I would love to have them cite "the certain regulations in the United States" that require them to cripple LC (low launch rpm and no auto shift) simultaneously allow them to sell a a 500hp 155mph car that can still smoke the tires but is prevented from performing an optimal start. I will certainly follow up on this.
Tom
Someone who has LC in other parts of the world can chime in. I bet that a 7 speed SMG system w/500 HP and a regulated full speed launch will be REALLY breaking the law by 2nd gear. Could that be the 'regulation' that BMW is referring too?
I read my fair share of stuff regarding the car I am about to plunk down a bunch of money on, yes. The idea that I would need to read more in order to become familiar with a "much-touted feature" is kinda contradictory. The 507hp V-10 was highly touted. The 7 speed SMG tranny was highly touted. I dont think the LC was highly touted.
And with all due respect to DerekFSU, if he is bought the M5 as a race car, he bought the wrong car...
If this boards comments on LC are any gage, launch control was one of the most often commented on and anticipated aspects of the car over the past year. Many were looking forward to what the EU people got and that is why so many are disappointed.
Someone who has LC in other parts of the world can chime in. I bet that a 7 speed SMG system w/500 HP and a regulated full speed launch will be REALLY breaking the law by 2nd gear. Could that be the 'regulation' that BMW is referring too?
As we saw from their follow-up response, the US regulation reason was pure BS and an inartful attempt at making us go away. They somehow forgot that M5 buyers are not the usual dumb and gullible schmucks that fall for that kind of crap. There are thousands of laws that can be broken with or without LC - I can personally attest to quite a few - but I can think or even dream of no regulations that would specifically single out full LC with auto shifts and leave alone crippled LC with only manual shifts.
If this boards comments on LC are any gage, launch control was one of the most often commented on and anticipated aspects of the car over the past year. Many were looking forward to what the EU people got and that is why so many are disappointed.
Jim, I agree. People on the board talked about LC quite a bit. I just don't think BMWNA did the same.
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2006 M5 Sapphire Black Metallic
2001 M5 Jet Black----> bye bye
2005 Dodge Durango, silver
2003 John Deere 4310 Tractor with loader
2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible, red, wife's car
I do know that there is a software upgrade for the gearbox on the first couple of new M5's. Do not know if this would help.
As I live in South Africa, we get the european version M5. It seems that we might get the 250 km/h limiter also removed by BMW for South Africa. BMW SouthAfrica is still fighting for us for this. I do 500km's to Johannesburg from my city twice a week. Average time 2 hours 40 mins.
“Launch Control In the S6 program, the driver can utilize a further SMG
Capability. Dynamic Stability Control must be deactivated via the console
Button. Then the driver holds the shift lever forward (as if for downshift)
and presses the accelerator pedal fully down. This raises the engine to 4000
RPM, ideal for launch. Ready to go, the driver simply releases the shift lever,
the M5 launches with precisely balanced clutch slip and wheel spin for an optimum start. From there SMG will upshift automatically just before the engine redline. This Launch Control gives essentially the same standing start results as would an expert driver. To preclude overheating the clutch, the control system requires an interval of several minutes between Launch Control starts; and if the clutch monitoring logic does ever detect overheating, the clutch engages fully rather than slipping.”
“Launch Control In the S6 program, the driver can utilize a further SMG
Capability. Dynamic Stability Control must be deactivated via the console
Button. Then the driver holds the shift lever forward (as if for downshift)
and presses the accelerator pedal fully down. This raises the engine to 4000
RPM, ideal for launch. Ready to go, the driver simply releases the shift lever,
the M5 launches with precisely balanced clutch slip and wheel spin for an optimum start. From there SMG will upshift automatically just before the engine redline. This Launch Control gives essentially the same standing start results as would an expert driver. To preclude overheating the clutch, the control system requires an interval of several minutes between Launch Control starts; and if the clutch monitoring logic does ever detect overheating, the clutch engages fully rather than slipping.”
That pretty much says it all.
Are you implying that a portion of one page in an internal sales brochure is "highly touting"?
No, it was all of the interviews, the feature specs, the reviews, the car shows, other marketing collateral, etc. lauding all of the super-cool F1-inspired features where Launch Control was a conspicuous part. That was "touting." The brochure is but one of countless mentions.
BMWNA never did disassociate themselves from this global BMW marketing. Had they said (at around the time people placed orders startng in July-Aug) that the US model would be virtually identical to the world model except...., this conversation would be different - not gone, but different. However, they never did this and I still have yet to see an official BMW public statement to this effect after over 1000 US M5s have been delivered with a silently crippled LC.
I don't see how anyone can say that we should not be disturbed by the crippling of launch control on US cars. People buy BMW's for their performance, and BMW has reduced the performance of their flagship car for US customers and not given anyone a reason why. Of course we should be upset, and we should demand a satisfactory explanation from BMW.
I must vigorously disagree with those who say this is a 'minor' performance reduction, and we shouldn't get so worked up. BMW marketed the heck out of this feature - it was touted as one of the most entertaining performance features of the car by a number of magazine reviews.
LC is not folding mirrors, or a heated steering wheel. LC directly impacts the M5's ability to achieve optimal acelleration from a standing start. Every car sold in the US will have sub-optimal acelleration because of this. This is not a 'minor' deal for a car that is marketed worldwide as the ultimate performance sedan.
At the very least, BMW owes us an official explanation from someone in a position of authority.
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