To my 6MT Brothers: who's upgraded their clutch?

[NORAGRETS]

Eyeing up a new clutch, not a whole lot of options that I have found so far, but wondering who has experience with an aftermarket clutch?

Def do not want a track style clutch that will drive me nuts as this car is a daily for me...

2 brands I am looking at:

1. Clutch masters

A. FX250 Clutch Kit Spring Disc 03795-HD0F-D
B. Clutch Masters FX400 Clutch Kit Spring Disc 03795-HDC6-D
C. FX300 Clutch Kit Spring Disc 03795-HDTZ-D
D. FX350 Clutch Kit Spring Disc 03795-HDFF-D

2. Spec Clutches (3 models)

A. Clutch Kit SS-Trim SB55SST
B. Clutch Kit SB55PT P-Trim
C. ST Trim (SB55ST)


Leaning towards the Spec, but I would love some real-world use reviews/feedback from users?

[MJ6]

I've been through multiple configurations, and the one I finally settled on was the Spec Twin Disk SB55PT:
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1791674

Originally Posted by MJ6

The first two clutches I tried were both ClutchMasters, but I didn't have good luck with them personally. The FX1000 was too aggressive for my daily duties, and the FX250 started slipping on me during shifts under high load. I also had an issue with the clutch engagement point being too high on the FX250 which made it challenging to modulate at times.

The Spec clutch I'd heard about, but had an issue with one of their clutches on a previous platform so I wasn't keen on going that route at first. After dealing with the issues I had with the ClutchMasters though and reading about the experiences of many other enthusiasts both on and off the forum, I decided to give it a shot. And I'm glad I did. Much easier to drive on the daily, and clutch pedal modulation is close to stock-like. There's obviously a little chatter which is pretty par for the course with any aftermarket clutch which swaps out the dual mass FW for a single, but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't hesitate to go with the Spec Twin Disk.

Originally Posted by MJ6

I think that the CM clutches were good in their own right, just not specifically to the level I needed them to be at. The FX1000 would have been a great for a weekend warrior at the track or strip due to its clamping force and holding power, but it was a bit much for me on the street. Likewise, the FX250 drove like a dream in traffic and was one of the most well behaved clutches I've ever driven, but the holding power and pedal issue were hard passes.

I'm sure there's some configuration out there in the CM line up that would fit the bill, but I didn't feel like shuffling though and fighting to install them all in order to figure it out.

Go with what's been proven, Spec all the way on this platform.

[NORAGRETS]

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Clutch-M...95-TDFR-A.html

[MJ6]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Clutch-M...95-TDFR-A.html

I considered that one initially, but ended up going the FX1000 route instead. In hindsight the FX850 may have been better suited, but I don't have first hand experience obviously.
They do offer different clutch plates though, so if you want to maintain daily driving characteristics I'd definitely make sure they know to send the organic "fibertuff" disks as opposed to the ceramic variant that I was provided; I didn't find them pleasant to try and modulate in traffic at all.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by MJ6

I considered that one initially, but ended up going the FX1000 route instead. In hindsight the FX850 may have been better suited, but I don't have first hand experience obviously.
They do offer different clutch plates though, so if you want to maintain daily driving characteristics I'd definitely make sure they know to send the organic "fibertuff" disks as opposed to the ceramic variant that I was provided; I didn't find them pleasant to try and modulate in traffic at all.

What made you pick the one u did?

[MJ6]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

What made you pick the one u did?

When I talked to the guys at CM I let them know what I was looking for in a clutch system (able to hold 700+ wtq, daily drivable, pedal not overly heavy) and I was told that the 10.5" disk with its larger, rotating mass would be easier to modulate for daily duties. While that's likely true, the ceramic clutch disks they paired with it negated any benefits a larger disk might have had.
The larger mass also caused an annoyingly loud drivetrain resonance at certain rpm frequencies that only got louder in higher gears. It's the one purchase that I regret making without digging into it further first.

[MR RIZK]

Why not oem? Only ask as you haven't stated your modded. OEM is actually decent out of the box for mildly modded cars.

I cannot provide experience on this platform but if going with the twin plate ask owners if there is any chatter as most twins have some chatter.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

Why not oem? Only ask as you haven't stated your modded. OEM is actually decent out of the box for mildly modded cars.

I cannot provide experience on this platform but if going with the twin plate ask owners if there is any chatter as most twins have some chatter.

Is this to me?

Yes modded, plus I ran a M3 clutch in my E82 (also modded) and I always wanted something that grabbed better, I found 1st-3rd/4th would slip a tiny bit under load (that car was putting out somewhere around 450whp/525lbft).


"Planning" on putting down 575/625 on my M3 with stock turbos, and eventually with bumping up to Pure stage 2+ over the next 6 months, I'd like to think I'd would be getting towards high 600's and low 700's for whp and lbft (I hope, we'll see, trolls gonna troll me for posting projections).

