Ugh, what am i doing wrong...

Twice now in two days the same thing happens to me. I don't know if i'm doing something wrong or if its the car. I have a 2008 e92 m3 6MT. So i'm sitting at a light next to my brother in his 04 subaru STi and we decide to see how his car keeps up. I rev up my car and dump the clutch. The car revs up and the damn clutch pedal stays compressed to the floor. Same thing happened to me today when a turbo Audi S4 wanted to play around alittle between lights. Last night i though the pedal just got stuck on my floor mat. But deff not today. Is this just driver error? Would this help at all. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195777&highlight=clutch

Me = right now

if it was my car i wouldnt be dumping the clutch so much...it really puts way to much stress on the car on the tranny...rolling starts are better in my opinon.
sorry cant help with the question though.

Is it getting caught on the floormat?

MrHarris wrote

Is it getting caught on the floormat?

I had similar floormat interference problems at an autocross, which is why they say to always remove them in that environment . . .

MrHarris wrote

Is it getting caught on the floormat?

At first i thought it did, sometimes if the floormat is not in the right spot i have had the brake pedal pull it forward so at first i thought that was it. But thats not it.

As far as dumping the clutch, i would hope that this car can handle it once and a while.

Should of bought a DCT! Sorry couldn't help for the useless post.

Do you have the clutch all the way to the floor, if you do, then you're doing it wrong anyways. This clutch has a very high catching point. Rev the car up and bring up the clutch right to the point before the car starts rolling forward. When the light goes green, then dump the clutch, it will not stick this time. If you want to get a better run than that, quickly slip the clutch as you're giving it more gas. Less wheel spin and a better launch.

Dumping the clutch is fine but riding the clutch is not, high speed down shifting is not, harsh down shifting (forced) is not OR it could be a badly installed clutch. Here is the list of what may be the source of your problem:

1/ hydraulic transmission system clogged by contaminant:
when you depress the clutch pedal fluids travels from master to the slave cylinder but when you release the pedal the contaminant clogs fluid from travelling back normally keeping the pedal down.

2/ air in the hydraulic. transmission fluid does not compress but air in the system gets compressed instead of the pedal pushing back. You may have a leak in the transmission hydraulic --> Check your fluid level.

3/ defective or worn pedal bushing or brackets. Could be checked by flushing the hydraulic first

4/ defective master/slave cylinder

1,2,3,4 are problems outside the clutch. Now internal to clutch:

5/ worn pilot bearing / bushing (bad installation ?)

6/ damaged input shaft spline (from riding the clutch)

7/ worn release bearing retainer (stumping the clutch pedal)

8/ worn linkage components

9/ bent clutch drive straps (should not be the case)

10/ misaligned clutch components (bad installation)

11/ bent release fork or pivot ball

12/ bent or released disc(s) the M3 6MT is dual disc hence the plural. Dis/Engaging two discs is notably more difficult than one. hopefully this ZF clutch is not problematic for this. Might be expected operation as well.
13/ improper transmission lubricant


--> Need to go to the shop.

ryan311 wrote

Should of bought a DCT! Sorry couldn't help for the useless post.

last I checked the "MDCT lag issue: list your problems" thread is the most active one with 395 posts 18 pages, thousands of reads need I say more ?
The M3 6MT clutch is double disc which means it will not wear down as quickly as single disc and is a great choice. This might be a 1 in 100000 case or even normal for a dual disc heavy duty clutch.

what?
I thought dumping the clutch is fine as long as you keep wheel hop minimal

McLuVan wrote

what?
I thought dumping the clutch is fine as long as you keep wheel hop minimal

McLuVan, not sure if you are referring to my post but first line I wrote "dumping the clutch is fine.."

oneginee wrote

Dumping the clutch is fine but riding the clutch is not, high speed down shifting is not, harsh down shifting (forced) is not OR it could be a badly installed clutch. Here is the list of what may be the source of your problem:

1/ hydraulic transmission system clogged by contaminant:
when you depress the clutch pedal fluids travels from master to the slave cylinder but when you release the pedal the contaminant clogs fluid from travelling back normally keeping the pedal down.

2/ air in the hydraulic. transmission fluid does not compress but air in the system gets compressed instead of the pedal pushing back. You may have a leak in the transmission hydraulic --> Check your fluid level.

3/ defective or worn pedal bushing or brackets. Could be checked by flushing the hydraulic first

4/ defective master/slave cylinder

1,2,3,4 are problems outside the clutch. Now internal to clutch:

5/ worn pilot bearing / bushing (bad installation ?)

6/ damaged input shaft spline (from riding the clutch)

7/ worn release bearing retainer (stumping the clutch pedal)

8/ worn linkage components

9/ bent clutch drive straps (should not be the case)

10/ misaligned clutch components (bad installation)

11/ bent release fork or pivot ball

12/ bent or released disc(s) the M3 6MT is dual disc hence the plural. Dis/Engaging two discs is notably more difficult than one. hopefully this ZF clutch is not problematic for this. Might be expected operation as well.
13/ improper transmission lubricant


--> Need to go to the shop.

Wow dude thanks for all the info

I got my slave cylinder replaced a few weeks back, leaking seals and hose. I only had the car about 4 weeks and was not driving it hard, certainly no clutch dumps. Service advisor thought cylinder leaks were rare on a new car but it happened anyhow. Clutch stayed in twice and several times it was very spongy. After replacement all is fine.

Parts not generally available so plan on losing the car for a day or so.

BTW the brakes and clutch share the same fluid.

wwwhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt???? the clutch stayed on the floor? Um, that is definitely NOT normal. take it in, NOW!!