335d M Sport Xdrive Launch Control

[Noblebenn]

How do I engage Launch Control?

Tried the suggested route I have seen on another forum but no joy. Quite interested to see if its any good!

Thanks

[Osinjak]

Sport+
Gearstick left
Left foot hard on brake
Mash throttle to floor
Wait for chequered flag on dash
Release brake
Clench hoop
Chuckle

Edited by Osinjak on Wednesday 7th December 17:51

[ninjag]

Osinjak said:

Clench hoop

Lol

[Dez335]

So the new dual clutch can take this hammer?? or in a few thousands miles its going to break???

I love how fast they are but doing this repeatedly will cause damage ???

I have older 335d and only way is to brake boost it and this will destroy the torque converter!!!

[Bicronical]

My understanding is that any late(ish) model BMW with sports auto has launch control although not every BMW manual seems to highlight it.

After discovering this in a 66 plate M140 (the detail was in the manual), I tried it on my wife's 65 reg. 50d X5 and yep, same setup and same result (flag comes up for launch control etc..)

The interesting thing is I did it once 'successfully' and then tried twice more immediately after the first attempt and it wouldn't work... all it did was let the revs ride up against the brake/clutch (I'm assuming there is a forced timeout of some kind... the manual 'advises' 5 minutes)

I put the X5 in the garage and that night it was clear there was something that had burnt up.. and for two days following my wife reported a burning smell in the cabin at first start up.

So, I guess I did the damage with the two follow up 'launches' and with the torque of the 50d (I think it is in the similar region to an M5) the clutch was very unhappy.... given the burning smell I can't but help wonder what long term damage has been done...

The BMW manual states that you should limit it's use as "this function represents a very heavy load on the vehicle". From memory the F10 M5 manual states that you should wait 1,000 miles between launches..

The only car's I know of that you can use the launch control repeatedly and not invalidate your warranty (although nowhere in the BMW manual does it state that abuse invalidates your warranty) are Porsche but the clutch /gearbox setup has been designed for this (a wet clutch... whatever that is...). The guys at Silverstone Porsche driving centre run 911's that have launch control used 3-10 times each day and about a 1,000 times in the short life that they have them. I used it a bunch of times in a 911 Turbo I had but to be honest I did it for fun for myself, my son and friends and then stopped using it as a) it's mechanically insensitive and b) the difference in set off is marginal in real world stats.

So, after my recent BMW X5 experience, I would have a go but if you want to keep the car, limit its use as I believe the standard sports box (and maybe the same for DCT M cars) provides the software for launch but no special components to take the abuse.

[aeropilot]

Dez335 said:

So the new dual clutch can take this hammer??

It's not a dual-clutch, its the ZF 8-speed torque converter auto.

[mike150]

Bicronical said:

My understanding is that any late(ish) model BMW with sports auto has launch control although not every BMW manual seems to highlight it.

After discovering this in a 66 plate M140 (the detail was in the manual), I tried it on my wife's 65 reg. 50d X5 and yep, same setup and same result (flag comes up for launch control etc..)

The interesting thing is I did it once 'successfully' and then tried twice more immediately after the first attempt and it wouldn't work... all it did was let the revs ride up against the brake/clutch (I'm assuming there is a forced timeout of some kind... the manual 'advises' 5 minutes)

I put the X5 in the garage and that night it was clear there was something that had burnt up.. and for two days following my wife reported a burning smell in the cabin at first start up.

So, I guess I did the damage with the two follow up 'launches' and with the torque of the 50d (I think it is in the similar region to an M5) the clutch was very unhappy.... given the burning smell I can't but help wonder what long term damage has been done...

The BMW manual states that you should limit it's use as "this function represents a very heavy load on the vehicle". From memory the F10 M5 manual states that you should wait 1,000 miles between launches..

