DSC Question - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

gavingray · 20th August 2004, 14:36

Hi guys,

On my previous 2002 330i Sport, if you pressed the DSC button once, it turned on the warning triangle, and disabled DSC "one level" to a point where it let you spin the wheels, but kicked in if the car got really sideways. If you held the DSC button down for 3 seconds, the DSC Triangle AND the BRAKE light would illuminate in an amber color to let you know that you had COMPLETELY disabled the DSC system.

Is it supposed to work the same way on my 2002 M5? I tried it yesterday, and the "second level" deactivation didn't work. I kept holding the button, and then I got to a point where I couldn't deactivate DSC at all. Every time I pressed the button, nothing at all would happen. I had to shut off and restart the car to get "normal" operation back of the DSC disable button, but it still does not let me set it to the second disabled setting like it did on my 330i.

Any ideas? Is this normal for M5? I thought it was a two level setting choice.

Thanks!

Gavin

Beepcake · 20th August 2004, 14:54

The M5 is a single on/off selection for DSC, not sure why they have the multi setting on the 330, I think the M3 is a single setting too.

///Milien · 20th August 2004, 15:12

The E46 M3 is a multi-setting. When press the DSC button once, it goes to one-level. Hold it down for more that a few seconds, then the DSC triangle light stays on and you're in level 2. To reset, you will have to turn off the car.

Beepcake · 20th August 2004, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Milien

The E46 M3 is a multi-setting. When press the DSC button once, it goes to one-level. Hold it down for more that a few seconds, then the DSC triangle light stays on and you're in level 2. To reset, you will have to turn off the car.

I stand corrected on the M3 front then, strange it's different between the two

Mrs_Struth · 21st August 2004, 02:10

Gavin, dear, you're going to get yourself into trouble now, aren't you?

x703jko · 21st August 2004, 03:50

I think in the E39 M5 if you hold the DSC button in for a few seconds it turns on the DSC full-time until you shut down the engine.

Jeff

The_Andyman · 21st August 2004, 05:11

I asked my local dealer about this recently, and he thought it was a 2 step process too.

Maybe he was confusing with the M3.

Im still not sure if the one button press is fully off though, as it hasnt felt like it at times!

gdoan · 21st August 2004, 05:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by x703jko

I think in the E39 M5 if you hold the DSC button in for a few seconds it turns on the DSC full-time until you shut down the engine.

Jeff

I've read/heard that this could be used kind of like for a valet purpose but, it doesn't make a lot of sense. If you hold the DSC button for more than a few seconds, you basically disable the ability to turn off DSC (or as Jeff says, you turn it on full time). That would work - sort of - but, only until the car is turned off and then back on.

On my '02 330Ci, there were two selections other than the default 'on,' just as others have reported. Pressing the DSC button once, disabled the DSC function but left the Automatic Differential Brake (ADB) control active. So, I would still have braking control functions but, DSC would not intervene to prevent wheel spin or other pervceived loss of traction scenarios. Holding the DSC button for more than about 3 seconds, disables both DSC and ADB functions so, it is then all up to you...

On the M5 (e39), pressing the DSC button once, deactivates the DSC and ADB/DBC functions so, it is then all up to you. (This is akin to hold the button for +3 seconds on the E46).

On the M5 (e39), pressing and holding (for more than ~3-5 seconds,) the DSC button, basically disables the ability to turn off the DSC, until the car is restarted. I have not found a use for this. I suppose if I were to actually let one of my kids drive the car

even with me in it (not likely), I could force the DSC on...

Hope that helps explain a little and, if anyone could shed some light on the subject, please do.

Thanks,
Greg
2003 ///M5 Jet Black/Black, Sport
Beastpower Sway Bar Brackets, Bluetooth, & all options except PDC & spoiler delete...

gavingray · 21st August 2004, 18:19

You caught me, Ann! I gave Stuart bad advice!

Thanks to everyone else for the clarification on DSC on the M5.

Gavin

Falb · 21st August 2004, 19:26

The real question is how to make SPORT and DSC permanately enabled (SPORT) or disabled (DSC)

?

Everytime I start my car I have to push these two buttons. I want to drive a car that gives me the same feedback everytime.