UUC Big Boy clutch stop problems

Dirtboy said:

anyone out there have a 2002 e46 with manual tranny with UUC clutch stop installed. the switch on the '02 models is incoporated into the master clutch cylinder. the sensor mounted on the cylinder has four wires connected to it. which one's should have contact to start the car? anybody have access to wire diagrams for the '02 models?

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Can you take a picture? I would like to see the clutch arm assembly that attaches to the master cylinder. Maybe someone here can figure out a way to physically defeat the clutch starter switch.

nope, sorry don't have a camera. what it looks like- the master cylinder has a connector with 4 wires on it (forgot the colors), and there's no separate switch for the starter safety switch. i think bmw must have changed the setup cuz www.bmw330ci.com has a DIY for this and it shows the clutch switch separate from the cylinder. i was just wondering if i could just hook a push button switch in parallel with the wires there. but i need to know which wires to hook up...:dunno:

Dirtboy said:

nope, sorry don't have a camera. what it looks like- the master cylinder has a connector with 4 wires on it (forgot the colors), and there's no separate switch for the starter safety switch. i think bmw must have changed the setup cuz www.bmw330ci.com has a DIY for this and it shows the clutch switch separate from the cylinder. i was just wondering if i could just hook a push button switch in parallel with the wires there. but i need to know which wires to hook up...:dunno:

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Pre ~Oct 2000 prodcution E46s are as pictured at BMW330Ci.com. But after that, as you learned, there is no switch.

I have yet to read of anyone who has successfully bypassed the newer switch (or even found it).

I spoke to Rob at UUC about this damned switch a week or so ago and he said that they expected to have something to solve this. He stated that they "didn't have anything [they] could release to the public yet," but it sounds like they will have a solution to the problem soonish.
I've lived with the damned thing for a year and am looking VERY forward to killing the switch.

think the fix will be free for those of us who have the clutch stop already? or at least at a ruduced price? :thumb:

Dirtboy said:

think the fix will be free for those of us who have the clutch stop already? or at least at a ruduced price? :thumb:

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Knowing Rob and UUC's business practices, they'll be free.

Clutch Stop on 2002

I've got the UUC Big Boy on my 2002 330i. It had to be modified with a hack saw to work. Start trimming it back until you get engagement. Works great now.

--gary

The HACK said:

Knowing Rob and UUC's business practices, they'll be free.

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I'm not entirely sure on that... I know that UUC typically posts a free DIY guide for this sort of thing, but... Given the level of difficulty that is involved in this, i.e. modifying the clutch master cylinder, I have to wonder.
On the other hand, he didn't seem to think it would involve additional parts. The first time I spoke to himn about this, he said they were a bit worried about legal issues, though. :dunno:

Re: Clutch Stop on 2002

Nat Brown said:

I've got the UUC Big Boy on my 2002 330i. It had to be modified with a hack saw to work. Start trimming it back until you get engagement. Works great now.

--gary

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I am curious as to what you had to trim? Mine works with no modification.

I have it adjusted right at the point where the start switch is hit. Sometimes I even have to push the clutch pedal a little firmly against the Big Boy to get the switch to trip. I only have about 3/4" of travel past the engagement point.

Re: Re: Clutch Stop on 2002

ERK said:

I am curious as to what you had to trim? Mine works with no modification.

I have it adjusted right at the point where the start switch is hit. Sometimes I even have to push the clutch pedal a little firmly against the Big Boy to get the switch to trip. I only have about 3/4" of travel past the engagement point.

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I trimmed some of the threads, about 3-4 mm, in order to get clutch engagement. Otherwise I couldn't get the switch to trip.

Since you have to press firmly to get the switch to trip, maybe there's a little bit of play in these cars.

--gary

Re: Re: Clutch Stop on 2002

ERK said:

I am curious as to what you had to trim? Mine works with no modification.

I have it adjusted right at the point where the start switch is hit. Sometimes I even have to push the clutch pedal a little firmly against the Big Boy to get the switch to trip. I only have about 3/4" of travel past the engagement point.

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You guys are a bit confused...

We're talking about two different things here. "Dirtboy", HACK, Nick and I are talking about bypassing the starter safety switch or modifying it to allow the car to start with the clutch stop set to a position just past the clutch engagement point (rather high). Others are talking about finding a way to set the stop low enough to be able to start the car without modifying the switch.

Basically, a benefit is only received from a clutch stop if it is set rather high, certainly higher than this switch's engagement point. E46 cars through approx Oct 2000 production had an easily modifiable starter switch. Those produced after that date have a mystery switch.

This thread is about finding a work-around for the newer mystery switch. Bypasses for the earlier switch are well-documented.

I understand the two different items being discussed.

I have a the newer switch. I had to screw my clutch stop out to meet the start switch. The screw seems to be too short, not too long. But this thread is about modifying the start switch not the clutch stop so I'll kindly take it somewhere else thank you...:bigpimp:

yup, i'm just hoping that Rob and the rest at UUC will come up with a way for us with the newer mystery switch to enjoy our Big Boy clutch stops (safely, of course):thumb:

Just for the edification of those here, 2002 models seem to have LESS clutch travel before the starter switch engages. As a result, the UUC Big Boy is just a touch too long, even when screwed all the way in.

I have a 2001 April production and I have the new switch. I experimented with it and it appears that it operates similar to the switches on a house alarm (magnets). I could defeat the switch entirely if I attached a magnet to the switch, however the RPMs would hang in every gear (not an acceptable soulution). I guess I'll just wait on the UUC fix.

heh heh heh everybody is coming up with solutions. a guy on bmwplanet forums said that he just "slid" the switch up a bit and that worked for him.... he has a 2001 though. i'm gonna go check it out right now.....

my ron stygar clutch stop works flawlessly.

just so you know.

2002 e46 325xiT 5 speed.

I posted on the Z forum for Ron Styger, hopefully he can explain the difference in the design between the two clutch stops to answer this switch question to rest.

Well, logically, if the Stygar clutch stop does not require a "hack" (sorry Dan, couldn't resist), then it is not decreasing the clutch arm travel nearly as much as the UUC stop. I mean the switch doesn't care about your stop. It only cares that the clutch is depressed far enough. blackdawg must have the stop set very low, or at least low enough that the switch is being depressed.