Anyone installed an aftermarket clutch to fix 6MT issues?

[SanFranciscoM3]

Has anyone installed an aftermarket clutch to improve the 6MT?

After having my car for 4 years, the clutch engagement point is still vague and seems to move around. It's definitely not a linear effort pushing it down and releasing it. The clutch spring delete spring helped a lot, but it's still not perfect. This is mostly an issue on the 1-2 shift and the 4-2 or 3-2 shift. It's very hard to get that shift right at low to medium RPMs because you don't know exactly where the clutch engagement point is. I don't think there is anything wrong with 2nd gear on the car - in any car the shift into 2nd is tricky and magnifies any problems with your technique.

I've noticed that a good fraction of people on this forum have issues with the 6MT and a good fraction of people love it. My friend has a 6MT 2008 M3 (just like mine) and he loves the transmission. But it's his first manual transmission. I've been driving only manual cars for the past 15 years, and after driving a car for a week or so I can usually get the shifts perfectly. Not so with my M3 or his M3. I feel like the transmission is not a precision instrument whereas everything else in the M3 is. If you have experience driving Honda/Acura or Mazda manual transmissions you'll know what I mean - they becomes and extension of you because you can get every shift perfectly if you get comfortable with the car.

I think people who haven't driven good manual transmission cars think the M3 transmission is great because they don't know what they are missing.

Let's please not turn this into a DCT vs. 6MT thread because that has been discussed extensively.

And btw I did search, nothing that I could find addresses this specific question.

[SanFranciscoM3]

I also notice that the engine RPMs drop very quickly when you upshift, so you have to apply some gas as you re-engage the clutch to get the shifts to go smoothly. Anyone try a heavier flywheel? I know that would make downshifting require more of a throttle blip...

[Shmelgy]

I agree that the spring removal helped a lot, and to help even more I just installed the BMS clutch stopper. I figured for $10, why not try it out? It basically makes it so that when you fully depress the clutch pedal, it sits right after the engagement point. It helped make the 1-2 shift much smoother and was literally under a minute to install.

[Merlosso]

Ok, so I'm not crazy then. 1-2 and 3-2 shifts have always been a bit tricky in this car but I had been blaming myself.

I read about the spring removal but I'm still not clear on the point. What exactly does it do?

[THE TECH]

There are no "problems" with the actual transmission so your post is a bit misleading.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

There are no "problems" with the actual transmission so your post is a bit misleading.

+1. However I know exactly what you are talking about as far as the vague feeling. ZHP shift knob and the clutch spring removal mod made a huge difference for me personally. You'll never get the feel of a honda shifter, but you can make simple improvements. I'm happy with those 2 mods.

[TYPEV1020]

how do you remove the clutch spring delete spring?

[aussiem3]

I've had mine since Nov '07, and the transmission and the clutch engagement hasn't changed at all. I am still enjoying the manual shift. I normally notice even the slightest change but nothing with the clutch.

The only thing is sometime reverse won't engage. Then I clutch out and in and it's fine. It has done this may be 10 times during the ownership. No drama.

Enjoy the car. There are mickey mouse gimicky stuff out there you can do but you're just wasting money.

[SanFranciscoM3]

@ Merloso

The spring removal makes the clutch effort more linear. The spring makes the effort easier at the end of the clutch depression and harder at the start.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=644106

@ Maseroche

No adverse effects of clutch spring removal at all

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by SanFranciscoM3

I also notice that the engine RPMs drop very quickly when you upshift, so you have to apply some gas as you re-engage the clutch to get the shifts to go smoothly. Anyone try a heavier flywheel? I know that would make downshifting require more of a throttle blip...

Why on earth would you want a heavier flywheel - that just dulls the responsiveness of this superb engine.

Yes, the revs drop quickly, so modulate the throttle to ensure that the revs are right, whether its an upshift, or a downshift. And this in itself, removes almost all of the reluctance associated with getting into 2nd gear.

My MY2008 E92 had a really vague clutch which made it more difficult than it should have been to achieve clean, rev matched shifts and clutch engagement. My MY2012 E92 has a completely different feel to the clutch, with no sense of vagueness, it makes the car waaay easier to drive and shift smoothly and effectively.

Whether there is any significant change to the design or specification of the clutch , I have no idea. It just feels much much better, to me.

[SegrestEllenl]

I know that would make downshifting require more of a throttle blip

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Why on earth would you want a heavier flywheel - that just dulls the responsiveness of this superb engine.

Yes, the revs drop quickly, so modulate the throttle to ensure that the revs are right, whether its an upshift, or a downshift. And this in itself, removes almost all of the reluctance associated with getting into 2nd gear.

My MY2008 E92 had a really vague clutch which made it more difficult than it should have been to achieve clean, rev matched shifts and clutch engagement. My MY2012 E92 has a completely different feel to the clutch, with no sense of vagueness, it makes the car waaay easier to drive and shift smoothly and effectively.

Whether there is any significant change to the design or specification of the clutch , I have no idea. It just feels much much better, to me.

Clutch pedal spring design changed. Info on it via search for those that are interested.

[SanFranciscoM3]

@ single track - do you know if the 2012 pedal spring design feels better than the spring delete? anyone added the 2012 pedal spring to an 08?

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by SanFranciscoM3

@ single track - do you know if the 2012 pedal spring design feels better than the spring delete? anyone added the 2012 pedal spring to an 08?

I have an 09 with the new pedal spring design and like it. That's all I can tell you. : )

[IMG]

08 6MT and never had an issue, got a new stock clutch installed and found that i have to buy the new design flywheel !
Car shifted nice before and now,the pedal is just lighter.

[Superfly_M3]

[QUOTE=aussiem3;12100379]
The only thing is sometime reverse won't engage. Then I clutch out and in and it's fine. It has done this may be 10 times during the ownership. No drama.
QUOTE]

When reverse or 1st are hard to get, try shifting into 3rd and back out. This cleared things up for me in my other MT.

I like my clutch. I have a ZHP knob, and its much better than stock. One time I looked at a stock knob and it almost looked weird.

[a burrito]

I know exactly what you're talking about and I experience the same thing. Sometimes i wonder if bmw actually drives their 6mt m3's for an extended period..

[SanFranciscoM3]

Someone mentioned that the clutch spring delete/clutch stopper are a waste of money and don't work. At least the clutch spring delete is essentially free (minus the tools if you don't have them)

[SanFranciscoM3]

I'm thinking about doing the clutch stop, but I was always taught that it is bad for the transmission to shift without depressing the clutch down all the way.

Anyone know if that still applies to modern cars like the M3?

[SanFranciscoM3]

Do you guys know if the later year E9X M3s had changes to the clutch/spring and flywheel or just clutch/spring? I'm wondering if it's just the clutch/spring whether you get the same or better feel with the ultimate clutch pedal.

Also I bought the BMS clutch stop and will report when I install it.