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

[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!

[volkl23]

What RPM does it hold it at? Is that adjustable? Good to hear that it's so easy to do!

[ss134]

Originally Posted by volkl23

What RPM does it hold it at? Is that adjustable? Good to hear that it's so easy to do!

I didn't look to be honest- didn't seem as high as E90 M3 but this would make sense due to the torque. Also didn't try adjusting as it was perfect in the default rpms. It can be adjusted though , I believe it's the scroller on the steering wheel which is used to adjust the rpms so should be even easier.

[AMPowerJ]

I tried LC one time in my E92 but I will couch the following comment by saying it was after it was supercharged. With that being said, it was a white knuckle moment ... I was on the drag strip and the entire back end tried to out run the front ... back and forth ... tank slapper down the track. Never tried it again.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

I tried LC one time in my E92 but I will couch the following comment by saying it was after it was supercharged. With that being said, it was a white knuckle moment ... I was on the drag strip and the entire back end tried to out run the front ... back and forth ... tank slapper down the track. Never tried it again.

That is what I experienced in my stock E90 too- probably not quite as bad as yours but not far off. I was on a fairly narrow road with ditches either side too! My passenger was squeaking out some expletives in a high pitched voice which added to the moment!!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by ss134

That is what I experienced in my stock E90 too- probably not quite as bad as yours but not far off. I was on a fairly narrow road with ditches either side too! My passenger was squeaking out some expletives in a high pitched voice which added to the moment!!

i've never tried it in my e93 because, in general, that's not what e93s are for.

I suspected the oh-shit moment above would happen so I've stayed away from that feature. Basically I don't feel qualified to turn off DSC. Now MDM? That I pretty much have on all of the time (I'm not coded for euro MDM).

What I'm curious about is a "safe" launch control as I feel like I have with MDM - I have a DCT and basically I can just go kickdown in first gear and I get a fast launch with some tire slip but not enough to call tires plus.

Any advice on that front? Have you tried MDM foot-to-the-floor launches?

[redfox]

Originally Posted by volkl23

What RPM does it hold it at? Is that adjustable? Good to hear that it's so easy to do!

3000 RPM

[Suave]

Would like to see a launch control video that looks at the road with HUD in M mode rather than the dash only view. Surprised no takers yet. I get my car back in about week from ED Redelivery so maybe I will have to take this on myself.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

i've never tried it in my e93 because, in general, that's not what e93s are for.

I highly recommend you try it. The same argument says you should drive a 328i convertible, so if you've made it as far as going with the M, you should use its features. I used LC a number of times on the way home from my original service and plenty of tunes since and had a total blast with it. The car is very easy to control, don't worry about that. I suspect the extra 400 lbs. has something to do with it.

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I highly recommend you try it. The same argument says you should drive a 328i convertible, so if you've made it as far as going with the M, you should use its features. I used LC a number of times on the way home from my original service and plenty of tunes since and had a total blast with it. The car is very easy to control, don't worry about that. I suspect the extra 400 lbs. has something to do with it.

Exactly my experience with E93 - when the system actually worked - it worked great!! (In other words - the system itself is just as finicky with E93 as with E90/E92 - but when it does work - probably works much better with the E93's extra weight over rear tires - I never had traction issues with E93 on Launch Control when the system was actually functioning and it was totally awesome...

Glad to hear works more consistently on current generation (even without extra weight of convertible - I'm getting sedan this time - kids getting too big)!!

[ss134]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

i've never tried it in my e93 because, in general, that's not what e93s are for.

I suspected the oh-shit moment above would happen so I've stayed away from that feature. Basically I don't feel qualified to turn off DSC. Now MDM? That I pretty much have on all of the time (I'm not coded for euro MDM).

What I'm curious about is a "safe" launch control as I feel like I have with MDM - I have a DCT and basically I can just go kickdown in first gear and I get a fast launch with some tire slip but not enough to call tires plus.

Any advice on that front? Have you tried MDM foot-to-the-floor launches?

Not tried launching in MDM because LC is just so good. Seriously, it chirped for a split second in first and took off, didn't even spin the tyres in second. Car stayed straight and true - no rear sliding at all. Try it on a good dry surface and you will be fine!

