Removing ASC for weight purposes viable?

[bimmernub]

I maintain my 95 525i for its insane reliability and awesome road-worthyness. I have only had it 11 months but will definitely have it for -years- to come. I have kept everything stock except the wheels which are still BMW and plan on doing so. I don't need a track monster or anything, but absolutely hate the traction control. I can't set it to default off on start and turn it on when I want so I always have to turn it off after starting the car. In situations when I feel like I would have to do some ~severe defensive driving I even feel like the ASC is more endangering than helpful.

If at all possible, I would like to remove the whole system. I feel like it would have to be a decent amount of weight altogether, and if not it would at least free up space in the engine compartment which is -always- welcome. If anyone has heard of this or has done it or knows not to even attempt, any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[ShapeShifter]

Just pull the fuse. I don't think you'll "save" more than 2lbs.

[ESSSupreme]

Removing ASC in a huge car like E34 is not going to help you with 'weight reduction'; skipping breakfast will remove more weight then ASC.

And I'm not sure but I heard you can disable ASC some how without actually removing the whole system (fuse?). Maybe somebody can chime in.

[ShapeShifter]

I think I just said that using less bandwidth.

[ESSSupreme]

Too bad you had to use more bandwidth to troll.

[T444E]

http://skepticalteacher.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/facepalm1.jpg

[ShapeShifter]

This additional post is still using less bytes...

[bimmernub]

I have not checked in the Bentley about removing the ASC, and it's not that I just want it switched off all the time, such as removing the fuse for it, I want to remove all components other than the asthetic switch in the cabin for it. I believe it is all electronic and won't save much weight, but it may open up a little bit of room in the engine compartment, which I said is -always- welcome. I notice from my throttle body, there is the cable connected to the throttle and then one that leads to something plastic just in front of the driver side suspension spring mount. I don't want to just remove that blindly and see what happens, I would much rather have some insight in to how to do this correctly.

Thanks again, bnub

[Binjammin]

http://www.redstate.com/neil_stevens/files/2009/09/doublefacepalm.jpg

[UberFunfer]

It's an E34..it weighs, what, 3600+ lbs? Removing anything small and insignificant like ASC will be negligable.

[Dexm]

I maintain my 95 525i for its insane reliability and awesome road-worthyness. I have only had it 11 months but will definitely have it for -years- to come. I have kept everything stock except the wheels which are still BMW and plan on doing so. I don't need a track monster or anything, but absolutely hate the traction control. I can't set it to default off on start and turn it on when I want so I always have to turn it off after starting the car. In situations when I feel like I would have to do some ~severe defensive driving I even feel like the ASC is more endangering than helpful.


I don't like ASC either. Down with keeping it stock too, though I'm considering Bilstein shocks :alrightbmw:

[Danni540]

Isn't the ASC integrated in the ABS system? I know it is in the E39. On those the same computer controls the ABS and the ASC so you can't remove the ASC without removing the ABS as well.

... and on the E39 you would also remove your speedometer If you remove this, but on the E34 I believe the speedometer is still controlled by a sensor in the differential.

[5tre5i]

I have not checked in the Bentley about removing the ASC, and it's not that I just want it switched off all the time, such as removing the fuse for it, I want to remove all components other than the asthetic switch in the cabin for it. I believe it is all electronic and won't save much weight, but it may open up a little bit of room in the engine compartment, which I said is -always- welcome. I notice from my throttle body, there is the cable connected to the throttle and then one that leads to something plastic just in front of the driver side suspension spring mount. I don't want to just remove that blindly and see what happens, I would much rather have some insight in to how to do this correctly.

Thanks again, bnub

You don't need to remove it, I don't even see a reason for the 'free space'

Why do you need to disable it to begin with, what kind of severe driving are you getting yourself into anyways? I drive in Cali where close calls and accidents happen on a daily basis here, I've had many close calls with because of stupid drivers deciding to slam their brakes, cut me off, etc yet my 535 braked well, and changed lanes with a flick of a wrist without losing traction. Unless you're doing Ken Block stunts, i see no point in removing your traction control.

If you want a better alternative, use good tires if you aren't already

[M Quick]

I have not checked in the Bentley about removing the ASC, and it's not that I just want it switched off all the time, such as removing the fuse for it, I want to remove all components other than the asthetic switch in the cabin for it. I believe it is all electronic and won't save much weight, but it may open up a little bit of room in the engine compartment, which I said is -always- welcome. I notice from my throttle body, there is the cable connected to the throttle and then one that leads to something plastic just in front of the driver side suspension spring mount. I don't want to just remove that blindly and see what happens, I would much rather have some insight in to how to do this correctly.

Thanks again, bnub

This is what i've seen people on the swedish boards has done when they wanna do like you wanna do:
You can remove the whole throtthle body and change it into one that doesn't have the EML throttle body. But you need to keep the motor for the ASC aside for it not sending the ECU a fault code.