The stock clutch is great don't get me wrong, but there's certain situations where a Masshole has gotta put their foot down to blast by some donkeys going 47mph in the left hand land on their cell phone with their blinker on for 8 minutes straight, where having that clutch catch and lay down all those dollars I blasted away on this car, it just feels good hahah

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

Why not oem? Only ask as you haven't stated your modded. OEM is actually decent out of the box for mildly modded cars.

I cannot provide experience on this platform but if going with the twin plate ask owners if there is any chatter as most twins have some chatter.

As far as chatter goes, I'm kinda lucky/unlucky as I have a significant hearing loss in both ears (like 35% loss in both), so some of that chatter doesn't bug me.

But there are options that can lay it down that are big upgrades but not cabin blasters (allegedly, allegedly…)

[MR RIZK]

Twhill19 FWIW from what I have seen on this forum most owners went with the spec branded clutches.

Personal opinion if I was upgrading I would go twin plate setup to get the higher clamping potential with oem peddle feel.

Good luck with the upgrade!!

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

Twhill19 FWIW from what I have seen on this forum most owners went with the spec branded clutches.

Personal opinion if I was upgrading I would go twin plate setup to get the higher clamping potential with oem peddle feel.

Good luck with the upgrade!!

I've taken out the CDV, swapped out the pedal for the ultimate clutch pedal, added the clutch stop etc.

I wish these companies would let you test drive these clutches 😩 they ain't cheap, and they're not very very widely used by people who mod in general, feel like the vast majority of owners have DCT, god knows why….

[MR RIZK]

Well i think you (and me) are lucky we don't have to go down the replacement plates in a dct. A few interesting posts of the SSP and Dodsons on here make me grateful I have a traditional clutch.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

Well i think you (and me) are lucky we don't have to go down the replacement plates in a dct. A few interesting posts of the SSP and Dodsons on here make me grateful I have a traditional clutch.

Amen, I'll only drive a MT…getting kinda nervous though, I'm not sure how much longer they will be available in new cars, so many companies getting rid of manual transmissions as options! 😱😱😱

[farbmw]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

Well i think you (and me) are lucky we don't have to go down the replacement plates in a dct. A few interesting posts of the SSP and Dodsons on here make me grateful I have a traditional clutch.

Originally Posted by Twhill19

Amen, I'll only drive a MT…getting kinda nervous though, I'm not sure how much longer they will be available in new cars, so many companies getting rid of manual transmissions as options! 😱😱😱

I feel you brothers!!

6 spd manual rules!!

At least for now.

And I may go the SPEC route thanks to this thread!

[heitzke]

I've been using a Spec SB55PT for the last several thousand miles and have been quite happy with it. Pedal feel is great, no chatter and the only additional noise is the "churning" sort of noise in neutral that twin-disc are kind of known for.

[-Eidos]

XClutch is coming out soon.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

XClutch is coming out soon.

Interesting what's that

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

Interesting what's that

https://www.xclutchusa.com/about-us

Solid company based out in Australia - probably one of the few companies at the forefront of motorsports grade clutch kits that are street-able. Stock like pedal feel and holds 900+ ft/lb of torque depending on which material you go with.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

https://www.xclutchusa.com/about-us

Solid company based out in Australia - probably one of the few companies at the forefront of motorsports grade clutch kits that are street-able. Stock like pedal feel and holds 900+ ft/lb of torque depending on which material you go with.

Idk I'd still go w spec or CM

[madboosted]

I'll be following this thread... my clutch is starting to slip :/ leaning towards doing OEM clutch and flywheel but i feel like i mine as well upgrade. I need to get a new one this month so I can enjoy my car

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by madboosted

I'll be following this thread... my clutch is starting to slip :/ leaning towards doing OEM clutch and flywheel but i feel like i mine as well upgrade. I need to get a new one this month so I can enjoy my car

I know that feeling haha. On the highway, foot down and nada….hoping some other guys will chime in on this thread that have done Spec or Clutch Masters or another brand!

[jfritz27]

Hopefully not to jack this thread too much, but while we're on the topic.... last year when on track I somehow managed to moneyshift to around 8200 rpm. This f**k-up was sufficient to cause the rear face of the balancer pulley, through which the hub connects and on which I had a CBC installed, to separate requiring replacement of the pulley (made a thread about it somewhere). Fortunately, no other damage was evident at time.

Since that time (I think), however, I've been getting "clutch judder". Interestingly, it is very consistently absent when cold, and appears as things warm up. I have no symptoms of clutch slippage (and car is at 50K mi, original clutch). So I'm thinking the OEM DM flywheel took a hit from the overrev (though nothing has been visually inspected of yet).

Assuming I'm correct, would you guys take the opportunity to move to a single-mass flywheel and a new clutch to go with it? I'm at Stage 1 power levels and have no desire to go further. Car is daily driver so I'm looking for near-OEM clutch feel and drivability. Or keep it simple and replace with all-OEM?

Thoughts/opinions appreciated.