Edit: just noticed you've got E93, would definitely try it though just use a wide road if you don't feel comfortable.

[TurboSid]

I'm glad they have adjustable LC. In my old 335is as soon as I slapped on a tune the LC was worthless. just spun at the line

[Alpinef82]

Post video still can't get mine to work

[HustlerX5]

I just tried it yesterday in my F82, 3 times since I just got it back from the break in service. It was TERRIBLE!! every single time tire slipping like crazy. Once it even slipped all the way into third gear lol. Also the LC does the first shift for you automatically and I found that sometimes it short shifts ridiculously low, don't see how that could benefit the launch more than driver input at all. I find a better result letting the car roll forward about a foot or so and smashing the accelerator. WAY less tire spin. Then again I didn't "warm" up the tires as one probably should before doing so at a drag strip, but either way my experience sucked. I will try again a few more times and report back lol.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by HustlerX5

I just tried it yesterday in my F82, 3 times since I just got it back from the break in service. It was TERRIBLE!! every single time tire slipping like crazy. Once it even slipped all the way into third gear lol. Also the LC does the first shift for you automatically and I found that sometimes it short shifts ridiculously low, don't see how that could benefit the launch more than driver input at all. I find a better result letting the car roll forward about a foot or so and smashing the accelerator. WAY less tire spin. Then again I didn't "warm" up the tires as one probably should before doing so at a drag strip, but either way my experience sucked. I will try again a few more times and report back lol.

Totally different to what I experienced- maybe you initiated the 'smokey burnout' feature?! Trust me on this- if you get it right there is no way you are launching faster than LC, I tried it again last night and same result, catapulted off the line. Checked my tyre marks where I'd launched from afterwards and they were only around a meter long.

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.

As for the short shifting, the car shifts at the optimum points for fastest acceleration and in this car in most gears that is not redline.

Hopefully you'll have a better experience on your next attempt, what was the surface like that you tried it on and what rpm did it hold before you took your foot off the brake?

[swamp2]

Indeed LC on the E9X cars is pretty bad. It seems to be calibrated only for extremely high gip scenarios. Glad to hear it is improved. Give it a try on different surfaces at different temperatures to really put it through it paces and report back again.

[Alpinef82]

What if I want to launch at the drag strip .... How would this work if you need to drive 6 miles to make it start working? Is there a faster way or short cut ?

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Alpinef82

What if I want to launch at the drag strip .... How would this work if you need to drive 6 miles to make it start working? Is there a faster way or short cut ?

I tried launching again after a few minutes but the car wouldn't allow it- there's got to be 6 miles driven between launches to protect the transmission I assume.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by ss134

I tried launching again after a few minutes but the car wouldn't allow it- there's got to be 6 miles driven between launches to protect the transmission I assume.

Sigh...

Meanwhile, a Porsche 911 Turbo S can be launched 50 times in a row with no problem.

[SocalBM]

And cost $200,000. Great comparison.

[Alpinef82]

Haha ... Lol. I wonder if the Nintendo cheat codes work ...
Go to Time Trial or 2P Match Race, put the cursor on Mushroom Cup and press: L,R,L,R,L,L,R,R,A. If you haven't unlocked Special Cup already, it'll be available now.

Or
Speed Boost
This speed boost can occur at the beginning of a race. When the three lights begin to count down, if you press the Acceleration button just before the second light lights up, and you hold it until the race starts, you get a boost of speed. If this speed boost is timed and positioned right, it can easily put you in first place right from the start.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by Alpinef82

Haha ... Lol. I wonder if the Nintendo cheat codes work ...
Go to Time Trial or 2P Match Race, put the cursor on Mushroom Cup and press: L,R,L,R,L,L,R,R,A. If you haven't unlocked Special Cup already, it'll be available now.

Or
Speed Boost
This speed boost can occur at the beginning of a race. When the three lights begin to count down, if you press the Acceleration button just before the second light lights up, and you hold it until the race starts, you get a boost of speed. If this speed boost is timed and positioned right, it can easily put you in first place right from the start.

Nerds. Love 'em.

[Disclaimer: Mostly, I am just bummed I did not make this joke first.]