1st day in the snow with the x
 

well today 1st day driving the x in this snow storm not bad as i have all weather tires been i live in FL but here in CT visiting the only issue i have is since i bought the x it had the trifecta lights on so no ABS but getting around ok

Im in CT, snow isn't really accumulating where I am but am looking forward to going out if we get 8"+

all wheel
 

I will tell you from experience, be very careful driving with those lights on. You have basically lost the capability of all wheel drive because the car doesn't see the ABS working, it gets all it's info to drive the wheels from the ABS sensors. It is a very complicated system and I won't bore you with all the details, just be careful. Glad you have all seasons on it. If you go slow and use your head you should be fine, just didn't want you thinking that you have the full capability of the truck at your disposal. Go to an empty parking lot and try out some drifting in the snow, you will see what I mean…..

thanks but mine is an 02 which is all the time all wheel drive no buttons to push to engage or disengage

Cape X5 is correct...the prefacelift X5s uses/incorporates ABS/ASC+T/DSC in its AWD equation. The ADB (automatic differential braking) technology comes into play (thru DSC) when wheel slippage occurs. So if DSC or your traction control system is defective...it absolutely compromises the abilities of your AWD capabilities.

It's not that you have to push buttons etc...but you have a permanent 38/62 torque split (rear bias)...but BMW designed DSC-X to work in conjunction with the 1st X5's to give it AWD functionality in off-road & low traction situations. The early X5's system was built on the AWD systems used in the e30/e34 "ix" models...but added the modern ASC+T/DSC technology that those earlier models didn't have...thus the DSC-X nomenclature.

By 2004...BMW's variable torque xDrive debuts...thus the short-lived DSC-X is retired. I've posted details about DSC-X several times before...let me see if I can find it so I don't have to upload all of it again.

EDIT: found it...here's a direct link from about 1 year ago on how DSC-X (abs/asc+t/DSC) works in conjunction with your AWD system on the pre-facelift e53 x5: http://www.xoutpost.com/1025825-post14.html

You think the fact that you have all wheel drive, that you are a pimp without abs in the snow? Have you tried to engage abs?

Seen plenty of people in ditches when it snow or there is black ice on the road, and most of them were 4wd vehicles. Don't Be Stupid.

It's fun drifting in the snow until you break something. If I want to play in the snow, I'll go skiing or snowboarding, or take the kids sledding.

So true.

I used to drive to upstate NY & Vermont from NJ during snow storms (to ski), I usually saw the 4wd and DSC equipped vehicles that would blow by me in a ditch a few miles up the hwy.

I was driving an '85 Audi Coupe GT Turbo Quattro (UrQuattro) with snow tires at the time, killer snow vehicle (lockable center & rear diffs). Rally car level grip on snow (and insane drifts/Scandinavian flicks!).

Not a pic of mine, but identical to this......

you'll see………

good info thanks for the share have a better understanding of it now