M5 Launch Control Instructions...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: Midwest
'08 SL550 Sport, '11 BMW 550ix M sport
M5 Launch Control Instructions...
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Ya gotta be kidding me...
E55 launch control is so much simpler...
#1 - Advance right foot with extreme prejudice.
#2 - Grin from ear to ear.
I am SOOOOOO glad I bought my E55 when I did and didn't wait around for that. Way too much BS for what should be a simple procedure.
No offense to the M5 guys here but I'd be complaining.
[/IMG] Ya gotta be kidding me...
E55 launch control is so much simpler...
#1 - Advance right foot with extreme prejudice.
#2 - Grin from ear to ear.
I am SOOOOOO glad I bought my E55 when I did and didn't wait around for that. Way too much BS for what should be a simple procedure.
No offense to the M5 guys here but I'd be complaining.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,697
Likes: 383
2005 E55
its alot quicker than you think.All it takes is a few min to program the m button and your then a few steps closer.
say you program the m for p500 s6
start car hit power
at a light hold shift knob up and floor car
let go
its the same setup on the m3 minus the power mode
say you program the m for p500 s6
start car hit power
at a light hold shift knob up and floor car
let go
its the same setup on the m3 minus the power mode
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 0
From: NW Ohio
2008 335 vert, 2004 MDX
Yeah, and that guy in the next lane in a Hyundai you thought wasn't going to race decides to floor it. Now what? Oh yeah, I press that big button on the floor with my foot and watch him in the rearview mirror.
If a drag isn't anticipated by the M5 driver, I guess it's over. Can you summon up launch control once in motion? I wouldn't think so because you've already "launched."
If a drag isn't anticipated by the M5 driver, I guess it's over. Can you summon up launch control once in motion? I wouldn't think so because you've already "launched."
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Johannesburg, South Africa
2006 E46 M3, 2008 E92 M3
M5 isn't made for drag-racing anyway. No-one really cares about 1/4 mile times if they buy an M5. Besides an M5 will cream most cars without LC. Take it from someone who actually DRIVES one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 1
From: Joisey
1999 C280
Originally Posted by SoulBladeZA
M5 isn't made for drag-racing anyway. No-one really cares about 1/4 mile times if they buy an M5. Besides an M5 will cream most cars without LC. Take it from someone who actually DRIVES one.
Who are you? Gustav's brother from South Africa?
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by xraymd
Yeah, and that guy in the next lane in a Hyundai you thought wasn't going to race decides to floor it. Now what? Oh yeah, I press that big button on the floor with my foot and watch him in the rearview mirror.
If a drag isn't anticipated by the M5 driver, I guess it's over. Can you summon up launch control once in motion? I wouldn't think so because you've already "launched."
If a drag isn't anticipated by the M5 driver, I guess it's over. Can you summon up launch control once in motion? I wouldn't think so because you've already "launched."
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 1
From: NJ
2005 E55
Originally Posted by NdnMbLova
Who are you? Gustav's brother from South Africa?
C'mon. He has a different view, that's all. A 13.0 1/4 mile is still fast for a sedan.
The M5 has highway bragging rights; and the E55 will have drag strip and light to light bragging rights. Harmony in the universe. :p
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Mercedes-AMG SUVs Arrive With NEW V8 Engine: 12 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
To be fair, how many of us actually smoke the tires and get that kind of launch when street racing????
that'll just land u in jail. 99% of the time you start slow, see if the other guy is racing u and then punch it. This does not require launch control.
that'll just land u in jail. 99% of the time you start slow, see if the other guy is racing u and then punch it. This does not require launch control.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 560
Drives Slowly
Yeah, it's about the same as an M3 with SMGII, and it is not as complicated as it sounds. I spent a couple of years with one and never once used it in a street confrontation. The only time I ever utilized it was to demonstrate to my friends how cool an "F1 gearbox" is. It is definitely not a practical innovation for the street but it does make you feel like a race car driver. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 0
From: NW Ohio
2008 335 vert, 2004 MDX
Originally Posted by Mardeth
Do you seriously think that the M5 wont move without LC? You only use the LC when you need the greatest performane you can possibly extract from the car. Say you get suprised in a E55 by a 911 Turbo, like the M5 you wont be catching it, at least not within "normal" road speeds and if you will so will the M5.
Well, that's what I'm wondering. As Ex-Beemer points out, the full potential of the E55 is always on tap. In the M5 it's not, at least not from a red light.
