Launch Control

[7speed]

Do the US cars have Launch Control?
If so, how do you do it?
I just got my car back from the 1,200 mile service. I can now access the top shift program, #6 and am eager to try Launch Control but don't see any reference to it at all in the owners manual. I was under the perhaps misguided impression that the E60 M5 had Launch Control that was available after the 1,200 mile service. I even recall reading somewhere that it can not be engaged more than three times withn 5 minutes or so to prevent overheating the clutch.

[wolverine]

Set the car in S6, DSC off, P500 sport and stop the car. Push the gearlever forward and hold it there. Slowly depress the acellerator.

If you move forward, your dealer has not activated the LC program.

If the engine revs to about 1600 rpm and stays there, you have Launch Control.

Keep the accelerator floored, and release the gearlever. The car drops the clutch, and depending on how much traction you have, you will get varying amounts of wheelspin and the car will take off. You will need to shift manually, there is no automatic shifting.

Good luck!

[jburke]

What the hell is the point of that?

How dissapointing, I was really looking forward to the 4,000 rpm, automatic shifting version I read about in the European magazines.

[Shnarfin]

[Shnarfin]

if you slightly depress the gas pedal, it will not initiate launch control. You must fully depress the accelerator to the floor quickly past the kickdown point. I have tried this on both Z4 w SMG and 530 w SMG and 330i(E46) w SMG, and E60 M5 w SMG

[xlover]

[wolverine]

I'm not sure where you're getting your information. Do you actually own a US spec E60 M5? If you want to know more, go to this link:

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=63526

You'll find over 60 US M5 owners discussing the crippled LC. We are very familiar with how it works, and what it does and doesn't do.

[BigDM3]

If you want a "burnout" you quickly depress the accelerator. If you want a true launch with minimal wheelspin, you slowly depress the accelerator to the floor (past kickdown). So long as you are in S6 (on an M3) with DSC off and the lever forward, you will initiate LC.

[mnance]

Try it like this. 1. Activate the m function with
SMG Drive Logic=D-5, EDC=Sport, DSC=Off, Power=P500

2. Place the SMG in d1.

3. Floor it and hang on.



The computer will automatically shift gears for you.

If you don’t smoke the tires for at least 60 feet do it again.





Any questions Call me





Mike Nance

678-794-9168

[Bud]

[psybj]

I see some are concerned re Launch RPM and USA "crippled" launch due to low RPM.

In my 6sp M3 I got off fastest with ca 3500 RPM when new. Later, as the engine got stronger, I got off faster at maybe 1600 RPM, higher RPM was too hard to control wheelspin.

In my M3 SMGII launch is ca 1850, does just fine.

I had the recall x2 with lower bearings replaced, whatever. Each time the car got much stronger after maybe 8-10k mi. At 56k (last rebuild was at 43k) the car is stronger than ever, in normal driving my light comes on when I floor it while rolling in 1st or 2nd, and the tires are good.

When I get my M6 (USA) I have no plans to make any changes to the launch RPM, I'll be patient (yeah, right, a patient M owner) and wait for the engine to get to full power in a few months.
psybj

'02 ///M3 TiS/grey SMG Cpe
'02 Acura TL-S

NEXT(?):
M6 (Deposit placed 1/02)
E90 M3 (Deposit placed 10/03)
911 C4S PDK
CL55 AMG
Infiniti GT-R
Audi R9


PREVIOUS:
'01 ///M3 AW/grey 6sp Cpe
Acura 3.0CL
Dodge Stealth TT AWD
VW Thing
Acura Legend Cpe.
Honda Interceptor
Honda Prelude
M-B 450SL
Piper Cherokee 180
Rx 7
280Z
deTomaso Pantera
260Z
Datsun 510 2dr
Harley-Davidson
MGA Mk.II (<400 manuf)
VW bugs
Triumph TR-3A
Renault Dauphine
James
Chrysler HEMI
+ Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Chev, Buick, Caddy, Plym, Dodge, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Acura, Mazda and other boring stuff for wife and family.

