[Hanibal74]

Hello,

I have a G80 X-Drive on order (3rd July Production date).

I am wondering whether any current M3/4 owners have used the 10 stage traction control for a trip or is it used purely for burnouts/drifting.

It will be interesting to see if the x-drive can be driven as a RWD while using the traction control system.

Cheers.

[Transfer]

Following.

Yeah it's only $900 but will I ever use it?

[Ximian]

Like the laser high beams (in the US), I doubt you ever will. You'll have to go out of your way of finding a place to safely and legally do it.

Track day organizers don't like drifting, auto cross events typically don't like drifting, and trying to drift in a parking lot for the first time makes your car into a concrete barrier magnet.

Save the $900 for tires you might have to replace in a year.

[golovko]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Like the laser high beams (in the US), I doubt you ever will. You'll have to go out of your way of finding a place to safely and legally do it.

I don't follow, why can't you use the laser high beams in the US? Don't they turn on automatically when you're on a dark road doing more than 35mph and no on coming traffic? (Same as auto high beams in the F8X)

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by golovko

I don't follow, why can't you use the laser high beams in the US? Don't they turn on automatically when you're on a dark road doing more than 35mph and no on coming traffic? (Same as auto high beams in the F8X)

Check this thread -
https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1780201&page=5

I've gone out of my way to a deserted area with no lights or other cars to try to see how well they work and I still couldn't get them to turn on. It'll probably never turn on in any area with other cars around it or reflective signs.

I'd be more than happy if anyone can prove that wrong on the G80/82.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Like the laser high beams (in the US), I doubt you ever will. You'll have to go out of your way of finding a place to safely and legally do it.

Track day organizers don't like drifting, auto cross events typically don't like drifting, and trying to drift in a parking lot for the first time makes your car into a concrete barrier magnet.

Save the $900 for tires you might have to replace in a year.

While most will probably only use it for drifting, that's not the only point. I could see myself using it on a track day once I get comfortable with the car and course to have the DSC stop intervening, but perhaps I'm not comfortable enough to rely on myself for the throttle modulation. Basically it could be another stepping stone to add between sessions until you're 100% comfortable.

As far as daily/street driving, there are too many other variables and responsibilities to consider, so I don't think anyone should use it for that. You could still have plenty of fun in MDM mode and that will add in the other DSC features.

Post/answer regarding MDM vs M traction control in case it comes up:
https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...6&postcount=25

[Transfer]

My understanding is that DSC off M traction control turns off yaw control (braking) completely and uses the engine speed to manage TC with 10 stages of sensitivity. If I'm putting my xDrive car into RWD mode, it's to get do a burnout, or get sideways. I don't think I see myself doing this on public roads or even a track for that matter so not sure if the TC adjustment is worth burnouts and parking lot donuts.

[moproblems]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Check this thread -
https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1780201&page=5

I've gone out of my way to a deserted area with no lights or other cars to try to see how well they work and I still couldn't get them to turn on. It'll probably never turn on in any area with other cars around it or reflective signs.

I'd be more than happy if anyone can prove that wrong on the G80/82.

The laser high beams turn on when the high beams come on, full stop. Did you hit the auto high beam button on the stalk? What are you expecting otherwise?

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by moproblems

The laser high beams turn on when the high beams come on, full stop. Did you hit the auto high beam button on the stalk? What are you expecting otherwise?

The details are in the other thread that was linked.

According to the manual, the laser high beams turn on after the high beams have been on at 37 MPH and above, not earlier. The auto high beam assist will turn on the high beams at 25 MPH. There is no difference in high beam light output from 30 MPH to 50 MPH and beyond in my tests.

It could be that the laser high beams turn on with the regular high beams but they're so heavily restricted, it's not noticeable. I doubt this is the case.

The BMW techs I've talked to have heard of only one instance of a G8x M3/M4 actually turning on the laser high beams. It was in Iowa late at night and was significantly brighter. I think it was the X5s with laser high beams had a much easier time getting them to activate more frequently.

[Hanibal74]

Thanks for the replies.

I get that it is designed for drifting/burnouts but I wonder how it would perform if I say put the vehicle into RWD and turned the traction up to 7.

How might it perform?

[jonahk]

Personally I'm looking forward to a bit more control over how much the car intervenes when I'm driving for "fun"

In previous M cars, it was either "everything off", "sorta on" and "no power for you". Depending on the roads and weather conditions this could be a good or bad thing. Take tail of the dragon for example; slow speeds tight corners, uphill hairpins, etc. Now imagine it's 50 degrees and raining and I'm on cup 2's. I couldn't really find a happy blend of intervention vs yaw control with the modes on my F87. I'm not drifting, I just want to be able to control where the car is pointed with a little bit of throttle, and not have systems intervene too much if the car rotates. There were a few examples in the Smokey mountains that day where the intervention systems actually became a hinderance.'

In the G80, I really like the idea of much more levels of control. My M traction mode at Autobahn is going to be different than my M traction mode at BIR. Same with the desired intervention on Tail in the rain vs Wisconsin back roads when it's 90 degrees out vs flat out in Nebrask — er, Mexico.

I could care less about the drift analyzer but this level of tweaking offered by 10 different levels, easily adjusted and even assigned to buttons on my steering wheel gets me very excited. I'm already spending over $80K on this car, what's an extra $900 at that point? (My tires get written off as maintenance as part of a business expense anyways…)

[Transfer]

So basically you can floor it, slip depends on your MTC number, and you can focus on steering correction. Strange that it says the TC is wide open at 6 or below and then says it's open at 0. So is there much of any difference from 6-0? Also interesting that they recommend a 9 for N'ring.

[Loz78]

Originally Posted by Hanibal74

Thanks for the replies.

I get that it is designed for drifting/burnouts but I wonder how it would perform if I say put the vehicle into RWD and turned the traction up to 7.

How might it perform?

I read somewhere (sorry would share if I could remember where) that putting into RWD is full traction OFF only. i.s. No level of TC is available on the Xdrive in RWD, similar to how the M5 system works. Worth checking out and investigating if you are investing in the AWD and want that TC support in RWD mode, only to discover this after purchase only. Maybe someone here knows the facts?

[jonahk]

Originally Posted by Loz78

I read somewhere (sorry would share if I could remember where) that putting into RWD is full traction OFF only. i.s. No level of TC is available on the Xdrive in RWD, similar to how the M5 system works. Worth checking out and investigating if you are investing in the AWD and want that TC support in RWD mode, only to discover this after purchase only. Maybe someone here knows the facts?

According to the technical manual, you can only change from 4wd to 2wd on the xdrive if you disable DSC.

HOWEVER, you can still configure M traction control in 4WD sport and 2WD modes (but only if you have M drive professional package)

[CadHater]

Originally Posted by jonahk

According to the technical manual, you can only change from 4wd to 2wd on the xdrive if you disable DSC.

HOWEVER, you can still configure M traction control in 4WD sport and 2WD modes (but only if you have M drive professional package)

So, with xDrive, the driver can have a similar experience to a RWD vehicle with the M Drive Pro option. Good to know.

[aaron.ricci]

Originally Posted by jonahk

According to the technical manual, you can only change from 4wd to 2wd on the xdrive if you disable DSC.

HOWEVER, you can still configure M traction control in 4WD sport and 2WD modes (but only if you have M drive professional package)

have you driven the car in a spirited manner with traction fully off? Is it over the top rowdy for a few late night drifts?

(I ask because the only m3 I found with all other specs I want is MISSING the M drive pro option any feedback is appreciated)