Launch Control “enables optimal acceleration on terrain with good grip,” according to BMW. Launch Control, or simply “Launch Control,” is an electronic driver assistance technology that significantly increases the pace at which you move forward from a stop by turning your standing start into, well, a launch.
Launch Control provides drivers with safe and efficient acceleration through the use of a computer program and the invention of an electronic accelerator. Although it was initially created with racers in mind, the technology is now present in BMW automobiles that are both track- and street-oriented. The mechanism quickly and smoothly accelerates your car without spinning the drive wheels.
Additionally, the system is built to consider other aspects and avoid over-revving as well as potential clutch and gearbox issues.
In This Article...
How Does Launch Control Function and What Is It?
In sports cars and other performance-oriented vehicles, launch control is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that aids in swift acceleration from a standing start. Like blind-spot warning and lane-keeping assistance, well-known ADAS are specifically designed to provide safety support. Launch control, on the other hand, aims to generate as much power and traction as feasible so that a car may accelerate as rapidly as possible from a stop. The emphasis is on the “launch” and following zero-to-60 mph times, despite the fact that the “control” part of its name contains a safety-related component.
Why is launch control (LC) necessary?
Launch control is a piece of software that enables you to accelerate your car without experiencing any drama, such as wheelspin or, worse, exploding an engine cylinder.
Anyone can accelerate off the line, especially in a manual car, by putting the clutch in, reducing the throttle until it reaches a set RPM, and then releasing it. Pretty basic, yes?
Doing so, especially after several tries, might harm various components of your car, including the clutch, drivetrain, engine, and gearbox.
How to use Launch Control on the new BMW M3 Competition in the video
At least in comparison to earlier models, the current BMW M3 and M4 series is highly complex. Today, we have two fully separate models to pick from, the M3 or M4, although in the past the Competition version was more of an extra package. The gearbox, which is a manual on the ordinary models but an automatic on the Competition edition, now makes up the majority of their differences.
And a lot of things alter as a result. Today we’re looking at an alternative to the Launch Control option that we looked at the other day on the base M3 and M4 models with the manual transmission. The BMW M3 Competition is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive in addition to the same engine as the less potent alternative. That will significantly speed it up.
However, how do you turn on Launch Control? It would appear to be rocket science if we were to trust certain Internet users. But it really isn’t. You just need to do this:
- Put a thorough halt to it
- By turning the gearshift lever to the right, enter manual mode.
- Pressing the arrows on the gearshift lever will allow you to choose the Drivelogic 3 option.
- By holding down the center console button for three seconds, the DSC can be turned off.
After finishing all of that, pressing the pedals repeatedly is all that remains. Your left foot should firmly step on the brake pedal. Then, with your right foot stomping on the gas pedal, you should see a message in the instrument cluster. Either “Preparing Launch Control” or “Launch Control Ready” will appear. Wait a second until the latter appears if the former appears first. Then, all you have to do is let go of the brake pedal.
How To Use Launch Control In A Manual BMW M3 is shown below.
Even though most of us haven’t had the chance to experience a launch control-assisted takeoff in a modern performance automobile, we are all generally aware of what goes on.
Depending on the vehicle, the specific steps may vary, but generally speaking, you must stop, plant your left foot firmly on the brake, and then push the “launch” button. When you press down on the throttle with your right foot, the vehicle automatically operates at its best load, and as soon as you depress the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerates.
But what occurs when a clutch pedal and standard manual shifter are added to the mix? Launch control is a feature offered on BMW’s non-Competition M3 and M4 models, and BMW M has produced a video on YouTube demonstrating how it works. Both models also come standard with a six-speed manual transmission.
The majority of the time it operates similarly to an M3 or M4 with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is the only one offered if you choose to get the Competition model with the highest level of equipment.
The steering angle cannot be greater than 30 degrees and the vehicle must first be operating and well warmed up. To activate the M Dynamic mode, you only need to push the DSC button once as opposed to keeping it down to completely disable the traction control.
Put the car in first gear, push the accelerator past the resistance point, and hold it there until the engine accelerates to the ideal speed for an escape. You have six seconds to let the 473 hp turbo-six do its job, which involves propelling you to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, after you receive a notification in the instrument cluster informing you that launch control is activated.
It’s interesting to note that BMW claims that even when you let off the gas to change gears, “optimum charge pressure is maintained” so that when you press the gas pedal again, the entire engine torque is accessible. It is unclear if it operates the other way, allowing you to essentially flat-shift. Does anyone reading have information about a manual M3 or M4?
Are launch controls available on manual BMWs?