[wolverine]

The problem is there is no modulation of the clutch. With the Euro-spec M5, the LC modulates the clutch to achieve optimum engine rpm and wheel traction. A sensor then monitors the clutch plate temperature, and does not permit another LC launch until the clutch has cooled off.

With the US spec cars, there is no way to control or modulate the clutch. You are reduced to choosing the rpm and throttle position and then you dump the clutch. This garantees a pretty miserable launch 95% of the time. But since there is no clutch slippage, we can launch poorly as often as we want.

[psybj]

I'm very happy with my M3 launch, gets off with some wheelspin but quite quick, never breaking loose.

If it is different, I'll be pissed.

Thanx for the info.

psybj

'02 ///M3 TiS/grey SMG Cpe
'02 Acura TL-S

NEXT(?):
M6 (Deposit placed 1/02)
E90 M3 (Deposit placed 10/03)
911 C4S PDK
CL55 AMG
Infiniti GT-R
Audi R9


PREVIOUS:
'01 ///M3 AW/grey 6sp Cpe
Acura 3.0CL
Dodge Stealth TT AWD
VW Thing
Acura Legend Cpe.
Honda Interceptor
Honda Prelude
M-B 450SL
Piper Cherokee 180
Rx 7
280Z
deTomaso Pantera
260Z
Datsun 510 2dr
Harley-Davidson
MGA Mk.II (<400 manuf)
VW bugs
Triumph TR-3A
Renault Dauphine
James
Chrysler HEMI
+ Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Chev, Buick, Caddy, Plym, Dodge, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Acura, Mazda and other boring stuff for wife and family.

[zamini]

The 7-speed SMG of the U.S. version M5 incorporates a number of special functions and safeguards, one of
which is Launch Control. To activate this feature:
• The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) must be deactivated via its console button.
• The SMG Drivelogic must be set to the S6 (Sequential 6) program.
• The front wheels should be aimed in a straight ahead position.
• The shifter lever needs to be held in the downshift position and the accelerator pedal fully depressed.
This will raise the engine up to 1600 rpm.
• Ready to go, the driver simply releases the shift lever; the M5 launches with precisely balanced clutch
slip and wheel spin for an optimum start.

[dw]

good lord, it shouldnt be that laboriuos to get off the line. At a drag strip, thats ok, but for 99.999% of all of us doing the normal light to light "race" or pull to a stop sign race, this is moronic. It doesnt work for my driving needs, but then neither did 4,000lbs and low mpg.

I'm sorry, but the M5 has lost its way. I only hope the new M3 is a better enthusiasts car. Least the new 3 looks damn good.
Cant seem to part with the 02 540 dinan.

[Zapper]

More of the settings you can do with one button. And then its off to the races. Even in an M3 you have to hit the DSC and Sport buttons... not that much different in practice.

[IlyaM5]

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=15329&d=1140552350

Also it does make a difference in the LC sequence how fast you press the pedal to the floor (past kickdown). Flooring it produces massive wheelspin, slowly depressing it - perfect launch. (the same as M3)

[BigDM3]

[Zapper]

Same deal on the M5... 1 M button (if you set it up right)... and you are ready to go.

It just happens that the 1 button changes many settings, but it doesn't make things hard or complicated.

FZ

[N Booky]

Launch Control. In the S6 program, the driver can utilize a further SMG capability. Dynamic Stability Control must be de-activated via its console button. Then the driver holds the shift lever forward (as if for a downshift) and presses the accelerator pedal fully down. This raises the engine to 4000 rpm, ideal for launch. Ready to go, the driver simply releases the shift lever; the M5 launches with precisely balanced clutch slip and wheelspin for an optimum start. From there, SMG will upshift automatically just beforethe engine redline. Thus launch control gives essentially the same standing-start acceleration results as would an expert driver. To preclude overheating the clutch, the control system requires an interval of several minutes between Launch Control starts; and if the clutch monitoring logic does ever detect clutch overheating, the clutch engages fully rather than slipping.