I can't stand the clutch!

[king of trolls]

The one thing I hate about my flawless car is the F****ng clutch. I just recently drove my brother's manual Acura and I was as smooth as butter shifting.
I thought it was just me at the begining, and I was satisfied with the idea that it was a matter of time until I got used to it(even though I had driven stick for the past 10 years). Almost 2 years later, and still can't get fully used to it. I'm smooth when I launch at regular speeds, but whenever I want to launch a bit faster out of a light , I am a disaster, I jerk the car like a teenage boy. The clutch is a :nono::nono::nono::nono::nono: in the BMWs, at least the non-M 3 series, they are too stiff/springy, whatever it is, they suck.

[Patrick330i]

The one thing I hate about my flawless car is the F****ng clutch. I just recently drove my brother's manual Acura and I was as smooth as butter shifting.
I thought it was just me at the begining, and I was satisfied with the idea that it was a matter of time until I got used to it(even though I had driven stick for the past 10 years). Almost 2 years later, and still can't get fully used to it. I'm smooth when I launch at regular speeds, but whenever I want to launch a bit faster out of a light , I am a disaster, I jerk the car like a teenage boy. The clutch is a :nono::nono::nono::nono::nono: in the BMWs, at least the non-M 3 series, they are too stiff/springy, whatever it is, they suck.

The clutch is long, I admit that, especially compared to my '95 Integra, but the shifter is smooth other than at initial start-up where it is a tad notchy. No big deal. I don't think it bothers me as much as it bothers you. Sounds like you got smoked by a wannabe or something, but I am just guessing. :bigpimp:

[Artslinger]

Welcome to the... "I hate my BMW clutch club"!

[Ack]

Two words - "Clutch Stop" :D

It really does help. Alan hooked me up with one last month, and it really makes a very noticable difference. I rarely even lurch the car while making hard starts.

[king of trolls]

The clutch is long, I admit that, especially compared to my '95 Integra, but the shifter is smooth other than at initial start-up where it is a tad notchy. No big deal. I don't think it bothers me as much as it bothers you. Sounds like you got smoked by a wannabe or something, but I am just guessing. :bigpimp:

Yes you are right the shifter is very smooth, my beef is with the clutch, on first gear to be specific. And no, I didn't get smoked by anyone, i don't race in public, however I do like to feel that power now and then when taking off from a light.

I don't know how much a clutch stop would help, I believe this would help with the long travel problem, but i think the problem is with the spring, the spring is too stiff.

Other than this the car is perfect.

[JetBlack330i]

It's the software.
I thought I read something about BMW coming up with a software update... anyone knows?

[Artslinger]

It's the software.
I thought I read something about BMW coming up with a software update... anyone knows?


Really? That would be great, if anyone knows more about this please post.

[imanrd]

Really? That would be great, if anyone knows more about this please post.

Thank God. I thought I was the only one who felt this way. Change heel toe to hell toe. I am going to have whopping shin muscles in a few years. I kept telling myself that the "firmness" was just because it was a new car. Sounds like not... Otherwise the car is great and the xenons are marvelous !

[The HACK]

You guys are :gay:. Doeboy's 330Ci I drove had such a light clutch I nearly punched a hole through his floorboard when I went to press down the clutch.

Try an E36 M3, E30 M3 or M5 clutch for once and you'll know what a real clutch is suppose to feel like. I drove Sam N. from the L.A. chapter's E30 M3 once and OMG I thought MY clutch was heavy. When I first tried to start his car I thought something was wrong because I pressed down on the clutch pedal and it wouldn't move!

I actually like a heavier clutch more than a light clutch. On a lighter clutch (most of Japanese cars I've driven), you can't "feel" or modulate where the clutch release is by easing the muscles in your left leg. On the BMW Z3 and my 323Ci I've learned to muscle the clutch in and just let my muscle relax when I launch instead of taking my foot off the clutch pedal. :thumbup:

[doeboy]

You guys are :gay:. Doeboy's 330Ci I drove had such a light clutch I nearly punched a hole through his floorboard when I went to press down the clutch.

Ok, so I'm not the only one who felt my clutch is way feathery light. I actually get more clutch feel from my old Integra's clutch. The first day I got in my car, I did the same thing HACK did and almost smashed a hole through the floor.

Oh, and if you want to talk about stiff/heavy clutch, go drive a car with a performance clutch, then come back and tell me your clutch is heavy.

[king of trolls]

Ok, so I'm not the only one who felt my clutch is way feathery light. I actually get more clutch feel from my old Integra's clutch. The first day I got in my car, I did the same thing HACK did and almost smashed a hole through the floor.

Oh, and if you want to talk about stiff/heavy clutch, go drive a car with a performance clutch, then come back and tell me your clutch is heavy.


Such hostility :rolleyes: . Depressing the clutch is not the problem, sure is not hard at all, in fact is very light (maybe i am being misunderstood, either that or I was complaining about the wrong thing)...the problem is when you let the clutch pedal up, the spring forces it back up too quickly, making it hard to control, hence the jerking sometimes. Sure i'm smooth most of the time, but when I want to take off fast from a light 1 out of only 3 take offs are smooth, the rest a disaster. Oh and btw Hack...bite me! :bigpimp:

[doeboy]

Such hostility :rolleyes: . Depressing the clutch is not the problem, sure is not hard at all, in fact is very light (maybe i am being misunderstood, either that or I was complaining about the wrong thing)...the problem is when you let the clutch pedal up, the spring forces it back up too quickly, making it hard to control, hence the jerking sometimes. Sure i'm smooth most of the time, but when I want to take off fast from a light 1 out of only 3 take offs are smooth, the rest a disaster. Oh and btw Hack...bite me! :bigpimp:

Hmm... maybe we did kind of misunderstand what you meant. I dunno about the spring pulling it up too fast though... I kind of like it that way since I normally drive in a clutch in/out method... I try to not let it slip while moving as much as I can. I'm either on it or off it. :dunno:

It is definitely an interesting clutch to get used to I'm sure we can all agree...

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

My problem was always with coordinating throttle lag and numb clutch. I've smooth almost all the time, but it's definitely not the best. And every time I drive another car, I have a LOT of trouble learning to feel, even find the clutch again.

[doeboy]

My problem was always with coordinating throttle lag and numb clutch. I've smooth almost all the time, but it's definitely not the best. And every time I drive another car, I have a LOT of trouble learning to feel, even find the clutch again.

ditto.

[Artslinger]

I don't have a problem with the clutch being heavy, and coming from a Mustang the BMW clutch is actually to light for my tastes. The problem I have is with first gear launches, the E46 throttle and clutch seem to get screwed up and cause inconstant first gear launches. There is definitely something wrong with the E46 throttle and clutch working together smoothly.

[king of trolls]

I don't have a problem with the clutch being heavy, and coming from a Mustang the BMW clutch is actually to light for my tastes. The problem I have is with first gear launches, the E46 throttle and clutch seem to get screwed up and cause inconstant first gear launches. There is definitely something wrong with the E46 throttle and clutch working together smoothly.

Ditto!

[teamdfl]

My problem was always with coordinating throttle lag and numb clutch....

What he said. I find that the programmed DBW lag makes for poor takeoff from a stop. If I rush things I get either engine bog (or stall) or too much clutch slip.


Ed

[woohoo]

It is light! Maybe if I stop doing leg presses at the gym the clutch will get heavier! :fruit: