Dumbest question ever...
 

OK, so when the "4x4" yellow light is ON, that means Im NOT in 4x4 mode, right....or wrong? Im just trying to figure out how I should drive the X in this weather...We received a somewhat unusual couple inches of the white stuff last night, melted during the day and now its like a friggin skating rink out there!...

yellow 4x4 light?

huh?

It's on the dash between the speedo and the tach.

the one with the little arrow around the triangule you mean? :)

I thought that meant DSC was either OFF or if it was flashing it meant DSC was intervening.

yep. i ain't got no 4x4 light........... do have that one.

Page 95, 2005 Owners Manual

Quote:

Indicator lamp The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out after the engine is started. The indicator lamp flashes: DSC is active and governs drive and braking force. The indicator lamp stays lit: DSC has been switched off using the button and the stabilizing interventions are no longer available.

yes you do.... don't make me find the RTFM smiley :)

p. 21 of the 4.4 manual.

look.

i have a DSC lamp. I don't have a 4x4 lamp guys! None of us do.

DSC is not 4x4. It is dynamic stablity control. 4x4 lamps are found on toyotas, and jeeps, and suchnot.

DSC is all wheel drive. not the same.

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/BMW_docs/X5DSC.pdf

read this manual!

not trying to be difficult, but it is NOT a "4x4" light............... :)

yet, it says "4x4" right on it.... go figure ;)

The yellow triangle with "!" mark means one or more of your wheels is slipping and that the traction control system kicked in and is transferring wheel power to prevent slippage.

4x4 lamp:

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/file...mp%20small.jpg


BMW:

http://www.bmwm5.com/articles/m5e60w...s/DSC02030.jpg

Totally different meanings........

(its a technical point).

Thank You X5 Ghost!

Guys, DSC flashing means you are losing traction and the system is attempting to compensate.

It means "be aware that traction is not as it should be"

Solid= DSC defeated. All wheels spin at same velocity (front R=front L) and (rear R=rear L) regardless of traction.

Totally different than 4x4... hence, not a 4x4 light.

DSC is an adjunct to all wheel drive. It is not a 4x4 light.

the second picture isn't what lights up on my dash. It literally says "4x4" in the triangle. Go to the bmw owners circle and look it up in the manual. The picture of the DSC light that you posted isn't the indicator lights that we're talking about.

We're not talking about the DSC light, there is literally a light on the dash that says 4x4.

Except that we're not talking about the DSC light!

Maybe it's on the newer X's and not the older ones?

I agree with Drex except I'm not sure about the wheels spin at the same velocity (can't elaborate if I'm not sure). When the traingle is solid yellow ===> DSC is deactivated and the traction system is not going to engage to compensate for any slippage. It also means = you are on your own and hope your driving skills are better than the traction control ability to prevent you from slaming into something if you lost traction : )

2003 and earlier do not have a 4x4 light in the cluster........

its probably a new X DRIVE feature.

:thumbup:

I'm with DrDrex...my '01 has No 4X4 light, lol!
I love the arm wrestles on here, though. ;>)
BR,md

PS: Bozo: Drive that sumbitch...it will haulazz on most any road condition you can throw at it, imo. I've tried my best to screw it up, On Roads: has never let me down.
GL,Ol'UncMtr

That is correct. On my '04 I have this 4x4 light. On older X5s there is the triangle ligjht. Both mean the same....DSC.

Except that we are. The DSC light was changed, and on newer models the DSC light has the logo "4x4" added underneath it. God only knows why.

Everything Drex (and a few others...) said about the DSC light was right

So, back to the original question. It really isn't a 4x4 light. Bozo, you always have 4x4. (It does say 4x4, which shows that BMW has bowed to the lowest common denominator among their owners.)

Leave the switch alone, and take advantage of the features of DSC in snow and ice. The only time to turn it off is when you are stuck in deep snow, and when you try to accelerate a wheel slips; in those caes the DSC reduces the throttle. You literally can't drive out. In those cases, turn off DSC and you can spin the wheels to try and get unstuck. Also works well on steep driveways at low speed. BMW also recommends turning it off when you have chains on, or in sand.

Edit: Hey Breyton, you can type faster than me...

oh sure, they listen to YOU :) :)

Here are my observations.

First, there is no 4x4 warning light in North American vehicles. Nowhere in any of the manuals, going back to 2000, is there anything that refers to 4x4.

Second, although in North America we generally treat 4X4 and All Wheel Drives as different animals (which they are), in Europe they might lump them together and call them both 4x4's.

