E30 Zone

Hi All,

How is everyone today?

Ive a '89 325i Sport Mtech 2.....runs smooth, picks up like no mans bussiness and goes like the clappers.....had it dyno'd and i have prrof of 169bhp at the wheels, so the cars runing good.


My only concnern is that my CLUTCH PEDAL is VERY VERY FIRM, it does take some OOMMPH to push it down, however it never slips gear, no hesitation.

I had a new MASTER CYL put in, the SLAVE had already been changed, i had the sytem blead at least 3 times on my last count

I would just like your expertise please, is it just me, or is my clutch pedal too stiff, it very very hard to push down, biting point is nice and low too!

Your advcie is greatly appreciated people

Thanks

Saboor

Stiff compared to what? The 325 clutch is noticeably heavier than the 316, 318, and 320 clutches.

Ive a '89 325i Sport Mtech 2.....runs smooth, picks up like no mans bussiness and goes like the clappers.....had it dyno'd and i have prrof of 169bhp at the wheels, so the cars runing good.

Standard?

Dear All,

Sorry for the iditoness.

Its a standard clutch, well i only have it to compare to an e46 and a mk2 golf with a hydraulic setup; now i know you may say that is not comparable, but i honestly feel it is very very firm, but what i mean is its not a in and around town clutch,takes some effort to push it down; is there any way of releasing pressure?

Thanks once again

Saboor

It would have said check your hydraulic cylinders but you've already replaced them. Next thing that springs to mind is maybe the clutch release bearing and splines need greasing. I wonder how old is the clutch is.

I've found they get heavier as they wear, my sport clutch was the original @ 92K , twas getting a bit heavy and grabby so I binned it , replacement was sooo much lighter, and no grabby action

E46 clutch pedal sux, delay valve for those that cant drive properly ruins the feel for those that can

I think the metal springy fingers get stiffer with age.
Mine's stiffer than an old 911 turbo but seems to work fine in all other areas, and same as yours has a new slave and master cylinder.

Ant wrote:I've found they get heavier as they wear

didnt realise that, ive found every e30 ive owned to be harder than anything else ive ever driven

i like the heavy clutch tbh, gives good feedback

My E46 (320D) had an incredibly light clutch compared to all my past cars, my E30 (318is) is the other end of the spectrum, much harder and my clutch master and slave cylinders were replaced 3 weeks ago which has made no real difference. I think it'll come down to simply the age of the car.

Good Luck sorting it either way.

Red Devil

my 1990 325 cab clutch feels exactly as you describe, nice and firm and low biting point.

Dear All,

Thank you so much for your feedback with this issue, much appreciated.

You all maybe correct, this is my first E30, and i don't have another to compare it with, maybe the clutch is just that heavy; however i'm a try the CLUTCH RELASE BEARING and SPLINE GREASING, see where that takes me, but surely that will smoothen the pedal action, not lighten the pressure load im getting?

Ant: Superb comment, completely agree, right tard of a car to drive, don't liek it either

The clutch, well to be honest boys, i don't know how old it is, i changed the MASTER CYL bcz the pedal was glued to the floor, but ive neverh ad any clutch slipping problems, the car DOESNT LIKE GOING INTO GEAR IN THE MORNING, but i dont think thats relevant

Shall try the two things above and see what results

I think you all may be right, it must just be like that

Thanks all for your input and time

Any morei deas more than welcome


Saboor

Diaphragm clutches will tend to get heavier as the friction plate wears and the diaphragm ceases to 'pop' over centre upon depression.

I'm willing to bet that you'll find the friction plate is shot when you take it apart.

They're pretty strong clutches as standard it seems with even buggered ones not slipping in my limited experience.

"DOESNT LIKE GOING INTO GEAR IN THE MORNING"

Could be the gearbox oil. As it warms up the gear change should get easier. A gbox oil change might be on the cards.

Turbo Brown: Thanks for the advice, i will pass this onto my mech, see what he says, that somehow sounds convincing? Is it an expensive part and is it longl aborous hours to change???

John 325: Thanks for the advice too, will get that done asap, the gears go fine as soon as a warmup is good, must be the oil then

Thanks All once again,

Friction plate it is then..........lets see

Think I bought an M20B25 clutch on ebay for about £25 or so which has been happily dealing with 80lbft of torque over standard ever since so they're pretty cheap it seems

To be honest, if you have someone take the gearbox off to look at whether the clutch has had it's day, you might as well have a new one installed for the tiny amount of extra labour that would be involved

Turbo Brown: Thanks so much for the advice, i think I'll have to consider it you know, first have to get a new alternator in and then shall order a new clutch as you say and see where that takes me, it may help you know

Thanks so much for your advice, shame i thought the clutch was good on my car, clearly not, new one it is then

The accepted cure for gearboxes which are reluctant to slide into gear when cold, is to use ATF instead of SAE80, like E36 boxes onwards do.

New gearbox!!!!!!Now now lets not get carried away, havent that much money, but i bet the response and feel would be greatly improved!!!! E36 325i gearbox or an e36 m3 one?

siddiqi1 wrote:New gearbox!!!!!!Now now lets not get carried away, havent that much money, but i bet the response and feel would be greatly improved!!!! E36 325i gearbox or an e36 m3 one?

i think youve got a bit confused there matey. brian means use ATF gearbox oil.

My clutch on my sport is very heavy, but everything is soooo smooth and responsive. A little too responsive.....if i dont change gear absolutley perfect.....there is a bit of a rear end "shudder". If thats the right word to use........i guess its probably because of the wild chip....

Oakey: Thank you for that, sound liek a complelte male bimbo, nice thanks for kindly correcting me!!!!

Dimebag: Like a Zoner jsut mentioned, i think cheking the friction plate may be of some help, i'm a get that cheked, think it may be that you know!!