Traction Control Off

[Mark Blue X5]

Hi All,
I'm wondering if anyone might know if it is possible to turn the traction control off completely in a 2002 X5 4.4?
Thank you,
Mark

[JCL]

You will likely get different opinions.

What we agree about is that pushing the DSC button turns off the stability control, but leaves the traction control (DTC) enabled. DTC uses the brakes to stop a spinning wheel. That is the limit of the user's intervention capability according to BMW 9reference the owner's manual).

There are numerous references on this and other boards to 'holding the DSC button down for 10 seconds' in order to completely defeat the DTC. I do not believe that this works on an E53. On our E46 (325xi) there are two levels of 'defeat' as above, and it is so documented in the owner's manual. People here and elsewhere have claimed that the same feature works on the E53, but I have never found it to work. I think that there is a greater amount of wheel slip permitted on the E53 with the DSC button depressed, but it is not unlimited wheel slip, the brakes can still come on to prevent excessive slip. What is different with the button depressed is that the throttle is not modulated and so you can churn through deep snow or sand. When you get to the top of the snow-covered hill, however, stop and see how hot your brakes are. That is the best indication that DTC is still attempting to restore traction.

[jmh]

You can't disable DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) on an E53 by pressing the DTC button.
You'll have to fault all ABS sensors in order to "disable" DBC , pulling the connector from
the ABS unit won't work either.
It's one of the reasons it's almost impossible to dyno an E53 , or with DBC on it's a
very scary undertaking , sort of the automotive version of bull riding ....

- Jan

[xnsf]

holding the DSC button for 10 secs will not do anything in the e53...

in the newer BMWs with DTC, you can hold that and disable the traction and stability...

:xoutpost:

[JCL]

Originally Posted by jmh

You can't disable DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) on an E53 by pressing the DTC button.

I think the question referenced DSC and DTC, not DBC which has to do with building up brake pressure, and is not related to the traction control.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by xnsf

holding the DSC button for 10 secs will not do anything in the e53...

in the newer BMWs with DTC, you can hold that and disable the traction and stability...

Older and newer BMWs have DSC and DTC as well (my 2003 E53 for example). DSC for stability control can be disabled, leaving DTC. The question is whether you can disable DTC as well. I disagree that you can disable the traction control, although I agree that you can disable the stability control. That isn't what the OP asked, however, the question was limited to traction control.

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by JCL

Older and newer BMWs have DSC and DTC as well (my 2003 E53 for example). DSC for stability control can be disabled, leaving DTC. The question is whether you can disable DTC as well. I disagree that you can disable the traction control, although I agree that you can disable the stability control. That isn't what the OP asked, however, the question was limited to traction control.

i'm getting confused...the e53 has both stability (dymanic stability control) and traction control (dynamic traction control). in the e90 for example, there is a DTC disable button as opposed to a DSC button as in the e53...in the e53, you can disable the the stability control, but not the DTC traction control (right?). in BMWs with the DTC disable button, you can hold it for a couple of seconds to disable both traction and stability control. so in the e53, you cannot disable the traction control?

[kablammo]

Wow, I thought all BMW had the option to disable everything but ABS. Not being able to fully deactivate DTC on a e53 X5 is a bummer. Especially if you take it to the dunes. Brakes are going to get cooked.

k