I was reading the fall 2006 issue of Nissan Sport Magazine and there was an article about a 2003 FX45 in which the guy mentions a residual VDC. I've never heard of that existing on our cars. Is there such a thing?

I know my brother's '01 330i and his new 335i have that. It's designed to let you have more fun with out getting into trouble.

The reason I ask is that I was planning on tracking my car for the first time this spring and I am scared $h!tless about turing it off and wrecking my car and possibly myself. This is my 1st RWD car and I know it can be very tail happy. I'm not sure I know how to recover from an impending spinout.

What do you guys think?

 

Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller???

 

Track it with VDC on and work your speed up. If you are going too quick, no VDC will save you, but I find it is very effective in correcting minor mistakes without being too intrusive.
I suggest putting track worthy tires on-it GREATLY reduces VDC interference. With stock or garden variety tires you will not have a good time.
Do not turn VDC off-I do not think there's any "residual" in our cars, I had quite a few spin outs.

 

Thanks for the feedback, any suggestions on a track worthy tire that won't break the bank?

 

Falken Azenis RT 615 can be had for about $150 a piece in 18".
try vulcantire.com, but quite a few places sell them.
I just noticed you got coupe wheels. See if you can put 245/40/18 on them without rubbing-same F/R

 

Residual VDC means the VDC is still active at some level even when the switch is off.

 

On the G, VDC is active anytime you are on the brake pedal. This COULD be considered "residual VDC" but no it's not the same as what those other cars have.

When you turn the VDC off in the G, it will not interfere unless you hit the brakes.

 

I was planning on going narrower in the front to keep up steering response. I was thinking 225/45/18 front and 255/40/18 rear. Is there any reason you would not recommend this?

BTW, where do you track your car? I'm in the NE and need to find some good places to go to in the spring. My Bro and I picked up his euro delivery 335i in Germany back in October and we hit the Nurburgring once the car had 3K on it. It was the most intense and fun experience and now I HAVE TO do it here somewhere.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I assumed that's what residual meant, just never heard of the G having it.

Very interesting. I've never heard this before. It still sounds like it wont be much help at that point though. By the point it kicks in it might be too late already. Still good to know.

I wonder if there's a way to reprogram the VDC to allow more flexibility. Ideally a piggyback setup that would allow a track and stock setting. I guess I might be dreaming.

My concern is that on the track the VDC could be very intrusive. Perhaps track conditions would probably lend itself to much better grip than the crappy streets I have to drive on, but traction control constantly activates in my car during hard launches and 1-2 upshifts and it takes way too long to recover.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

I suggest same size F/R. Less tire upfront-less traction and you want your car to be balanced. If you can fit 255/40 all around-even better then 245/40.
I live in Toronto and there're number of places to go to-I just tag along with some car club.

 

What's the benefit of running staggered then?

 

You cannot autocross or track the G with the VDC on. It steps in way too soon even on hard acceleration. VDC does not want to let you spin the tires, no matter what. However, I have heard that it is still on, when switched off, but in a much relaxed state and will step in if you really get out of sorts. I have autocrossed my G coupe many times and I have never had it interven when off. No electronic system can ovecome physics though

 

That's what I am worried about. The VDC is very intrusive with spirited street driving as it is. It's gotta be much worse if you push the car on the track. However, I have to agree with obender66 on having track worthy tires, that must help keep the VDC from kicking in more. I dnk from experience, but it seems to makes sense. Aren't the tracks stickier than the street pavement? What you mention about the VDC seems to conflict comments above, some are stating that it only engages with brake pedal. Regardless, I just not confident enough with myself yet to turn it off. At least not my first couple of times out in my car. The only experience I have is with my brother's 335i in Germany and that track was pretty crowded. Is it like that here? I mostly concerned about a hard downshift while quickly slowing down into a sharp turn. If I drop aggressively the tail will come out and possibly hit someone next to me. Sorry for being such a noob about this, just trying to go to the next level of enjoying my car safely.

BTW, do tracks usually require helmets?

 

I have never had it kick back in after turning it off unless I turn the key off and restart. Agressive autocross gets the car really out of shape with both me and an instructor. We have both spun it and had the tires spinning pretty wildly with no interference. Track tires are MUCH grippier than street tires.

In autocross you hardly get above 45-50MPH. I have heard from another member of 6MT.NET named EDGE (he works for the company that designed the VDC system for Infiniti) that at a certain speed/slip angle the VDC would turn back on. I just have never experienced it. Last summer, an instructor drove my G (with my permission) at a *****-out pace spinning the tires continually through the course. We actually spun twice but he was trying to prove a point (that I need new tires)(which I now do!). VDC never stepped in. On the street it kicks in at the hint of the spinning tire. I have an 03 6MT Coupe.

And by the way, you use the brakes HARD in autocrossing. All autocross tracks and organizations in the NE require helmets with a Snell or DOT rating of at least 2000 (year 2000). 1995 are no longer accepted.

You should check in with the SCCA and Motorposrts Northeast. SCCA utilizes Englishtown and MSNE uses the Giants Stadium parking lots on Sundays. Cheap to join. $30 to autocross, $120 for autocross schools.

 

MSNE also has track days at Pocono and SCCA has track days at Lime Rock. I have not done this yet because of the need to upgrade the brakes and tires. Brakes in particular. Stock brakes last about a day.