We do have LAUNCH CONTROL and this is how we do eeeeeeeet!

[krunko]

Ok, so I'm a bit excited right now. Earlier today I was down at Raven Motorsports picking up my 5mm spacers. I was talking with Matt about my car and he was telling me how he knows how to activate launch control. I didn't think he meant actual built in launch control on our ECU, I just figured he meant a good way to launch.

I was wrong. He took me through some steps and it went to 3k RPM and then took a good solid launch. I didn't really believe it, until we switched seats and I gave it a shot.

I turned the car on with my foot on my brake. Switched to Dynamic. Hit the traction control button until it says ASR OFF. Shift to D and then to the manual version of D to the right. Hit the throttle with my foot while still braking. At about 20% throttle it goes up to 1k RPM, but between 20% and 99% throttle it just stays at 1k RPM until you 100% floor it and it pops up to 3k RPM and just floats there. At this point just let off the brake and VROOOOOOOOOM!

See it all here:



Major props to raven motorsports for this knowledge.

[awdjunkies]

This is going to be the BIGGEST news since the discovery of the water pump failure!! Thanks for sharing.

[Nighthawk]

Hope you're right. Going to try today hopefully.

[2010S4]

So do we have to turn the car off and back on every time we want to launch it?

[krunko]

I don't think so, I just did that anyways. Try both ways.

[primetime]

Very interesting! I assume you have to be in manual mode? I will try later as it is raining and I am fighting the flu.....

[2010S4]

I just went out and tried it about 6-7 times with no success. I tried doing it without turning the car, then turning the car off. I could only get it up to about 2k RPM, and if I did not let off brake then the RPMs would drop off. Also the car kept trying to ease forward even though I had the brake all the way down. I will give it another try later today. I was hoping to be the first to confirm it.

[L0U]

the tranny has had many software updates...wonder if this is on just one version.

the other point is the tires didn't spin, yet launching with the original method, we get tires squeal/spin.

[2010S4]

It could be since you have a 2011 model that your software in the DSG is different as LOU stated. Perhaps I should have my dealer do a software update on my tranny, although I would have thought that they would have when I took it in for the 5k service about a month ago.

[madmadS4]

the tranny has had many software updates...wonder if this is on just one version.

the other point is the tires didn't spin, yet launching with the original method, we get tires squeal/spin.

Yah I was wondering the same. Will try today! Great find!

[Blackhawk878]

Krunko,

Do you have access to a VAG-COM cable? If so can you post your xmsn software version data?

J

[ibiski]

2011 ftw! Will try it today, but curious if this will also work without having to turn the car off.

[2010S4]

Are you putting it to full throttle instantly, or going to about 20% gas and then all the way to 100%

[Voltrons_Head]

I'll give this a shot. I haven't mastered the Proogz technique. Maybe I'll have better luck with this one.

[Proogz]

Nice find! Ill try this also once I get my car back from the dealer for some work being done..

[SBuff4.2L]

It worked for me but the car delayed a split second between the time I let off the brake pedal and when it actually launched. The car makes a hard "bang" when it finally launches. It does pull away fast, but I do not like the delay/bang. Tried three times successfully, but the delay/bang scares me a little. It feels like an old time neutral drop.

Actually, my car has a slight delay from brake to gas even a low throttle speeds, so maybe this is an extension of that issue.

[L0U]

remember the traction control button. hit it once to remove the first program only...if you hold it, it removes both.

[madmadS4]

So I tried launch control just now - WOW. Any harder and I'll need a neck brace. LOVE IT! I can do logging if anyone needs... though I'm not yet fully up to speed on VCDS.

[2010S4]

remember the traction control button. hit it once to remove the first program only...if you hold it, it removes both.

This may be my problem. However, when I just press it the screen says ASR off, or at least I think that is what it says. I will try again later and hold it and see what happens.

[tbconrad]

It could be since you have a 2011 model that your software in the DSG is different as LOU stated. Perhaps I should have my dealer do a software update on my tranny, although I would have thought that they would have when I took it in for the 5k service about a month ago.

I was checking on SW updates while I was at the dealer yesterday and my mechanic said I was good. The only update he knew about was one for DSG, so you may want to check.

[jeffc31337]

Is there any consensus on if this actually works and if the car needs to be off and then started to do it? The steps sound just like activating launch control on my 6 speed DSG so it sounds very plausible.

My car just hit port on Friday so I should be in my car next week sometimes. This will be great, and unexpected news if it's true :) Ill check out my car when I get it and report back on if it works.

[madmadS4]

Is there any consensus on if this actually works and if the car needs to be off and then started to do it? The steps sound just like activating launch control on my 6 speed DSG so it sounds very plausible.

My car just hit port on Friday so I should be in my car next week sometimes. This will be great, and unexpected news if it's true :) Ill check out my car when I get it and report back on if it works.

