[x5mad]

F30 328.

Activated it for the first time yesterday after previous failed attempts.

I was expecting to feel maximum thrust but instead was so underwhelmed by the acceleration. Of course this is butt dyno.

When say I'm in 3rd gear at 4k revs and punch it, the acceleration feels very nice. Not fast but is quick and definitely noticeable.

Anyone else have similar thoughts or experiences? I was expecting that this would give you the maximum thrust the car can manage. Very disappointed

[petro]

I agree, I tried it for the first time recently after break in period on a nice empty straight country road. It was a cool procedure, but it certainly didn't feel any better than punching it from the line. The improvements are probably more noticeable on surfaces with less grip or inclement conditions.

I also did it 'wrong' twice before that and spun some rubber and nothing else...

[FC4]

Disappointment (with anything) is purely measured from expectation. People need to realize that "launch control" for these cars is merely brake torquing.

[300hp]

I was actually surprised with my results. The car felt faster than I expected. Is yours rwd or xdrive? Maybe xdrive is easier to launch

[xG35c]

I've tried it once (seems very abusive to the drivetrain) no "launch flag" but I got an impressive 20' burnout for a 2.0l! I think I released the brakes too soon out of mechanical sympathy - how soon after flooring the accelerator do you see the flag?

[300hp]

Originally Posted by xG35c

I've tried it once (seems very abusive to the drivetrain) no "launch flag" but I got an impressive 20' burnout for a 2.0l! I think I released the brakes too soon out of mechanical sympathy - how soon after flooring the accelerator do you see the flag?

Drive at least 6 miles
Make sure you press the accelerator beyond the point of resistance, you should get a click sound.

Those are the common mistakes I made and after correcting that I got the flag. No flag no launch control.

The flag comes up immediately after you go past that point of resistance

[x5mad]

Mine is rwd and the flag came up within a second.

I was expecting the feeling you would get if you were say driving along and then punched it using kickdown.

When I released the brakes it was like I was using 50% of the pedal travel and then just slowly increasing the pedal travel to 100% if that makes sense.

[x5mad]

Originally Posted by FC4

Disappointment (with anything) is purely measured from expectation. People need to realize that "launch control" for these cars is merely brake torquing.

Not true.

It supposedly uses information from various sensors to give you the best traction and maximum acceleration.

[munch520]

You really have to floor the brake. That was my mistake during my first few failed attempts

[Falafel Combo]

Launch control is no more than a marketing gimmick. Nothing more, nothing less.


Your miles may vary.

[stormlv]

Are there any tests between LC and simple torque braking to see the differences?

I'd love to see some results instead of simple statements...

[Halsifer]

Originally Posted by 300hp

I was actually surprised with my results. The car felt faster than I expected. Is yours rwd or xdrive? Maybe xdrive is easier to launch

I totally agree. (We both have 335i xDrives, so it makes sense.)

xDrive is better with Launch Control in my opinion. You get 4-points of traction versus 2-points. Sure, it may not lay rubber like RWD BMWs, but boy will it kick your head back.

I also personally love Launch Control because even though it is brake torquing, Launch Control shifts very aggressively in my opinion. Every shift it's thrusts forward. Whenever I have shown someone launch control, they feel a difference in comparison to just punching it off a line.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by x5mad

Not true.

It supposedly uses information from various sensors to give you the best traction and maximum acceleration.

Really? And the standard traction control doesn't do that already?

Good to know that you need to enable "launch control" in order to trigger information from "various sensors to give you the best traction."

[335i_4D]

Liked the result on my RWD.

But LC doesn't add 30WHP...

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Halsifer

I totally agree. (We both have 335i xDrives, so it makes sense.)

xDrive is better with Launch Control in my opinion. You get 4-points of traction versus 2-points. Sure, it may not lay rubber like RWD BMWs, but boy will it kick your head back.

I also personally love Launch Control because even though it is brake torquing, Launch Control shifts very aggressively in my opinion. Every shift it's thrusts forward. Whenever I have shown someone launch control, they feel a difference in comparison to just punching it off a line.

Agreed, the shifts are much harder than without launch control.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by FC4

Really? And the standard traction control doesn't do that already?

No it doesn't. LC runs different maps, used the same collected info but applies it differently. Allows more tire slippage without totally killing the throttle.

Personally I don't use it, even on the DCT which has no torque converter to torque brake with, but it does work differently than pure torque braking.

Be interesting to know what the launch RPM is torque braking vs LC.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

No it doesn't. LC runs different maps, used the same collected info but applies it differently. Allows more tire slippage without totally killing the throttle.

Personally I don't use it, even on the DCT which has no torque converter to torque brake with, but it does work differently than pure torque braking.

Be interesting to know what the launch RPM is torque braking vs LC.

I've seen no evidence of this.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

No it doesn't. LC runs different maps, used the same collected info but applies it differently. Allows more tire slippage without totally killing the throttle.

Personally I don't use it, even on the DCT which has no torque converter to torque brake with, but it does work differently than pure torque braking.

Be interesting to know what the launch RPM is torque braking vs LC.

This makes sense to me. After all launch control is all about getting the quickest acceleration so it makes sense that there is a separate program written to achieve this as part of the launch control menu.

[fecurtis]

Do people really think launch control would magically give you this ultimate surge of power that was previously unavailable if you tried doing it yourself?

[drob23]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Do people really think launch control would magically give you this ultimate surge of power that was previously unavailable if you tried doing it yourself?

I always thought for traction limited cars (high power front mounted engine/rear wheel drive), LC was a middle stage between ESC throttle cut-off and burn outs. So yes, I would assume this is something where the wheel speed encoders can ever so slightly cut throttle to maintain max traction without letting you do a burn out.

For an x-drive it seems pointless IMO. It makes sense on a manual or double clutch trans also.

[34.50]

Originally Posted by FC4

I've seen no evidence of this.

I think people who are praising LC here are making it out to be more than it actually is...

[FC4]

Originally Posted by 34.50

I think people who are praising LC here are making it out to be more than it actually is...

Agreed.

Nothing against launch control, and frankly that's a foolish thing to talk against. But some people are so enamored by it, they'll believe you if you tell them unicorn farts are released onto the tires during launch control aiding traction.

There's nothing indicating the traction control mapping is any different than standard. You're purely brake torquing the car with the traction control on, and when the car notices you doing that, it displays "launch control." If it actually was a different traction control setting, there's no reason why it's not offered on the manual.

Launching the car on the torque converter, while not destructive, isn't necessarily good. There's a reason why the owner's manual goes through lengths to outline specific protocol on it.