F80 M3 Launch Control.....it works!

[Sir Loin]

Yeah, the word "fully" is a little misleading, because it doesn't communicate the point that you have do press the throttle pedal very quickly all the way to the floor. The instruction also doesn't mention if LC would work in both manual mode and automatic mode. It only says it upshifts automatically. I bet it works in both modes, it just doesn't say it.

I guess I am just too pedantic .

[Bimmer4John]

Originally Posted by Brady1984

THIS. This 1000 times. I am not a Porsche guy but they have the transmission, drivetrain and the whole deal figured out. The Porsche PDK is light years ahead of the BMW DSG. I don't care how good the magazine you read says the BMW DCT is, Porsche, Audi and others have this transmission business figured out. Shift speeds, around town driving and performance launches are all handled, no questions asked. Over and over and over. Why can't BMW do that? Why do so many feel the need to defend the DCT I don't know, to me it's just the automatic transmission in the BMW volume sports car. Once BMW really figures out the DCT or whatever they decide to call the next iteration maybe it will be a big deal but I think this transmission is going to be like the SMG transmissions of old...forgettable. If you want a sports car get the manual. Let those balls drop, tell your wife to drive a Kia. If she cant figure out that third pedal or you just can't stand the idea of stop-and-go traffic get a Kia. If you are into tech and love the idea of a quick shifting easy to live with automatic transmission get something else. Otherwise get the manual. Nothing disappoints a real enthusiast like looking in the window and seeing an automatic...keep those kids in the parking lot at Costco happy; get the manual.

I don't know, as someone who has spent the last 4+ years driving an Audi S4 S-tronic (DCT) I think BMW at least has Audi beat. When I drove my buddy's 335is with DCT I remember thinking that the shifts were crisper and that it subjectively felt like there was less delay all around (was doing more spirited driving at the time). Then when I was driving my M4 it was in a whole different league to both of them.

So while I haven't spent any time in a Porsche with PDK I can say that BMW DCT has the edge on the Audi S-tronic (at least the S version, not sure if the RSs have a better one).

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

Yeah, the word "fully" is a little misleading, because it doesn't communicate the point that you have do press the throttle pedal very quickly all the way to the floor. The instruction also doesn't mention if LC would work in both manual mode and automatic mode. It only says it upshifts automatically. I bet it works in both modes, it just doesn't say it.

I guess I am just too pedantic .

That's true. They should include that as I'm guessing that a lot of the LC failures posted are due to this.

[mpbruin108]

Originally Posted by ss134

Launch control doesn't just do the first shift for you automatically, as long as your foot is planted to the floor it will keep shifting for you until you lift or you hit max speed.

I have yet to try LC in my F82 but I don't have to shift at all? The car will do it for you despite not being in automatic D mode? I wonder why people don't use MDM and try Launch control? I always see people do it with mdm light not on (so I assume it is not active).

I'm a newbie to launch control. I had a E92 and never used LC either.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by mpbruin108

I have yet to try LC in my F82 but I don't have to shift at all? The car will do it for you despite not being in automatic D mode? I wonder why people don't use MDM and try Launch control? I always see people do it with mdm light not on (so I assume it is not active).

I'm a newbie to launch control. I had a E92 and never used LC either.

DCT needs to be set at S3 and DSC has to be off to engage LC.

As long as LC mode is active, it will upshift automatically. You need to keep your right foor planted to the floor with the kickdown button engaged. If you lift ever so slightly as to dissengage the kickdown button, LC will dissengage and the engine will bounce off the limiter.

[richb811]

Originally Posted by ss134

For all those if you have not got their cars yet or who are still on break in period....my old E90 M3 launch control was a fairly long process to engage and on the 6 or 7 times I used it ( yes I did it correctly!) it always resulted in a snakey slide down the road going nowhere very fast. I tried it on different surfaces but never adjusted the rpm via the cruise control due to the difficulties with my car being right hand drive ( cruise stalk on left where my left hand was already holding the shifter forward)

Anyway, tonight I tried LC on the F80 for the first time. Very simple and quick to engage- DSC fully off, S3 on DCT,left foot on brake, floor the throttle.

The flag appears and then release the brake....I was waiting for the smokey slide but it didn't come. The tyres chirped slightly and the car gripped and launched forward like a scalded ape the car accelerates and changes gear by itself until you intervene.

Was not expecting it to be this good after my E90 experience and reading about the traction issues some are experiencing. There was good grip off the line, very good. I tried it again and achieved the same result, great launch good traction.

I then tried giving it 3/4 throttle in first from a standstill with no LC activated just DSC off- inevitable poor grip and sliding ensued.

Well done BMW, quick to set up and it works!

Good to hear

Traction control in our Modified E92 is even more of a pain. The poor Pilot super sports don't know what hit them.

[MWcoupe]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

DCT needs to be set at S3 and DSC has to be off to engage LC.

As long as LC mode is active, it will upshift automatically. You need to keep your right foor planted to the floor with the kickdown button engaged. If you lift ever so slightly as to dissengage the kickdown button, LC will dissengage and the engine will bounce off the limiter.

I know for sure it shift to 2nd automatically. What about 3rd/4th gear etc?

[ss134]

Originally Posted by MWcoupe

I know for sure it shift to 2nd automatically. What about 3rd/4th gear etc?

As long as you keep the throttle fully pinned to the floor, don't brake or attempt to change gear yourself it will keep changing gear for you until you hit top speed. As soon as you lift off the throttle, change gear or brake LC will deactivate.

[sergkoko]

For those individuals whose LC is not working, are you sure your service tech reset the first service ticker correctly at 1200 miles? LC is not functional until they reset first service timer at the dealer. Just an idea.