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.
In This Article...
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.
Has the BMW X3 launch control?
It has launch control, yes. When the X3 debuts on sale in early November, there will be two models available, and both have all-wheel drive.
Has the BMW X5 launch control?
Only the “Sport Automatic Transmission” in the 3 series offers launch control (with paddle shifters).
The G05 X5 40i comes equipped with both the “regular” and “sport” automatic transmissions, though I’m not sure if they affect launch control the same way they do in a 3-series.
Oops. My 2020 X5 xLine40i’s bespoke manual was just checked. I am in charge of the launch. When we configured it, I didn’t see it listed in any of the options I selected, yet there it is!
Without LC, the automobile launches better. I completely deactivate DSC, select Sport +/Gear Level in Sport (move it to the left), Auto-Hold Off, and then I slam on the brakes and gas until the engine revs reach about 3000, at which point I release the brake. According to my testing, it launches more violently than utilizing LC and produces faster results.
All G05s, with the possible exception of the 45e, do indeed feature launch control! It’s better off without it, as AndroidRobot noted. With the TC completely off, shift to Sport Plus, slam on the brakes and gas, and wait for the boost to fully build. This will be visible in sporting events.
Many of my F90 M5 clients also experience this problem. Launch Control is quite difficult to make run smoothly.
depends on the surface, the temperature, the tires, etc. If my tires aren’t heated, I can launch my X5 50i spinning all 4 wheels; even then, I only get a little spin.
which, depending on the transmission method and power level, may have varying effects.
Only S1 is offered for this model of the vehicle. Launch Control was correctly activated in the meantime because “Launch Control Active” appeared on the dash. G05 40i is rated to run in 5.5 seconds, but with launch control properly engaged, it runs in 5.0 seconds. Holding breaks at the beginning does not activate “launch control,” despite the fact that numerous videos claim to show it doing so.
Has the BMW 430i launch control?
The rpms will reach 3,000 when you press the accelerator pedal. Additionally, a checkered flag will be seen. The rpms will reach 3,000 when you press the accelerator pedal. And a checkered flag indicating launch control is active will be seen.
If my BMW has launch control, how do I know?
Many people mistakenly assumed that Launch Control was only found in BMW racing vehicles and track-specific or racing-style vehicles, such as the BMW M4 coupe. In actuality, it is more prevalent than you could initially believe in a variety of models.
BMW M high-performance versions were the only ones to have it at first, but after 2013, several non-M cars also got the technology. Models from lower series, such as the 3 and 4 Series, are included. There’s a significant probability that you have Launch Control in your car if it was produced after 2013 and you might not even be aware of it.
Go to your infotainment screen, select “Vehicle info,” then select “Owner’s manual,” where you may perform a search for the term “Launch Control” to find out for sure if you have this option. Any words that don’t match an on-board feature are removed by the handbook. If your search yields results, you now have access to the functionality.
The handbook will also walk you through the process step-by-step, but just in case you don’t want to look it up, we’ve provided a simple tutorial below.
The BMW X4 has launch control, right?
The SUV-coupe will have an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with a manual option, adjustable via paddles, as well as a Launch Control feature — somewhat of a novelty in this sector — in addition to the more potent inline-six found in the normal X4.
Has the BMW X5 40i a launch control system?
Launch control is a feature of my 2019 X5 40i European model. Only the “Sport Automatic Transmission” in the 3 series offers launch control (with paddle shifters)
Has the BMW 330i in 2021 got launch control?
For those who still like using their tachometer, every 2021 BMW 3 Series model includes an automated 8-speed transmission with paddle shifters placed on the steering wheel. The use of Launch Control, which allows drivers to maximize the gearbox when accelerating, and sport or manual modes are available to drivers.
The BMW X3 from 2018 does it feature launch control?
The 2018 BMW X3 M40i benefits from a launch control feature on its 8-speed paddle-shift Steptronic transmission in addition to the more potent engine, and the all-wheel drive system has a more obvious rear-drive bias.
The BMW 330i for 2020 does it feature launch control?
Launch control is also included with the 330i. On a 330i, you may turn on Sport+ by pushing the Sport button twice, or maybe for two seconds. Launch control is also included with the 330i. That would be strange, I was going to add, given that Sport+ is available on all F30 trim levels.
How do you turn on the BMW S1000rr’s launch control?
