DSC+ adds five further features: Brake Pre-tensioning, Brake Drying, Hill Start Assistant, Brake Fade Compensation and Soft Stop.

- Brake Pre-tensioning shortens stopping distances by priming the brakes the instant the driver snaps off the accelerator in preparation for an emergency stop. The result is a car that has already commenced the stopping process in an emergency situation by the time the driver applies his foot to the brake pedal.

- Brake Drying improves braking performance in the wet. Driving on wet roads leads to a film of water building up on the brake discs. Naturally this lengthens stopping distances when the brakes are applied, as the pads cannot bite the disc as effectively as in the dry. With Brake Drying, the activation of the windscreen wipers or a signal from the screen-mounted Rain Sensor enables a periodic gentle application of the brakes to scrub off any residue. As a result, when full stopping power is required, maximum braking force is available. In day-to-day driving, this periodic brake application is unnoticeable and, to avoid any confusion or danger, the brake lights do not illuminate when Brake Drying is active.

- Hill Start Assistant allows a manual transmission car to pull away smoothly on a gradient without rolling backwards. It is achieved by maintaining brake pressure for the short time taken to apply the accelerator after releasing the foot- or handbrake. The system judges the gradient of slope and the subsequent degree of brake pressure needed to ensure a smooth start.
 
- Brake Fade Compensation. When the brakes get very hot it is possible that a driver can experience some fade in stopping power. Consequently, greater force is required to achieve the same braking effect. Fade Compensation recognises this situation and applies additional braking without any extra effort from the driver.

- Soft Stop. This guarantees a smoother journey for driver and passenger. It prepares the car for a perfectly smooth stop by releasing a small proportion of braking pressure as the car comes to a standstill. In the event of an emergency, Soft Stop becomes inactive in order to achieve the shortest stopping distance.



Dynamic Traction Control - giving the driver that little extra

For those wanting to explore the higher reaches of the 3.0si's capabilities or wanting a greater degree of permissible slip, in winter driving for example, one push of the DSC button on the dashboard engages Dynamic Traction Control (DTC). DTC allows for a higher level of lateral acceleration, typically around 0.4g, before the full effects of DSC+ come into play. For most drivers, the additional level of slip offered by DTC is more than adequate to enjoy the sporting capabilities of the Z4 Coupe without the need to fully deactivate the DSC system, which can, of course, be achieved by another push of the button.



Integrated airbags

BMW's Advanced Safety Electronics (ASE) system masterminds a total of four front and side airbags. Using remote satellite sensors located around the car, the location and force of any impact is instantly assessed and individually calculated. Each sensor monitors and supervises the other to eliminate the possibility of an inappropriate response. Where the situation dictates, ASE will also separate the battery terminal, deactivate the alternator and switch off the fuel pump to minimise the potential of fire. In addition, the system will open the central locking and illuminate the interior lights and hazard warning lights using an auxiliary supply to warn approaching traffic of the problem.



BMW Assist - your guardian angel

BMW Assist comes as standard with Professional navigation and Bluetooth phone preparation. It offers a further safety benefit with its auto emergency service dial feature. In the event of an accident, an owner can manually contact the emergency services by using the scroll button on the on-board display. However, should the crash be severe enough to deploy the airbags, the BMW Assist system automatically dials the emergency services call centre and, using satellite navigation information, notifies them of the exact location of the vehicle.

previous page | go to page 13