Soulblade - Do you really think NO-ONE buys an M5 for 1/4 mile times? I know somebody who bought an Accord over a Camry because of the 1/4 mile. The whole debate on these boards between M5 guys and E55 guys (looks of the car aside) is about performance. Why did you choose the M5 over the E55? Performance, right? Well, as more information comes to light on the "peformance" of the M5, I'm pretty happy with my choice. In my day to day driving, good performace is about finding holes in traffic and blasting the guy in the next lane. The 1/4 mile time is real important, and the easier it is to call on the power, the better. You'll argue about your performance around a track, but that means nothing on my daily drive, and I expect the vast majority of others' daily drives as well. Faster around a track means as much to me as my friend's better off-road performance in his Cayenne.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Let's get everything straight.
1. Pre-progam the M button on the steering wheel. (about 1 minute) and once done you don't need to do anything else. In my case M button is now set at P500, S6, and EDC at hard setting.
2. For me to use launch control. All I need is push the M button (probably take less than a second. and step 1 to 3 is finished).
3. It takes about 5 second to push the gear selector forward and hold on to the gas pedal.
The whole process take no more than 10 to 15 second to do. If you want to launch the car at stop light, the time is more than enough.
True, without launch control, E55 will win (not by much) in acceleration. But E55 loses steams with speed build up, while M5 builds up more steam as RPM goes higher and higer and the pull on the top end is just amazing.
As i have said in the other post. Both E55 and M5 are fast. Each just does it differently. M5 will walk away from E55 easily past triple digit speed. 0-60 really depends on whether LC is being used and how many mistakes the M5 driver makes.
Both car are different. The more i drive both the more i think that these two car should never be compared to each other. The difference between the two is night and day and actually compliment each other very well.
I would still choose M5 over E55 easily, simply put the M5 dynamic is far superior than E55. E55 has very addicting low end punch that is not present in the M5 and is far less involving to drive. But as i said in another post, sometime less involving is a good thing for every day use. E55 and M5 simply bring different stuff to the table, to compare the two really makes no sense what so ever.
1. Pre-progam the M button on the steering wheel. (about 1 minute) and once done you don't need to do anything else. In my case M button is now set at P500, S6, and EDC at hard setting.
2. For me to use launch control. All I need is push the M button (probably take less than a second. and step 1 to 3 is finished).
3. It takes about 5 second to push the gear selector forward and hold on to the gas pedal.
The whole process take no more than 10 to 15 second to do. If you want to launch the car at stop light, the time is more than enough.
True, without launch control, E55 will win (not by much) in acceleration. But E55 loses steams with speed build up, while M5 builds up more steam as RPM goes higher and higer and the pull on the top end is just amazing.
As i have said in the other post. Both E55 and M5 are fast. Each just does it differently. M5 will walk away from E55 easily past triple digit speed. 0-60 really depends on whether LC is being used and how many mistakes the M5 driver makes.
Both car are different. The more i drive both the more i think that these two car should never be compared to each other. The difference between the two is night and day and actually compliment each other very well.
I would still choose M5 over E55 easily, simply put the M5 dynamic is far superior than E55. E55 has very addicting low end punch that is not present in the M5 and is far less involving to drive. But as i said in another post, sometime less involving is a good thing for every day use. E55 and M5 simply bring different stuff to the table, to compare the two really makes no sense what so ever.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by xraymd
Well, that's what I'm wondering. As Ex-Beemer points out, the full potential of the E55 is always on tap. In the M5 it's not, at least not from a red light.
M-button on the steering wheel can be programmed. And once that is done. You will never have to do it again. LC can be enabled in about 10 second or so or you can go without LC.
LC was designed in because BMW took away the clutch pedal on the M5 hence you no longer can dump the clutch at RPM you desire.
Other than that you can leave the car in P500/S6/EDC hard all day long. So in that sense the full potential of the M5 is on tap as well.
LC simply allows you to dump the clutch at high RPM that you normally don't get to do. E55 being a pure automatic and you can't really control lauch RPM either (of course you can uses brake to hold the car in place and up the rev- then this is extra step you have to take, and same as LC- one extra step).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
Originally Posted by krispykrme
Other than that you can leave the car in P500/S6/EDC hard all day long. So in that sense the full potential of the M5 is on tap as well.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by Chappy
Does leaving the car in P500/S6/EDC have any negative impact on fuel economy?
I just got the car back from 1200 miles service so i really can't tell how bad the gas mileage would be if i left it in this mode. It also really depends on how hard i am pushing it. But then again, there really isn't any room for you to take advantage of this for every day use.
