Soft clutch feel

e92m3allday · 01-08-2012, 08:19 PM

My 2011 m3 has 7k miles on it and after sitting in a brand new M3 the other day, I realized the clutch feel is way different than mine. I remember when it was brand new, there was much more rebound when pressing in the clutch, almost exactly what the new M3 felt like the other day. I also realized (even at 2000 miles) during some high speed shifts and revs that the clutch starts to feel soft, and also much easier to shift smoother. Also, my buddy with a 335i with 50k miles on it had the same clutch feel as the brand new M3 did, and he noticed the difference right away. I did some searching on the forum, but I wanted a few more answers before deciding if my car should be brought in for service or not.

Is my clutch "broken in?" Or is my clutch not supposed to feel any different than it did day one? My clutch isn't THAT soft, but when compared to how mine felt brand new, to the brand new M3, and to my buddy's 335i with 50k miles, it is definitely noticeable.

So here are my main questions:

1) Anyone feel their clutch become smoother and lighter after ripping it for a few minutes/runs?

2) Does your clutch feel the same it did from day one ?(when you sit in a brand new m3, would the clutch feel any different from yours?)

3) What types of driving habits would affect the slave cylinder?

piloto · 01-08-2012, 10:24 PM

10K miles and it feels the same. Granted I've removed the second spring, but did that very early on and it feels the same as before. I suspect your system might have some air in it. Not sure how, or it could have been there from the get go, but try bleeding your clutch and see if that addresses the issue. Usually a soft pedal is due to air in the system.

radiantm3 · 01-08-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piloto

10K miles and it feels the same. Granted I've removed the second spring, but did that very early on and it feels the same as before. I suspect your system might have some air in it. Not sure how, or it could have been there from the get go, but try bleeding your clutch and see if that addresses the issue. Usually a soft pedal is due to air in the system.

Makes me wonder if I have air in mine? My clutch is extremely light. All I know is the clutch on the 1M coupe has like 3-4x more resistance at the very least compared to mine. I've done the spring removal as well which made an improvement, but still lighter than I'd like.

piloto · 01-08-2012, 10:50 PM

Could be, but I think this car just has a light clutch, be it how much hydraulic assist it has and/or how light the pressure plate is.

Since you track, it's good to bleed it. It's no different than the brake system, (i.e. why you'd eventually get water in the fluid and it starting to boil at temperature) although the heat generated isn't a high.

TX335 · 01-09-2012, 11:26 AM

I've noticed the clutch become softer after some high rev shifts/runs. Still can't figure out what causes it, though. Wonder if it is air in the lines...

stefan · 01-09-2012, 11:29 AM

I agree with piloto.

Mine is pretty damn soft as well. Though I am coming from E36 and E46 M3's. Those were much stiffer. I have to say I love it in traffic but overall.. not a fan. I am told the clutch spring mod helps a bit. Bottom line is the E9x has an unusually soft clutch for a sporty car.

As for getting softer.. yes I noticed a very minor increase in the softness right around the end of break in time. It was definitely not a ton though.

edcvin · 01-09-2012, 01:03 PM

Mine is pretty soft as well. I was a bit concerned and took it in to the dealer @ 16k. They road tested it and said everything was fine. I have driven a 335i and e46 m3 and they are both significantly stiffer than my clutch...

Oh and I notice as well that at higher revs, it gets softer.

-Vin

clamder · 01-09-2012, 05:22 PM

i actually just got the slave cylinder replaced by the dealer under warranty. just complained that my clutch felt "mushy" lol

Ike4160 · 01-09-2012, 07:14 PM

I wanted the MT but the clutch was just too soft after driving my heavy clutch MazdaSpeed 3.

Test drove a MT sedan three different times but picked up a DCT coupe instead.

e92m3allday · 01-09-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clamder

i actually just got the slave cylinder replaced by the dealer under warranty. just complained that my clutch felt "mushy" lol

lol... how did it feel after? And did you try bleeding the clutch first or nah?

Makes me feel better that it's common.

Kinda wish it was a little stiffer though not going to lie.

clamder · 01-09-2012, 10:40 PM

they did bleed the clutch first, and then decided to replace the slave cylinder. definitely feels better now.

