My experience at the drag strip - advice pls!

[speedemn]

I have always believed that cars with high torque low in the power band are challenging to launch at the drag strip and the M5 especially is more of an Autobahn car or for lapping. That being said there is a small group of us who long to re-live the "old days" at the dragstrip.

I read a few extremely helpful threads here before getting out there and tried to apply the guidance from the folks who have been to the dragstrip with their cars. My experience was not quite as positive however I wanted to share and get some guidance and support.

My issue was all around launch. I used launch control and tried without launch control. My 60' times were horrible! My best was 2.37 and was as bad as 2.7! Launch control did give me the "better" 60' times. I even went as far as launching in 2nd (without LC).

I reduced the rear tire pressure just a tad but maybe not enough. I did not have enough time once staged to engage LC and bump my RPMs down so if I wanted to launch lower I had to forego LC.

My settings were as follows:
Rear tire pressure: 30psi cold (stock is 34psi)
Front tire pressure: 34 psi
Throttle response: Sport Plus
Suspension: Comfort
Steering: Doesn't matter but I tried Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus... don't think this matters at all for the drag strip
Shift mode: S3

When using LC on some runs I would spin right through first and once even spun through second gear so LC short shifted to 3rd and most of my run was stuck in 3rd gear until shifting to 4th. My best time was spinning through first and the car short shifting to 2nd and I got traction, hit the shift lever over to D3 and let the car do the rest.

Another issue I had with LC a few times (very embarrassing) is when engaging LC and releasing the brake with the gas fully depressed past the detent with the shift knob pushed forward waiting for the green light, the car would slooooooowly start to creep forward... happened a few times but not every time. Made my confidence level in using LC very low and I was holding up the rest of the staging lanes' long lineups! What gives?


When NOT using LC I did the following:
Tried to "brake torque" to about 2000 RPM (car didn't let me). I had to bounce the RPMs up blipping the throttle and trying to time it with the "green light tree". My RTs were horrible or the launch RPM would be unoptimal. I would typically still spin right through first and even short shifting into 2nd would result in some time lost before I gain traction somewhere higher in the powerband in 2nd and my first real gear of productivity would be 3rd and then into 4th before crossing the line.


What I would like feedback from folks here who have had success at the drag strip is the following:
- What is your tire pressure set at?
- Do you use LC?
- What RPM do you set LC to before the staging tree goes green?
- What RPM do you shift at (if you do not use LC)?

I have seen times on this forum where people are running 1.8 60' times easily and pulling 11.6-11.8 stock on a non-CP M5.

My best time was 12.5 and my best trap speed was 118mph (although my worst was 116mph when I started in 2nd gear). I had other times of 12.6, 12.7 and a couple of timeslips that started with 13 that I would be embarassed to mention.

Any and all help and advice would be appreciated please!

[patb23]

- What is your tire pressure set at? Left mine to stock levels
- Do you use LC? Haven't used it on the track yet.
- What RPM do you set LC to before the staging tree goes green? I've left off idle. havent yet left in any higher RPM.
- What RPM do you shift at (if you do not use LC)? I find that letting the car shift on its own is when I've gotten my fastest times.

My car is still bone stock and the best 60' i've gotten was 1.85 and 1/4 11.59 at 122.44mph

[speedemn]

Originally Posted by patb23

- What RPM do you set LC to before the staging tree goes green? I've left off idle. havent yet left in any higher RPM.

My car is still bone stock and the best 60' i've gotten was 1.85 and 1/4 11.59 at 122.44mph

That is an awesome 60' and a great time/trap! Well done!

When leaving off idle what's your launch sequence (stomp on the gas, feather it and feel for traction, etc?)

So you start from standstill in D3?

[patb23]

Originally Posted by speedemn

That is an awesome 60' and a great time/trap! Well done!

When leaving off idle what's your launch sequence (stomp on the gas, feather it and feel for traction, etc?)

So you start from standstill in D3?

My settings are MDM mode. transmission is D3 suspension to comfort steering to comfort.
What I do is almost leave at full throttle. I kinda ease into it until I start to move then as the power comes on (which is fast) I floor it. I still get a bit of tire spin but not as much as if I just full on stomped on it. I've done this method every time I've gone to the track and my 60' has been from 1.8-2.0.

[speedemn]

Originally Posted by patb23

My settings are MDM mode. transmission is D3 suspension to comfort steering to comfort.
What I do is almost leave at full throttle. I kinda ease into it until I start to move then as the power comes on (which is fast) I floor it. I still get a bit of tire spin but not as much as if I just full on stomped on it. I've done this method every time I've gone to the track and my 60' has been from 1.8-2.0.

Such a simple back to basics approach.
I was way over complicating things at the track. It had also been so long since I had raced.

Thanks for the feedback. If I can get out again I will try this.

Another things to note... you have much nicer environmental conditions than us up here... lol... just noticed that you are a couple hundred feet off sea level and your humidity levels are much lower than what we get up here. But not sure how much of a difference that makes.

[allmotor_2000]

Don't bother with stock tires - need drag radials. Don't use launch control - it sucks when you > 800ft-lbs torque. Lower tire pressure (will affect MPH, but helps ET) and keep suspension on comfort to get the sag in the bag upon launch

I got a 1.57 60' and of course 9.9 @ 142mph.

If you HAVE to use stock tries, keep pressure at 28psi, ensure they are warm and then just floor it (but feather immediately at least through first).

[Lerxst M4]

Love these threads, OP!

