Long throw Clutch in a BMW

[crisdoc]

I have swapped my 97 Maita for a 330i with stick shift and am loving it. I have noticed however that the clutch in the 330 is a long throw vd the dhort throw of the miata. My question is does the clutch have be depressed to the floor or only enough to allow for a clean gear change. I find that if I depress it 50% it allows for clear gear change. Is that okay or do I have to depress it to the floor. I also find that when shifting to third occassionaly if I am not over 3000 rpms that I encounter resistance I assume that must be because of rev matching. How can I prevent that. Do I force it or wait a second and try again. I also find that to be an issue when going backwards from 4th to third or 5th to 4th. Is there a way that can be avoided. I am sorry if these are basic clutch questions.

Thanks

Chris

[Furious]

check into this...


My Webpagehttp://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7188&st=0&#entry72632

[gbf1lm]

ok see that link for a clutch stop u dont need it. its for people who dont know how to only push the clutch into the catch area and not farther, get used to a car and u will know that area perfectly.

also if u want to know how far u need to push the clutch for shifting i cant tell u 50% or whatever bc it depends on the wear of the cluthc , more miles on that clutch the less u push. but hers how u find out. park on a flat surface. parking brake off. go into first. rev up, maybe 3-4 thousand, start releasing clutch slowly, when the car starts to move, the point right before then is the minimum u have to push it in.

also a trick . . . go gentle, but firm. sorry if i cant explain properly. the key for this trick is pushing firm without forcing the shifter out of position. i wish i could show u a vid. basically push on shifter as if the clutch is in and ur changing gears but not hard enuff to force, when ur ready to shift hold ur pushin gently and firm. as u press the clutch ull feel less resistance and eventually when u come to that area te shifter will fall into neutral and continue pusing into gear. this way ull never push clutch in more than nessesary.

ok what do u mean u cant go in third under 3000. i can start in third; not a good idea but i can. is it cold where u live? that happens to me sumthimes before the car warms up.

also coming from a miata, ur definition of resistance could be distorted. in other cars ive driven the gears are like slippy they slide into place easily, too me it gives it a floppy feel, i dont like it. in a bmw u have to give a firm but gentle touch, very nice feel. that could be it. shift gentle but firm. thers usually resistance form going into 1st. push firm but gently and if its not going in thers a problem, but otherwise its fine. dont shove it.

if u have to force it in there may be a problem. like is the resistance nethign like going into revers ?