It works - tested today. Follow the OP's steps exactly. Must be WOT to get to 3k. I have a 2011 S4 w/o ADS which I picked up about 7 weeks ago.

Totally made my day!

[2010S4]

I cannot get it to work. It could be 2 things. either my version of DSG software does not have it or I am doing it wrong. 2 questions about the steps in doing it. Do you just push the traction control button or do you have to hold it for a little bit. Secondly do you push the pedal down slowly or just hammer it all the way down. I don't really understand the description about pressing the gas.

Thanks

[madmadS4]

You just press the traction control button once. Then the display says ASR Off - like it shows in the video.

If you push the pedal down slowly, it won't rev up. If you floor it, it'll go up to 3k and sit there until you let go of the brakes.

[SBuff4.2L]

It works - tested today. Follow the OP's steps exactly. Must be WOT to get to 3k. I have a 2011 S4 which I picked up about 7 weeks ago.

Totally made my day!

Did you get the slight delay, then "bang" launch I experienced or did it leap when you let off the brake?

[madmadS4]

It seemed to take off right away. However, I only did it once and haven't had a chance to try some more. When I get a chance, I'll try w/o turning off the car.

[Voltrons_Head]

Anyone with a gtech should get 60' time differences between a standard launch and this. I wasn't consistent enough with the other way to get a good set of numbers to compare to.

Do you really have to turn the car off?

[2010S4]

I will give it a try again later and see what happens, but I really don't think it works on my car. Has anyone with a 2010 S4 done this? It appears that is is software and is only on the 2011 models.

[jeffc31337]

You just press the traction control button once. Then the display says ASR Off - like it shows in the video.

If you push the pedal down slowly, it won't rev up. If you floor it, it'll go up to 3k and sit there until you let go of the brakes.

Thumbs up! It's of limited use if the car has to be off, but I doubt that's the case... or at least I hope. :) Witht he 6 speed the actual order of operations doesn't matter too much.... IE once at a stop you turn ASR off and put it in sports mode but you can do either of those first.

It also wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was a new feature. A3s and GTIs for the first couple years did not have launch control but the newer ones do. Unfortunately not all of the older 6 speed DSGs could be flashed to a newer version of code that enabled LC.

If Prime's car can do this he'll be in the 11s next time he goes to the track ;)

[egalley]

I will give it a try again later and see what happens, but I really don't think it works on my car. Has anyone with a 2010 S4 done this? It appears that is is software and is only on the 2011 models.

I'm going to go try it on my 2010. I just had the DSG software update 2 weeks ago. I'm at the latest version.
I'll let you know.

[SBuff4.2L]

[Do you really have to turn the car off?[/QUOTE]

I did not tun the car off between my three attempts.

[egalley]

That's good to hear!

[2010S4]

I'm going to go try it on my 2010. I just had the DSG software update 2 weeks ago. I'm at the latest version.
I'll let you know.

Thanks, if yours works then I will just have to go get a software update.

[Quattroownsyou]

Hey fellas with my GTI's dsg launch control, if you don't follow the steps exactly (for example you let off the brake just slightly allowing the car to nudge forward) the transmission will not engage launch control, therefore you might have to pop it back in D and then shift it over to manual mode with your foot back on the brake. Once you WOT you should have launch control engaged. Takes a few trys to get it to work.

[egalley]

Thanks, if yours works then I will just have to go get a software update.

I just went out and tried 5 times, and I wouldn't work for me. As soon as I had everything set ie manual, ASR off, Dynamic. I stepped on the gas with my foot on the brake, and it went up to 2k then cut out.

[krunko]

I live in Hollywood and if anyone wants to come by and vagcom my car you can. Matt from raven said he learned this from r8s and a3s.

[2010S4]

I just went out and tried 5 times, and I wouldn't work for me. As soon as I had everything set ie manual, ASR off, Dynamic. I stepped on the gas with my foot on the brake, and it went up to 2k then cut out.

That is exactly what mine did. This makes me mad.

[Sid77]

It worked for me but the car delayed a split second between the time I let off the brake pedal and when it actually launched. The car makes a hard "bang" when it finally launches. It does pull away fast, but I do not like the delay/bang. Tried three times successfully, but the delay/bang scares me a little. It feels like an old time neutral drop.

Actually, my car has a slight delay from brake to gas even a low throttle speeds, so maybe this is an extension of that issue.

Launch control on the TT has a slight delay after you let off the break until the car launches, i dont recall any bang though.

[2011S4Ti]

Tried this morning and scared the wife and daughter. Nice! Wow! that is quite the launch. I spun all four tires a bit on wet pavement. Excellent find. I wouldn't want to launch any higher RPM given how harsh the launch is at 3k

[2010S4]

Launch control on the TT has a slight delay after you let off the break until the car launches, i dont recall any bang though.

How do you do it on the TT. I also have a TTS and would love to try LC on it.