How to Perform a Launch Control Start in an Automatic Transmission Car?
1 Answers
Here are the steps for performing a launch control start in an automatic transmission car (using the BMW M4 as an example): 1. A launch control start puts significantly more strain on the engine and transmission compared to normal driving. Many manufacturers impose a limit on the number of launch control starts allowed, and exceeding this limit may void the warranty for engine or transmission damage. Therefore, it's essential to warm up the car before attempting a launch control start. 2. Turn off the ESP (Electronic Stability Program), which is equivalent to disabling DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) in the BMW M4. 3. Shift the transmission into manual mode to lock it in first gear. This maximizes the torque output from the engine by utilizing the highest gear ratio in first gear, providing the strongest launch torque. 4. Press the brake pedal all the way down, then press the accelerator pedal all the way down. The KICK-DOWN function here is like unlocking the car's full potential—holding the accelerator pedal down activates this mode, signaling the car that you need maximum performance, which in turn activates the launch control function. 5. Use the cruise control to adjust the engine RPM—up to increase, down to decrease—to control the maximum RPM when the accelerator is fully depressed. The peak torque RPM for gasoline engines is not at the highest RPM; this varies depending on the specific model. For the BMW M4, the peak torque RPM is between 3000-3500, so set the cruise control to a maximum of 3500 RPM. 6. Once the engine reaches the set maximum RPM, release the brake immediately, and the car will 'zoom' forward.