Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

What is ASC and why did it cut out on BMW, old compact model 2000?

Does anyone know why this warning light would come on in icy weather. It came on out of the blue and I lost control of my car the other night, it was zig zagging all over the road, could have been fatal. What actually is ASC and why would it cut out. I was driving back late and roads were wet and possibly some ice. Called RAC he took for drive during day yesterday and said could not fault anything and that I probably hit some black ice, but I've skidded on ice before, this time it was like I lost complete control of the car. Serious answers only please :-).

Update:

Light is no longer on, only ever seen this light stay briefly on in bad weather, i.e ice. And Friday night roads were lethal. Problem is light came on and I lost control so no warning!

Update 2:

Well spotted Timbo! My understanding of ASC not great, hence asking for advice on here.

Thanks for all your advice, read a few BMW forums too and making sense now. Although don't see how it can be a safety device, I could have hit another car.

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It stands for Automatic Stability Control. It prevents loss of traction on the drive wheels when setting off, when accelerating out of curves and in other critical moments. When one wheel has good traction but the other is on a slippery patch of road, the wheel with less traction is braked until it is again able to gain a grip on the road surface.

    It's not a skid-prevention gadget, it's traction control. The light comes on when it's working.

  • 1 decade ago

    ASC= Automatic Stability Control+Traction

  • 1 decade ago

    Some sort of traction control to prevent skidding. Light comes on to tell you it is working at that point not that it has cut out.

    ASC is useless on black ice, nothing electronic can prevent loss of control on black ice.

    Your warning light came on to tell you the system was active at that moment but it was of no help.

    Read the answers carefully, this one and the next but not the first one as it is not quite right. The system on your car is working correctly by your description but your understanding of it is not!

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Having pushed no longer something yet BMW's sense I have been given my license 10 years in the past, i does not advise the different make. As for the Z4, it does not marvel me one bit that your daughter is in love with this motor vehicle. this is sporty, stylish, and convenience all wrapped up in a "little" kit. regardless of a solid crash try score, a smaller motor vehicle remains on the mercy of the SUV's, truck's and semi's. i'm chuffed to be sure you're a minimum of questioning approximately your daughter's secure practices, and not in user-friendly terms getting her what she needs. There are numerous concepts you are able to take to maintain her secure. First is p.c.. the terrific suited engine. This motor vehicle comes with numerous commencing from a 2.2L 170hp I-6 to a three.2L 340hp I-6 which got here interior the third era M3's. Now in case you inquire from me, a young person, male or woman, needs no greater advantageous than a 200hp motor vehicle. in basic terms look on the Hulk's son. Now i'm particular your daughter watns the vehicle for the seems, so i might advise finding one with the two.2L, that way she will nonetheless cruise, yet is unlikely 0-60 in 5 seconds the two. you should additionally attempt to locate one with the activities kit. it could sound loopy, even nevertheless it promises a miles greater advantageous trip, the suspension is stiffer and it sits somewhat decrease to the floor. It additionally comes with larger wheels/tires which skill greater rubber on the line. the vehicle does have 3 kinds of transmissions. automatic, handbook, and SMG. i does not even worry with the SMG(this is the F1 style paddle shifters on the guidance wheel). Have her try tension a pair of each nevertheless to be sure what she is comfortable with. It sounds like she might have you ever wrapeed round her finger, i'm no longer attempting to tell you the thank you to boost your woman, yet set some rules approximately what proportion miles she places on the vehicle in a month(the greater you're on the line, the greater possibilities for a crash) and boost it whilst she proves she will cope with the accountability. besides, terrific of excellent fortune and shop using Germany's maximum advantageous.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.