Witness: the power of the internet. engineers debating across continents effortlessly in their spare time.

I very much enjoyed reading the posts. But I still must hark back to the original question: What is the harm of using a DSC system with a low threshold of intervention on an SAV if - if - it can be changed for the dry conditions via a switch? The M cars have an alternate traction mode "M dynamic" which allows for more wheel spin and sliding. Why can't the X cars have the ultra sensitive DSC from a 3/5/6/7 series rear drive car? Call it "winter dynamic mode" right?

I don't understand the need to allow the 4 wheel drive system the opportunity to regain traction? I'm sure there's more to it than I am aware of. You don't want the traction light going off because you hit a bump in the corner while accelerating. I understand that traction/stability control can be too sensitive in dry conditions (a complaint of many AMG mercedes drivers), but what's the harm in offering a winter mode?

Example: your heading down a secondary road at 70 km/h on packed snow in your E70 and you need to make an abrupt turn onto the next side street. You brake and then turn, but you're going just a bit too fast and the front end (only) looses traction and the arc of your turn increases enough to put your vehicle onto the other side of the road facing oncoming cars. At no point in my example has the accelerator been used. Therefore, the X-drive is not being used either. If you were in a 530i doing this, the DSC activates and brakes the inside rear wheel and brings your car back into the correct lane. With an E53 X5 you slide into the next lane unless you exaggerate your turn by cranking the steering wheel into the turn which "wakes up" the intentionally dormant DSC. Then the car somewhat overcorrects due to your exaggerated steering input. I'm guessing that the DPC on the X6 does much of the the job done by the aggressive DSC on rear drive BMWs info far as correcting slide in a corners in concerned?

Can anyone defend BMWs decision to calibrate the DSC this way on X cars?

Thanks again for the great input.

DRP