Anyone have suggestions on a burnout or at least being able to get a couple of spins on the tires to clean them off at the track?

I run DSC off but still have a problem getting thme to spin. If I hold the brake (even slightly) and ease or mash the gas the RPM's won't go above the point to break the tires loose.

I must be doing something wrong because that is also embarrassing at the line when I can't spin them on purpose but roast them through 2nd gear when the light turns green! haha!

[patb23]

Originally Posted by Lerxst M5

Love these threads, OP!

Anyone have suggestions on a burnout or at least being able to get a couple of spins on the tires to clean them off at the track?

I run DSC off but still have a problem getting thme to spin. If I hold the brake (even slightly) and ease or mash the gas the RPM's won't go above the point to break the tires loose.

I must be doing something wrong because that is also embarrassing at the line when I can't spin them on purpose but roast them through 2nd gear when the light turns green! haha!

I just turn dsc off and then floor it.

[Lerxst M4]

Originally Posted by patb23

I just turn dsc off and then floor it.

Same but no dice! DCS off is my daily driving mode.

[Jhenka]

I've had my M5 for about a month now and I still cant figure out how to use this launch control, also apparently I've been told there's a burnout mode or something of the sort?

My previous car was a tuned 550xi and that thing launched like a rocket every time, this M5 requires quite a bit of finesse to get it going. Anyway to add on to the OP. I know most of you mentioned you let your car shift, but have any of you figured out the manual shift? I found with the 550s shifting just before 5500 rpm would produce more power and faster times, anything after was just a waste of boost. Just curious if you guys noticed a similar trend with the M5's or do you just let it run all the way to redline? We do have that pretty gauge in the HUD after all lol

[patb23]

Originally Posted by Lerxst M5

Same but no dice! DCS off is my daily driving mode.

Thats odd with the extra power your making. I can easily get mine to spin.

[Lerxst M4]

Originally Posted by patb23

Thats odd with the extra power your making. I can easily get mine to spin.

It's not that it can't, it's like there's something preventing it when my foot is on the brake. It'll spin away 2.7 sixties all night long if I don't feather it.

[DenverF10M5]

OP, I've tried to floor it at green and my car would just bog off the line. It would move a few feet, just enough to trigger the timer and I was getting 60' times from 2.4-2.9. You're not alone with the 13 second passes. It was very embarrassing. I'm glad someone created this thread. It's great to learn what others recommend.

[Northern X5M]

There is a way to do a stationary burnout. But I don't recommend it. I've replaced a diff. Lots of burnouts on drag radials here. Now I just floor it to do a quick spinny burnout and make sure I let off with plenty of time as not to cross the beams. I have a thing about driving over the beams since my car is not a rail or funny car.

Originally Posted by Jhenka

I know most of you mentioned you let your car shift, but have any of you figured out the manual shift? I found with the 550s shifting just before 5500 rpm would produce more power and faster times, anything after was just a waste of boost. Just curious if you guys noticed a similar trend with the M5's or do you just let it run all the way to redline? We do have that pretty gauge in the HUD after all lol

Car shifts better. I mean you can get very close, but when some of us are hunting for that extra 0.01, car is 100% consistent and seems to shift at the perfect point.

[allmotor_2000]

OK - my process (w/DRAG Radials... 305/35/19 MT ET's):

1. Bypass the water box
2. Back into just the edge of the water box (where the previous guy dragged some water)
3. Activate line-lock and burnout 1st, 2nd and maybe even 3rd gear (15-20s max)
- Most don't have line-lock so just floor it and keep RPM's between 6-7K for as long as possible
4. If you are running stock tires... NEVER wet them in the box
5. DSC off, Comfort setting, S3 shift mode
6. Stage
7. Punch it just before it turns green
8. Now the tricky part: depending on how it hooks, you have to feather the throttle
9. Worst case if you are > 5K RPM in 1st and hooked, shift to 2nd
10. Don't shift at redline from 3rd onwards... it will slow you down. Shift according to your power curve (could be 5.5K to 6.5K... depending on your setup)
11. Even if you short-shift.. your ET won't change much as this car has so much torque

It's torque that pulls you down the track, not horsepower.

[MyF15+F85]

I like what he said !

Makes a lot of sense, yes I did 13's in the begging then got to 12s.
Did not get to 11s yet. But, unfortunately for me there is not enough M5 guys around when I'm having fun, so we can not learn from one to another.

This is good info , have read it all

Thank YOO all !

[RPiM5]

Sell M5. Buy X6M. Problem solved.

[patb23]

Originally Posted by MyFten

I like what he said !

Makes a lot of sense, yes I did 13's in the begging then got to 12s.
Did not get to 11s yet. But, unfortunately for me there is not enough M5 guys around when I'm having fun, so we can not learn from one to another.

This is good info , have read it all

Thank YOO all !

1st time on the drag strip I was so nervous I left in 2nd gear that was I think a 12.5 run. then my 2nd time down I hit 11.7. I can consistently run 11.8-11.9 when I go. My fastest time so far has been 11.5. I'm still bone stock, only did the carbon filter delete.

[BeamerandBimmer]

Heading to MIR Buds Creek, MD tomorrow for test n tune. Meeting my buddy with his Hellcat. Should be a good time.

[lincvert]

Wish I knew about that test and tune earlier. Post the next one you head to and I'll bring my M6. I haven't tried to run it yet.

[BeamerandBimmer]

This car is not easy to launch.

Slip on the right was my first run, slip on the left was my best run.

[DenverF10M5]

Those are solid 60' times. What method did you use? What are your tires?