BiTdi Launch Control. Yes you can.

[razor77]

I thought this was reserved for the DSG box, but reading an SQ5 thread on another forum, it's possible. And apparently the same as the RS6, I tried it 5 times in relative succession, in my BiTdi it only worked 2 times.

Like the RS you put in neutral, turn off ESP, put the box in sport mode, foot on brake, full down on gas - revs will hold at 3k, let got of the foot brake and you launch!

The reason it failed three of my five times, the torque controller doesn;t like doing it, unlike dropping a clutch I imagine its quite damaging, so clearly after a successful launch it wants to cool down before going again.

Now something else you need to know, the car counts how many launches the vehicle has done. While Audi tell me they never check this reading, I said "surely if you have a fault that could be caused by launching you would check?", they predictably said "yes". You have been warned.

So this brings me to question. While we know the BiTdi has masses of torque, its awesome for overtaking and motorways. Its always lacked the seat throw back of an S6 by a long shot, and despite having better acceleration through the gears than my previous 350SLK, it always feels slower. While launching did not surpass the S6 or the 350slk, I did have a seat push back feeling. This also coincides with the repeat late 7 seconds / early 8 seconds readings for 0-60 using an iphone app.

It's got me thinking about remaps again, and if I would be satisfied with the difference offered by the Superchips +41bhp or one of the others claiming +90bhp.

[chesterfield]

You get 200 goes at this with an RS box. After that, it stops working. Forever. Unless of course you shell out a few grand on a new box.

[Guest 2]

Now something else you need to know, the car counts how many launches the vehicle has done. While Audi tell me they never check this reading, I said "surely if you have a fault that could be caused by launching you would check?", they predictably said "yes". You have been warned.

....

It's got me thinking about remaps again, and if I would be satisfied with the difference offered by the Superchips +41bhp or one of the others claiming +90bhp.

They can also tell very easily and without any effort if the car is remapped too. Along with your gearbox, bang goes your warranty.

[Whippy53]

New motto for tuners, "Bang! and the warranty's gone!"

[chesterfield]

I believe that warranty will remain in tact if using launch control. However, realistically how many times is anyone going to do that at the traffic light grand prix before the novelty wears off.

[Guest 2]

I believe that warranty will remain in tact if using launch control.

Want to be the guinea pig? :p

[chesterfield]

If its in the manual, then its warranted. Havent got my manual yet - but when it arrives, if its in there then yes Ill happily give it a go. Sales guy was happy to demo it on the first brief test drive I had. Admittedly I forgot to try with the car I had for a couple of days (shows how interesting launch control is outside of santa pod). :D

[Johnny31]

Want to be the guinea pig? :p

Well, I had a few blasts just to try the novelty around 9k mark on my car. After that, it went for the oil change etc. @ 10k mark... And nobody told me I was naughty... So, I'm certain that there is no "automatic" red card for using it. But again, maybe they just didn't check?!?! :P

[Guest 2]

Maybe no automatic red card for doing launches (I admit doing it once on mine) but I wouldn't suggest doing it continuously on a gearbox which wasn't designed to do so.

[razor77]

Same as you Johnny, I was told they only check if you have a potentially related problem, and no way would they void warranty from a few try's. I imagine if you clock up more than 20 you might get into the danger zone.

By contrast, and back to A6 Chris's point, apparently (from reading around forums) when they connect diagnostics the TD1 flag is automatic and it updates records for life in Germany, also read that the TD1 flag can also be manually added by mechanics if they notice any other modifications.

[Guest 2]

By contrast, and back to A6 Chris's point, apparently (from reading around forums) when they connect diagnostics the TD1 flag is automatic and it updates records for life in Germany, also read that the TD1 flag can also be manually added by mechanics if they notice any other modifications.

Bingo!

[chesterfield]

Thats what I have read too. I have always been of the opinion that if you want a warranty, you dont remap your car. Even with one of those boxes that clips on and off. They will cause the ecu to throw errors that will only come from having some sort of tuning device on there, and you will have a TD1. Also, if I were a dealer looking to take in a car as part ex, that TD1 flag would lower my offer, as I wouldnt want to be obliged to offer a 12 month warranty on a second hand car that could have been pushed well beyond its designed limits.

