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Car Forum / BMW Cars / July 2004what is ASC ?
Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? Thanks. Automatic stability control (ASC). basically it will lock up wheels individually to help stop your back end from flying out from underneath you. Deep > Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? > > Thanks. > Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? Traction control. If the ABS sensors see a rear wheel moving faster than it should be for the car's speed then it can brake the wheel that's spinning too much so the other wheel still gets power.  SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html > > Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > > anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? > > Traction control. If the ABS sensors see a rear wheel moving faster than > it should be for the car's speed then it can brake the wheel that's > spinning too much so the other wheel still gets power. So as you cross the crown of a road, the engine dies just enough to distract you from driving. And in the rain the brake fade is great too. Problem is you have to turn it off every time you start the car, and place tape over the blinding yellow light that looks like it means something is dangerously wrong. Don't know what you are talking about, but I have yet to be distracted by the engine. ASC does not kill the engine, it locks the brakes individually so you have control. I tested it just today as I haven't had a chance to do so yet. Had a good rainfall today and without it on, if I gunned a corner my backend flew out noticeably. With it on, I held the road and never once lost the backend. Deep > > > Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > > > anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > tape over the blinding yellow light that looks like it means something is > dangerously wrong. ASC cuts the fuel pressure as well. it's pretty noticeable if you are on it hard and the road is bumpy. > Don't know what you are talking about, but I have yet to be distracted by > the engine. ASC does not kill the engine, it locks the brakes individually [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > tape over the blinding yellow light that looks like it means something is > > dangerously wrong. Well, I have not noticed it at all apart from not losing control of my car. Deep > ASC cuts the fuel pressure as well. it's pretty noticeable if you are on it > hard and the road is bumpy. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > is > > > dangerously wrong. well that's no fun. > Well, I have not noticed it at all apart from not losing control of my car. > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > is > > > > dangerously wrong. > Don't know what you are talking about, but I have yet to be distracted by > the engine. ASC does not kill the engine, it locks the brakes individually > so you have control. I tested it just today as I haven't had a chance to do > so yet. Had a good rainfall today and without it on, if I gunned a corner my > backend flew out noticeably. With it on, I held the road and never once lost > the backend. ASC+T in an E34 and an E32 most definately cuts throttle. Not sure if that's the same system you guys are talking about but I've had experience exploring those systems in those cars. Try it in the rain in a straight line on a full throttle launch. -Russ. > > Traction control. If the ABS sensors see a rear wheel moving faster > > than it should be for the car's speed then it can brake the wheel > > that's spinning too much so the other wheel still gets power. > So as you cross the crown of a road, the engine dies just enough to > distract you from driving. And in the rain the brake fade is great too. If the engine's cutting power, it's because it's sensing a wheel beginning to spin. You may prefer to try and control this yourself, but you make it sound like there's no need to. Perhaps there isn't if you want the car facing the wrong way. ;-) Signature*I must always remember that I'm unique, just like everyone else. * Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. >Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it >anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? Who cares? Either way you don't want it so just leave it switched off. Just yet more pointless waste of space electronic gimicry stuffed into the cars to fatten out the sales brochures. Any competent driver who was actually taught to drive doesn't need it. > Who cares? Either way you don't want it so just leave it switched off. Just > yet more pointless waste of space electronic gimicry stuffed into the cars > to fatten out the sales brochures. Any competent driver who was actually > taught to drive doesn't need it. I thought that until I tried driving my fiance's Alpina B10. The B10 is a big scary beastie and loads of fun. But if I was driving it in rain or snow and was tired I'd use it's ASC, it works really well and if it stops the back end coming out even some of the time that's great. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html >> Who cares? Either way you don't want it so just leave it switched off. Just >> yet more pointless waste of space electronic gimicry stuffed into the cars >> to fatten out the sales brochures. Any competent driver who was actually >> taught to drive doesn't need it. > >I thought that until I tried driving my fiance's Alpina B10. Is the Alpina B10 the reason she's your fiancé? Not a bad reason if it is I have to say ;-) 'course, if she's a dream babe as well then I'm very, very jealous!! > >Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > >anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? > Who cares? Either way you don't want it so just leave it switched off. > Just yet more pointless waste of space electronic gimicry stuffed into > the cars to fatten out the sales brochures. Any competent driver who was > actually taught to drive doesn't need it. So I take it you don't approve of LSDs, or the use of winter tyres? Signature*I took an IQ test and the results were negative. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. >> >Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it >> >anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >So I take it you don't approve of LSDs, or the use of winter tyres? LSD's are nice but I don't classify a 100% mechanical solution to a problem in the same basket as electronic gimicry. The behaviour, influence and timing of mechanical intervention is entirely predictable once you've experienced it once. Electronic intervention is not. Winter tyres are unknown in my part of the world. > LSD's are nice but I don't classify a 100% mechanical solution to a > problem in the same basket as electronic gimicry. Your prerogative, but they're just different ways of cracking a nut. And in every case I can think of, electronics provide the more elegant solution. > The behaviour, influence and timing of mechanical intervention is > entirely predictable once you've experienced it once. Electronic > intervention is not. Hmm. LSDs can turn a predictably handling car into a dog. Signature*Therapy is expensive, poppin' bubble wrap is cheap! You choose. