Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - Launch control?

I was speaking with a BMW M series owner yesterday, and he asked if the Plus Six had "launch control", I said I hadn't heard of it, and doubted it would.

He's now sent me the instructions on how it is controlled on his BMW. Unless anyone knows differently, and I still doubt the Mog has this, I will find a long-straight-dry-well made road and try it out.

"Put car in sport plus
Press traction control one time (goes to sport traction)
Move shifter over towards you (m/s position)
Brake to the floor
Gas to the floor (you'll feel a little click)
Says launch activated at bottom of the dash. You have 3 seconds to release the brake and fly!

Don't forget to put the silly grin on your face"

Since I decided to lose about 10 kg, I have activated my lunch control.

If I ever had any, my wild(er) days are long gone. It's a curiosity I'm seeking to find the answer to, rather than pushing any boundaries. I plan to have a long, safe and "gentle" relationship with Rachel, she'll be here long after I have gone ... according to my daughter!

I think BMW tend to agree Dave; this is from their online blog:

"Before attempting to activate the Launch Control in an automatic BMW, it’s important to ensure that your BMW is at a complete stop. This means that the car is not moving forward or backward, and that it is safely and legally parked. Make sure that you have enough space around you to safely launch the vehicle without hitting any obstacles or other vehicles. It’s also important to note that launching a vehicle with maximum acceleration can be dangerous, so only attempt to use launch control in safe and appropriate conditions, such as on a closed course or during a drag race. Once you have ensured that you are in a safe location and have come to a complete stop, you can move on to the next steps to activate launch control."

Bottom line is, it's dangerous to have it on a vehicle intended for road use.

Launch control. Also known as gearbox lunch system, Use at your gearbox's peril

The police teach handbrake on into neutral, tyres and tarmac is what you should see tyres of the vehicle in front plus the tarmac between you. Launch control should be called LUNCH control as that is what it will do to the gearbox if used too often, we were told NOT to use it.

I have far too much mechanical sympathy to make use of launch control, EV`s can manage something similar and more usable without all the drama associated.....

Anyone with an ounce, (or even microgram) of mechanical sympathy would not ever dream of abusing a car like that. Sadly I suspect most can't visualise what's going on inside the mechanical parts. It's only when you see twisted and sheared halfshafts, and broken cranks and so on that it becomes apparent that steel actually breaks.

Many many years ago I had a boss who had not long passed his driving test. His first car was a company car. He wasn't a great driver. His car was off the road and they gave him a 2.0L Granada Automatic in the interim. He was moaning about how slow it was away from the lights. I suggested that a simple technique of both feet to the floor - one on throttle the other on brake - followed by an instantaneous release of the brakes would give him a faster getaway.

I had forgotten who I was talking to and neglected to to tell him in simple terms - "Only try this in a straight line on a dry road".

Near the office was a traffic light controlled T junction with a lovely wrought iron security fence alongside the bar of the T (double glazing firm in those days IIRC).

A few days after our conversation, he tried the tactic at this junction. He embedded the poor Granada in the fence backwards. Fortunately he didn't hit anyone else and wasn't hurt.

The problem with common sense is that it is rather uncommon.