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      05-19-2014, 05:06 PM   #1
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Launch control - what have I done wrong??

On a lovely Sunday afternoon on my way back home from a weekend trip I decided to try a Launch control. Parked my car in a bay with the engine running, read the manual, went step by step and...........
something went wrong. I held my left foot on brake and then pressed acc to the bottom and to my surprise the car started running even with my foot on brake. So I released it immediately. I was so surprised, that I did not even see if the flag appeared on display. Transmission was on sport and driving mode was sport +.
What have I done wrong?
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      05-19-2014, 05:14 PM   #2
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Manual mode?
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      05-19-2014, 05:30 PM   #3
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handbook says - engage gearbox position S - and that was what I did.
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      05-19-2014, 05:32 PM   #4
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Did you turn the traction off?
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      05-19-2014, 05:52 PM   #5
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I tried LC for the first time yesterday. A long lay-by beside a national speed limit A road was my choice. Worked a treat - astonishing acceleration to 70mph (approx 6 seconds) with awesome traction and absolutely no wheel spin.

Anyway, here's a few tips to get LC working -

1) Engine needs to be warm (>75C should do it);
2) Stop car (handbrake off!) and enter Sport+ mode;
3) Put left foot hard on brake pedal (like emergency braking) and hold it down;
4) Push auto transmission lever to the left to enter sport/manual mode;
5) Push the accelerator pedal to the floor with right foot (chequered flag appears after a second on the right hand side of the black panel display);
6) Take left foot off the brake pedal whilst keeping right foot 'floored';
7) Say hello to 60mph in less than 5 seconds!

I suspect those who haven't managed to trigger LC haven't quite followed one or more of steps 1, 3 or 5 above.
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      05-19-2014, 07:15 PM   #6
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it was on a long run so temperature was about 100C. I put my left foot on brake ...and I think it was maybe not hard enough. But I floored the accelerator pedal and the car started at the same time with my left foot on brake!!! It was on Sport + which turns the traction off. I will try with pushing brake pedal very hard again.
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      05-20-2014, 12:29 AM   #7
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sorry may sound like a daft question but is LC standard on a m sport??
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      05-20-2014, 02:52 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefy1983 View Post
sorry may sound like a daft question but is LC standard on a m sport??
It comes with the 8 speed sports auto box, does not depend on trim level.
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      05-20-2014, 02:58 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brigand View Post
It comes with the 8 speed sports auto box, does not depend on trim level.
I think only 2014 models have it?
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      05-20-2014, 03:00 AM   #10
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Thanks will test it when I get back from offshore.
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      05-20-2014, 03:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by piono
On a lovely Sunday afternoon on my way back home from a weekend trip I decided to try a Launch control. Parked my car in a bay with the engine running, read the manual, went step by step and...........
something went wrong. I held my left foot on brake and then pressed acc to the bottom and to my surprise the car started running even with my foot on brake. So I released it immediately. I was so surprised, that I did not even see if the flag appeared on display. Transmission was on sport and driving mode was sport +.
What have I done wrong?
Provided you have the sport auto box, you probably didn't push the brake in hard enough. Also, will only activate after a 10km uninterrupted drive.
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      05-20-2014, 03:47 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ads4 View Post
I think only 2014 models have it?
Yep, I have Sport Auto but my MY12 doesn't have LC (not that I ever think I'd need it)
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      05-20-2014, 06:50 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brommy View Post
I tried LC for the first time yesterday. A long lay-by beside a national speed limit A road was my choice. Worked a treat - astonishing acceleration to 70mph (approx 6 seconds) with awesome traction and absolutely no wheel spin.

Anyway, here's a few tips to get LC working -

1) Engine needs to be warm (>75C should do it);
2) Stop car (handbrake off!) and enter Sport+ mode;
3) Put left foot hard on brake pedal (like emergency braking) and hold it down;
4) Push auto transmission lever to the left to enter sport/manual mode;
5) Push the accelerator pedal to the floor with right foot (chequered flag appears after a second on the right hand side of the black panel display);
6) Take left foot off the brake pedal whilst keeping right foot 'floored';
7) Say hello to 60mph in less than 5 seconds!

I suspect those who haven't managed to trigger LC haven't quite followed one or more of steps 1, 3 or 5 above.

Daft question, but do you have to shift gears yourself?
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      05-20-2014, 08:28 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nordberg View Post
Daft question, but do you have to shift gears yourself?
No, the box shifts automatically and rather quickly!
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      05-20-2014, 08:59 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nordberg View Post
Daft question, but do you have to shift gears yourself?
Only with the manual ......

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      05-20-2014, 01:37 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobUK View Post
Yep, I have Sport Auto but my MY12 doesn't have LC (not that I ever think I'd need it)
Take it from someone that has it. It's all a load of hype.
A skilled enough driver can achieve the same result without using it.

I've used it three times in the 7 months I have had my car.
The first time was just to try it out.
The second time was shortly after the first time because after looking so forward to using it, once I'd actually done it all I could think was "is that it?" So just to make sure I had to do another one.
The third time was just recently to show someone what a load of overhype it actually is.

Unless you are using LC in something over 400bhp it's a bit pointless.
Have used it in two different F10 M5s and in about half a dozen E60 and E63 M's. They are cars where LC actually makes a difference and you can feel the benefits of it. In our cars I think BMW have used it as a marketing tool. It's there for the sake of being there.
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      05-20-2014, 01:45 PM   #17
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It does work on 2012+ models. Watch the video below from 1:12:

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      05-20-2014, 01:50 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vip View Post
It does work on 2012+ models. Watch the video below from 1:12:

So it works on 2012 UK spec cars?
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      05-20-2014, 01:54 PM   #19
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launch control is only really of any use to cars with like 400 plus bhp, esp 4wd cars

having launch controlled a nissan gtr, that thing can really go
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      05-20-2014, 02:05 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F30Andy View Post
Take it from someone that has it. It's all a load of hype.
Unless you are using LC in something over 400bhp it's a bit pointless.
Have used it in two different F10 M5s and in about half a dozen E60 and E63 M's. They are cars where LC actually makes a difference and you can feel the benefits of it. In our cars I think BMW have used it as a marketing tool. It's there for the sake of being there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jusdorange View Post
launch control is only really of any use to cars with like 400 plus bhp, esp 4wd cars
Guys, I don't think anyone is claiming LC has a use; it is, as Rob Brydon would say, 'Just a bit of fun'.
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      05-20-2014, 02:28 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brigand View Post
So it works on 2012 UK spec cars?
not sure, maybe only 335i models.
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      05-20-2014, 02:34 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vip View Post
not sure, maybe only 335i models.

All model year 2014 onwards with the 8 speed.
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