M-Track Mode vs DSC off

[Rick H]

Have read a few posts on this subject and the general view is that M-Track is good on the roads but for track, DSC off is the way to go.

Is that still the view of those using these modes?

[Pip1968]

I started my first twenty or thirty plus laps of the Nordschleife with DSC on but now run with it off and have not bothered to use M track (more due to ignorance than any other reason). I now also run a 996 GT3 which has no aids save ABS so I am sure it will all end in tears eventually.

It will be interesting to see how everyone else runs on track. For me the main bugbear is remembering to switch DSC off as it has to be switched off every time you restart the car - default is 'on'.

Pip

[shimmy]

I tend to use full DSC on when wet

mTrack for first 1-2 sessions

dSC off after that either straight away or on first lap out.

[Rick H]

Thanks chaps, I think roadwise it's about time I stop leaning on the DSC and get used to the car moving with a bit more freedom. Will run with M-Track for a while see how it goes, I've been finding DSC is becoming ever more intrusive these days as my confidence with the car grows.

Trackwise - not sure about losing DSC entirely, at this stage I've still a shedload to learn so will give M-Track a go when I'm alone in the car but with passengers, better I get a few more laps under my belt before offing the DSC.

[shane@mbtech]

Csl

M track rain
Dsc off rest of time.

Normal m3

Stay in in rain
DSc off rest off time


M track overheats your brakes and those who don't turn dsc off will have faster brake wear IMO.

[cslsuperfan]

Thanks chaps, I think roadwise it's about time I stop leaning on the DSC and get used to the car moving with a bit more freedom. Will run with M-Track for a while see how it goes, I've been finding DSC is becoming ever more intrusive these days as my confidence with the car grows.

Trackwise - not sure about losing DSC entirely, at this stage I've still a shedload to learn so will give M-Track a go when I'm alone in the car but with passengers, better I get a few more laps under my belt before offing the DSC.

Rick,
You refer to leaning on the DSC, In the dry is your TC lighting up a lot?
I can list the number of TC light up's on 1 hand in 4 summers. Does this mean I need to part-ex cesil for something more a kin to my driving style?;)


Please feel free to be economical with the truth!!

[billyboysm3]

When I started doing track days I used to run with it on, m track that is, you can learn to be smooth and work out what you have done for traction to kick in.

Then do some wet grip days, andy walsh days then more track days with trAction off.

The Csl is actually quite forgiving and help you advance as a driver.

The rockingham wet grip days are awesome and very little wear on the car.

Andy walsh's days are also superb but make sure you going on your crappest tyres.

If your new to it m track is great. Try a few donuts at a car park with all traction settings so you can see how forgiving they are. It took me what felt like years to finally figure it out with dsc off and controlling the back end.

[Chappers]

I had was switching between DSC on and M-track for about a week, then found some traction control issues on fast shifting so now just get in and with two figures turn DSC off and Sport on.

Love the car moving around a bit, not that it does unless provoked.

They're super benign on the limit, like nothing else I've driven to be honest. No trackdays yet.

At work I'm very used to leaning on DSC systems and tuning them until they're unintrusive. My idea of a good system is one that doesn't come in until absolutely necessary, so that you still feel like you're driving the car yourself. I suppose with a system/tune that's now 11 years old it shouldn't be much of a surprise that there are some rough edges in very rare circumstances, it's a very good system otherwise. In a modern Jag for instance I'd have to be going crazy speeds and most likely doing something wrong to get DSC interventions, and they're nowhere near as harsh, more like a gentle push back in line than a proper telling off like they used to be.

[Trawler]

Rick,
You refer to leaning on the DSC, In the dry is your TC lighting up a lot?
I can list the number of TC light up's on 1 hand in 4 summers. Does this mean I need to part-ex cesil for something more a kin to my driving style?;)


Please feel free to be economical with the truth!!

For my part on Michelin PSS the TC comes on more than expected when accelerating in a straight line in the dry. When wet and winter it's even come on when accelerating in 3rd. Comes on very rarely when running cups. When roads are wet I switch on TM when leaving junctions or roundabouts otherwise TC kills the power and leaves me floundering in front of oncoming traffic. Never had TC flash on bends in the dry, only winter especially in the first few miles when tyres cold.

