[196806]

My son remarked the other day about the traction control warning light (going around roundabouts too fast, etc) so I explained to him and my daughter about traction control.

I then (for the first time) tried driving without TC - I explained to the kids what the DTC light means.

They were impressed with my knowledge. :-) My son was so impressed (he's 5) that he seriously asked me if I used to be a Formula 1 driver. Alas I had to explain to him that I was never a Formula 1 driver.

My question: I was personally surprised at how much more alive the luxury/lazy E90 feels with DTC enabled. Has anyone else noticed a difference in normal driving with DTC enabled?

[fo55il]

Ofcourse! and def agree with you.

Its like running with chains imo. I prefer driving without it.

hold the button till the warning sign is on in the dash then drive

[JazStar740]

I use to turn the DTC off all the time in my 740iL until one day I was coming off a autobahn in Germany and punched it. The rear end came around on me, after loosing a few cool points with my wife and almost making a mess in my pants, never turned it off again...

[196806]

Heheheh that problem isn't going to happen in a 320i unless I' driving on black ice.

[KingClifton]

Funny, I thought it was just me that felt that way. I wondered what the button did, then tried it one day. It did feel a little livelier. Wonder how it'll be with the back tyres down pretty close to the wear indicators!

[WRX-335]

Big difference when you turn it off throttle response sharpens especially if you have throttle body spacer. Just feels like a different car when you turn it of.

[Zomling335]

never tried it in my 335, sounds like i should!

[MJ80.]

TBH my 335 doesn't really break loose all that much with DTC off, probably just the driver not really knowing how to have fun with the auto, cant say its that easy to get it to step out around corners ect, always just seem to have difficulty with gears and really just doesn't break loose in general. Certainly feel like its got the full punch of the 335 in a straight line but i must say i dont exactly have fun on corners with it, like i said probbaly just me being new to street cars, i come from 4x4s haha.

And i must also add that even with the DTC off, somehow i still feel like there's something there holding it back from frying tyres...

[tenji]

with DTC off mine steps out ALOT ... :/ Will never do it in the wet though thats just asking for a hospital visit. Did it once never again.

[sbce90]

how hard do you take roundabouts

[bmshez]

"DTC Off" in this thread = Hitting the DTC button so the DTC light comes on, right? DTC Activated, DSC Restricted.

Anyways I'm not sure if I've been noticing anything different or if it's just placebo coz I've been reading this thread! However, I once took a roundabout quite spiritedly with DTC on and I swear I saw the traction light flash on for a second.

[MJ80.]

Traction control is always on as i understand it, no pressing of buttom, no lights it will always sit in the background keeping you safe. The next mode is DTC activated, single quick press, allows a slight loss of traction but wont let things get out of hand. next mode is off, long press of the button until the dash lights up like a Christmas tree telling you the shits off and to be careful.

[doogee]

Wow mass amount of misinformation on here.

For one, pressing the DTC button turns DTC ON. DTC is designed to give you more wheel slip for snowy conditions.

Hold the button down and then all the systems are off.

And no this has NO effect on the engine or throttle response

[Dan_335]

Originally Posted by doogee

Wow mass amount of misinformation on here.

For one, pressing the DTC button turns DTC ON. DTC is designed to give you more wheel slip for snowy conditions.

Hold the button down and then all the systems are off.

And no this has NO effect on the engine or throttle response

I think you are incorrect here, 1 press is DTC restriced, 4 sec press is DTC disabled. I've validated this on the track.

The only throttle effect will be the engine braking applied as part of the traction correction. Therefore if you are accelerating and you lose enough traction to light up the warning, the throttle will be manipulated as part of the computer response.

The only way to stop this is to press the button for 4 sec and it turns it all the way off and you get the warning triangle on the dash.

[doogee]

Originally Posted by Dan_335

I think you are incorrect here, 1 press is DTC restriced, 4 sec press is DTC disabled. I've validated this on the track.

The only throttle effect will be the engine braking applied as part of the traction correction. Therefore if you are accelerating and you lose enough traction to light up the warning, the throttle will be manipulated as part of the computer response.

The only way to stop this is to press the button for 4 sec and it turns it all the way off and you get the warning triangle on the dash.

Open up your f**cking manual dude! This place is hopeless!

You're also mistaking "engine braking" for limiting throttle.

[froop]

I'm going to have to back up doogee.

When you turn the car on without having pressed any buttons and no TC or DTC lights are on, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is on. This is the default traction control setting and most aggressive in terms of traction control.

If you press the DTC button once then the DTC light will come on. This means that DSC is disabled and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) is now enabled. As doogee stated, the manual says this mode helps with snow driving. This is because the traction control system now allows forward slip but if it detects angled slip it will still kick in and limit engine power, similar to DSC. This is also the better option if driving aggressively or if on the track.

The third option is to turn off all traction control assists. This is done by holding down the DTC button until the traction control light (circle arrow with the exclamation mark in the middle) turns on. This means that the ECU will no longer limit any engine power and allow any and all forward as well as angled slip. This mode is also known as TIMYOYO (That's It Motherfucker, You're On Your Own). This is my preferred setting for not only track but also street driving but if you choose this mode you must know your's and the car's limits as lose control and nothing but your own experience skill will save you.

[Dan_335]

Originally Posted by doogee

Open up your f**cking manual dude! This place is hopeless!

You're also mistaking "engine braking" for limiting throttle.

My mistake, my terms were incorrect, my apologies for not replacing real world experience with information you half garnered from a book.

With correct terminology then..

Turn car on, DSC is on ie maximum interference from car's computer
Press button once, DTC enabled ie reduced interference from car's computer
Press button 4 secs ie no interference from car's computer

Replace 'engine braking' with computer interference to the throttle...

Which in turn does have a SIGNIFICANT effect on your engines throttle response, because once the traction control system intervenes it will not allow maximum acceleration until it determines traction is 100% again. Which is directly related to your foot pressing the accelerator and the follow on response of the throttle causing an 'increase of speed' otherwise known as acceleration.

I can brake it down even further for you if you want using pictures... would that help? you seem to like pictures...

[doogee]

I liked your original post better!

Originally Posted by Dan_335

Does this make you happy motherf**cker? How about you get less caught up on correct terminology and use your tiny mind to garner concepts as opposed to correct terminology, I can brake it down even further for you if you want using pictures... would that help? you seem to like pictures...

No need to get all upset! I just hate it when people spread false information.