As i posted earlier. While playing with LC last night, I actually hit 80 in 2nd gear at 8000 RPM. Unless i am insane or have no regard for other people's life, I really don't think it is wise to mess around with it like that in residential area or on public street.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 1
From: Encino
'06 CLS55 AMG
I dont care who you are, at the average stoplight, there wont be time to do all that. Not only that, you really need to save it. Imagine using it(LC) on some other car earlier and now its disengaged! That would suck and it will undoubtedly occur often. As many have said before, for this kind of money, you should be allowed maximum performance at any given time. Looks like the 55's will still enjoy utter superiority under 100, where most races take place!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by VelocitE55
I dont care who you are, at the average stoplight, there wont be time to do all that. Not only that, you really need to save it. Imagine using it(LC) on some other car earlier and now its disengaged! That would suck and it will undoubtedly occur often. As many have said before, for this kind of money, you should be allowed maximum performance at any given time. Looks like the 55's will still enjoy utter superiority under 100, where most races take place!
Compare to E55. True, I don't need to push a M-button. But in order to launch at high RPM. I have to press both gas and brake at same time. To launch, I simply release the brake and off i go.
So the only difference between the two is actually M5 requires you to push an M button. I really fail to see where I wouldn't have time to do this.
As far as LC being disabled after use and needs time to cool down. Guys, keep in mind that M5 is a manual without clutch pedal. It still has a clutch. A clutch would not last a day if I am keeping on abuse it by dumping clutch at 4000 RPM. I will probably replace the clutch on daily bassis.
As far a utter superiority goes. It is not really there. E55 will win 0-100 battle from dead stop without LC. With LC, both will be very close. From a roll in which use of LC is pointless (because you are already rolling and if you are in right gear in the M5) M5 should win out in under 100 as well.
I think Gustav used rolling start instead of complete dead stop launch to compare the two to hide the fact that gearing and launch RPM really matters for the M5.
0-100, E55 should win. From roll-100. Really depends on speed, RPM, and gearing. Also M5 will require a much more skilled driver. So driver mistakes in M5 is also a huge factor. E55 on the other hand really requires no skill what so ever to launch it hard. Again, different car for different niche.
Last edited by krispykrme; Nov 9, 2005 at 01:39 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 3
From: Frederick, MD
'72 Suburban
I don't understand the purpose of P400/P500 modes. Why would you drive around intentionally limiting HP? I could see a valet or P500/P900 mode, but 500hp in a 4000lb car isn't much, especially with the low tq numbers the M5's V10 produces.
I think KK hit the nail on the head - the M5 is a much more engaging car to drive. While I love my E55, if I couldn't have other cars in the garage to fulfill my need for speed and handling, I would probably have given the M5 more consideration when I purchased my E55.
Competition improves the breed and it's great to see BMW stepping up. I'd like to see Audi get off their *** and produce a car that competes with the E55/M5.
I think KK hit the nail on the head - the M5 is a much more engaging car to drive. While I love my E55, if I couldn't have other cars in the garage to fulfill my need for speed and handling, I would probably have given the M5 more consideration when I purchased my E55.
Competition improves the breed and it's great to see BMW stepping up. I'd like to see Audi get off their *** and produce a car that competes with the E55/M5.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 1
From: NJ
2005 E55
Originally Posted by krispykrme
Average stop light is more than 10 second. I am not sure how many brain cell that i need to dedicate to press one button, push the gear forward, and hold on to the gas. To launch, i simply let go of the gear selector.
Compare to E55. True, I don't need to push a M-button. But in order to launch at high RPM. I have to press both gas and brake at same time. To launch, I simply release the brake and off i go.
So the only difference between the two is actually M5 requires you to push an M button. I really fail to see where I wouldn't have time to do this.
As far as LC being disabled after use and needs time to cool down. Guys, keep in mind that M5 is a manual without clutch pedal. It still has a clutch. A clutch would not last a day if I am keeping on abuse it by dumping clutch at 4000 RPM. I will probably replace the clutch on daily bassis.
As far a utter superiority goes. It is not really there. E55 will win 0-100 battle from dead stop without LC. With LC, both will be very close. From a roll in which use of LC is pointless (because you are already rolling and if you are in right gear in the M5) M5 should win out in under 100 as well.
I think Gustav used rolling start instead of complete dead stop launch to compare the two to hide the fact that gearing and launch RPM really matters for the M5.
0-100, E55 should win. From roll-100. Really depends on speed, RPM, and gearing. Also M5 will require a much more skilled driver. So driver mistakes in M5 is also a huge factor. E55 on the other hand really requires no skill what so ever to launch it hard. Again, different car for different niche.
Compare to E55. True, I don't need to push a M-button. But in order to launch at high RPM. I have to press both gas and brake at same time. To launch, I simply release the brake and off i go.
So the only difference between the two is actually M5 requires you to push an M button. I really fail to see where I wouldn't have time to do this.
As far as LC being disabled after use and needs time to cool down. Guys, keep in mind that M5 is a manual without clutch pedal. It still has a clutch. A clutch would not last a day if I am keeping on abuse it by dumping clutch at 4000 RPM. I will probably replace the clutch on daily bassis.
