Get Controls -> Driving stability control systems Guide for BMW X3 SUV 2020

Driving stability control systems

Controls

Driving stability control systems

DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐

tions such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Within

the physical limits DSC helps to keep the vehi‐

cle on a steady course by reducing engine

speed and by applying brakes to the individual

wheels.

Vehicle features and options

This chapter describes all standard, country-

specific and optional features offered with the

series. It also describes features that are not

necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to

the selected options or country versions. This

also applies to safety-related functions and

systems. The respectively applicable country

provisions must be observed when using the

respective features and systems.

Note

Adjust your driving style to the situation

An appropriate driving style is always the

responsibility of the driver.

The laws of physics cannot be repealed, not

even with DSC.

Antilock Brake System ABS

Therefore, do not reduce the additional safety

margin by driving in a risky manner.◀

ABS prevents locking of the wheels during

braking.

The vehicle contains its steering power even

during full brake applications, thus increasing

active safety.

Do not deactivate DSC when driving with

roof load

Do not deactivate Dynamic Stability Control

DSC when driving with roof load, e.g. roof-

mounted luggage rack.

ABS is operational every time you start the en‐

gine.

Otherwise, driving safety is not given in driv‐

ing-critical situation due to the elevated center

of gravity.◀

Brake assistant

When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system

automatically produces the greatest possible

braking force boost. It reduces the braking dis‐

tance to a minimum during emergency stop.

This system utilizes all of the benefits provided

by ABS.

Overview

Button in the vehicle

Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal

for the duration of the emergency stop.

DSC Dynamic Stability

Control

The concept

DSC prevents traction loss in the power

wheels when driving off and accelerating.

DSC OFF button

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Controls

Driving stability control systems

The system ensures maximum headway on

special road conditions or loose road surfaces,

e.g., unplowed snowy roads, but with some‐

what limited driving stability.

Indicator/warning lights

The indicator lamp flashes: DSC con‐

trols the drive and braking forces.

The indicator lamp lights up: DSC has

Activating the Dynamic Traction Control DTC

provides maximum traction. Driving stability is

limited during acceleration and when driving in

curves.

failed.

Deactivating DSC: DSC OFF

When DSC is deactivated, driving stability is

reduced during acceleration and when driving

in curves.

Therefore drive with appropriate caution.

You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC

under the following special circumstances:

To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC

again as soon as possible.

▷

When driving in slush or on uncleared,

snow-covered roads.

When freeing vehicle from deep snow or

driving off from loose grounds.

Deactivating DSC

Press and hold this button but not lon‐

ger than approx. 10 seconds, until the

When driving with snow chains.

indicator lamp for DSC OFF lights up in the in‐

strument cluster and displays DSC OFF.

Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic

Traction Control

The DSC system is switched off.

Activating DTC

The steering and, depending on the equip‐

ment, suspension are tuned for sporty driving.

Press button.

TRACTION is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster and the indicator lamp for DSC

OFF lights up.

Activating DSC

Press button.

DSC OFF and the DSC OFF indicator

lamp go out.

Deactivating DTC

Press button again.

Indicator/warning lights

When DSC is deactivated, DSC OFF is dis‐

played in the instrument cluster.

TRACTION and the DSC OFF indica‐

tor lamp go out.

The indicator lamp lights up: DSC is

deactivated.

Performance Control

Performance Control enhances the agility of

the vehicle.

DTC Dynamic Traction

Control

To increase maneuverability, with a corre‐

spondingly sporty driving style, wheels are

braked individually. The resulting braking

power is simultaneously largely compensated

by an engine intervention.

The concept

The DTC system is a version of the DSC where

forward momentum is optimized.

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Driving stability control systems

Controls

Increasing or decreasing vehicle

speed

Specify desired speed in the range from ap‐

prox. 4 mph/6 km/h to approx. 15 mph/25 km/h

using the rocker switch of the cruise control on

the steering wheel. Vehicle speed can be

changed by lightly accelerating.

xDrive

xDrive is the all-wheel-drive system of your ve‐

hicle. Concerted action by the xDrive and DSC

further optimize traction and driving dynamics.

The xDrive all-wheel-drive system variably dis‐

tributes the drive forces to the front and rear

axles as demanded by the driving situation and

road surface.

Display on the Control Display

Displaying xDrive view

1. "Vehicle info"

2. "xDrive status"

The following information is displayed:

▷

With a navigation system: compass display

for the driving direction

▷

Press the rocker switch up to the point of

resistance: the speed increases gradually.

▷

Pitch attitude with degree and percentage

Transverse gradient with degree indication

Graphic display for the steering

Press up the rocker switch past the point

of resistance: the speed increases while

the rocker switch is pressed.

▷

Press the rocker switch down to the point

of resistance: the speed decreases gradu‐

ally.

HDC Hill Descent Control

Press the rocker switch down past the

point of resistance: when driving forward,

the speed decreases to approx.

6 mph/10 km/h; when reversing, the speed

decreases to approx. 4 mph/6 km/h.

The concept

HDC is a downhill driving assistant that auto‐

matically controls vehicle speed on steep

downhill gradients. Without applying the

brakes, the vehicle moves at slightly more than

walking speed.

Activating HDC

Hill Descent Control can be activated at

speeds below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When

driving downhill, the vehicle reduces its speed

to approx. walking speed and then keeps its

speed constant.

As long as there is active braking, the system

is on standby. The system does not brake the

vehicle during this time.

Only use HDC in low gears or in selector lever

position D or R.

Press button; the LED above the button

lights up.

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Driving stability control systems

Deactivating HDC

COMFORT/ECO PRO

Balanced control of the vehicle.

