View Single Post
  #23  
Old 11-30-2006, 02:46 AM
JCL's Avatar
JCL JCL is offline
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 11,853
JCL will become famous soon enoughJCL will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by X5Jay
Both your comments sound a bit weird to me. If launch control is added to the car by the manufacturer as a feature, I can't imagine the manufacturer would consider it to be so destructive that it would warranty it for only a certain number of uses. Are they going to tell me I use manual mode on my steptronic too much if I have a problem with the tranny? What about if you rev your motor to within 100 rpm of redline often, is that abuse? I suppose they could put a warranty limit on the number of launch control uses given what it does, but if that's the case, I'd argue that the car isn't designed and built well enough to handle it yet and it shouldn't be there...
OK, fair comment.

I don't think launch control itself is destructive. I think doing enough repeated full-throttle standing starts would be destructive. I would have thought the launch control feature is there to save the vehicle, not kill it, since it is a more controlled start, or at least a more predictable start. I also remember something about US models not getting the same launch control as in Europe, perhaps the liability lawyers had an opinion.

So if you did a lot of standing start, full throttle, dump the clutch type starts, and you wore out the clutch, would that be warranty? Not in the manufacturer's opinion, since the part wasn't faulty. It simply wore out. Warranty doesn't cover wear and tear. Why would it be different with launch control and an SMG? Just because there is a feature there to make the clutch last a little longer, should it be assumed that you should be able to do that kind of start indefinitely?

Interesting theoretical debate. My first response was going to be to ask how many performances the collapsing steering column would be warranted for, but I figured that was taking the discussion too far off target, it was too easy.
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver

2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links