In order to prevent wheelies, the launch control consists of a wheel torque reduction above ground speed while the bike is stationary on the grid.
At a complete stop, while the engine is running and in 1./2 gear, the Start button must be pressed for three seconds to engage the Launch Control (see video). L-con is not visible in the instrument cluster of models made before 2015, but once the L-con is activated, the DTC check lamp turns on. After then, by twisting the throttle, the engine speed will halt at the designated RPM. The launch control can be turned off by pushing the start button three times in a row, turning the ignition off, changing the riding mode, or during a race by shifting into third gear or leaning more than 30 degrees.
To make things even simpler for the rider, the launch control on the M/S1000 starting in 2019 (K6x) engages immediately after programming our Race Mapping PRO. Deactivation takes place as previously said. For disassembly, we produced a video (see here).
The stock engine speed limit is 9.000 rpm, and the speed threshold for deactivating the engine speed limit is set at 70 km/h. There are no adjustment options available through the instrument cluster. The thresholds for our race mappings are 9.000 rpm (K46), 7.000 rpm (K47, K49), 7.500 rpm (K6x), and 60 km/h.
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.
What is launch control used for?
Pressing a button is all that is necessary for activation. Alternatively, that is how the series begins. Dynamic stability control must be off, the engine must be warmed up, and the automatic transmission must be put to sequential mode with the vehicle in first gear on a BMW M vehicle. The next step is as follows:
- firmly apply the brakes.
- Accelerator down till it kicks down, then hold
- A start flag should eventually display in the driver information screen.
- Control the beginning speed and rpm.
- As you release the brake, keep your foot firmly planted.
- Once the clutch or gear engages, you can start moving.
For Dodge Hellcat automobiles, the procedure is the same, and the vehicle information center also provides instructional help. With the sadly defunct Challenger SRT Demon, which includes a transbrake feature, a little modification is necessary. The transbrake locks the vehicle’s output shaft and enables a launch without using the brakes when the launch control is engaged using the paddle shifter. The initiation sequence stays the same everywhere else.
What impact does launch control have?
Launch control may have been more of a novelty when it initially appeared on production automobiles than a practical performance element.
According to Road & Track, significant powertrain damage from multiple launches wasn’t uncommon. According to Car and Driver, Nissan had to reprogramme the R35 GT-system R’s exactly because the dual-clutch transmission of the supercar would be destroyed. In some cases, careful human input could surpass computer control in performance vehicles. It was demonstrated on an SRT Viper by Car and Driver.
Launch control is now necessary to obtain the finest acceleration data, though, as of recent years. For instance, it enables the future Hummer EV to achieve a stated 0-60 mph pace of 3.0 seconds. According to MotorTrend, the electronics just react more quickly and reliably than even some of the greatest humans can.
These advantages, it must be said, are frequently somewhat little. The launch control typically reduced 0-60 mph times by 0.1-0.2 seconds during Car and Driver’s testing. Likewise, 1/4-mile times were lowered. A faster 0-60 mph time is still a great method to demonstrate how fast your new sports car is, The Drive suggests. And launch control makes that possible.
However, the consistency difference is likely the most important advantage. All but the best human drivers cannot measure power and traction as accurately as a properly calibrated computer. Which is crucial if you’re taking part in a drag race.
Does launch control speed up the car?
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.
Has the 2022 X5 launch control?
Yes, but first be sure to drive for 10 minutes to warm up the engine. The driver’s manual ought to have it. – A checkered flag will appear, indicating that launch control is active.
What does it mean for an automobile to launch?
Without a lot of practice, launching a car with a manual transmission can be challenging. Even without a complex launch-control system, the work at hand will be much simpler if your automobile is an automatic.
Just use your left foot to depress the brake pedal and your right foot to depress the throttle to increase the revs. Push the throttle pedal hard after releasing the brake.
Now, there is undoubtedly more going on beneath the car’s sheet metal than what you could feel from the driver’s seat. By using gearing and the torque converter, your transmission modifies the amount of torque sent to the wheels after absorbing it from the engine.
In the video above, our friend from Engineering Explained, goes into much more detail on that subject.
But what we admire about this clip is the deeper exploration of the mechanical details. It’s a good idea to be aware of what you’re doing to your car and which sections you’re stressing if you’re going to conduct specific tasks in it.
So enjoy your journey while you’re out there, but be aware of the things you’ll break if you only launch your automobile.