Difference between 08 and 09 clutch? 09 much softer?

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 07:08 PM

Has anyone driven an 08 and 09 M3 6 Speed? Did you notice if the clutch feels completely different? I just drove an 08 and an 09 back to back, and the 08 clutch feels so much stiffer and "springy". I actually prefer this. My 09 clutch feels drastically lighter in pressure and push back. Is this normal?

It feels like you're pressing on a much stiffer spring in the 08. It's as if in the 09, when the clutch is depressed, you have to push forward to keep it in place. Where as in the 08, you would just lock your left foot to keep the clutch in the desired position at a stop light. The 08 has more pressure when it's trying to go back to it's default position.

For the resident experts here, if it's not by design, is there a particular reason why this might be happening? Clutch fluids, etc? Anything mechanical?

ND54 also tried out my 09 and noticed the same thing...

DevJ · 08-25-2009, 07:13 PM

Wait let me understand. You had both an 08 and 09 but you have an 09 now and want the clutch feel of an 08?

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevJ

Wait let me understand. You had both an 08 and 09 but you have an 09 now and want the clutch feel of an 08?

I drove a friends 08. Compared to my 09, it felt stiffer. My 09 felt very light in comparison. Yes, I prefer the clutch feel of his car.

I'm wondering if this is a unique case, or if this is a known difference between 08 and 09. If it is unique, any mechanical reason why this would be.

mach330 · 08-25-2009, 07:34 PM

do u know if he took out that spring on ur friend's clutch? i forget what this mod is called.

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach330

do u know if he took out that spring on ur friend's clutch? i forget what this mod is called.

He said he hasn't done anything and that it's is stock. Removing the spring would make the clutch feel lighter or heavier?

gthirtyfizle · 08-25-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaeldorian

He said he hasn't done anything and that it's is stock. Removing the spring would make the clutch feel lighter or heavier?

Removing the spring, no matter what year the car is, is something u have to do. Its like a whole diff clutch is being installed.

BOOSTFTW · 08-25-2009, 08:23 PM

Not to clown on all of you...but obviously the 08 clutch is more worn out than the 09... your friend mustve beat the shit out of his 08 m3 or have driven it way more than you have on your 09.

J08M3 · 08-25-2009, 08:25 PM

I think there was a clutch spring update. The early E9x M3 had a different spring then they are currently using. Not sure if it changed the the MY or somewhere in between.

J08M3 · 08-25-2009, 08:27 PM

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18

tunawi7cheese · 08-25-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J08M3

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18

Oh my, excellent post!

The answers to the OP post has been found.

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTFTW

Not to clown on all of you...but obviously the 08 clutch is more worn out than the 09... your friend mustve beat the shit out of his 08 m3 or have driven it way more than you have on your 09.

I don't think so. There is a drastic difference. He has 10K miles and I have 6K miles. Also, I don't think clutches get "stiffer" after more abuse. I would think the effect is opposite.

Also, this has nothing to do with the clutch grabbing or slipping, but the actual clutch pedal feel.

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J08M3

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18

This must be it. Interesting.. Thanks for the link

McLuVan · 08-25-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J08M3

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18

wow
learned something new

JCtx · 08-25-2009, 09:06 PM

Removing spring(s) makes clutch harder. New M3s have dual pedal springs for lighter effort. The '08 is in-between, and perfect IMO. No need to remove the spring in my car, but it's a matter of preference.

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Removing spring(s) makes clutch harder. New M3s have dual pedal springs for lighter effort. The '08 is in-between, and perfect IMO. No need to remove the spring in my car, but it's a matter of preference.

Thanks! This is my observation. The 09 with dual springs require significantly less effort to engage. Almost flimsy.

foosh · 08-25-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Removing spring(s) makes clutch harder. New M3s have dual pedal springs for lighter effort. The '08 is in-between, and perfect IMO. No need to remove the spring in my car, but it's a matter of preference.

Yep, couldn't agree more. '08 clutch effort is perfect for my tastes.

michaeldorian · 08-25-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foosh

Yep, couldn't agree more. '08 clutch effort is perfect for my tastes.

After trying out both, I think I have to agree.

lebreeze · 08-25-2009, 10:55 PM

08 ftw

foosh · 08-25-2009, 11:08 PM

LOL . . . everyone knows one should never buy a second-year or later car, when it comes to performance vehicles. They always get "soft" and manufacturing becomes "complacent."

