[KAY-OS]

Originally Posted by pkwon9285

I've been trying the LC on my m235i but I do not see the checkered flag on my cluster. Is the checkered flag ONLY on the extended cluster, or does the non-extended cluster also show some kind of indication of LC?

I have the non-extended cluster and I can confirm the checkered flag will light up.

[VIDoug]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

I seem to recall a major car magazine stating that they observed their best 0 to 60 times without using Launch Control.

Or perhaps it was Lunch Control.

Good recollection .. read Edmunds Test Drivers Ratings and Comments section:


http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/2-series/...st-specs1.html

[jofealvi]

Originally Posted by KAY-OS

I have the non-extended cluster and I can confirm the checkered flag will light up.

Looks this video here is with not extenden cluster like my M235I

[semclane]

There must be more to getting LC to work than having the engine warm and following the LC steps. This past weekend at our local BMWCCA chapter autocross we had a course that looked perfect for using LC. Straight ahead launch for over 100 feet into a slalom. Concrete surface. I was on Dunlop Direzza II Star Spec tires (not the stickiest but better than the OEM PSS tires). Tried LC on my first two runs and both times the revs went up past 3000, no checkered flag on the dash, and rear tires started spinning. Engine temp was at about 225 degrees (P3 Cars vent gauge). Perhaps the transmission needs to be warmed up too and that is why the manual calls for the car to be driven 6 mile.

After a 90 minute drive to the event site, the car sat for over 2 hours before going to grid. When we finally got started the car sat idling for about 15 minutes before my first run so the engine temp was good. After my first run the car idled for about 20 minutes before the second run so the engine stayed up to temp.

My conclusion is that LC is pretty much useless for autocross, and probably useless for (sanctioned) drag racing unless you can get enough runs to get the transmission hot. Probably most useful for street racing or just showing off on the street.

[OpenAir]

I've found that I get better times without the LC, but then again I have a cab and it's heavier...might help with the grip.

It is a pain, but I've found that mashing the throttle doesn't work as well as slowly putting the throttle to the floor and clicking the kick-down button.

[ABPReader]

.

[Cpdbeemer]

One of the posts above mentioned needing to have the tyres warm. Spot on, if you toodle around for 10km / 6miles warming engine and tranny your tyes will not be warm.

[semclane]

Originally Posted by jet_00

Was your gearbox one S1 and the car on Sport+ ? First time I failed because I tried with the gearbox on M1, this is not launch control even if the car is on Sport+. If you don't see the checkered flag then you don't use LC

I was in Sport + and gear selector was in S1. At a previous event I tried it with the DTC button push like in the video and it didn't work then either. At that event on my sixth run it did work, sort of. Then I wasn't trying to use LC but was in Sport+ S1 and holding the revs at the point where the engine was just about to overpower the brakes. When I got the green flag my right foot went down faster than my left foot lifted and the checker flag icon came on for a split second, as I launched with only a slight chirp from the rear tires.

[3.0L]

With all this uncertainty on how to use launch control, plus the controversy about whether LC actually improves acceleration times, I say, why use it? I've never used LC, plus I do not want to put all that stress on the drive train, particularly for little or no gain.

[kanucks]

Does the 228 have launch control?

[3rdcoast228i]

Originally Posted by kanucks

Does the 228 have launch control?

Yes

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by kanucks

Does the 228 have launch control?

Also, yes. Didn't seem to make any difference with my MT to me. DST still bogged the engine down to eliminate wheel spin.

[Cumberlandjames]

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Launch control is meant to give consistent launch while minimizing wheelspin in an intelligent manner. It will reduce throttle during the initial wheelspin until the tires lock up. If you test the limits of the chassis several times to figure throttle position best suitable to a good launch, it's going to give you better times. You're anticipating how much power the chassis can put down at launch and not correcting wheelspin after it happens. You can also shift at better times to take advantage of the powerband, whereas launch control redlines before upshift, which has exhausted the torque available from the engine.

(Disclaimer: this is how it works on my 335is... may be different on the M235i)

HYPERZULU brings up an interesting point about shift points versus red lineing the engine. Has anyone done a comparison? What point would you choose to shift at in the power curve, where torque and HP meet at 5100?

[jmwilson125]

Originally Posted by Cumberlandjames

HYPERZULU brings up an interesting point about shift points versus red lineing the engine. Has anyone done a comparison? What point would you choose to shift at in the power curve, where torque and HP meet at 5100?

You have to take the heating advantage into account too.

https://youtu.be/zZBqb0ZJSwU. This guy does a pretty good job of explaining the technical aspect.

Real world may be a little different depending on traction availability and what speed you are accelerating to. I think someone mentioned that launching in 2nd gave them the best 0-60. (no lc)

[kanucks]

Originally Posted by Cumberlandjames

HYPERZULU brings up an interesting point about shift points versus red lineing the engine. Has anyone done a comparison? What point would you choose to shift at in the power curve, where torque and HP meet at 5100?

Interesting discussion and I would be interested if an engineer or tech guy could explain it. I was thought that redlining was partially to reduce the time needed to upshift and also because it drops you to a higher part of the power band in the next year, therefore having more power and so on... But all the dynos do show the power and torque dropping off after the 5.5-6K rpm range...

Wonder if anyone has done any empirical testing to find the optimal shift points generally speaking and the best gear to launch in (aside from using LC).

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by kanucks

Interesting discussion and I would be interested if an engineer or tech guy could explain it. I was thought that redlining was partially to reduce the time needed to upshift and also because it drops you to a higher part of the power band in the next year, therefore having more power and so on... But all the dynos do show the power and torque dropping off after the 5.5-6K rpm range...

Wonder if anyone has done any empirical testing to find the optimal shift points generally speaking and the best gear to launch in (aside from using LC).

[Hasser]

on launch control for the 6MT, there is threads about that the revs will hold at approx 3.5k.

yes all true and ive tried in all modes and works.

but having read some other stuff and looked with bimmercode to code launch control on my 6MT, it isn't actually launch control.

1. no launch control option on the ECUs for the 6MT with my bimmercode.
2. revs hold to protect the engine so you dont over rev - not launch control