BMW question

hittman

hittman

hittman

Associate
Joined
17 May 2003
Posts
1,594
just wondered and hope someone can answer it. Just a general wondering, which I can't figure out why.

1) Why is it that BMW cars (manual) have heavy clutches and heavy steering compared to other modern cars?
2) is there an technical or engineering reason for this?
3) With modern technology, why has BMW chosen to do this or not make such things lighter?
4) or is it just me?:confused:

just my general wondering and boredom. :P
 
My clutch isn't heavy. Steering is heavier becuase it's nicely weighted and there is nothing more annoying than light, lifeless steering (Hello Audi!).
 
My BMW clutch is the best ever (i.e. non-existant).
Yes the steering is heavy but something you get used to and does give you a much better feel of the road. It is sometimes an inconvenience when parking or driving round towns (I have an old C-class that has the turning circle of a ford ka in comparison), but I would prefer it this way. The newer ones have Dynamic Drive but is rarely featured in the spec of second-hand models from what I've seen, either because of the price or because people don't want it, but in principle I don't see how much could be wrong with it. Still keeps the driving response at higher speeds but increases manoeuverability for parking/city driving etc.
 
hittman said:
just wondered and hope someone can answer it. Just a general wondering, which I can't figure out why.

1) Why is it that BMW cars (manual) have heavy clutches and heavy steering compared to other modern cars?
2) is there an technical or engineering reason for this?
3) With modern technology, why has BMW chosen to do this or not make such things lighter?
4) or is it just me?:confused:

just my general wondering and boredom. :P
Click to expand...

Lighter is not always better, in fact if you're driving hard, lighter is often worse.
 
You want heavy, you want to try my clutch! Loved the cluth in the BMW, perfect weight and no judder at all, smoothest I have driven........damn I miss that car!
 
The clutch and steering on the e46 were made light early on in its life cycle.

BMW then got letters from several few butch owners insisting that the lighter steering/clutch was an insult to their masculinity.

BMW then re-instated the needlessly heavy clutch & steering.
 
The heavy clutch (not that its really heavy, although it is compared to a 1.3 fiesta for example) is mainly due to the dual mass flywheel which helps to keep the engines smooth.

Testament to this example is BMW diesel engines compared to a VAG unit. You'll find the BMW lump far smoother and in literal terms, quieter too.
 
i am a pretty young, so i havent driven many old cars,
I drove an E320 coupe W210 the other day, it was an auto, although my right leg got a workout from pressing the gas pedal, it was just so damn heavy!
 
I love the heavy steering in the e39 - fantastic. The e30s has more feel and is lighter however.

Clutch is also lighter in the e30, the e39 is definitely one of the heavier clutches of the cars I've had (not including the 6 speed landcruiser with the Concrete Clutch pedal :o )
 
My Accord has quite a heavy clutch. It irritated me at first but now whenever i drive anything else i want my heavy clutch back :o
 
The steering on my old e36 318i was wonderfully light yet still had plenty of "feel"

The steering on my e38 7 Series was whilst not heavy by a long way, was certainly lighter than my previous e36 or, my Dads e39 528i.

I bought my e36 @ 125,000 miles & found the clutch quite heavy, when I got rid @ 175k miles, it was still on the same (the one from the factory!) clutch, and it felt a lot lighter than I recalled, tbh, I'd imagine I'd simply got used to it.

As for power steering, make sure the fluid level is marginally over "Max" and (I found with my 7) the feeling stays nice & light. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom