redwhiteblue

So I am a bit confused. I usually drive with all dsc/dtc off after holding the button for 5 seconds or drive with everything on if its raining or such. Well today it was raining and I had it off to have some fun but then accidently did not press teh button for 5 seconds and realized my traction control or dsc was kicking in but not quite the same as usual.

Basically I looked and I just hit the button once so just the DTC light was on and I believe dsc off-however I noticed I would still get tons of wheel spin but when it got to be too much or my car went a bit to the side-the dsc would kick in and calm things down. So it almost seemed to be in between being off and totally on.

HOwever I was under the impression just hitting it once disabled the dsc but left dtc which is straight traciton control which I thought was the one to eliminate wheel spin. I thought DSC was the one to basic calculate other variables and keep your car moving where you want to but did not think it direclty kept the wheels from spinning-thought that was dtc.

Basically what I am asking is what does it do to just have the DTC on then>? Obviously its not traction control since my wheels spun freely for the most part

EBMCS03

Its what you discovered it to be... DTC on (*on press of the DTC button*) still keeps DSC on to keep you from getting into trouble but allows for wheel spins when the car is pointing straight. Its really there for you to get out of the snow or mud... needing some wheel spin.

redwhiteblue

Well that makes a heck of a lot more sense to me since the other way made zero sense to me.Originally thinking hitting the button once quicly would turn DSC off but leave DTC on made zero sense. Why would you want to have no wheel spin but not want any other safety features-obviously but this makes good sense. If you are interested in a bit of wheel spin but want the safety of the dsc then its a nice compromise.

I think bmw makes it rather confusing. Pressing dtc turns dtc off. And holding dtc turns both of them off. shouldnt it be the other way around. Pressing dtc turns dtc on and holding dtc turns dsc on?

Rudy

There's clearly confusion between these settings -- at one point, the button was labeled DSC but they changed it to DTC. Now, there's confusion again.

I don't think there's a right answer here...

EBMCS03

What does the LCI say on the button?

Rudy

I'm pretty sure it says DSC -- too lazy to walk downstairs. (I seem to remember the early cars said DTC but I could be wrong...)

EDIT: Okay, my laziness last night caused some trouble -- my LCI button says DTC, not DSC as I originally guessed. See further explanation below...

EBMCS03

Right... from 2004 to 2005 it said DCS, as in mine... and then 2006+ it was changed to DTC... but I dont know what happened with the LCI...

Rudy

What's funny is that I took a look at the 2004 owner's manual and it says the button is labeled "DTC". The new manual says the button is labeled "DSC".

Rudy

Okay, I just looked at a photo of my 2004 car and it shows the button is marked "DSC"...

EBMCS03

Ya I know... but you said the manual states DTC for 2004? HAhaha wow that IS confusing.. Oh wells I give up. I just lost interest. LOL