BMW M COUPE, Owner'S Manual

Page: 145 / 167

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Index
Data
Te
chnolog
y
Repairs
Maintenance
Controls
Overview
Highly sensitive sensors monitor the
number of revolutions of the wheels,
steering angle, lateral acceleration,
brake pressure and the movement of
the vehicle around its vertical axis.
If differences in wheel revolutions
should occur, the system will recognize
the potential danger this loss of traction
can cause and reduces the drive torque
going to the wheels. The system will
also apply the brakes to all four wheels,
if necessary.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condi-
tion and compares it with an ideal
condition that is calculated from the
sensor's signals.
If conditions such as understeering or
oversteering should occur, DSC will
help stabilize the vehicle in fractions of
a second by reducing engine power
output, and applying the brakes to indi-
vidual wheels.
As a result, many dangerous skids can
be prevented even as they are just
beginning, within physically feasible
limits.
You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system's interven-
tion. However, it provides optimum
drive force and vehicle stability.
The braking intervention may be
accompanied by a certain degree of
noise.
The safety belt tensioner responds to
severe frontal impacts by tightening the
belts to ensure that occupants remain
firmly positioned in their seats. A gas-
pressure system retracts the buckle
assembly to tension the shoulder and
lap belts within fractions of a second.
This tends to further reduce the
tendency to slide under the lap belt.
390de330
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Safety belt tensioner