Any1 know how to use the Launch Control?

JJ_Wonderboy · 05-25-2009, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aheinz_71

You know that on bmwusa.com in the owner's section there is a pdf version of the manual available for download.

Just thought you'd like to know

I don't need the online one as I have the real thing in my car.

Still, for those interested in knowing such info then, yeah, going to the online manual is probably a good starting point.

E89.35i · 05-25-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_Wonderboy

Here's the section from the manual...

i c, thx

when u get chance to test 0-60mph, let us know in advance. hehe
C&D has tested both DCT and manual Z4 35i, both recoreded at 4.8sec. DCT didnt use launch control. So i think it could do better, at least 4.7sec with launch control. i say 4.6sec, the number i have estimated long time ago.

btw having fun with ur new Z4.

mrboon · 11-11-2009, 11:39 PM

I just tried to use it for the first time on my e89 DTC 35sdrive Z4. But it did not work

I have done 2300KM so far (i think that is enough to break the runin period), and i had warmed the engine up for about 1h of motorway driving.

I did all the steps mentioned, but the engine wouldn't rev over 1000 RPM. No flag appear. I held it only at 1000RPM for a few seconds because i felt the car wanted to drive, and i was stopping it with the break.

Putting the car in manual, that means shifting the gear shift to the left right? In S/M mode.

Vintage · 11-12-2009, 08:58 AM

almost at 1,000 miles and looking forward to trying it once or twice

JeF4y · 11-13-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godius

Putting the car in manual, that means shifting the gear shift to the left right? In S/M mode.

Slide the gearshift to the left AND then press it forward to go into M1. Even if it says it's in manual and M1, do it anyway...

MilitaryE89 · 11-13-2009, 02:46 PM

aww, just do it the old fashioned way...get a manual trans, rev it up then let it drop a little and dump the clutch and floor it...much more satisfying and 60% of the time it works every time!! (movie quote...no im not an idiot...just an infrequent idiot lol)

mrboon · 11-14-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeF4y

Slide the gearshift to the left AND then press it forward to go into M1. Even if it says it's in manual and M1, do it anyway...

Thanks, ill try that when i get my car back from BMW next week.

dcs2k · 11-23-2009, 10:11 AM

heres a clip of me with launch control activated.

mrboon · 11-24-2009, 09:42 AM

Mine still does not work, i get no flag. Im pretty sure im doing it correctly. Engine always hot, ive done over 3500KM now. Does the BMW dealer need to unlock this feature for me?

At how many RPM did the flag appear?

rasputin · 04-27-2010, 06:33 AM

Check this out:

Vintage · 04-27-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godius

Mine still does not work, i get no flag. Im pretty sure im doing it correctly. Engine always hot, ive done over 3500KM now. Does the BMW dealer need to unlock this feature for me?

At how many RPM did the flag appear?

my mistake the first two times I tried was not putting it in Manual mode - make sure the DCT is "left" in the sportier shift mode and that you THEN click it into MANUAL - or no launch control. just a thought as to your troubles because I had this issue

zeez_Dubai · 04-27-2010, 10:21 AM

ok guys its simple, but ive heard that US specs disable the launch control.
steps as i tried them and they worked easy.

1- warm up the car for sometime, make sure you finished the test period ( new cars )
2- stop completely.
3- put the car in SPORT PLUS MODE
4- Push the gear to the left ( it will go in sport mode ) push it forward to go in manual mode ( make sure it says M1 in dashboard )
5- Depress fully the brake with your left foot.
6- Step fully on the accelerator with the right foot.

ok what will happen is that for a fraction of a second second it will feel like that brake is holding the car from moving but then it will sort of feel like it went in neutral and the RPM will go up to around 4K ( i assume this is when the car knows you want to do a launch control ) and you will see a checkered Flag on the dashboard. thats when you let go of the brakes and keep your foot to the floor..

