MINI’s Launch Control Secrets Decoded
We’ve been a little down on the new automatic gearbox in the JCW (and Cooper S) recently. While it’s a huge improvement over the previous automatics in MINIs, it delivers less driver engagement as compared to the manual. That doesn’t mean it’s not fast of course. In fact if you want the fastest MINI possible, you’ll want to check the automatic box on the order form. However getting the most out of the automatic takes more than just putting your foot down. There’s a process and a surprising catch to using MINI’s launch control.
The process to engage MINI’s launch control is a bit more complicated than you might expect:
1. Shift gear selector to Sport Automatic (down to “D” and left to “M/S”)
2. Engage Sport Mode
3. Engage DTC
4. Left foot on brake
5. Right foot on full throttle (must click past overboost button below pedal)
6. A checkered flag will appear in the speedometer
7. Driver now has 3 seconds to release the brake and… LAUNCH!
The result of this will be a MINI that sprints towards its top speed wth the best possible grip and shifts. However there’s a catch. MINI is limiting the use of the system to 100 times over the life of the car. Furthermore launch control is only recommended by MINI once 2,000 miles engine break-in period is complete.
<p>It always seems to short shift into 2nd but it will chirp the tires. Also, don’t forget to warm the car up by driving 6 mi as recommended in the manual first.</p>
<p>I did not know about the 100 limit, you would think that would be in the manual no?</p>
<p>I didn’t know about the 100 limit either. Guess I’m down a few tries now. I still don’t know why it shifts so hard like spinning the tires using launch control than just holding the break and giving it gas and going. Really seems to pull much harder with launch control compared to doing the same motions but not activating launch control</p>
<p>Hah, is 100 the number of times they tested the transmission to handle this before it explodes?</p>
<p>This isn’t entirely accurate.</p>
<p>I took delivery on a 2016 last week, I showed my MA how to use Launch Control and we successfully did it twice. It had ~5mi on the odometer. Well under the engine break-in period.</p>
<p>I suspect the break-in limitation only applies to people who don’t want to destroy the drivetrain prematurely.</p>
<p>I didn’t say it was a good idea ;)</p>
<p>Just that factually, it will work “out of the box”</p>
<p>The article doesn’t say that launch control won’t work if you’re inside the break-in period just that MINI doesn’t recommend you use it inside the break-in period…</p>
<p>It was tweaked so it would be less ambiguous. The official MINI document we’ve seen does say it won’t work. However we know that’s not always the case.</p>
<p>Recently discovered the GP2 has launch control. Apparently the JCW Rxx vehicles have it too. Glad MINI/BMW let us know…</p>
<p>Hardly a secret.. all this is in the owners manual!</p>
<p>No better way to break (in) an engine than thrashing it.</p>