N55 + DCT + LC + 1/4 Mile Strip =

[Vtec Abuser]

FAIL!!!!!

Right guys, wondered if you can help?
I took my 2011 135i DCT to our local FIA approved 1/4 mile strip yesterday to give the old girl a few runs.
I have ran at this strip for many years and have run many cars there in that time ( bit of an addict ). This strip is seen as the most accurate (although not always the quickest) 1/4 mile strip in the country, mainly due to it hosting Top Fuel events and European championships (FIA approved). So what most people use as a marker.. http://www.santapod.co.uk/
Anyway I had previously tried running my 1er at a organised 0-60 / 1/4 mile event which was set up on an old airfield (just for fun). The surface was by no means smooth and no matter how many times I tried to launch the 1er with LC, the car would leave the line fine but then the stability control would through a fit and cut all the power in first After being confused for a good while, I put it down to the electronics not liking the surface and as soon as it hit a bump under load, the stability would call it a day.
You can here the power being cut just after the car leaves the line on this vid and also see the black lines of tarmac that caused the problem..

Now with LC not being available when stability control is switched off, this then left you with a tick over launch mixed with a bit of lag. In other words, a waste of time if you're after a good 1/4 mile time. So I gave up...
I was then able to strap a V-Box to the car after this event and on a smooth surface to see what the car would actually do under normal circumstances. Data came back with :-
0-60mph = 4.5
0-100mph = 9.9

So I knew the car had potential..

Anyway, after this disappointment I thought no worries, as with Santa Pod being a proper drag strip the electronics would not spoil the party there and all would be fine. So yesterday I headed there with my new non-runflat rubber fitted and see what the car can do.. Guess what? Same problem again This strip is pretty smooth with only a few minor imperfections on the start line. But no matter how many times I tried, the stability light just flashed on every run and cut power in 1st AGAIN!!! I was getting a bit of axle tramp on each run, so not sure whether that had anything to do with it?
Basically I was left with the option of going home very early or doing a few runs with stability off and launching from tick over revs This was the outcome (best run), but just check out the 60ft time




Temp was between 15oC - 17.5oC (60-62oF) and the car has a Stage 1 flash but otherwise bone stock, bar the change to non-runflats.
I was hoping to take the 1er to a few 1/4 events over the next couple of years, but unless there is a solution to this there is just no point. Now with me being a bit of a 1/4 mile fan, I would find this fairly gutting to be honest. The real odd thing about it all is that on the road the LC works fine!!!, So i'm a bit

So guys, am I screwed? Or is there another solution to get this bloody thing to launch on anything other than a glass-like, flat surface?
I know there is plenty of you that have managed to run their car with LC on the 1/4 mile, so what am I doing wrong?
Sorry for the long rant/post. Just a bit disappointed with this set up tbh
My last car (Mk5 Golf GTI) had the DSG box and the LC on that was 100x better as it also allowed you to launch at what revs you wanted under the default 3k+, which was very handy with it being modded and 2wd.

Thanks in advance..

[gdub]

The re090s on the car no matter in what condition, are AWFUL. I'd be willing to bet if you got some nitto 555r you wouldn't get the traction control issue at the track.

[Vtec Abuser]

I have Goodyear Eagle F1 Asy 2's all round now mate (non runflat). But road legal track rubber would give more grip, no doubt. Just not an option for me as a full time set up with work etc. Plus I like to run my car on the strip as it is 100% of the time (ie road trim)..

[GeeRam]

I'm confused.... that vid clip isn't at the Pod...???

[Pangloss]

I don't know why people are posting tire suggestions. Bad tires aren't costing him a full second of 0-60 time. Something else is wrong.

[Vtec Abuser]

Originally Posted by Pangloss

I don't know why people are posting tire suggestions. Bad tires aren't costing him a full second of 0-60 time. Something else is wrong.

Exactly mate, traction isn't the issue, electronics are..

[RimasRS]

I think you want procede with boost limit in a 1st gear. You said you have a flash tune so that makes me think that electronics of LC is adjusted for oem power to go with least of wheel spin. Now when you have flashed your car it just doesn't work right.

[Vtec Abuser]

Could be an option mate. Possible fail safe that the stability cuts in if too much power, torque and traction are combined maybe?
Strange thing is, it works fine on the road... Maybe something to do with the drag strip surface, who knows..

[RimasRS]

Or try to save money for LSD it's expensive but car get's different level on street and drag strip and also track

[RimasRS]

Read #2 post on this thread http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599576

[Vtec Abuser]

Nice find mate.. Seems like i'm not the only one then.. Such a shame mine wouldn't hook up and do a 2.0 60ft As there would be a 12.5-12.6 there for sure...

[RimasRS]

Read about Procede tune maybe you will be interested in that tune. It will open even more possibilities for you.

[JimmyT]

Just a question? Are u shifting the car in manual mode, or letting the car shift itself in sport mode? What Icon is in the driver's display when you are using launch control? I'm thinking that something else is wrong just based on you 60' foot times, but your trap speed is very respectable for just a stage I tune. BTW, which tune are you using?

[Vtec Abuser]

Originally Posted by JimmyT

Just a question? Are u shifting the car in manual mode, or letting the car shift itself in sport mode? What Icon is in the driver's display when you are using launch control? I'm thinking that something else is wrong just based on you 60' foot times, but your trap speed is very respectable for just a stage I tune. BTW, which tune are you using?

M mode and chequered flag on view, so definitely LC. But no matter what I did when using it, the stability/traction control light would start flashing and would cut the power in 1st gear every time (hence the poor 60ft time).
I am quite experienced on the 1/4 mile and managed a 12.7 @ 114mph from my Mk5 Golf GTI in full road trim, standard road rubber and no diff. But the LC on that allowed you to dial in whatever revs you want under the default 3k (something the DCT won't allow) and also had stability/traction off when in use. Still wasn't easy though putting the same power as the 1er through the front wheels with no diff or sticky rubber.. Even that managed a 2.28 60ft though... Just shows what a problem this LC is causing..

Software is DMS mate..

[slim_e90]

Did you try launching in second gear without LC on... But with TC off? That may get you better results. This car has enough TQ especially when tuned to pull hard from low rpm's in 2nd.

[RimasRS]

I don't think that this is ^^^^ the proper way to launch

[ZED4Mjjl]

Don't you have to turn off DTC before using LC? That's what the manual says. Also it recommends that you don't disable DSC, but you can by keeping the DTC button pressed a few seconds. It works well that way on my AA flashed '12 everything off, you get wheel spin but controlled by milder intervention.

[Freon]

2.4s 60 ft time is a bad launch. 110mph shows you're putting plenty of power down. Actually the video didn't look that bad, so not sure what else to say. That doesn't look like a 2.4s launch.

[Vtec Abuser]

The video was from a different event mate. The car gets off the line fine on that run, but as soon as it was hitting those black bums/lines it set the stability control off and cut power in first (same as when traction control cuts in)..
The 2.4 is crap because I had to leave the line on tick-over revs and lag before the car gets going. LC just doesn't work on the 1/4 on my car now it's mapped. Power just gets cut in 1st on every run..