Clutch & Gearbox - Light & Easy ?

[csquire4]

HI, I'm looking at getting a Z3 3 litre. I'm doing my research on this forum and would like an opinion on the clutch and gearbox.

In normal condition are they light and easy to use or more on the heavy/clunky side? I usually have Fords (I work for Ford) and they are always nice and easy to use. I did briefly have a BMW 123d Coupe and the clutch was very heavy and the gearbox was awful, particularly 1st to 2nd which made driving in havy traffic a chore so just wondering is this a typical BMW trait or does it just depend on vehicle.

All opinions welcome from 3 litre owners.

[SeriousRikk]

Both my old E46 325ci and my new Z3 have a heavy clutch and a very positive gearbox.

Personally I rate this much better than the spongy light/shite gearbox in my mondeo

[Kevinuk]

Hi my Z3 3.0 clutch is not heavy at all and the gear box is pretty positive but it's all relative depending on what you are used to. Every driver will have a different feel and preference so suggest you drive a couple of cars to make your own mind up.

[Pep]

My 3.0 has a fairly heavy box. The clutch isn't too bad so I've got no problems crawling in traffic but the best bet is to get out and test-drive a couple.

They do feel like pretty basic cars which I much prefer to the modern execs I drive for work which are so light it feels like a simulator!

[pingu]

I have a Ford Escort van (very smooth gearbox and light clutch) and an M Roadster (knotchy, positive gearbox and light clutch).

The Escort is better in town, the M is better in the country.

In the M, 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 2nd can be done very quickly and positively, as can 3rd to 4th and 4th to 3rd. 4th to 5th is more of a twisting action, rather than an angled push. But 5th gear is not needed unless you are cruising .

1st to 2nd in the M has to be positively done. As with most cars, the synchro in 1st is best "paired" in 2nd first when stopped, and double de-clutching to 1st when moving.

[Mike Fishwick]

The effort required to operate the ZF box in a 2.8/3 litre/M is more than the Getrag boxes in the smaller cars, which are very Ford-like in their action - like a knife through butter.

It all depends on what you are used to, and how strong your left arm is - even weaklings can build up their arm muscles!

[csquire4]

Mike - you're right, I'm used to Ford gearboxes, I've owned many in my time including 3 ST's and all were nice to use, only bad one was ST170 which was very agricultural. The Puma was positive but still nice to use.

Thanks for replies, need to find someone local (Essex) with a 3.0 who can show me.

[csquire4]

Mike - you're right, I'm used to Ford gearboxes, I've owned many in my time including 3 ST's and all were nice to use, only bad one was ST170 which was very agricultural. The Puma was positive but still nice to use.

Thanks for replies, need to find someone local (Essex) with a 3.0 who can show me.

[Mike Fishwick]

Remember that an oil change and bleeding the clutch slave cylinder can work wonders, as does regular use. When my 2.8 has not been used for a cople of weeks in rainy conditions - the UK winter - it used to suffer frm clutch drage for the next 500 miles or so, when the rust was worn off the steel plates, and the friction plate had been dried out and reverted to its normal thickness.

Weight training is useful too!