Just saying hello again after a long absence

[squeeforever]

I think 60k miles is VERY good for the life of a clutch. I'd be happy if the clutch in my car last 20k...

[BrianG]

Wow, you guys are hard on your clutches. Mine is going strong on almost 60k. Of course it's on a 4-cyl

Actually, during normal driving (non-aggressive), I don't even use the clutch beyond 1st gear.

[squeeforever]

Originally Posted by BrianG

Wow, you guys are hard on your clutches. Mine is going strong on almost 60k. Of course it's on a 4-cyl

Actually, during normal driving (non-aggressive), I don't even use the clutch beyond 1st gear.

Well my car is make in excess of 500hp, so I don't expect the clutch to last to long, especially with my driving.

[BrianG]

Since all a clutch does is absorb the difference in wheel vs engine speed, just time everything so the syncros are lined up and it won't be so bad on the clutch. It's those starts where you rev to ~3k and then dumping the clutch, or riding it so the launch isn't so abrupt that's bad for them.

500HP eh? I bet you pass anything on the road... except the gas station!

[BP-Revo]

We'll see what happens. It doesn't do it if I blip the throttle during startup. So its no big deal.

It really depends on how the clutch is treated vs how you drive the car. My clutch is actually "fine" if I was just doing regular everyday driving. But for performance driving it is shot, it slips for a 1/2 second into each gear under hard shifting and no longer holds under hard launches (you let out the clutch and RPM's will sit at 5000 or so until speed builds then the RPM's drop to 4000 and start climbing with the speed).

So since I plan to track the car very soon (this summer), I'm 99% sure the clutch will die sometime during my first track day, then I'll replace it and hopefully do another.

Clutch life varies so much with use. If you powershift and launch the car all the time, the clutch might barely last 20K, but if you sit on the highway all day with almost no start/stop then you can get well over 100k no problem.

[Unsullied_Spy]

Even under hard acceleration I still take my time with my shifts. The faster you try to mash together objects rotating at different speeds the harder it is on them (hard on the syncros to shift too hard). Before I'll even buy a car with a manual I have to shift it into 2nd really hard, if it grinds rather than go in it has been driven hard and will probably be a maintenance hog as long as I own it. Granny shifting may be a little slower and not look as cool but it sure helps your car last longer.

On the track it's a different story but to me it isn't worth it to drive hard on the street. Last time I saw a transmission go out in a German car it was $8,000 to replace and that was just a normal manual. Doing a clutch in a German car will run you $1,000 - $2,000 depending on several factors. I can replace the tranny and clutch in my Mustang myself easily and for a fraction of the cost but I still don't do it.

[BP-Revo]

I guess it is bad then that I like the feeling of a power shift. To be slammed into your seat as the car lurches forward is an awesome feeling for me.

Anyway, a lightweight flywheel and sports clutch installed on my car is 1500 bucks, which is awesomely cheap compared to a stock one at 3000.

Last time I checked, a clutch on a BMW M5's SMG Transmission was 2800 Euro's, or about 4000. An entire transmission replacement is 25k!!! Good thing we have the 100K mile warranty on that thing...

[Unsullied_Spy]

It's not a bad thing to like the feel, I'm just picky about my vehicles and I know I can't afford to replace a transmission. That is a very good price on the flywheel and clutch, for a BMW that is. Good thing you got the warranty, every German car I've ever owned has been a total disaster :(

[squeeforever]

Yea, 315's in the back for now, but when I go with a new set of rims it'll be 315's in the front and 345's in the back. :D

The 20's in the back won't mess with the speedo, just ABS, but I plan on doing away with it anyway, as well as the airbags. No need for airbags with 8pt. harnesses (don't have em yet, but when I install the cage I have, I'll add em).

No, don't really plan to do much drag racing, maybe some autoX or roadcoarses.

[BP-Revo]

315 up front? Boy am I going to feel bad for your power steering pump...

[squeeforever]

Originally Posted by BP-Revo

315 up front? Boy am I going to feel bad for your power steering pump...

Yea, as soon as I have any problems with it, its gonna be replaced by a after market pump from Turn One. MUCH better than the stocker. Luckily though, the SS Camaros came with a power steering cooler from SLP, so it shouldn't be to bad...But like I said, that'll be quite a ways away.