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > Winter tyres are unknown in my part of the world. I guess that excludes you from having a credible opinion on the utility of ASC, doesn't it? I think it works very well and is a valuable safety feature when driving in very slippery conditions (read: snow/ice). Sorry if that makes me a bad driver in your book. > >Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > >anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > to fatten out the sales brochures. Any competent driver who was actually > taught to drive doesn't need it. I tend to disagree. Not all drivers are as competent as you are, nor they need to be. ABS and ASC can be of great help in the wet or snow. I had my ASC active once only....I had to break rather hard on the motorway shooting out of off camber corner - there was an accident ahead and big pile of standing cars. I was prepared for rear end to snap but it was really like a walk in the park....car was very very neutral. IIRC sensors detect tire rotation, steering wheel input, roll and pitch of the car as well as throttle and break pedal and all combined decide where and when to activate breaks or engine retardation (in active steering they slightly correct the wheels too). When I had software upgrade on E60, workshop manager told me that new cars allow for 30% skid if driven fast - more than E39. Off course, for aces like yourself there is a button to switch it all OFF :) Alex >I tend to disagree. Fair enough. You're allowed to. >Not all drivers are as competent as you are, nor they need to be. >ABS and ASC can be of great help in the wet or snow. I wasn't suggesting you need to be a track legend or anything. Only basic competency and a basic understanding of how a car works and basic understanding of the movement of masses etc. is all. Sadly not all of that is taught these days, but it should be IMO. >I had my ASC active once only....I had to break rather hard on the motorway >shooting out of off camber corner - there was an accident ahead and big pile >of >standing cars. I was prepared for rear end to snap but it was really like a >walk in >the park....car was very very neutral. In 10 years of driving an ABS equipped car I've only managed to (unexpectedly) activate the system once as well. But, I was asking for it because the car had at the time very worn out and very very hard Michelin TRX tyres on it which were so far past their use-by it was ridiculous and I got caught in an unexpected shower at the end of summer - first rain of winter when the roads are slippier than goose sh.t on linolium :-) A normal responsible motorist would not have been driving on those tyres on that day, so this doesn't really count in my book ;-) This is my experience and it in no way justifies to me the cost (in both weight & money) of all the gadgetry being stuffed into cars these days. Hence my claim that these systems exist primarily to fatten the sales brochures rather than provide any real world benefit to a driver in the real world today. >Off course, for aces like >yourself >there is a button to switch it all OFF :) I'm not an ace Alex. I do consider myself competent based upon my extremely high ratio of speeding fines to at fault accidents, however it is nice of you to assume my abilities :-) > In 10 years of driving an ABS equipped car I've only managed to > (unexpectedly) activate the system once as well. But, I was asking for [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > - first rain of winter when the roads are slippier than goose sh.t on > linolium :-) Surely then if you never drive in such a way as to activate these safety features, they remain just that - a safety net for the rare occasion when something out of the ordinary happens? Signature*I was once a millionaire but my mom gave away my baseball cards Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. yea but the ugly yellow light hurts my eyes ;-) kidding... I hold it "off" always, but the question was risen due to a bet me and my friend had. It wasn't supposed to look like a rookie question... >yea but the ugly yellow light hurts my eyes ;-) hehe. A little blob of blue-tac will fix that for you - and is easily removeable again when you sell the car too ;-) > Hi. I have a button in my BMW 320i 1997 called ASC. What is it? Is it > anti-skid control only, or electronic stability program, or both ? > > Thanks. ASC (Automatic Stability Control) is the pre-cursor to DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) 2001+ ASC is on by default everytime the car is started, pushing the switch will turn it off and will light the yellow warning light. ASC/DSC are no magical devices, they are only designed to keep you from losing control over your car. Bart E46 '99 320d > ASC (Automatic Stability Control) is the pre-cursor to DSC (Dynamic > Stability Control) 2001+ [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Bart > E46 '99 320d I only had ABS on my 325 and never needed anything more than that 'cos my tyres were *fantastic*. Before I put those on it had budget tyres and the car would slide around all over the place. So, traction control of whatever sort is to a large extent a function of the tyres you have, and the power you have, & whether you drive like a t!t. My M3 has DSC and you can still kick the rear end out in the wet and definitely lose it in the snow. It's the dry weather, see how much you can squeal the tyres corners that it takes over. ...but it does a good job of it. > My M3 has DSC and you can still kick the rear end out in the wet and > definitely lose it in the snow. weird... :-)) > > My M3 has DSC and you can still kick the rear end out in the wet and > > definitely lose it in the snow. > weird... It's because the aerial is in the rear window. When they stuck up - you could always find them in the snow. Signature*A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it uses up a thousand times more memory. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > ASC (Automatic Stability Control) is the pre-cursor to DSC (Dynamic > Stability Control) 2001+ I believe you mean 2000+. My 2000 323i has DSC... |
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