S3 Launch Control

[j0nny2013]

Guys with S3's

What is the crack with launch control?

what is the limit of launch control's you can do and how does it work as in once you have used your limit is that it for the life of your car or just a certain amount of time?

Cheers

 

[Leo-RS]

Guys with S3's

What is the crack with launch control?

what is the limit of launch control's you can do and how does it work as in once you have used your limit is that it for the life of your car or just a certain amount of time?

Cheers

This is not documented anywhere in the manuals and so far is internet hearsay.

Rumours of a limit of 200 launches but then I was told that when I had my TTRS and I launched it far in excess of that and was still working when I sold it.

If there is such a limit, tuners will no doubt be able to reset.

Unless you're a drag racing freak like I am, 200 should be plenty anyway.

 

[cuke2u]

I think that someone in this forum has actually posted up proof that the 200 limit does exist...

 

[j0nny2013]

cheers for that.

It would seem daft to only give you 200 then not be able to do it again.

although like you say 200 is quite a lot to be fair!

 

[Pulp84]

I think that someone in this forum has actually posted up proof that the 200 limit does exist...

But wasn't that on a pre-face lifted A4 in the US?

I have a hunch it doesn't exist if its in the manual. When I had my mk5 GTI it had LC but it was a secret function if you will as it wasn't in the manual and you had to Google how to do it!

Older gearboxes maybe - things might be different with newer versions......

 

[j0nny2013]

I agree,

surely if they have a limit they have to advise you of it somewhere in the manual.

I've noticed you have S-Tronic Pulp84, have you used your launch control?

 

[Pulp84]

I have and its great fun.....its quite a shock first time you use it as the traction feels brutal. Great feature.....

 

[j0nny2013]

I have and its great fun.....its quite a shock first time you use it as the traction feels brutal. Great feature.....

nice one, would love to give it a go. just have to order my S3 first!

 

[Misfit]

My s3 is on order and this is something I've been wondering about too. How does the LC work? Just step on the brake and accelerator at the same time then release the brake?

 

[j0nny2013]

My s3 is on order and this is something I've been wondering about too. How does the LC work? Just step on the brake and accelerator at the same time then release the brake?

pretty much! as long as you have TC off then realease the brake and away you go!

 

[Longy]

nice one, would love to give it a go. just have to order my S3 first!

Haha, why? That's what dealer demo cars are for.

 

[j0nny2013]

Haha, why? That's what dealer demo cars are for.

haha very true! but I think I would spoil the suprise if I was to buy one!

although still tempting!

 

[jimmydougle]

Gotta be in dynamic mode as well

 

[discodeek]

dynamic, TC off, gearstick over to the left, left foot on brake, right foot floor it -sits at about 4k revs -lift off brake - awesome !!!

 

[Leeber]

Also have to have hold assist switched off if you have it.

 

[Dafid6]

Hey just a quick question. Is launch control only on the S3 or does any of the S-Tronic A3s have it aswell?

 

[steverobertsbbc]

Yes they do. I haven't dared try it yet.

 

[Pulp84]

Had a few cheeky launches today - great fun.

Now I have learnt the procedure it's getting much easier just to do it when an opportunity presents itself. Bit addictive actually!

 

[JohnM100]

Hey just a quick question. Is launch control only on the S3 or does any of the S-Tronic A3s have it aswell?

Only on the 6-speed S-tronic A3s - not the 7 speed.

John.

 

[Jerodequin]

Really? I had assumed it was only the S3 that supported launch control?!

 

[Pulp84]

Really? I had assumed it was only the S3 that supported launch control?!

6 speed "wet" clutch DSG regardless of application has LC.

 

[Flibble]

Also have to have hold assist switched off if you have it.

Don't think you need to disable it, stop/start doesn't play nicely with it though.

 

[discodeek]

haha - my last launch was against a ferrari 360 -my mate was amazed !

 

[Ashmcblue]

It's too easy to be honest! I like doing it in the wet just do demonstrate how the car has such great traction.

 

[The Challinor]

It's too easy to be honest! I like doing it in the wet just do demonstrate how the car has such great traction.

Is that using Conti's out of interest?

 

[Ashmcblue]

Is that using Conti's out of interest?

I'm not 100% sure. My tyres are what came with the car so I think so.

I'd check but I am currently driving a Mercedes CLS as a courtesy car because someone reversed into the side of my car in a car park.