Third, Bozo is from the U.K. and probably isn't driving a North American version of the X5. If my second point holds true, then perhaps the 4x4 indicator in Europe means the same as the DSC indicator in North America.

Fourth, in addition to DSC, torque is also constantly variable between the front and rear drive wheels independent of what the DSC does. The 4x4 indicator might possibly relate to this.

Finally, regardless of what the indicator relates to or whether any of my comments are correct or not, the simple fact that it's on indicates there is a problem. Indicators only come on when a system has gone down (or has been turned off in the case of DSC). Due to this simple fact, the first course of action should be to call the service department of your dealer to find out what the problem is.

I don't have a DSC light, what are you guys talking about? :) ;)

j/k

yes there is. page 18 of the '04 manual.

The DSC light in the dash does have 4x4 on it! I triggered it on the way home this afternoon. :)
I have an '05 and I'll be in the garage later and will take a picture if needed.

Careful, or we'll put you in that 'lowest common denominator" category ;)

No need, it is on page 95 of the 2005 owner's manual located on the home page of X5World.

I stand corrected. They added the term 4x4 in '04, but it isn't used correctly according to the proper definition of 4x4. In the manual it means either the DSC or All Wheel Drive (X-Drive) system has failed (pg 77). The AWD/X-Drive problem it refers to is what I described above, i.e. the variable distribution of power between front and rear wheels.

True, when lit in combination with the brake or ABS red indicators. By itself, it means that the driver has manually turned off the DSC.

Heres exactly what is says on page 91 of the 2004 X5 manual.

Indicator Lamps

The indicator lamp flashes: DSC is active and governs drive and braking force.

The indicator stays lit: DSC has been switched off using the button and the stablizimg interventions are no longer available.

This text is to the right of a Triangle that has an exclamation point in the middle with 4x4 below it.

HAHA!!! WTF did I start here? Perhaps I should have been more clear....WHen I depress the DSC button, I have a yellow "4x4" light with a triangle show up...I was just trying to figure out if that meant I no longer have 4x4 or if it meant it was now activated..Anwyay, you guys have clarified it for me - leave the damn thing alone - :rofl: So Ill leave it on from now on...

Oh yeah, BTW, I do drive a U.S. spec X.... :)

Poor DSC button, now it's depressed. What can we do to cheer it up after this brutal beating? :bustingup

LOL..It is indeed depressed, since I will probably never touch the thing again, like 75% of the other controls in the X...SOS, garage opener, Hill descent, etc...has anyone ever used any of these? I bet they could actually be quite handy if utilized...oh yeah, where was I...hands free, trip computer, rear seat recline,.....:rofl:

LOL... Didn't renew assist, so no SOS; use the garage door opener daily; Hill Descent once (just to test it); rear seat recline just to impress guests; trip computer - well, I reset my MPG w/each fill up; folding mirrors - occasionally when I'm about to hit the side of my small garage door opening; one-side only parking lights - again, to say my car can do this, can yours?; headlight washers - mostly by accident; :rofl: hmmm..., I wonder what else I don't use...

Our headlight washers are activated automatically after every 2nd or 3rd screen wash when the lights are switched on. Weird.

Screw that..if my X had folding mirrors, I would declare myself King...There is NO cooler option....The epitome of luxury.....I wonder if that can that be retrofitted?! I would pay my life savings for it..It just OOZES cool!!... :wow:

Sometimes it frustrates me to know I paid for all that stuff but will never use it...The worst part is, I could never give the thing up... :)

yes, the have been retrofitted. one of our 'members' had the DIY on it, and he requested it removed for some 'unknown' reason. therefore, you can contact mod weekend and i'm sure they'll help you out -- how or how much, i can't say.:tsk:

or, you can order the mirrors. there is a wiring schematic in the WDS which explains the install-- it is available worldwide, and to premier members. must update both mirrors in each side, and the mirror control switch and run a few wires extra wires into the door, but can and has been done....

on another note, why the hell would the manual move something from page 14 to 95 over the course of one year's time??????:p

correction:

not running a wire into the door, but a harness through the door on each side

Allow me to assist.

Autofold Mirror Install Write-up. by TripleX5
Have you done this mod, cause I don't recall running any such wires whatsoever. :rolleyes:

no i haven't.

glad you clarified it.

now that you have decided to repost it, it stays.

:D

thank you

I just started reading this thread after it reached 40 posts. Thanks for the laughs, guys. :D

I love this thread.

:withstupi

Rob_