Press button again and the LED goes

out. HDC is automatically deactivated

above approx. 37 mph/60 km/h.

Variable sport steering

Display in the instrument cluster

The variable sport steering increases the

steering angle of the front wheels at large

steering wheel angles, e.g., in tight curves or

when parking. Steering becomes more direct.

The selected speed is displayed

in the speedometer.

▷

Green: the system is actively

braking the vehicle.

It also varies the force required to turn the

wheels in accordance with the vehicle speed.

▷

Orange: the system is on

standby.

This results in a sporty steering response. In

addition, it becomes easier to steer during

parking and maneuvering.

Malfunction

A message is displayed in the instrument clus‐

ter. HDC is not available, e.g., due to elevated

brake temperatures.

Servotronic

The concept

The Servotronic varies the steering force re‐

quired to turn the wheels in accordance with

the vehicle speed. At low speeds, the steering

force is strongly supported, i. e. during steer‐

ing, low force is required. As the speed in‐

creases, the assistance of the steering force is

reduced.

Dynamic Damping Control

The concept

This system reduces undesirable vehicle mo‐

tion when using a dynamic driving style or trav‐

eling on uneven road surfaces.

Furthermore, the steering force adapts accord‐

ing to the driving program, so that a direct,

sporty feel and/or comfortable steering is con‐

veyed.

The system enhances driving dynamics and

comfort fitting road surface and driving style.

Programs

The system offers several different programs.

Select the programs via the Driving Dynamics

Control, refer to page 126.

Driving Dynamics Control

The concept

SPORT

The Driving Dynamics Control helps to fine-

tune the vehicle's settings and features. Vari‐

ous programs can be selected for this purpose.

The Driving Dynamics Control and the DSC

OFF buttons can each be used to activate a

program.

Consistently sporty control of the shock ab‐

sorbers for greater driving agility.

SPORT+

Consistently sporty control of the shock ab‐

sorbers for greater driving agility when driving

with limited driving stabilization.

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Driving stability control systems

Controls

activated. Driving stability is limited during ac‐

celeration and when driving in curves.

Overview

Button in the vehicle

SPORT+

Sporty driving with optimized suspension and

adapted engine control with limited driving sta‐

bilization.

Dynamic Traction Control is switched on.

The driver handles several of the stabilization

tasks.

Activating SPORT+

Press button repeatedly until SPORT+

appears in the instrument cluster and

the DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up.

Operating the programs

Press button

Program

DSC OFF

Automatic program change

When activating cruise control, the program

automatically switches to SPORT mode.

TRACTION

SPORT+

SPORT

Indicator/warning lights

SPORT+ is displayed in the instrument cluster.

COMFORT

ECO PRO

The DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up:

Dynamic Traction Control is activated.

Automatic program change

The system may automatically switch to COM‐

FORT in the following situations:

SPORT

Consistently sporty tuning of the suspension

and engine control for greater driving agility

with maximum driving stabilization.

▷

Failure of Dynamic Damping Control.

Failure of DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

The vehicle has a flat tire.

The program can be configured to individual

specifications. The configuration is stored for

the profile currently in use.

When activating cruise control in TRAC‐

TION or DSC OFF mode.

DSC OFF

Activating SPORT

When DSC OFF, refer to page 124, is active,

driving stability is limited during acceleration

and when driving in curves.

Press button repeatedly until SPORT

is displayed in the instrument cluster.

Configuring SPORT

TRACTION

When the display is activated on the Control

Display, refer to page 128, the SPORT driving

mode can be set to individual specifications.

When TRACTION is active, the vehicle has

maximum traction on loose road surfaces. DTC

Dynamic Traction Control, refer to page 124, is

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Controls

Driving stability control systems

▷

Activating SPORT.

2. "Configure ECO PRO"

"Configure SPORT"

Make the desired settings.

Configuring the SPORT driving mode.

Displays

SPORT can also be configured before it is acti‐

vated:

Program selection

1. "Settings"

Pressing the button displays a

2. "SPORT mode"

3. Configure driving mode.

list of the selectable programs.

Depending on your vehicle's op‐

tional features, the list in the in‐

strument cluster can differ from

This configuration is retrieved when the

SPORT driving mode is activated.

the illustration shown.

COMFORT

For a balanced tuning with maximum driving

stabilization.

Selected program

The instrument cluster displays

the selected program.

Activating COMFORT

Press button repeatedly until COM‐

FORT is displayed in the instrument

cluster.

Display on the Control Display

In certain situations, the system automatically

changes to the NORMAL program, automatic

program change, refer to page 127.

Program changes can be displayed on the

Control Display.

1. "Settings"

ECO PRO

2. "Control display"

3. "Driving mode info"

ECO PRO, refer to page 182, provides consis‐

tent tuning to minimize fuel consumption for

maximum range with maximum driving stabili‐

zation.

Drive-off assistant

This system supports driving off on inclines.

The parking brake is not required.

Comfort functions and the engine controller

are adjusted.

The program can be configured to individual

specifications.

1. Hold the vehicle in place with the foot

brake.

2. Release the foot brake and drive off with‐

out delay.

Activating ECO PRO

Press button repeatedly until ECO

PRO is displayed in the instrument

cluster.

After the foot brake is released, the vehicle is

held in place for approx. 2 seconds.

Depending on the vehicle load or when a trailer

is used, the vehicle may roll back slightly.

Configuring ECO PRO

1. Activate ECO PRO.

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Controls

Driving off without delay

After releasing the foot brake, start driv‐

ing without delay, since the drive-off assistant

will not hold the vehicle in place for more than

approx. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin to

roll back.◀

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