Memphis1 · 04-27-2010, 10:30 AM

it works in the US... some members might not be using the LC with a warm car or missing a step, i'll try to make a vid.

mcbeee · 06-14-2010, 06:44 PM

Hadn't tried it yet so played around a bit at home with a warm car. Followed the instructions in the manual and :

Put in sport+, switched to manual mode, selected M1.
pressed hard on brake (driveway isn't very long...)
Stepped on gas - went to 1500rpm and dropped back
Stepped hard on gas, rpm hit 4000 and flag came up on dash.
Let off gas a little and flag disappeared and rpm dropped.
Stepped hard on gas - rpm went up and flag showed up.

Some of the members may have been having problems with the launch control for a couple of reasons. (IMHO)

1. Select M1, don't assume it knows.
2. Press hard on gas pedal and keep it there. Trepidation will cause a fail...

and don't take your foot off the brake if you have a brick wall in front of you. ( I was being VERY careful)

Koenig · 08-12-2010, 04:20 PM

Same thing happened to me at 1st - to use launch control, you need to select M1 by pushing the gear lever forward or using one of the paddles before you depress the accelerator - then it will work!

Dr Stig 2 · 08-12-2010, 04:28 PM

And when it works, you get a lot of tyre smoke and a small increase in the acceleration.

But, given the time it takes to set it up (warm up driving & button pressing), I seriously question the advantage in the real world.
Drag racing maybe, but certainly not for anything else...
Its just a party trick in my book.

Memphis1 · 08-12-2010, 04:31 PM

^^ party pooper

Dr Stig 2 · 08-12-2010, 04:38 PM

I'm not saying its not fun, but it is just a party trick...

cdeslandes · 08-12-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sg-e89

heres a clip of me with launch control activated.

Damn! I noticed you cut out the part at the end when the police pulled you over.

Better not do this too often, reserve it for when some young punk in an Evo needs to learn a lesson...

Of course I have the other kind of launch control in my Z4, it's called my left foot.

mcbeee · 08-12-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aheinz_71

You know that on bmwusa.com in the owner's section there is a pdf version of the manual available for download.

Just thought you'd like to know

X2

I did the launch a couple of days ago, works like a charm.

After the break in period, and after driving for ten km or so:

Put it in Sport +, put shifter in manual mode and select M1,
Step on brake, step on gas to the FLOOR and hold it there. Revs go up to 4k and checkered flag appears ....release brake and keep gas foot on floor. Car will take off like a scalded cat....if you even reduce pressure on gas pedal the car goes back to normal control .
I 've tried it twice, works fine. I have 14000km on mine.....so way past the break-in period.

mcbeee · 08-12-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

And when it works, you get a lot of tyre smoke and a small increase in the acceleration.

But, given the time it takes to set it up (warm up driving & button pressing), I seriously question the advantage in the real world.
Drag racing maybe, but certainly not for anything else...
Its just a party trick in my book.

I must disagree, it only takes about 1.5 secs to hit the sport + and kick it into M1, easy enough to do at any stoplight.... it is just a neat party trick though....

ttuner · 08-12-2010, 06:15 PM

1. buy a real manual
2. put it in 1st gear
3. rev engine
4. drop the clutch

problem solved! lol.