01-08-2012, 08:19 PM	#1
e92m3allday Second Lieutenant 72 Rep 236 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 M40i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wayne NJ iTrader: (1)	Soft clutch feel My 2011 m3 has 7k miles on it and after sitting in a brand new M3 the other day, I realized the clutch feel is way different than mine. I remember when it was brand new, there was much more rebound when pressing in the clutch, almost exactly what the new M3 felt like the other day. I also realized (even at 2000 miles) during some high speed shifts and revs that the clutch starts to feel soft, and also much easier to shift smoother. Also, my buddy with a 335i with 50k miles on it had the same clutch feel as the brand new M3 did, and he noticed the difference right away. I did some searching on the forum, but I wanted a few more answers before deciding if my car should be brought in for service or not. Is my clutch "broken in?" Or is my clutch not supposed to feel any different than it did day one? My clutch isn't THAT soft, but when compared to how mine felt brand new, to the brand new M3, and to my buddy's 335i with 50k miles, it is definitely noticeable. So here are my main questions: 1) Anyone feel their clutch become smoother and lighter after ripping it for a few minutes/runs? 2) Does your clutch feel the same it did from day one ?(when you sit in a brand new m3, would the clutch feel any different from yours?) 3) What types of driving habits would affect the slave cylinder? Last edited by e92m3allday; 01-08-2012 at 08:50 PM..
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01-08-2012, 10:24 PM	#2
piloto Captain 29 Rep 843 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	10K miles and it feels the same. Granted I've removed the second spring, but did that very early on and it feels the same as before. I suspect your system might have some air in it. Not sure how, or it could have been there from the get go, but try bleeding your clutch and see if that addresses the issue. Usually a soft pedal is due to air in the system.
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01-08-2012, 10:50 PM	#4
piloto Captain 29 Rep 843 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Could be, but I think this car just has a light clutch, be it how much hydraulic assist it has and/or how light the pressure plate is. Since you track, it's good to bleed it. It's no different than the brake system, (i.e. why you'd eventually get water in the fluid and it starting to boil at temperature) although the heat generated isn't a high.
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01-09-2012, 11:26 AM	#5
TX335 Private First Class 3 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 08 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	I've noticed the clutch become softer after some high rev shifts/runs. Still can't figure out what causes it, though. Wonder if it is air in the lines...
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01-09-2012, 11:29 AM	#6
stefan Brigadier General 2362 Rep 4,255 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North iTrader: (2)	I agree with piloto. Mine is pretty damn soft as well. Though I am coming from E36 and E46 M3's. Those were much stiffer. I have to say I love it in traffic but overall.. not a fan. I am told the clutch spring mod helps a bit. Bottom line is the E9x has an unusually soft clutch for a sporty car. As for getting softer.. yes I noticed a very minor increase in the softness right around the end of break in time. It was definitely not a ton though. __________________ ///M Power
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01-09-2012, 01:03 PM	#7
edcvin Captain 126 Rep 880 Posts Drives: 2006 M5 \| 2011 M3 \| 2020 X3M Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (1)	Mine is pretty soft as well. I was a bit concerned and took it in to the dealer @ 16k. They road tested it and said everything was fine. I have driven a 335i and e46 m3 and they are both significantly stiffer than my clutch... Oh and I notice as well that at higher revs, it gets softer. -Vin
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01-09-2012, 05:22 PM	#8
clamder Private 0 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 AW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Gabriel, CA iTrader: (4)	i actually just got the slave cylinder replaced by the dealer under warranty. just complained that my clutch felt "mushy" lol
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01-09-2012, 07:14 PM	#9
Ike4160 New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 AW DCT Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bucks County, Pa iTrader: (0)	I wanted the MT but the clutch was just too soft after driving my heavy clutch MazdaSpeed 3. Test drove a MT sedan three different times but picked up a DCT coupe instead.
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01-09-2012, 10:40 PM	#11
clamder Private 0 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 AW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Gabriel, CA iTrader: (4)	they did bleed the clutch first, and then decided to replace the slave cylinder. definitely feels better now.
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