And I've also heard about another trick that simply makes the ASC go into "off" mode as default instead of on. I'll see if i can fish that up for you if you wanna do that instead.
None of these methods will interfere with the ABS.

But pulling the fuse is always much simpler. But then you need to pop it back in to turn it on. Whereas the button trick is just pushing the button which will turn it back on again.

[bimmernub]

Thanks for all your replies. And I don't have a problem braking, I have a problem with particular pieces of driving. Whether the roads a little wet, and I'm trying to merge into a lane from a dead stop, when the ASC kicks on and leaves me sitting there for no reason, I want to kick it in the face, where as with it removed, I can get a little tire spin and actually use the clutch to delegate torque as needed. The ASC in this car is totally FN useless, I hate to say it. I was happy when I found out that it had it, but spent months trying to find a situation where it was worth a shiz. The only time it was almost helpful was when my back end was in 3" of mud and my front tires were on gravel. Long story, but I still ended up taking it off and getting myself unstuck with some clutch work. Maybe they contracted that part out to some non-german company, IDK

[ShapeShifter]

Adjust your driving technique.

[moroza]

I've done this. On <9/93 cars like mine, there is one hydraulic distributor unit for the ABS, and another for the ASC. The ASC unit weighs about 10 pounds and is crammed into a very inaccessible area of the car, making maintenance of the heater valve and clutch master rather more difficult. On >9/93 cars, they are integrated into one. So you would not save any weight by deleting it. (You would save weight by also deleting ABS and replacing the distributor unit with a couple of T-junctions, but that's beyond the scope of your question).

I don't know how it is on M50 cars, but on the M60, there's an additional throttle plate and a motor to pull it closed. The motor weighs something insignificant; I removed it to have a cleaner enginebay.

Note that this was during the course of a 9-month build that included the car gutted to the shell. I had to replace the hard brakelines running to the rear calipers, and because I wanted to keep ABS, I had to replace the ABS hydro unit and control module, and redo a bunch of wiring. I probably would not have attempted this without the car disassembled as it was.

I don't believe there's a separate fuse for the ASC/ABS, but you can probably remove the plugs to the ABS/ASC hydro unit and the control module (in the e-box with the DME) and this should disable it. You'll of course lose ABS as well, and you'll get error lights on your instrumentpanel. You won't get a CEL.

ASC not only applies brakes and cuts throttle; it also cuts ignition timing. Therefore, removing the throttle and brake hardware (not that you can, since it's integrated with the ABS) won't solve the problem completely.

I came in possession of an M62 and 6-speed trans because the car it came from tried to outsmart the driver on a wet onramp, and won (so to speak). Say no to electronic nannies and learn to drive it yourself.

[bimmernub]

ASC not only applies brakes and cuts throttle; it also cuts ignition timing. Therefore, removing the throttle and brake hardware (not that you can, since it's integrated with the ABS) won't solve the problem completely.

I came in possession of an M62 and 6-speed trans because the car it came from tried to outsmart the driver on a wet onramp, and won (so to speak). Say no to electronic nannies and learn to drive it yourself.


Tell that to porsche dude, he apparently doesnt know the difference. I said it 3 diff times, the car tries to tell me how to drive, but it's a chinese gramothers 1983 plymouth station wagon trying to tell a bmw what to do, completely retarded and cannot drive at all. I turn my ASC off every time I start the car.

[moroza]

:nono Hey now, no hatin' on wagons!

:stickoutt

[ESSSupreme]

Just weighted cruise control, it's 4.5 pounds..

[MaxSteel]

What fuse is ASC? Is it the same as the ABS fuse?

[Dexm]

ASC not only applies brakes and cuts throttle; it also cuts ignition timing.

The cutting of the throttle is the worst of it, for me. I didn't know it cut timing, interesting.

[ross1]

I maintain my 95 525i for its insane reliability and awesome road-worthyness. I have only had it 11 months but will definitely have it for -years- to come. I have kept everything stock except the wheels which are still BMW and plan on doing so. I don't need a track monster or anything, but absolutely hate the traction control. I can't set it to default off on start and turn it on when I want so I always have to turn it off after starting the car. In situations when I feel like I would have to do some ~severe defensive driving I even feel like the ASC is more endangering than helpful.

If at all possible, I would like to remove the whole system. I feel like it would have to be a decent amount of weight altogether, and if not it would at least free up space in the engine compartment which is -always- welcome. If anyone has heard of this or has done it or knows not to even attempt, any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!


On dry pavement you need to be driving VERY aggressively to invoke ASC or ABS.
I have no idea what your credentials are but one must be pretty adept at threshold braking and car control to outperform these systems.
Is there a smiley facepalm:ponder