11-11-2009, 11:39 PM	#25
mrboon Lieutenant 76 Rep 561 Posts Drives: Speeeed Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: *** iTrader: (0)	I just tried to use it for the first time on my e89 DTC 35sdrive Z4. But it did not work I have done 2300KM so far (i think that is enough to break the runin period), and i had warmed the engine up for about 1h of motorway driving. I did all the steps mentioned, but the engine wouldn't rev over 1000 RPM. No flag appear. I held it only at 1000RPM for a few seconds because i felt the car wanted to drive, and i was stopping it with the break. Putting the car in manual, that means shifting the gear shift to the left right? In S/M mode.
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11-12-2009, 08:58 AM	#26
Vintage Colonel 378 Rep 2,588 Posts Drives: BMW G80 (MT), 718 Spyder Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	almost at 1,000 miles and looking forward to trying it once or twice
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11-13-2009, 02:46 PM	#28
MilitaryE89 Private First Class 7 Rep 188 Posts Drives: 2008 328i, 2009 sDrive30i Join Date: May 2009 Location: APO, AE iTrader: (0)	aww, just do it the old fashioned way...get a manual trans, rev it up then let it drop a little and dump the clutch and floor it...much more satisfying and 60% of the time it works every time!! (movie quote...no im not an idiot...just an infrequent idiot lol)
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11-23-2009, 10:11 AM	#30
dcs2k Lieutenant 55 Rep 438 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Singapore iTrader: (0)	heres a clip of me with launch control activated.
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11-24-2009, 09:42 AM	#31
mrboon Lieutenant 76 Rep 561 Posts Drives: Speeeed Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: *** iTrader: (0)	Mine still does not work, i get no flag. Im pretty sure im doing it correctly. Engine always hot, ive done over 3500KM now. Does the BMW dealer need to unlock this feature for me? At how many RPM did the flag appear?
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04-27-2010, 06:33 AM	#32
rasputin Private 8 Rep 80 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Check this out:
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04-27-2010, 10:21 AM	#34
zeez_Dubai Private 13 Rep 86 Posts Drives: Orion Silver Bmw Z4 35i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	ok guys its simple, but ive heard that US specs disable the launch control. steps as i tried them and they worked easy. 1- warm up the car for sometime, make sure you finished the test period ( new cars ) 2- stop completely. 3- put the car in SPORT PLUS MODE 4- Push the gear to the left ( it will go in sport mode ) push it forward to go in manual mode ( make sure it says M1 in dashboard ) 5- Depress fully the brake with your left foot. 6- Step fully on the accelerator with the right foot. ok what will happen is that for a fraction of a second second it will feel like that brake is holding the car from moving but then it will sort of feel like it went in neutral and the RPM will go up to around 4K ( i assume this is when the car knows you want to do a launch control ) and you will see a checkered Flag on the dashboard. thats when you let go of the brakes and keep your foot to the floor..
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04-27-2010, 10:30 AM	#35
Memphis1 Lieutenant Colonel 89 Rep 1,838 Posts Drives: Z4 SDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	it works in the US... some members might not be using the LC with a warm car or missing a step, i'll try to make a vid. __________________
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06-14-2010, 06:44 PM	#36
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	Hadn't tried it yet so played around a bit at home with a warm car. Followed the instructions in the manual and : Put in sport+, switched to manual mode, selected M1. pressed hard on brake (driveway isn't very long...) Stepped on gas - went to 1500rpm and dropped back Stepped hard on gas, rpm hit 4000 and flag came up on dash. Let off gas a little and flag disappeared and rpm dropped. Stepped hard on gas - rpm went up and flag showed up. Some of the members may have been having problems with the launch control for a couple of reasons. (IMHO) 1. Select M1, don't assume it knows. 2. Press hard on gas pedal and keep it there. Trepidation will cause a fail... and don't take your foot off the brake if you have a brick wall in front of you. ( I was being VERY careful) __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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08-12-2010, 04:20 PM	#37
Koenig Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: Z4 35 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Same thing happened to me at 1st - to use launch control, you need to select M1 by pushing the gear lever forward or using one of the paddles before you depress the accelerator - then it will work!
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08-12-2010, 04:28 PM	#38
Dr Stig 2 Criminally Insane 53 Rep 1,464 Posts Drives: Like a Demon! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW Z4 35is [10.00] 2013 BMW X5 30d [0.00]	And when it works, you get a lot of tyre smoke and a small increase in the acceleration. But, given the time it takes to set it up (warm up driving & button pressing), I seriously question the advantage in the real world. Drag racing maybe, but certainly not for anything else... Its just a party trick in my book. __________________ Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia
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08-12-2010, 04:31 PM	#39
Memphis1 Lieutenant Colonel 89 Rep 1,838 Posts Drives: Z4 SDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	^^ party pooper __________________
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08-12-2010, 04:38 PM	#40
Dr Stig 2 Criminally Insane 53 Rep 1,464 Posts Drives: Like a Demon! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW Z4 35is [10.00] 2013 BMW X5 30d [0.00]	I'm not saying its not fun, but it is just a party trick... __________________ Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia
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08-12-2010, 06:15 PM	#44
ttuner First Lieutenant 67 Rep 378 Posts Drives: z4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: phx iTrader: (0)	1. buy a real manual 2. put it in 1st gear 3. rev engine 4. drop the clutch problem solved! lol.
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