Track days TM on dry or wet.

[Chappers]

For my part on Michelin PSS the TC comes on more than expected when accelerating in a straight line in the dry. When wet and winter it's even come on when accelerating in 3rd. Comes on very rarely when running cups. When roads are wet I switch on TM when leaving junctions or roundabouts otherwise TC kills the power and leaves me floundering in front of oncoming traffic. Never had TC flash on bends in the dry, only winter especially in the first few miles when tyres cold.

Track days TM on dry or wet.

I suspected this was the case, the TC will have been quite specifically tuned for the Cup tyres and so anything with a lower grip will trip it up, even if it's not that much slip.

[Rick H]

Rick,
You refer to leaning on the DSC, In the dry is your TC lighting up a lot?
I can list the number of TC light up's on 1 hand in 4 summers. Does this mean I need to part-ex cesil for something more a kin to my driving style?;)


Please feel free to be economical with the truth!!

Yo Ben, it's coming on - but I wouldn't say a lot. I'm prob a bit more aggressive with it these days and also it's coming on in a straight line as Trawler says (I think I mentioned that in another thread somewhere) and again as Trawler said, I'm on MPSSs which don't have Cup grip so that's possibly why you're not seeing the light as much as I am - and it could be down to crappy local road surfacing too.

Perhaps "leaning" was the wrong word, maybe "relying on to get me out the crap if I stuff up rather than driving better" would be better? :whistle:

Next year is Cups on the old girl, probably the Cup2s - not because I NEED any extra grip, but because they are purported to be a tad more hard-wearing so easier on the wallet :hahaha: (assuming they cost the same!)

Lawsey - the over-heating you mention; is that when working really hard, general "uninspired" driving or occaisional squiggles? I have Alcons Cup /AP600/RS29s on the car?

This is my local "play" road by the way and I certainly see it on here - short but lots of tight bends and splitter-scraping elevation changes:

[shane@mbtech]

Yo Ben, it's coming on - but I wouldn't say a lot. I'm prob a bit more aggressive with it these days and also it's coming on in a straight line as Trawler says (I think I mentioned that in another thread somewhere) and again as Trawler said, I'm on MPSSs which don't have Cup grip so that's possibly why you're not seeing the light as much as I am - and it could be down to crappy local road surfacing too.

Perhaps "leaning" was the wrong word, maybe "relying on to get me out the crap if I stuff up rather than driving better" would be better? :whistle:

Next year is Cups on the old girl, probably the Cup2s - not because I NEED any extra grip, but because they are purported to be a tad more hard-wearing so easier on the wallet :hahaha: (assuming they cost the same!)

Lawsey - the over-heating you mention; is that when working really hard, general "uninspired" driving or occaisional squiggles? I have Alcons Cup /AP600/RS29s on the car?

This is my local "play" road by the way and I certainly see it on here - short but lots of tight bends and splitter-scraping elevation changes:


Track driving only

On the road then IMO it's not worth the risk as you don't really know what's round the corner so I used mainly m track for road use, and traction off for track use.

I looked a set of pics a few years back going up through aeu rouge, m track, I was on full throttle, didn't feel any intrusion whatsoever, it was a warm up lap on slicks. The pic showed my nsr disc starting to glow. It is working constantly but it's a clever system. That's my reason for knowing it will wear brakes more quickly.

[GregorJP]

I tend to use full DSC on when wet

mTrack for first 1-2 sessions

dSC off after that either straight away or on first lap out.

Agree with this 100%. I used to drive my old E46 M3 all the time with DSC off until I stuffed into the barriers on a straight dual carriageway in icy weather.

The other thing to point out is that if the DSC intervenes a lot on track, the rear brakes are at risk of overheating. I went through a set of rear pads very quickly by leaving M-track mode on.

Compared to my old 911 or even the GTR, I find that the CSL is very forgiving and predictable, whereas the 911 would be slow to let go and then would let go quickly, and the GTR has very unique behaviour.

Take it on track at somewhere like Bedford and push it until you spin out. :supz: