"Race start" (MB) or "launch control" (BMW and Porsche) is essentially the same thing. It's a factory programmed electronic setting to accelerate the car from a standing start with the most effective launch.

If I recall correctly .... been a while

BMW: Turn off DSC (stability management), select S6 for gearbox, hold shift lever at "down shift", full throttle with right foot and when you're ready, let go of shift lever and it will take off

Mercedes and Porsche: Select sport plus, left foot brake, put gearbox in auto or manual mode, full throttle with right foot and when you're ready, let go of the brake and it's take off.

As long as you keep your foot in it, launch control is active, all the way up to top speed. You lift or brake, and it's cancelled.

 

That's something I complained about as well on the M3. Maybe letting the TC stay in a 'sport' mode would help with a better launch. You're chirping tires through 3rd and I don't think that's the ideal way to get the best start.

 

I think chirping the tires through 3rd in an M3 is a good thing because the car isn't very powerful so that means the driveline is highly efficient, much more so than the C63.

If the M3 is chirping through 3rd then the power it does have is being put down very well. And even though it's chirping the tires at least it's not spinning them like in the C63.

So the M3 is really efficient because it doesn't have too much power for its own good but it has enough and a very good trans and diff to get the power to the rear wheels. That's why it's as quick as it is even though it barely has more torque than my 2 liter, 4 cylinder, turbo Hyundai Sonata.

 

So only the 2012 has this?

 

Only 2012 C63's have MCT's. No MCT, no race start.

 

I have Race Start. I put my left foot on the break and my right foot on the gas. With my right foot I bring the RPM's up to about 2k RPM and lift my left foot.

 

That's what i do on my E as well :P Works like a charm!

 

I have read that the 2012's will include a "racetimer" can any 2012 owners confirm or elaborate on this?

 

I believe all C63's have racetimer. Go to your AMG menu, hit down to get to the race timer.

Press up on the right pad on the steering wheel to start it. Press down twice to start a new lap.

 

Yip I can confirm that 2011 125 C63 edition has race timer!

Mode switch has C, S, S+ and RS

Cheers
Eck
C63 AMG 2011 125 Edition Sept 2011

799 Diamond White
221Black Leather
218 Rev Camera
293 Airbags Rear Side
527 Comand Online with Media Interface (std)
537 DAB Radio
682 Fire Extinguisher
797 19" multispoke alloys
810 Harmon Kardon
875 Heated windsreen wash
H73 AMG carbon interior
22P Lane tracking
P30 Performance pack
carbon mirror housing

 

Pics off race start control.

cheers
Eck