As far a utter superiority goes. It is not really there. E55 will win 0-100 battle from dead stop without LC. With LC, both will be very close. From a roll in which use of LC is pointless (because you are already rolling and if you are in right gear in the M5) M5 should win out in under 100 as well.
I think Gustav used rolling start instead of complete dead stop launch to compare the two to hide the fact that gearing and launch RPM really matters for the M5.
0-100, E55 should win. From roll-100. Really depends on speed, RPM, and gearing. Also M5 will require a much more skilled driver. So driver mistakes in M5 is also a huge factor. E55 on the other hand really requires no skill what so ever to launch it hard. Again, different car for different niche.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by enzom
to be fair, is anyone really going to program their M button to eliminate the stability control? Seems to me that 99% of drivers will always drive with the stability control active. In theory, you could decide that every time you push the M button you will not have stability control. Or you can decide that for the ten or so times you will use launch control while you own the car, it is not worth having to reengage the stability control every time you hit the M button. So it is not really accurate to say it is as simple as one button, IMO.
It is really an one button operation.
In order to use S6 you have to disable DSC. That has nothing to do with power, it has to do with SMG.
Also, you can leave the car in S5, P500, EDC in hard setting all day with DSC engaged. Again not many buttons to push.
I really think people from this board should ask any new M5 owners out there for a quick tour on the operation of M5. It is really not that complicated. Granted this is the 2nd M car that I had with SMG and I am very adapated to whole SMG operation. The M-mode really isn't that hard to use and learn. In fact i really don't know what is really needed to be learned either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 1
From: Encino
'06 CLS55 AMG
The way the instuctions are listed, it looks to be more than simply pushing a button and the shifter forward and holding the accelerator. Regardless, I find it amusing that its so easy for us and such a pain in the *** for M5 drivers to be able to compete with us. Without LC, you guys are F*cked unless the race is going well over 100 MPH.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Bentley GTC, Porsche GT2/EVOMS GT700, 1968 Dodge Charger Hemi
Originally Posted by krispykrme
Let's get everything straight.
1. Pre-progam the M button on the steering wheel. (about 1 minute) and once done you don't need to do anything else. In my case M button is now set at P500, S6, and EDC at hard setting.
2. For me to use launch control. All I need is push the M button (probably take less than a second. and step 1 to 3 is finished).
3. It takes about 5 second to push the gear selector forward and hold on to the gas pedal.
The whole process take no more than 10 to 15 second to do. If you want to launch the car at stop light, the time is more than enough.
True, without launch control, E55 will win (not by much) in acceleration. But E55 loses steams with speed build up, while M5 builds up more steam as RPM goes higher and higer and the pull on the top end is just amazing.
As i have said in the other post. Both E55 and M5 are fast. Each just does it differently. M5 will walk away from E55 easily past triple digit speed. 0-60 really depends on whether LC is being used and how many mistakes the M5 driver makes.
Both car are different. The more i drive both the more i think that these two car should never be compared to each other. The difference between the two is night and day and actually compliment each other very well.
I would still choose M5 over E55 easily, simply put the M5 dynamic is far superior than E55. E55 has very addicting low end punch that is not present in the M5 and is far less involving to drive. But as i said in another post, sometime less involving is a good thing for every day use. E55 and M5 simply bring different stuff to the table, to compare the two really makes no sense what so ever.
1. Pre-progam the M button on the steering wheel. (about 1 minute) and once done you don't need to do anything else. In my case M button is now set at P500, S6, and EDC at hard setting.
2. For me to use launch control. All I need is push the M button (probably take less than a second. and step 1 to 3 is finished).
3. It takes about 5 second to push the gear selector forward and hold on to the gas pedal.
The whole process take no more than 10 to 15 second to do. If you want to launch the car at stop light, the time is more than enough.
True, without launch control, E55 will win (not by much) in acceleration. But E55 loses steams with speed build up, while M5 builds up more steam as RPM goes higher and higer and the pull on the top end is just amazing.
As i have said in the other post. Both E55 and M5 are fast. Each just does it differently. M5 will walk away from E55 easily past triple digit speed. 0-60 really depends on whether LC is being used and how many mistakes the M5 driver makes.
Both car are different. The more i drive both the more i think that these two car should never be compared to each other. The difference between the two is night and day and actually compliment each other very well.
I would still choose M5 over E55 easily, simply put the M5 dynamic is far superior than E55. E55 has very addicting low end punch that is not present in the M5 and is far less involving to drive. But as i said in another post, sometime less involving is a good thing for every day use. E55 and M5 simply bring different stuff to the table, to compare the two really makes no sense what so ever.