[wja96]

Whenever you trade a car in to a VAG dealer in the UK, you sign a terms of sale document and all the ones I've seen recently you have to sign that the car has not been mapped or tuned. Given that I sold them my TT TDi with the DPF in the boot, I couldn't sign that so I scored it out. But modified cars don't necessarily worry them. What they're interested in is selling you a new one. Someone else worries about getting yours through an auction somewhere.

[razor77]

Sales guy was happy to demo it on the first brief test drive I had.

A great reason why an RS6 ex-demo should be avoided!

Chesterfield, OT but out of interest have Audi offered you a factory collection for the RS6? I know as the norm they don't for UK buyers, US buyers and other parts of the world get a subsidised trip. I don't have time to find the evidence, but I have read about UK R8 buyers being offered this privilege and it would make sense for RS buyers at your price threshold too.

I've done it with Mercedes in 2005, and the collection from the factory, seeing the production line for the very car, and driving home (on their insurance with one time German trade plates) was a fantastic way to climax the agonising wait. By sharp contrast, getting a call and collecting from the dealer is rather disappointing.

[chesterfield]

I haven't been offered that, and to be honest although I would love to do it, I have a two year old and two month old, so its not really a trip I can fit in at the moment. Ill run it past the wife, but I doubt it would be viable to be honest. Thanks for reminding me though, I had seen this mentioned before and it sounds like a great thing to do. Also a very useful way of getting the first 1000 miles on the clock so I can open it up afterward.

I did do a jaguar factory visit and saw my car on the production line (but not collection), and I passed up the opportunity for a maranello factory visit because at the time my wife was 9 months pregnant.

Just to note, the jaguar factory tour is open to anyone, and its a brilliant experience.

I've fired off an email to audi UK to see if they offer this out of morbid curiosity.

[ukgroucho]

While launching did not surpass the S6 or the 350slk, I did have a seat push back feeling. This also coincides with the repeat late 7 seconds / early 8 seconds readings for 0-60 using an iphone app.

If I am reading this correctly then either your iPhone app sucks or your car is quite slow for a BiTdi.

I posted a thread about this ages ago using dynoliciois on an iPhone. Foot on the floor 0 to 60 in sport mode was posting mid to high 5 secs. I did one run with launch and it posted a 4.9
my brother was sitting next to me (his iPhone and app) and he said it felt right based on what he has clocked in his S4

[razor77]

If I am reading this correctly then either your iPhone app sucks or your car is quite slow for a BiTdi.


I need to go out and play again... The app I used was called sprintbox, it was quite rubbish. That said the phone should be clamped down for the accelerometer, and I was relying on mine being wedged in the passenger seat.

I have this http://www.ot-2.com/ (http://www.ot-2.com/), a blutooth OBDII box paired with the OT-2 app. So with actual data from the car vs accelerometer of the phone, it will provide more accurate data which I'll post back here when I get the chance.

[ukgroucho]

I have this http://www.ot-2.com/ (http://www.ot-2.com/), a blutooth OBDII box paired with the OT-2 app. So with actual data from the car vs accelerometer of the phone, it will provide more accurate data which I'll post back here when I get the chance.

Looks pretty cool, will be interested to see what data you get from the OBD scan and also how different the accelerometer figures are.

[razor77]

Looks pretty cool, will be interested to see what data you get from the OBD scan and also how different the accelerometer figures are.

I found 10 minutes after a 2 hour drive, so the car was warm, to try a number of 0-60 runs using the OT2 with DashCommand (iphone app). The best out of 5 was 5.48. Disregard the readings after 0-60, or maybe 0-70 because I stopped accelerating, and obviously the 94mph is erroneous data.

I found I got the best times, shown in the graphic, with traction on (that surprised me) and the car in sport, when in manual it seemed to hold a nanno longer in each gear, and gave me late 5seconds. I did not try launch. Also I was on empty, had no passengers or other load in the car.

25324

[Guest 2]

VCDS can create nice acceleration graphs too :)

[ukgroucho]

Sounds about right. allroad is supposed to be a tad slower that the avant (heavier I guess) and it was until I used launch control and that was the sub 5 second run.