Nawaaz · 08-26-2009, 12:09 AM

I don't know......I feel my '09 m3's clutch feel is ok, so I won't mess with it.

michaeldorian · 08-26-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foosh

LOL . . . everyone knows one should never buy a second-year or later car, when it comes to performance vehicles. They always get "soft" and manufacturing becomes "complacent."

Goes to show you.

MrHarris · 08-26-2009, 04:53 AM

I prefer the 08 clutch feel by far.

08-25-2009, 07:08 PM	#1
michaeldorian Major 238 Rep 1,125 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Currently North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Difference between 08 and 09 clutch? 09 much softer? Has anyone driven an 08 and 09 M3 6 Speed? Did you notice if the clutch feels completely different? I just drove an 08 and an 09 back to back, and the 08 clutch feels so much stiffer and "springy". I actually prefer this. My 09 clutch feels drastically lighter in pressure and push back. Is this normal? It feels like you're pressing on a much stiffer spring in the 08. It's as if in the 09, when the clutch is depressed, you have to push forward to keep it in place. Where as in the 08, you would just lock your left foot to keep the clutch in the desired position at a stop light. The 08 has more pressure when it's trying to go back to it's default position. For the resident experts here, if it's not by design, is there a particular reason why this might be happening? Clutch fluids, etc? Anything mechanical? ND54 also tried out my 09 and noticed the same thing... Last edited by michaeldorian; 08-25-2009 at 08:39 PM..
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08-25-2009, 07:13 PM	#2
DevJ Colonel 154 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: R8 V10+/YMB M4 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK iTrader: (1)	Wait let me understand. You had both an 08 and 09 but you have an 09 now and want the clutch feel of an 08? __________________ ‘23 RRS First Edition '22 X7 M50i '18 R8 V10+ http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=133578&d=1204654487[/IMG]
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08-25-2009, 07:34 PM	#4
mach330 You don't know JACK!!! 43 Rep 796 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 35i Join Date: May 2005 Location: The OC iTrader: (3)	do u know if he took out that spring on ur friend's clutch? i forget what this mod is called. __________________ Rated /// M
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08-25-2009, 08:23 PM	#7
BOOSTFTW Enlisted Member 67 Rep 44 Posts Drives: E90 335i e36 m3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SD/Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Not to clown on all of you...but obviously the 08 clutch is more worn out than the 09... your friend mustve beat the shit out of his 08 m3 or have driven it way more than you have on your 09.
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08-25-2009, 08:25 PM	#8
J08M3 Major General 285 Rep 6,007 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 COUPE Join Date: May 2008 Location: NEW YORK iTrader: (8)	I think there was a clutch spring update. The early E9x M3 had a different spring then they are currently using. Not sure if it changed the the MY or somewhere in between. __________________
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08-25-2009, 08:27 PM	#9
J08M3 Major General 285 Rep 6,007 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 COUPE Join Date: May 2008 Location: NEW YORK iTrader: (8)	http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18 __________________
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08-25-2009, 09:06 PM	#14
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Removing spring(s) makes clutch harder. New M3s have dual pedal springs for lighter effort. The '08 is in-between, and perfect IMO. No need to remove the spring in my car, but it's a matter of preference.
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08-25-2009, 10:55 PM	#18
lebreeze Captain 162 Rep 621 Posts Drives: 18’c63s,15’macanturbo,14’ 991s Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: windsor iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 e92 m3 [0.00]	08 ftw __________________
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08-25-2009, 11:08 PM	#19
foosh Major 27 Rep 1,314 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (0)	LOL . . . everyone knows one should never buy a second-year or later car, when it comes to performance vehicles. They always get "soft" and manufacturing becomes "complacent." __________________
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08-26-2009, 12:09 AM	#20
Nawaaz Brigadier General 221 Rep 4,643 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: . iTrader: (0)	I don't know......I feel my '09 m3's clutch feel is ok, so I won't mess with it.
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08-26-2009, 04:53 AM	#22
MrHarris yodog 197 Rep 5,025 Posts Drives: '86 Corolla Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Diamond Bar, Ca iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 BMW [10.00]	I prefer the 08 clutch feel by far. __________________ 2009 E92 M3 \| Alpine White \| Black Extended \| Advan RS \| Turner Test Pipes \| Dinan Axle-Back \| OETuning \| Eibach Springs \| UUC SSK \| VRS Front Lip \| VRS Type I Diffuser \| Matte Black \| RPi Scoops \| MS Filter \| Yokohama AD08 \| F1 Pinnacle Special Thanks: Gintani \| OETuning \| eAs
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