The only car's I know of that you can use the launch control repeatedly and not invalidate your warranty (although nowhere in the BMW manual does it state that abuse invalidates your warranty) are Porsche but the clutch /gearbox setup has been designed for this (a wet clutch... whatever that is...). The guys at Silverstone Porsche driving centre run 911's that have launch control used 3-10 times each day and about a 1,000 times in the short life that they have them. I used it a bunch of times in a 911 Turbo I had but to be honest I did it for fun for myself, my son and friends and then stopped using it as a) it's mechanically insensitive and b) the difference in set off is marginal in real world stats.

So, after my recent BMW X5 experience, I would have a go but if you want to keep the car, limit its use as I believe the standard sports box (and maybe the same for DCT M cars) provides the software for launch but no special components to take the abuse.

I think it says in the handbook not to use launch control until all temperatures are at normal and after using the launch control not to use it again for 5 minutes to allow the transmission to cool down......................you didn't wait at all hence your burning smell!

[Theophany]

I'm sure I'm not the only person who would think twice about buying a second hand car with launch control. Even more so having read some of the replies to this topic.

Jesus fking Christ, learn some throttle control or at least limit using such systems to rental cars and track mules.

[xjay1337]

From memory, as a friends Dad has one.

The engine has to be up to temp, the car must have been driven for 5 miles before the launch control is used.

It's weird, it sort if holds it and the back of the car squats and then it fires you off.

[thatsprettyshady]

Even more comical is that my 320d has this feature, for when you reaaaaaaly need to get to the meeting on time.

[Bicronical]

Theophany said:

I'm sure I'm not the only person who would think twice about buying a second hand car with launch control. Even more so having read some of the replies to this topic.

Jesus fking Christ, learn some throttle control or at least limit using such systems to rental cars and track mules.

What's the point in having a car with launch control and not using it.
Next we will be recommending never going to the redline...

[Theophany]

Bicronical said:

What's the point in having a car with launch control and not using it.
Next we will be recommending never going to the redline...

You're being argumentative for the sake of it, right? An AWD car and you're so hopelessly bloody inept you need launch control to get it moving off the line? Goodness gracious. It's a pedal, not a button.

I mean, fair enough if we're talking a Dodge Hellcat or Ferrari 550, but a four wheel drive diesel... I despair.

So, counterpoint, what's the point in having a car and no fking idea how to drive properly?

Edited by Theophany on Thursday 8th December 21:21

[Osinjak]

Lighten up Betsy.

[Bicronical]

Theophany said:

You're being argumentative for the sake of it, right? An AWD car and you're so hopelessly bloody inept you need launch control to get it moving off the line? Goodness gracious. It's a pedal, not a button.

I mean, fair enough if we're talking a Dodge Hellcat or Ferrari 550, but a four wheel drive diesel... I despair.

So, counterpoint, what's the point in having a car and no fking idea how to drive properly?

Edited by Theophany on Thursday 8th December 21:21

Hey you started it fella. You generalised about the use of launch control, you didn't state that it was pointless on a diesel truck with 4x4 which I absolutely agree with you).

In the last four cars I've had (997.2 C4S, 997.2 Turbo, F10 M5 and M140 - (current)) I have used launch control once in the 911 T to see what that fuss was about, and didn't bother again as for me the joy of driving isnt about using launch control and the difference was marginal in real world figures.

I tried it in the wifes X5 as I was told that all BMW sports autos have launch control.

So back to my, point, if they have launch control and you want to use it, you should be able to.

[VerySideways]

We have a pair of M235i's for work, and have (more than once) put them side by side and engaged launch control in one and not the other, and there's more difference in reaction time than there is between using launch control and not.
Using the launch control certainly doesn't guarantee the best start, and i'd refrain from using it simply from a mechanical sympathy perspective.

If you want to do launch control starts every time you leave the line, buy a Tesla Model S

[paulwirral]

I've got it on my 340i touring although in 12000 miles and a year I've never bothered with it , but I have bought it and will be keeping it another 5 years minimum , it does say in the manual about increased wear and tear but also says an experienced driver may be able to better the launch . I used it in a 330d hire car once a didn't see what the big deal was .

[Noblebenn]

Tried it for the first time and quite undramatic but it does make progress down the road. Bit pointless really unless you were on a drag strip!

[vulture1]

So how does an experienced driver launch the car better than launch control?