How bad for my car is drifting on dry pavement?

Dizzy330i · 03-22-2006, 01:54 AM

I was hanging out with a buddy today and we realized that we had an empty parking lot to play with, so having never driven one before, I test drove his Chrysler 300 somewhat spiritedly. Having gotten a tease out of that car and now being in the mood, I did a couple tight turns with DSC on, then DTC on, and (with DSC off) then about 3, 4 good couple-second-long "drifts" (if you could even call them that) in my car. The pavement had a couple of wet spots and was relatively new (shiny, black). However, I inspected the tires and they seemed alright and was wondering what kind of stresses I was putting my car through. I know that having an open diff means I'm only spinning one rear wheel, and having Step means I can't use the clutch to control drifting (I was merely using the gas to step out of line briefly with DSC all the way off).

I know I probably shouldn't subject my car to this kind of nonsense, and a few of you are going to call me a fool for trying to "drift" an auto. Does anyone have any experience with this? I won't be doing this again any time soon, but I'm a little worried I may be damaging the car.

ksfrogman · 03-22-2006, 01:58 AM

not sure i would ride my clutch to control a drift. with your auto, just massage your throttle (right foot) and left-foot brake gently.

Dizzy330i · 03-22-2006, 02:37 AM

Oh. I had read somewhere that on the approach to a drifting turn (in a car with MT) you can disengage the clutch, downshift and rev, and then by dropping the clutch you can make the rear step out.

I never thought about left-foot braking (I thought it was an advanced technique). Cool, thanks for the tip.

But is this bad for the car? Especially considering I don't have ZSP and all the benefits associated? Does this put strain on the wheel lugs/bolts? Suspension? Chassis? Power steering? This sort of thing was worrying me.

shimshimhada · 03-22-2006, 03:05 AM

It puts some stress on the drivetrain of course, most of the wear will be on your rear tires though. You can use left-foot braking to induce oversteer, it is an advanced technique that requires practice, but it's not like you're on the track or anything. You can modulate your car's direction using that and the throttle. Just don't crash into a pole!

davinet78 · 03-22-2006, 03:40 AM

those things are just not good for the car

Broken1 · 03-22-2006, 06:40 AM

It's definately not good for the car.

It does put alot of stress on the rear wheels- as they are now moving sideways instead of forwards.

Bimmerista · 03-22-2006, 08:44 AM

The e90 does not have a limited slip diff, your tire spinn is controlled by the DSC, meaning applying braking to the wheel. Therefore drifting the e90 doe suse up break pads. It also of course kills your tires (rears especially).

Other than that, the other stresses on the car are not severe as long as you do not over do it.

Dizzy330i · 03-22-2006, 12:53 PM

Ah well. I guess I won't go around doing that again. It was pretty fun while it lasted, though. Thanks for the help guys!

03-22-2006, 01:54 AM	#1
Dizzy330i Private 6 Rep 95 Posts Drives: BMW 330i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Miami, FL USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	How bad for my car is drifting on dry pavement? I was hanging out with a buddy today and we realized that we had an empty parking lot to play with, so having never driven one before, I test drove his Chrysler 300 somewhat spiritedly. Having gotten a tease out of that car and now being in the mood, I did a couple tight turns with DSC on, then DTC on, and (with DSC off) then about 3, 4 good couple-second-long "drifts" (if you could even call them that) in my car. The pavement had a couple of wet spots and was relatively new (shiny, black). However, I inspected the tires and they seemed alright and was wondering what kind of stresses I was putting my car through. I know that having an open diff means I'm only spinning one rear wheel, and having Step means I can't use the clutch to control drifting (I was merely using the gas to step out of line briefly with DSC all the way off). I know I probably shouldn't subject my car to this kind of nonsense, and a few of you are going to call me a fool for trying to "drift" an auto. Does anyone have any experience with this? I won't be doing this again any time soon, but I'm a little worried I may be damaging the car. __________________ 2006 330i SG/Terra ZPP Step OEM Spoiler...and Blacklines!!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-22-2006, 01:58 AM	#2
ksfrogman Major General 601 Rep 6,750 Posts Drives: E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	not sure i would ride my clutch to control a drift. with your auto, just massage your throttle (right foot) and left-foot brake gently. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 02:37 AM	#3
Dizzy330i Private 6 Rep 95 Posts Drives: BMW 330i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Miami, FL USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Oh. I had read somewhere that on the approach to a drifting turn (in a car with MT) you can disengage the clutch, downshift and rev, and then by dropping the clutch you can make the rear step out. I never thought about left-foot braking (I thought it was an advanced technique). Cool, thanks for the tip. But is this bad for the car? Especially considering I don't have ZSP and all the benefits associated? Does this put strain on the wheel lugs/bolts? Suspension? Chassis? Power steering? This sort of thing was worrying me. __________________ 2006 330i SG/Terra ZPP Step OEM Spoiler...and Blacklines!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 03:05 AM	#4
shimshimhada Brigadier General 443 Rep 4,838 Posts Drives: Portal Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portal iTrader: (2)	It puts some stress on the drivetrain of course, most of the wear will be on your rear tires though. You can use left-foot braking to induce oversteer, it is an advanced technique that requires practice, but it's not like you're on the track or anything. You can modulate your car's direction using that and the throttle. Just don't crash into a pole!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 03:40 AM	#5
davinet78 Lieutenant Colonel 28 Rep 1,832 Posts Drives: bmw e90 320d Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gibraltar(europe) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 bmw 320d E90 [0.00]	those things are just not good for the car __________________ e90 320d,arktis,lumber support, hifi speaker, alarm, dakota beige, 162 18", xenon with washer spray,window chrome trimmings, professional radio, 6 cd changer wood trimmings 6 speed manual.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 06:40 AM	#6
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	It's definately not good for the car. It does put alot of stress on the rear wheels- as they are now moving sideways instead of forwards.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 08:44 AM	#7
Bimmerista Major General 82 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	The e90 does not have a limited slip diff, your tire spinn is controlled by the DSC, meaning applying braking to the wheel. Therefore drifting the e90 doe suse up break pads. It also of course kills your tires (rears especially). Other than that, the other stresses on the car are not severe as long as you do not over do it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2006, 12:53 PM	#8
Dizzy330i Private 6 Rep 95 Posts Drives: BMW 330i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Miami, FL USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Ah well. I guess I won't go around doing that again. It was pretty fun while it lasted, though. Thanks for the help guys! __________________ 2006 330i SG/Terra ZPP Step OEM Spoiler...and Blacklines!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote