Unable to engage Race Start in A35

[martiryu]

Hello everyone,

I recently just got a 2019 A35 and absolutely love it (first Mercedes, dream car is A45S but this is an excellent entry point). However, when I try and launch it by doing the left foot brake, aggressive full throttle, sport/sport+, correct engine temps etc, I don't get the little notification on the screen with 'race start release brake to start'. I should also mention, I only have the 7 inch screens compared to the 10 inch ones so maybe that is a factor but I didn't think it would be.

Thanks

 

[Spider10]

Don't you have to pull both paddles at the same time to confirm ? It's 1 thing I've not done with the C63s and don't intend to

 

[liamt]

It should just be a case of holding the brake and then stamping on the gas (you really need to put it down quick and hard). As per the manual it tells you the specific operating parameters where it will allow you to engage a race start (engine/oil temp, Sport+ etc). If your car does not meet these parameters it won't allow you to do one. I've used race start in an A35 using the nice people at Mercedes Benz World's car but not something I would do with my own personally.

 

[ALFAitalia]

For a mechanically sympathetic person like myself, i don't think I could do it. Sure its designed to do it......but it seems a lot of unnecessary load on the drive train for no reason.....Ok...maybe just the once.

On some ZF transmissions the software will only allow a maximum of 50 uses of launch control ....after that it wont engage.

 

[liamt]

Also, as it is a used car you don't know how often race start has been used by previous owners. If used often this will inevtiably have an impact on component reliability. I remember my brother's friend who bought a used Polo GTI, he tried to use the race start the and DSG box went boom. Took it back to Volkswagen who plugged it in and refused the warranty claim on the basis that it has done too many race starts. Not sure on any warranty factors with MB but it is certainly something to be wary of.

 

[Trickythemerc]

Given the current number of reported accidents, some of which result in serious injury or fatalities do we really need race start ? As Alfa points out, anyone with some degree of mechanical nouse could see the detrimental effects on the transmisson and tyre wear. Added to this the have a go Corsa bunch who seem to think trying to beat fairly high perfomance cars off the line is a good idea will have a field day.

 

[GeeJayW]

Also, as it is a used car you don't know how often Race Mode has been used by previous owners. If used often this will inevtiably have an impact on component reliability. I remember my brother's friend who bought a used Polo GTI, he tried to use the race start the and DSG box went boom. Took it back to Volkswagen who plugged it in and refused the warranty claim on the basis that it has done too many race starts. Not sure on any warranty factors with MB but it is certainly something to be wary of.

Was about to say similar. Race-starts are fun for the driver, not so much fun for the driveline.

 

[liamt]

Was about to say similar. Race-starts are fun for the driver, not so much fun for the driveline.

When I had a go of race start in MB World's A35 It was fun, although I did need some encouragement from the instructor. The process of putting your foot on the brake and then mashing the throttle down flat to the floor hard to engage race start did make me wince. I'm careful with cars in general irrespective of whether they are mine or not so it was a completely foreign experience for me.

 

[Spider10]

Back in the day I had a ford turnas 2.0L V6 and use to love spinning the wheel's BUT it kept destroying the propshaft doughnut so all this race start etc doesn't interest me in the slightest especially in my own car

 

[BIGDOG]

Put it in for a service and leave the dashcam on, you’ll soon figure it out from the test drive demo.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Put it in for a service and leave the dashcam on, you’ll soon figure it out from the test drive demo.

Except the service places I use unplug the dashcam
They tend to overlook the rear-facing one though

 

[zipdip]

Well our new member who posed this question, has to understand that no matter if he gets the race start to work in his car, that Tesla besides him at the traffic lights is going leave him way behind.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I hope you are not advocating racing on the public highway.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Well our new member who posed this question, has to understand that no matter if he gets the race start to work in his car, that Tesla besides him at the traffic lights is going leave him way behind.

It was the same in my day...those bloomin' Astramax vans were unbeatable.

 

[chic0821]

Pretty sure the A35 didn't have launch control, not even this one. May be wrong though

https://sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Austin-A30-Goodwood-Revival-770x513.jpg

 

[f17ant]

Don't you have to pull both paddles at the same time to confirm ? It's 1 thing I've not done with the C63s and don't intend to

Not in the A35, C63 ye we need to pull both paddles

When your sport or sport+ you just hold the brake and hit the accelerator pedal down (to the “click”) still holding the brakes and you’ll get the race start message

Car needs to be fully warm too

 

[DSM10000]

It was the same in my day...those bloomin' Astramax vans were unbeatable.

Does Mr B Dazzler have one of those in his extensive collection?