How hard is your clutch?

[EuroCar]

I was driving my friends gti today and i couldnt get over how soft his clutch was. Probably as easy to press as the accelerator.

As for my clutch, its very stiff and he couldnt get over how much more effort it took to press mine in than his.

Do you guys have stiffer clutches as well, or is mine just f 'ed??:confused

[szed]

My friend says my clutch is quite a bit stiffer than his 240sx. I haven't driven any others except my friends 240 but I'd say mine is pretty stiff compared to his. I've gotten used to it so it's not a problem for me. Maybe the pressure plate on BMW's are a stiffer/stronger than others???

[AdDiCtIvE 3]

yea bimmer clutches are quite a bit stiffer than a lot of other cars particularly Japs and some american, When I got in there after driving the Spec stage III in my camaro, it was a huge differance!

[DiScoTeknix]

VW clutches are soft, it took me a while to adjust to driving my friend's GTi because of how soft the clutch is. I didn't think it was in all the way, (she laughed at me when I told her this:lol).

NakNak sat in my car at a meet and mentioned how stiff my clutch was compared to his 95 M3. I checked out his and it actually took much less effort to press the pedal.

[PirateJake]

i learned to drive a stick on a '79 Jeep CJ7... my bimmer clutch is heaven compared to that thing

[cipher982]

Mine use to be heavy, with 140k on the original clutch. I then got it replaced about a week ago, and it's sooo much easier to press in. On par with the accelerator even.

[three25]

mine got a little lighter after my friend burnt the clutch real bad.

[STEVE36]

stiffer pedal feel is good, and then it gets softer after it disengages

[CrazyxMidget]

I kinda like mine being somewhat stiff.

but mine also squeaks... anyone know how I can fix that? :(

[Goon]

Try some WD40.

I like the clutch being stiff, can't stand light, floaty clutches

[MackinE46]

I kinda like mine being somewhat stiff.

but mine also squeaks... anyone know how I can fix that? :(

it may be your throwout bearing that needs replacement...

The e36 clutch feels light in comparison to my bros e30

[STEVE36]

I have a squeaky clutch pedal too, it's awesome. So does my Dad's 911 Turbo.

It lets other people know that you're driving a manual! :)

Steve

[m3jones]

I kinda like mine being somewhat stiff.

but mine also squeaks... anyone know how I can fix that? :(
I have a squeaky clutch pedal too, it's awesome. So does my Dad's 911 Turbo.

It lets other people know that you're driving a manual! :)

Steve
Squeaky clutch pedal = bad clutch arm bushings. Not necessarily detrimental, just annoying.. If you do replace them, don't use OEM ones because they will just go bad again quickly. I've heard good things about UUC Motorwerks clutch arm bushings. I just live with the squeak because it sounds like a real PITA to replace them.

[SportE36]

Squeaky clutch pedal = bad clutch arm bushings. Not necessarily detrimental, just annoying.. If you do replace them, don't use OEM ones because they will just go bad again quickly. I've heard good things about UUC Motorwerks clutch arm bushings. I just live with the squeak because it sounds like a real PITA to replace them.


also i just took off the bushings and add plenty of white lithium grease and watta bing watta boom!!! no squeaks!

[CrazyxMidget]

Thanks guys... I'll have my uncle fix that. :stickoutt
Oh the advantages of having a family member who's a BMW mechanic. :redspot

[Leco]

I've a Volkswagen Golf in my home... Mannnn the clutch is soo soft!!! But mine bimmer clutch is very hard.

[szed]

I recently installed the UUC delrin bushing. It took me a while because it was my first time looking under there and I was trying to remember how everything was arranged/assembled. About an hour or so.:stickoutt The directions that came with it were really specific but no pictures. I just went to realoem.com for that.

If anyone's clutch arm is sloppy and has side to side play and/or squeaking I'd look into replacing it with the UUC bushing. Overall, a little smoother and NO squeaking.

[EuroCar]

ok this makes me feel much better...as for the squekyness its prob. the actual pedal (mine used to be really bad) Put with lithium grease on it and it will go away (not the foot part the actual base of the pedal)...

[miatawnt2b]

when I bought my 98 328 vert (with a bad clutch) the pedal was hella hard to push down. My 92 325 was easy in comparison. after I replaced the clutch and PP, the pedal was buttery soft.

I think a stiff clutch pedal may be a symptom of a clutch about to start slipping.

-J

[92redE36]

anyone ever drive a mustang gt? Yeah those things are a bitch to push in, you pretty much have to kick it ot get it in. Thats what i learned stick on...My dads 02 mustang GT with 405 hp to the wheels :)

[VeNo///M]

My clutch pedal is stiffer than most other make of cars I'd say.

[dizzy]

I used to vallet park and older bimmers definitly have stiffer clutch pedals compared to other makes and newer bmws. Newer ones are still nice and firm just not so hard to push in.

[jmejiaa]

My clutch is alot more stiffer then my old VW Passat

[Themadhatter444]

Mine's just stiff enough to where it's comfortable, yet precise. I had to drive my friend's manual Saturn home a few months ago and his clutch made the car feel like a toy. It only had like a 3 inch gap of engage/disengage, and was extremely easy to press in.

It was fun to drive though, because it made me notice just how bad ass my bimmer is. :)

[rizzag]

mine was really stiff before i changed it because of a noisy release bearing, it was MUCH softer with the new clutch kit.

[thundercat]

i think its because e36 uses a hydrolic clutch vs othe makes (wire)
i think

[Quicksilver328i]

As the clutch/pressure plate get older the pedal gets stiffer. As everyone has noted the clutch gets a lot lighter when you replace it -> an overly stiff clutch is a symptom of a worn clutch.

[digitaldragon03]

Its a bit stiff, but it gets softer after the initial push.

I have huge legs so isnt so bad.

[BMDub325is]

My M3 clutch is too soft for my taste. I wish that I would have not put the M3 slave in. I broke the stock one so there was no turning back though. I had a clutch masters in my old Passaat and it was uber stiff but I loved it.

[328 Power 04]

after deleting the Clutch delay valve .. it became slightly softer ... but i like the stiffness

[328 Power 04]

As the clutch/pressure plate get older the pedal gets stiffer. As everyone has noted the clutch gets a lot lighter when you replace it -> an overly stiff clutch is a symptom of a worn clutch.



you know this how? a slipping clutch is a symptom of a worn clutch ... a worn clutch will not affect pedal travel for the disk is less than a quarter of an inch thick ... if the throw out bearing is old it won't travel down the shaft as well ... so you get a stiffer clutch... if your brake fluid is old, its not as lubricated so you get a stiffer clutch ... soo many factors .. but not having to do with worn clutch disk

[shuiyuan]

compare your bimmer to most japanese cars, way harder than those cars, i wish i can ajust to very soft.. my left food feels tired everyday.

[JunzieB]

My clutch is pretty hard i thought something was wrong with it but whe it finally burnt out and i replaced it ... it feels just as hard so i guess that's how they should be... another thing i notice is that the gas pedal is a bit harder than most cars also... anyone else notices this???

[el bimmer]

hard but smooth shifts

[DuvBMW]

I hate soft clutches... I drove my buddy's GTI and i thought i was gonna kick my left foot through the firewall lol... bimmer clutches FTW