Ive shifted many cars w/o using clutch.....but this Z no likey

[jrkoupe]

it was rather ez in other cars....downshifting

but w/ this Z, its about impossible....no matter the revs she just wont slide in......maybe once in a blue.



any1 else ever try it?...

[rf900rkw]

Yeah, and they can't take running into trees lie other cars can, either. What a POS BMW built.

[healeydays]

Why would I? I like the transmission in the car too much to trash it.

[jrkoupe]

ok ok ok

rough crowd today.

Its not like Im banging gears fellas. Many cars one can finesse going down in gears..its fun. Not often mind you.


The z just wont really do it.......I was jus asking

[BimmerBreaker]

I'll pull mine into N every now and then without the clutch, usually if just getting off the throttle. But these transmissions really don't like shifting into gear without the clutch. I have another car that loves it though... I only need the clutch getting into first on that thing

[jrkoupe]

yup...

[2002Z3]

Back in the day, many shifted with using the clutch while racing. Yes initial use to get off the line, but with rev matching and careful technique, it was pretty easy to shift a British car like a TR4 or MG without using a clutch. Those of you that are under 60 (me included) don't really know about this much. I know about it because a buddy's dad used to race bug-eyed Sprites back in the 50s and 60s. He almost never used the clutch while moving. In the late 70s he took us for a ride in a 1969 VW Type 3 Fastback, slipped the clutch in 1st, then proceeded to shift without the clutch for the rest of the trip. It is a technique and not something to poo poo. It's sort of the reverse of the double clutch. Both work in certain circumstances.

However, for a BMW, unless you are expert at clutch-less shifting, give that pedal a stab.

[328 Power 04]

Hah, I had to do that on my TDI when my clutch disc blew up while driving (the day after a major fueling/power upgrade) and wedged itself between pressure plate and flywheel.
Drove 25miles home, no clutch actuation at all. It was weird jamming it into first at lights though; the diesel torque could take it, but I'm sure the syncro didn't like it.

I've tried it on my 328is, and it worked, but I can't see why do it on a regular basis.

[nc trucker]

i shift , after 1st, clutchless 33 hours a week. not gonna do it in my car. no point in that for me at all. it's one thing to hear gears grinding in a big truck. quite another in a bmw. sounds terrible.

[rf900rkw]

Once launched, I never use the clutch on a bike. And I drove cars without using the clutch routinely back when. Still do when I get one in the shop with bad clutch cable/hydraulics. You ain't doing that with this ZF box. The syncro blocking rings and gear dogs aren't in series like most other boxen; they are in parallel, with the blocking ring leading by a smidge. This is also why the ZFs are so sensitive to fluid and temp. Fall out of the narrow window and you get the dreaded "notch" on engagement. that notch is actually a single tooth crunch because the blocking ring wasn't quite done when the dogs hooked up.

[zellamay]

81 Subaru had the clutch release (cable?) go out when we were going skiing. I just started it in first gear and shifted without clutch for the whole trip. Wasn't a very big deal. But not my Z3M. I want it to shift well forever.

[JesterMX6]

My E34 is much easier than my E36 and my Z3 for clutchless shifting. my mazda was a breeze too. I'd agree that the transmissions in these cars are harder to drive sans clutch.

also why does everyone think shifting without a clutch automatically means grinding gears and ruining transmissions?

[rf900rkw]

The 420G is a piece of cake to shift clutchless. I tried it this morning. Likewise the 535 has a Getrag.


Not everyone has the feel and understanding of what's happening and what is needed.

[Ring Rat]

I almost never use the clutch when shifting into N when comming to a stop. Just pop it back right as the transmision transitions between loaded and unloaded and it slips right out with zero resistance. Id be pretty shocked if you told me that it was harmfull. Same goes for going into gear, if it didnt require a whole lot more finesse. I used to do it all the time in my MGB, but I would agree with the OP that its far more difficult in the z3.... to the point were I would say its too hard to do clean and consitanly so dont do it unless you have some clutch issue or youre driving home with a broken left foot.