1st REAL drive + LC experience...(tell me your LC settings)

[synclastica_86]

Yesterday, I took my M3 for a long drive. I am current on PEI, Canada. The roads here are deserted. No traffic, no cops. I didn't have the guts to test out the top speed since there was some of the winter powdery salt covering and patched of melted snow. But I had a great drive. The car handled great and it was so predictable. This might be old new to you but I just love to MDM traction control. I'm not a very talented driver, but I want fun. The MDM gives me just that. It allows me to kick the tail out but comes in to save my ass just at the right time. I had so much fun. The transitions between under and over steer is so predictable. The car gave me so much confidence. It's so well behaved that I am more comfortable in pushing this car than pushing something with way less power.

To end the day I had a go at LC. I know that it's not the best condition to try it, but the open straight was hard to resist. I've never used it before so I guess the default launch rpm is 5500. The first time was not too successful. When I released the shift leaver, there's a bit of wheel spin, then the the tail stepped out. I tried it three more times and only got one good launch out of it. In fears of causing damage, I've decided to consult the wisdom of this forum before I proceed with more trails. Here are my questions:

1. What is the ideal launch rpm?
2. How do you adjust the launch rpms? I know that you do it with the cruise control leaver, but which way do you push it?
3. I though that LC optimises grip and wheel spin, then why do I still fishtail?
4. Should I just keep my foot planted all the way and not shift at all?

If you have any other tips feel free to throw it in.

[Splinter4784]

I have launch controled only a few times very suprisingly during the first 5000 miles,
The first few times i did it i messed up and lanched full throttle at 5000 Rpm and Burnout and after the 3rd time i did it at 5000 Rpm half throttle and now i got the hang of it
with DCT

Its awsome

Does anyone know how many lauch controls the transmission can handle?

[BMWxM]

i dont have a dct, but im pretty sure your not suposed to shift at all. You just come to a stop, put your foot on the break, push the gear selector up, so that the checkered flags come up on the screen near the speedometer. after that you put the throttle all the way down to the floor, let go of the brake, and when your ready...release the gear selector. at that time you should take off, and you cant pick your foot off the pedal at all, you have to keep it all the way down. also you dont shift, its supposed to shift for you. All you do is concentrate on where your going, and keep the accelerator all the way down..

just so you know i could be wrong, but i think that is what your suposed to do... i know you don't shift, and you cant pick your foot up .. thats for sure

[niqui]

Originally Posted by BMWxM

i dont have a dct, but im pretty sure your not suposed to shift at all. You just come to a stop, put your foot on the break, push the gear selector up, so that the checkered flags come up on the screen near the speedometer. after that you put the throttle all the way down to the floor, let go of the brake, and when your ready...release the gear selector. at that time you should take off, and you cant pick your foot off the pedal at all, you have to keep it all the way down. also you dont shift, its supposed to shift for you. All you do is concentrate on where your going, and keep the accelerator all the way down..

just so you know i could be wrong, but i think that is what your suposed to do... i know you don't shift, and you cant pick your foot up .. thats for sure

thats exactly what i was told, slash tried to do on my test drive. failure if i recall correctly.

[Sticky]

If you don't have traction, it won't work for you.

At the strip, I bump it up to max and it works beautifully despite creeping forward (wtf BMW)

On the street, I don't use it.

Don't know who voted 6500 rpm or above, you can't go that high. Same goes for 3500, you can't go that low.

[synclastica_86]

Originally Posted by Sticky

If you don't have traction, it won't work for you.

At the strip, I bump it up to max and it works beautifully despite creeping forward (wtf BMW)

On the street, I don't use it.

Don't know who voted 6500 rpm or above, you can't go that high. Same goes for 3500, you can't go that low.

So it will only work on particularly sticky surfaces such as race tracks? Will it work on ordinary streets? I also did notice the creeping forward thing, but I thought it was due to the inclination of the road that I was on. Is there a solution to that? Can I keep my toe on the brake lightly and floor it with my heel or vice versa?

