of the time, and swerving to avoid something or when I get it wrong it's another safety layer. With a good set of tyres (such as a Michelin PS4) I've found it hard to activate DSC intervention though driving like a tit, let alone regular, even spirited road driving.
Here's Tiff giving it a run down too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkzbavyv7Vo
Skip to around 6:10 for the ESP bits.
Edited by JakeT on Wednesday 13th December 15:49
Early E46s have ASC, later ones have DSC. Here you go:
https://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachment.php?attac...
https://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachment.php?attac...
fatboy b said:
I bought a new 2002 330ci with DSC. the previous 328ci (1999) was ASC. The 330 couldn’t handle vastly different tyre tread depths front and back. With new rears and half worn fronts, the DSC light flashed around any corner.
My friend's 328i did this too. It may have been the age of the tyres.In his case he had two semi worn but 3 year old Bridgestone Run Flats. Yes, that is not an error! It then had 12 year old Tech-Kings on the back. The ASC would come on as soon as you dreamed of pressing the throttle or even cruising down the road! I know people get all over the next DK, but they had nothing on the TK!
Yup, I was the muppet who drove the car back in that state when he bought it! Suffuce to say it's alot nicer to drive on brand new Eagle F1s! I can't actually remember when either of us got the ASC light on.
I had an 04 plate 320td SE for a few years, and only triggered the DSC once when I got a puncture in a rear tyre - it must have thought my entry speed for a roundabout was ambitious! 
Now I've got a 52 plate 325ti Sport, and even a pothole seems to set the Traction light flashing if I'm accelerating!
As I understand it the system will brake a rear wheel in it's efforts to keep things tidy - so if you do a track day it's best to turn it off so you don't fry your brakes!
Now I've got a 52 plate 325ti Sport, and even a pothole seems to set the Traction light flashing if I'm accelerating!
As I understand it the system will brake a rear wheel in it's efforts to keep things tidy - so if you do a track day it's best to turn it off so you don't fry your brakes!
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