Slightly off topic but the CLS is atrocious in every way!

 

[Jerodequin]

6 speed "wet" clutch DSG regardless of application has LC.

So is there a limit on the number of launches on a standard A3 with 6 speed S-tronic?

 

[The Challinor]

I'm not 100% sure. My tyres are what came with the car so I think so.

I'd check but I am currently driving a Mercedes CLS as a courtesy car because someone reversed into the side of my car in a car park.

Slightly off topic but the CLS is atrocious in every way!

Sorry to hear that mate, hope it's getting sorted for you.

Yer they will be Continentals then, they seem to get a mixed review especially in the wet. Good to hear your impressed with them though.

 

[Ashmcblue]

Sorry to hear that mate, hope it's getting sorted for you.

Yer they will be Continentals then, they seem to get a mixed review especially in the wet. Good to hear your impressed with them though.

Thanks buddy.

In the dry they seem pretty faultless. I have really hammered the car through corners. There is a tendency to under steer a bit but I am not sure if that is the tune of the chassis and perhaps my driving.

 

[The Challinor]

Thanks buddy.

In the dry they seem pretty faultless. I have really hammered the car through corners. There is a tendency to under steer a bit but I am not sure if that is the tune of the chassis and perhaps my driving.

That's good then as i'm very much used to Goodyear Eagle F1's now and they are excellent in the wet.

Yer I think understeer is just a mild characteristic of the car itself.

 

[sman]

Finally had access to a private stretch of road today and launched the car! Got the engine up to temp and let it go. JESUS it's quick!

 

[The Challinor]

Finally had access to a private stretch of road today and launched the car! Got the engine up to temp and let it go. JESUS it's quick!

I'd love to know where all these stretches are, needs to be a national database haha

 

[Cumbrian_bob]

The launch control is great fun.

Only had a chance to use it a couple of times, needing to find a decent road where I can start from a full stop and launch without risk to other road users. More difficult than it sounds.

I had found a perfect bit of dual carraigeway, 50 limit and traffic lights, empty road, loads of visability. So I had a clean road, good visability, no other road users, good speed limit (shouldnt need to go past 50 by much) ready to go.

Set the options correctly, foot on brake and accelerator, then at that exact moment a nice ford focus police car pulls up alongside. Lights are changing, Im panicking..... Luckily taking foot off the accelerator then off the brake then pressing the accelerator gives quick acceleration but not rocket quick.

The police car didnt seem to notice me or the car revving more than it should, not sure if it would have got its attention if I just shot off leaving it as a distant dot in my rear view mirror.

 

[ColMariner]

So finally got to have my first go at launch control last night on quite stretch of dual carriageway on my way to work,
Wow just WooooW!!!

 

[A3_Rider]

Had a few cheeky launches today - great fun.

Now I have learnt the procedure it's getting much easier just to do it when an opportunity presents itself. Bit addictive actually!

Careful, I got 3 points for doing it

I don't know if things have changed but on the 8P TDI it didn't work, works on the 8P V6 and boy does it launch, can't imagine it in the S3!

Doubt I will ever use it.

 

[Leegaryhall]

Had my S3 for nearly 4 months and nearly at 5000 miles..not tried launch control yet, is there something wrong with me......lol
Don't know where to go to try it?

 

[monopole]

I had my 2012 S3 8P3 for 9 months, 1 launch, been there done that didn't need to do it again.

S3 8V..... I'll try it one day with the FSR box on and if I get the APR intake

 

[Lewbo]

All I can say is anyone with an S3 that hasn't done it needs to, when I test drove the S3 saloon I launched it about 6-8 times and loved it. Really throws you back and just goes like a bat out of hell. Gets really addictive too.

 

[Richie c]

Agree with the comment above it is awesome but I have heard a load of rubbish its limit to use and it not coverd under warranty well I just looked in my manual and it tell u how to activate ur LC system so it's not a secret and it coverd in ur warranty so happy launching peeps lol

 

[Psyman79]

After being out for a wee spin with @elpaulio on Friday i decided it was time to launch the car with the wife as a passenger She has a heart condition so probably wasn't a great idea but she lived and all is well. Her brief review was something along the lines of "holy sh1t, what a noise, that was a bit scary, lets not do that again"

Si

P.S thanks to Paul for letting me experience it from the passenger seat