Clutch Pedal Feel

[sleepyonthehighway]

Hi all,

So I just picked up my very first M3. I am coming from a raggedy 2007 E85 Z4 with close to 200k on it for reference.

The clutch pedal feels... mushy. It has weight to it, but has a weird engagement curve where I don't really feel a "hinge" point where I normally felt engagement on the Z4. I'm also slipping in reverse a bit. Is this a symptom of a bad clutch, or is this just how the e46 m3 feels? The Z4 didn't feel "gamey" like a new car, but it was lighter than the M3. It felt purposeful and confident, whereas the M3 feels heavy and mushy.

Any advice?

I am also searching for a way to make the gear selector feel tighter. In my Z4, the selector felt much notchier. The M3 selector also feels mushy.

The way I've described both to friends is "the clutch feels like I'm stepping on a bag of mashed potatoes, and the selector feels like I'm mixing those potatoes.

This would be easier if I had a reference point on other e46s but I don't, unfortunately.

Thanks all,
sleepy

[bmwfnatic]

Try removing the CDV, that's one thing I always do.

[gaiakai]

Can’t help you on clutch feel, but Autosolutions is the way to go for a significant improvement on gear selector feel.

[ugaexploder]

Need more details on your car. How many miles are on the clutch? I've never had any bad feelings toward clutch pedal feel for most BMW's.

Shifters on the other hand are a complete different story...sounds like something is wrong with your car, and not a general BMW thing imo.

[jet_dogg]

Clutch delay valve alters the friction point relative to speed of engagement/disengagement so remove it for a normal feeling clutch.

[sleepyonthehighway]

Need more details on your car. How many miles are on the clutch? I've never had any bad feelings toward clutch pedal feel for most BMW's.

Shifters on the other hand are a complete different story...sounds like something is wrong with your car, and not a general BMW thing imo.

86k on the dash, no record of the clutch being replaced. So I know it's close to it anyway. I never had record of my Z4 either, and I had that from 140-200 and the clutch felt fine the entire time.

[sleepyonthehighway]

Seems CDV is the culprit, which I suspected after reading the forums. Thank you all and thank you gaiakai for the selector recommendation.

[sapote]

I'm also slipping in reverse a bit

Clutch should feel the same for all gears, including reverse, in your car, regardless if there is a problem or not.

[sleepyonthehighway]

Clutch should feel the same for all gears, including reverse, in your car, regardless if there is a problem or not.

Definitely. Maybe more context is necessary. At the same point of engagement with the clutch, say in reverse vs. 1st, I will get the shudders etc, signs of a slipping clutch, in reverse but not in 1st. I did do a low-rpm pull today (took off in 2nd from a light) and it shuddered, so I'm thinking my clutch is worn as well. It's a shame too, b/c the "enthusiast" dealer I bought the car from assured me the clutch was good.

[ugaexploder]

I think I know what you are talking about, and it's funny how one thread is very similar to this one in terms of people recommending CDV like the link below.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...d-down.100269/


Here is a different thread with a video that can confirm it is the same noise you are hearing. They go a different approach by saying it's all normal..

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1071286

There is a link within that thread that also talks about it..

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1052413

[dukeofchen]

People always talk about brake lines but the clutch line is part of the same hydraulic system and of similar construction is it not? I'm due for new brake lines soon and will be replacing that one at the same time.

[sleepyonthehighway]

I think I know what you are talking about, and it's funny how one thread is very similar to this one in terms of people recommending CDV like the link below.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...d-down.100269/


Here is a different thread with a video that can confirm it is the same noise you are hearing. They go a different approach by saying it's all normal..

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1071286

There is a link within that thread that also talks about it..

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1052413

That noise is terrifying. No, thankfully mine isn’t making noise really, just slipping like it’s disengaging and i’m about to stall. Mainly in reverse. I’m still new to this car and this motor. It’s very different from the N52 from my Z4.

[sleepyonthehighway]

I’ll rip out the CDV probably when I do brakes or if I decide to replace the clutch and update this thread with a description of how different it feels.

[ugaexploder]

That noise is terrifying. No, thankfully mine isn’t making noise really, just slipping like it’s disengaging and i’m about to stall. Mainly in reverse. I’m still new to this car and this motor. It’s very different from the N52 from my Z4.

is yours a factory 6spd?

[sleepyonthehighway]

is yours a factory 6spd?

yes