E34 Clutch Question

[ILoveMPower]

Alright, well I recently purchased a '90 535i/5. When I first drove it, I noticed the clutch felt stiff, and very grabby rather than smooth. By now I've got it down and can shift smoothly. The other day I drove my father's '91 M5 for the first time, and I could hardly tell I was pushing it in. Obviously the ///M has a different clutch, but are all 535i clutches this stiff?


Any input much appreciated,
-JK

[JAlfredPrufrock]

It's really hard to answer that question.

I have a 1990 BMW 535i 5 speed as well and I don't think the clutch is stiff at all, I have driven E34 M5s but can't recall how it compared exactly.

Your clutch may be on its way out but "stiff" is not a very good qualifier.

[ILoveMPower]

To be honest the best way I can describe the difference is as follows: When I first pushed in the M5 clutch, I thought I had missed the pedal. It was smooth as butter.

My car, however, is difficult to push in, and is really aggrevating during city traffic.

I'm basically just trying to figure out if somethings wrong with my clutch, or if that's just the way it is.

[Steve530]

I have no experience with the e34, but in general the "stiffness" is a function of the pressure plate springs and the master and slave cylinders.

I put an M3 clutch on my son's 323is. I used a M3 slave cylinder so that the clutch would be easier to operate. The same logic might not work with e34s, but might want to explore replacing the slave cylinder with one for an M5. Just a thought.

[abakos]

I seem to remember reading somewhere about being able to swap an E34 slave cylinder for an E36, but I can't remember which one was stiffer...