Nobody can drive my car

[Rcracerg911]

Anyone who has ever attemped to drive my car has also either stalled the car, and or told me my clutch is really weird. (might i mention these people do know how to drive stick)

My question is, is it normal for bmw clutches to be different and harder to drive then maybe an american, or japanese clutches.

I am also heard a clutch raddling somtimes, is this normal or could somthing be loose.

also is there anyway to adjust the travel of the clutch in a 96 328is.

[MicahO]

Anyone who has ever attemped to drive my car has also either stalled the car, and or told me my clutch is really weird. (might i mention these people do know how to drive stick)

My question is, is it normal for bmw clutches to be different and harder to drive then maybe an american, or japanese clutches.

I am also heard a clutch raddling somtimes, is this normal or could somthing be loose.

also is there anyway to adjust the travel of the clutch in a 96 328is.

Have them come drive my pickup - I use a concrete block as a clutch stop.

Edit - but seriously - have other BMW drivers driven your car, or have you driven other BMWs? I'd be interested as to how yours compares to other BMW clutches.

When other people have driven my car, which compares pretty favorably to the clutch in my 535, they've been very comfortable with the clutch and shifter. One even called it the most intuitive clutch he'd driven (granted - not a huge amount of experience there, but that may make the review even more impressive?) People do have a hard time figuring out how to pull the shifter all the way over and into reverse, but the clutch itself seems to be easy to drive.

[LucasElectrics]

I am totally used to it now, but I think the clutch is really weird. My service manager told me the clutch is self adjusting and behaves differently depending on how far you depress it. I feel it engages quickly with a bit of a clunk instead of the gradual slipping a normal clutch does.

Like I say, I am used to it, but I wish it was a normal clutch.

[Rcracerg911]

I am totally used to it now, but I think the clutch is really weird. My service manager told me the clutch is self adjusting and behaves differently depending on how far you depress it. I feel it engages quickly with a bit of a clunk instead of the gradual slipping a normal clutch does.

Like I say, I am used to it, but I wish it was a normal clutch.

Yeh same here i can drive it well because this was my first stick car, and i am used to it. But everyone else who is used to a normal clutch can't drive it.

[Test_Engineer]

I drive A LOT of cars, and I can honestly say that BMW clutches are a little strange compared to almost all other cars. We have alot of problems where I work with people burning out clutches or stalling the car on our BMW vehicles. Not many people get to do what I do, but I do a lot of jumping between vehicle all day long, and every time I get into a BMW, I have to tell myself to be careful the first time to get the feel again. It's strange, but it's true.

[mng]

I am totally used to it now, but I think the clutch is really weird. My service manager told me the clutch is self adjusting and behaves differently depending on how far you depress it. I feel it engages quickly with a bit of a clunk instead of the gradual slipping a normal clutch does.

Like I say, I am used to it, but I wish it was a normal clutch.
search: CDV

[Rcracerg911]

search: CDV

i have hard about cdv but i didn't know what it was until now.

But do all the bmws have them installed, or is it just the newer ones.
And if so, will it make my clutch alot easier to use?

[LucasElectrics]

Wow, very interesting! This would be a worthwhile mod to do, if only to get my wife to drive the car. Right now she hates driving it, even though she has driven manual for years.

How do I know if I definitely have a cdv?

[allaboutme]

That's a strange observation from everyone... BMW is my first stick so I learned on it.

My friend, an experienced stick driver, says the BMW is the easiest clutch he has ever operated. My other friend concurs.

I found a G35 clutch very difficult to operate. It required significantly more strength to declutch and to ease it back out. I have also driven an old VW and that was odd since the clutch had no significant spring-like feeling pushing it against my foot.

[LucasElectrics]

My friend, an experienced stick driver, says the BMW is the easiest clutch he has ever operated. My other friend concurs. I haven't made my way through all the threads that talk about cdv and clutches, but maybe not all models and years have one installed.



I have driven:Austin A50

Renault 8
Mazda 808
Nissan Stanza
Nissan Maxima

and my 330xi is by far the trickiest.

[allaboutme]

I haven't made my way through all the threads that talk about cdv and clutches, but maybe not all models and years have one installed.



I have driven:Austin A50

Renault 8
Mazda 808
Nissan Stanza
Nissan Maxima

and my 330xi is by far the trickiest.

Can you explain why it's tricky?

I believe most e46's and most e36's have a cdv installed...not all, but most.

[LucasElectrics]

Can you explain why it's tricky? Others have said it better than me.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64229
http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm

[equ]

I've driven:

Lada Samara (There is such a car!)
Renault Clio
Ford Taunus (correct spelling for a german car)
Peugeot 206
Audi S4
Bmw 325i (e30)/328is (e36), M3 (e46)
VW '74 Bug/Passat/GTI/R32
Mercedes 200 '69
Acura Integra/TSX/TL
Honda Accord/Prelude
Infiniti G35
Subaru WRX/Legacy GT
Porsche Boxster/Boxster S

I've owned:
Nissan Sentra
Audi A4
Porsche 911 (996)

and the 330ci clutch ranks very low if not at the bottom. Mainly due to long throw (clutch stop went in today) and numb feel.

I got sidetracked and started having fun with this list.

[Rcracerg911]

Can you explain why it's tricky?

I believe most e46's and most e36's have a cdv installed...not all, but most.

Well first its really trickey becaue one other cars usually when you kinda get rolling and have a good amount of trottle you can just let go of the clutch.

But my clutch when i get started i have to hold it down and slowly rlease it so take off smoothy.

I have drivin other stick cars,such as a miata and even a 94 318i, and i never had trouble with them.

[allaboutme]

Others have said it better than me.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64229
http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm

Perhaps I have just adjusted to having a CDV. I did mean tricky compared with other manual cars, though.

[allaboutme]

Well first its really trickey becaue one other cars usually when you kinda get rolling and have a good amount of trottle you can just let go of the clutch.

But my clutch when i get started i have to hold it down and slowly rlease it so take off smoothy.

I have drivin other stick cars,such as a miata and even a 94 318i, and i never had trouble with them.

I'm probably just not understanding correctly... I have driven other stick cars and I start off the same way... My simple understanding of driving stick is that the speed and point at which i can release the clutch all the way is dictated by how fast I am with the throttle. For example, I'm going at a snail's pace so I let the clutch out slowly and let it slip into place. When driving like a demon, I ferociously let the clutch out. And with both situations, I try to achieve a smoothness by "gliding" the clutch out. Anyway, I'll just stop now since I barely know how to drive a stick. :dunno:

[vicszhp]

Anyone who has ever attemped to drive my car has also either stalled the car, and or told me my clutch is really weird. (might i mention these people do know how to drive stick)

My question is, is it normal for bmw clutches to be different and harder to drive then maybe an american, or japanese clutches.

I am also heard a clutch raddling somtimes, is this normal or could somthing be loose.

also is there anyway to adjust the travel of the clutch in a 96 328is.


BROTHA, nobody should EVA drive your car. especially a woman (sorry). Your gonna have your rims curbed out and smokey brake pads.....

Unless, you been drinkin, drive your own damn car..period. ;)