[gadget]

I've tried it a few times in different conditions. The single factor that has made the greatest difference is tire and road temperature. Although doing a burnout to add heat to the tires will, the winter is still not ideal and you'll struggle to get grip. Bottom line- wait for a hot day and LC the car after you've driven enough to heat up the tires.

I did do it in a hot fall day and the car just stuck, no spin, nothing, perfect. my wife was with me, she felt the car was taking off.

Having 3/4 or more in the gas tank also seems to help. Although i realize weight is bad for speed, it seems to help put the weight on th rear tires to get the grip.

[synclastica_86]

Originally Posted by gadget

I've tried it a few times in different conditions. The single factor that has made the greatest difference is tire and road temperature. Although doing a burnout to add heat to the tires will, the winter is still not ideal and you'll struggle to get grip. Bottom line- wait for a hot day and LC the car after you've driven enough to heat up the tires.

I did do it in a hot fall day and the car just stuck, no spin, nothing, perfect. my wife was with me, she felt the car was taking off.

Having 3/4 or more in the gas tank also seems to help. Although i realize weight is bad for speed, it seems to help put the weight on th rear tires to get the grip.

How did you get that DCT to burnout? There's no clutch that you can pop. Or is it just that I have bad burnout technique?

[gadget]

I just turn of traction control and floor it. It will lay down a nice patch of rubber and make lots of smoke. Not the wisest thing to do but seems to help- the best is to do this one the tires are already warm from some spirited driving.

[MDCTFTW]

Can you use the ebrake to hold you in place instead of your foot? Sadly I've never tried LC yet.

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by synclastica_86

So it will only work on particularly sticky surfaces such as race tracks? Will it work on ordinary streets? I also did notice the creeping forward thing, but I thought it was due to the inclination of the road that I was on. Is there a solution to that? Can I keep my toe on the brake lightly and floor it with my heel or vice versa?

It will work on the street, providing you have traction. Will it work in all situations? No, it won't.

I wish BMW gave us the option to change the default RPM as I would run it lower on the street. Then, it might be useful more often.

You can keep yourself in place with the brake but if you release the brake and the shift lever at the same time it won't work. You need to release the brake, wait a second, then release the lever. That is how I do it and get it to consistently work.

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by MDCTFTW

Can you use the ebrake to hold you in place instead of your foot? Sadly I've never tried LC yet.

Good idea in theory but what hand is on the wheel?

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by synclastica_86

How did you get that DCT to burnout? There's no clutch that you can pop. Or is it just that I have bad burnout technique?

DSC off, mash the gas.

[M-Maika]

Good topic for starters.

I have tried my LC once and it didn´t went very well.
When i release the lever the car started to fish tail and i had to stop flooring the gas.
RPM was in standard.

I think it was mainly because of surface temperature and a bit dusty perhaps.
Will try it another time later on.

Best Regards,

Maika

[MDCTFTW]

Originally Posted by Sticky

Good idea in theory but what hand is on the wheel?

Ah true.

[Wads]

Originally Posted by gadget

Having 3/4 or more in the gas tank also seems to help. Although i realize weight is bad for speed, it seems to help put the weight on th rear tires to get the grip.

I've used LC on my vert twice once with the roof down and once roof up..... the launch with the extra weight of the roof in the boot (trunk) was near perfect.

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by Sticky

I wish BMW gave us the option to change the default RPM as I would run it lower on the street. Then, it might be useful more often.

.

I had read somewhere that you can adjust the RPMs down or up using the wiper stalk.. It was quoted somewhere in a C&D magazine. Anyone look this up in their manual?

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by Ben335

I had read somewhere that you can adjust the RPMs down or up using the wiper stalk.. It was quoted somewhere in a C&D magazine. Anyone look this up in their manual?

You didn't read the thread.