Launch Control immediately conjures up images of automatic transmissions in people’s minds. This is due to Launch Control’s long history as an attribute of automated gearboxes. However, in recent years, manual gearboxes have also been observed with similar aids installed. It is also included in the new M3 and M4 models, and it is meant to assist you in turning the power down when launching.
And how does it operate? A little film created by the BMW team demonstrates how it should be activated and used. You must push the DSC button once to activate Launch Control. MDM mode will then be activated. The next step is to engage first gear and fully depress the gas pedal. The instrument cluster of your car will show a two-stage process as you maintain the gas pedal firmly depressed.
First, a notification stating “Preparing Launch Control” will appear. You’ll then see a new notice that says “Launch Control Active” once that one has vanished. You have a 5-second window at this point to let off the clutch and actually launch the automobile. The instrument cluster will advise you when to shift for the greatest outcomes once you’ve started. In order for you to go as quickly as possible, the boost pressure is also maintained.
Although it may seem simple in theory, it’s more difficult to turn the power off effectively. Additionally, hitting the ideal shift each and every time is a completely new challenge. However, using Launch Control will undoubtedly result in faster times than starting the car on your own.
In this case, the MDM mode should also be useful as opposed to merely turning the DSC off. However, if you choose to do that, you will be able to use the Smokey Burnout feature, which was first made available on earlier generations.
How often can a BMW launch control be used?
At its most severe shift setting, Launch Control can only be used 50 times on a BMW M3 G80 G82. We on the F90 board discovered a few weeks ago that BMW only allows the ZF8 transmissions to carry out 50 launches.
How is launch control implemented?
A computer program and an electronic accelerator are used in launch control. Based on engine specs, the software regulates acceleration to make the automobile accelerate smoothly and quickly while preventing difficulties with the clutch and gearbox, spinning of the drive wheels, and engine failure due to over-revving. Only at the beginning of the race, when the car is still on the starting grid, is this capability available in racing cars. The program is turned off after the car reaches a specific speed.
What makes launch control necessary?
As vital as the engine’s power is in a drag race is getting off the line faster than the opposition. Wheel spin is the enemy in this situation. Suppose you accidentally burn out at the starting line while your rival’s car has little wheel spin. If their 700-hp car is halfway down the straightaway by the time your tires grip, then your 800 horsepower won’t matter.
Launch control helps manage torque, throttle, and gear ratios to prevent vehicle damage in addition to reducing wheel spin (and hop). Without launch control, there is a greater risk of engine overrev and transmission overheating.
Does your car benefit from launch control?
In sports cars and other performance-oriented vehicles, launch control is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that aids in swift acceleration from a standing start. Launch control is made to generate the most power and traction possible so that a car can accelerate as rapidly as possible from a stop. Although the name’s control component contains a safety component, the launch and subsequent 0-100km/h times are what are highlighted.
As vital as the engine’s power is in a drag race is getting off the line faster than the opposition. Wheel spin is the enemy in this situation. Assume you accidentally burn out at the starting line while your opponent’s car has little wheel spin. If their 700 horsepower automobile is halfway down the straightaway by the time your tires start to grip, then your 800 horsepower won’t matter.
Launch control helps manage torque, throttle, and gear ratios to prevent vehicle damage in addition to reducing wheel spin (and hop). Without launch control, there is a greater risk of engine overrev and transmission overheating.
Launch control is a nice feature, but it serves more of a competitive purpose than a practical one. Many local track weekends that don’t involve professional motorsports forbid the usage of launch control. Along with all the other things that might go wrong with excessive acceleration, it makes no sense to generate a lot of power while driving in a city just to go through red lights quickly.
When is launch control applicable?
If players want to reach their car’s top speed as rapidly as possible when in a drag race or simply driving down a straightaway, they should engage launch control as soon as they can. If they want to win more drag races, even Forza Horzion 5 beginners should become proficient in this technique. In Forza Horizon 5, players must first shift into second gear before reversing to first in order to use launch control.
The handbrake must then be engaged, followed by a full drive-forward motion. Players can remove the handbrake at this moment to enable launch control, then repeat with each subsequent gear change. In Forza Horizon 5, the user must keep a watch out for the RPM gauge to be at or near 2500 while the handbrake is applied to determine whether launch control has been enabled.
Launch control only saves players a few seconds at most when used, which is another reason it may not perform effectively for players in other sorts of races. Players may also use launch control in Forza Horizon 5 to increase their winning percentage in drag races by adjusting other variables like tire size and body weight. Forza Horizon 5’s fastest upgraded vehicles will maximize launch control and help players win more drag races by slashing their race times by a few seconds.