[zachar3]

for all you m/t drivers. I drove an m3 yesterday along with a carrera and a 335i. The m3's clutch seemed to have a sudden grab halfway through the pedal travel so it was pretty jerky. How do you tackle clutches like this? The 335 seemed to have an even/smooth/gradual engagement as did the porsche so the m3 just seemed difficult.

[3er]

When I had my 5.0 Mustang, I often started in 2nd gear since I had so much torque and ran 3.73s. However, I'm not sure if this is as easily achieved in an M3, but it may be worth a try. If you find yourself having to ride the clutch too much, I would advise against it. It may also just take some time to get used to it...

[zachar3]

It wasn't even starting out. It was in each gear it just caught suddenly and it was jerky. I guess its a good think for clutch life but bad for shock on the driveshaft. It was uncomfortable..unless I'm not doing something right.

[merchomini]

cdv

[zachar3]

I'm pretty sure the m3s don't have cdvs

[arctic330i]

I actually thought the M3's clutch was "tougher/rougher" than in other cars, not "bad" really but not buttery smooth either. Still great though!

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by zachar3

It wasn't even starting out. It was in each gear it just caught suddenly and it was jerky. I guess its a good think for clutch life but bad for shock on the driveshaft. It was uncomfortable..unless I'm not doing something right.

If you know how to drive MT, you know how to drive MT of any car...you just need to get comfortable/used to the clutch. I have less trouble with an A4 than I do with the MINI (I almost get the same thing you're experiencing with the M3, it catches and provides a minor jerk).

[wuchao1]

Originally Posted by 3er

When I had my 5.0 Mustang, I often started in 2nd gear since I had so much torque and ran 3.73s. However, I'm not sure if this is as easily achieved in an M3, but it may be worth a try. If you find yourself having to ride the clutch too much, I would advise against it. It may also just take some time to get used to it...

Will start in 2nd gear hurt the clutch? I just switched to a e39 m5 and was wondering if I can do the same thing since the torque number is high enough...

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by zachar3

for all you m/t drivers. I drove an m3 yesterday along with a carrera and a 335i. The m3's clutch seemed to have a sudden grab halfway through the pedal travel so it was pretty jerky. How do you tackle clutches like this? The 335 seemed to have an even/smooth/gradual engagement as did the porsche so the m3 just seemed difficult.

Was this a new m3, or used? Check m3post about clutch spring removal on earlier years (2008-2010 I think)

[Laguna Seca Blue]

I'm fairly certain you just need to get used to it. The engagement point on an M3 is a couple of inches off the floor, whereas the regular 3 series clutch doesn't catch until you're about halfway through the clutch's full range of motion. The muscles in your left leg will adapt to what feels like springyness right now and when you go back to a regular, softer clutch set up- it will feel like a dead weight

[3er]

Originally Posted by wuchao1

Will start in 2nd gear hurt the clutch? I just switched to a e39 m5 and was wondering if I can do the same thing since the torque number is high enough...

As long as you don't have to ride the clutch longer than normal, it'll be fine. My problem was that my first gear was so short, by the time I let off the clutch, it was time to shift again! I also skip-shifted quite often. E.g., 2 --> 4 --> 5 on my low-speed commute.

[Alex_bm]

I test drove 3 M3's. All were used but had different mielage. Clutch engagement was different on all three. Only one of them was really rough, and it seemed to me that the previous driver did not have much experience driving manual or just did not care about the car too much.

[ibimmer954]

Honda clutches are pretty much an on/off thing at the engagement point, not very linear. I think the clutch in my M3 is actually just about right with a smooth engagement point. The clutch in my 535i feels like there's almost no engagement point... probably the CDV doing its thing.