 | |
E39 / E60 Clutch sensitivity
BMW BMW General Discussions (alt.autos.bmw)
 |
| | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#1
 
| |||
| |||
|
E39 / E60 Clutch sensitivity -
03-21-2007
, 12:41 AM
#2
| |||
| |||
|
|
I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. What say the FOAK?  Rancho Bob |
Look in any decent BMW mag' Long bolt with bit of stout rubber (shox mount) on
the end is now being sold to shorten the time taken for gear shifts.
Block of wood with Velcro under the clutch pedal would do the same.
Sir Hugh of Bognor
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!
Hugh Gundersen
hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK
#3
| |||
| |||
|
|
On 20 Mar 2007 22:41:29 -0700, "BobP" <double_entendre (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote: I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. What say the FOAK? Rancho Bob Look in any decent BMW mag' Long bolt with bit of stout rubber (shox mount) on the end is now being sold to shorten the time taken for gear shifts. |
saying (paraphrasing) that the point of clutch engagement is high up on
the pedal throw, and coincides with the "over-center" point of the pedal
spring, which makes it difficult to operate it smoothly.
The engagement point will sort of "self regulate" as the clutch disk
wears since it is hydraulically operated clutch. So, I don't think you
will be very successful in lowering the engagement point. You may be
able to play around with different pedal springs and the mechanism to
make it so the "over-center" occurs at a different place in the pedal throw.
Either that or, like most of these type of things, you'll probably get
used to it after driving it for a while. Think of the added benefit,
you'll be giving your left leg a daily workout... ;-)
--
-Fred W
#4
| |||
| |||
|
|
I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. |
1) It's self-adjusting, not much you can do to change the engagement. You
can install a clutch stop that limits the pedal down-travel.
2) The clutch slave cylinder employs a clutch delay valve which prevents
rapid engagement of the clutch (BMW says to reduce drivetrain shock). It
makes smooth 1-2 shifts difficult to perform. It can be safely removed (or
if you're concerned about warrantee issues) replaced with a valve body whose
guts have been removed. Whichever method, the improvements are worthwhile.
3) As long as you're at it, you might try a short-shift kit. There are
several on the market which (some include a replacement selector rod, some
don't) which will replace the somewhat rubbery BMW shift mechanism with one
of surgical precision.
R / John
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
It has removed 451 spam emails to date.
Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
Try SPAMfighter for free now!
#5
| |||
| |||
|
|
h... (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote: On 20 Mar 2007 22:41:29 -0700, "BobP" <double_enten... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote: I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. What say the FOAK? Rancho Bob Look in any decent BMW mag' Long bolt with bit of stout rubber (shox mount) on the end is now being sold to shorten the time taken for gear shifts. I don't think that would solve what the OP was complaining of. He's saying (paraphrasing) that the point of clutch engagement is high up on the pedal throw, and coincides with the "over-center" point of the pedal spring, which makes it difficult to operate it smoothly. |
Quote:
|
Either that or, like most of these type of things, you'll probably get used to it after driving it for a while. Think of the added benefit, you'll be giving your left leg a daily workout... ;-) |
bowed leg.... :-D
Rancho Bob
#6
| |||
| |||
|
|
2) The clutch slave cylinder employs a clutch delay valve which prevents rapid engagement of the clutch (BMW says to reduce drivetrain shock). It makes smooth 1-2 shifts difficult to perform. It can be safely removed (or if you're concerned about warrantee issues) replaced with a valve body whose guts have been removed. Whichever method, the improvements are worthwhile. |
shifting is still next to impossible on this car, mainly for the reason BobP
mentioned - the engagement point just seems extremely small. Either that,
or there is something wrong with my clutch (I bought it used with 30K
miles).
And it's not that I don't know how to drive stick. I drove sticks all my
life, and this is the first car where I can't execute smooth shifts majority
of the time.
Pete
#7
| |||
| |||
|
|
On Mar 21, 1:55 am, Fred W <malt_ho... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote: h... (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote: On 20 Mar 2007 22:41:29 -0700, "BobP" <double_enten... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote: I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. What say the FOAK? Rancho Bob Look in any decent BMW mag' Long bolt with bit of stout rubber (shox mount) on the end is now being sold to shorten the time taken for gear shifts. I don't think that would solve what the OP was complaining of. He's saying (paraphrasing) that the point of clutch engagement is high up on the pedal throw, and coincides with the "over-center" point of the pedal spring, which makes it difficult to operate it smoothly. Precisely. Either that or, like most of these type of things, you'll probably get used to it after driving it for a while. Think of the added benefit, you'll be giving your left leg a daily workout... ;-) Yeah, but then I end up walking like Yosemite Sam, but only with one bowed leg.... :-D Rancho Bob |
--
-Fred W
#8
| |||
| |||
|
|
BobP wrote: On Mar 21, 1:55 am, Fred W <malt_ho... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote: h... (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote: On 20 Mar 2007 22:41:29 -0700, "BobP" <double_enten... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote: I've driven an E39 540i and an E60 545i and noticed that while the clutch throw was fairly lengthy, the actual engagement zone was pretty small, particularly on the E39. Is that just the nature of the beast on these cars or did I bump into a couple funny ones? It's not a deal- killer item, but is there any way to adjust the clutch to give me more room to work with? The E39 in particular seemed to be hypersensitive, with the engagement zone being at a point where the clutch lever was "pushing back" harder than it did earlier in its travel. What say the FOAK? Rancho Bob Look in any decent BMW mag' Long bolt with bit of stout rubber (shox mount) on the end is now being sold to shorten the time taken for gear shifts. I don't think that would solve what the OP was complaining of. He's saying (paraphrasing) that the point of clutch engagement is high up on the pedal throw, and coincides with the "over-center" point of the pedal spring, which makes it difficult to operate it smoothly. Precisely. Either that or, like most of these type of things, you'll probably get used to it after driving it for a while. Think of the added benefit, you'll be giving your left leg a daily workout... ;-) Yeah, but then I end up walking like Yosemite Sam, but only with one bowed leg.... :-D Rancho Bob That would be fitting for your usenet moniker, eh "Rancho"? -- -Fred W |
I lived in Rancho Cucamonga for quite a few years. Ain't a lot of
cows out here to rustle anymore.
Though you can still smell them when wind blows wrong.
Rancho Bob
|
« Previous Thread
|
Next Thread »
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
Linear Mode
| |
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.5.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.