Ever since taking delivery, I've found the VDC on my '05 6MT to simply be too intrusive. It's operation isn't very smooth, but it is a nice saftey feature... ...or is it?

As stated, my VDC tends to step in even before there is any perceptible wheelspin. Very agressive, IMO. But the other day we finally got some rain so I turned it on. I then decided to get on it in 1st and 2nd and, to my surprise, I broke traction as easily as I do with the VDC off. The VDC light never blinked either. And it's so easy to invoke in the dry that I always have it turned off.

It just seemd odd that such an intrusive VDC would allow that much wheelspin (limited by me) in the wet. Anyone else notice a change in when their VDC engages (under different weather conditions, etc.)? Today I'll see if it engages normally under dry conditions.

Maybe it was just a glitch and wasn't engaging, even though it was left on? Maybe I've trained the car to operate without VDC so it's slow to engage?

 

Sounds to me like you VDC isn't working properly.
I'd have it checked out ....
C.

 

Tried to check it today, but we suddenly have 86 degree weather. The lack of cold-air charge and the now sticky rubber (warm streets) had me trying hard just to break traction in a straight line.

My nearest dealer is 3-4 hours away, so I'll try to determine if it was a glitch before I take it in. That's part of the compromise I made when I bought a vehicle that has no local dealership. Can't sweat the small stuff (...unless it has big reprocussions).

 

it's normal. my car always exhibits some traction loss before it kicks in. rain is nothing... try it on snow. u can still kick the car sideways, to a certain degree, before vdc corrects u. don't know why it's so intrusive for u on dry... it's not for me. do u have aftermarket wheels/tires? maybe that's what's messing your vdc up.

 

It's a wacky system. It seems to pull power based on a G-load in the dry. Coming around a corner on the gas it will cut power long before the wheels start to slip. In the rain it will let the wheels spin and fishtail a little bit before it brings it in. It also does engage without the slip light lighting under some conditions. If you shift fast it will cut power after every shift, even though the tires only slip a tiny bit. In some cases I don't even think they slip - it just thinks they might.

I like having the slip light. I also like the shift light. I don't like the fact that REV is illuminated all the time.

A very annoying feature in my eyes. I would like it to be gone. I would rather have a 'winter' button to push in bad conditions where it would help me out.

 

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Very well said! That's the type of condition when it kicks in on me the most.

I may save additional testing of the VDC until I get the MREV, headers/cats, etc. installed.

 

I had mine sideways yesterday in the rain. Pulled from one lane into another and stepped on the skinny pedal. WA-LA, sideways, then it kicked in right as I let off the gas...

 

GT-Ron - I've experience the same exact thing. Usually, the vdc kicks in before I even know traction is lost. However, I've had a few huge spins in the wet with nothing from vdc. I'm talking about long spins in a straight line and the rearend swinging way out in a turn. I thought it was broken but it was only those few times.

 

no your description sounds exactly like how mine works

 

I was able to check it on dry streets this morning and it seems to be working as normal. Again, I just can't believe that the VDC will allow that much of a loss in traction in the wet.

 

it'll let your tires spin if you are going in a straight line, but it wont let you lose control of your car and spin out in the wet. the vdc is still very good in the wet... just not if its only spinning the tires and you arent in danger of losing traction at all

 

I agree the VDC of our cars is NOT smooth at all.....unlike my 330ci which is very smooth and you can't even tell when its working, except for the flashing triangle....