E36 M3 Clutch feel (grabs at different points in stop and go traffic)

[James McElroy <mcelroy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've noticed that the clutch in my 95 M3 sometimes grabs very close 
to the floor (especially in stop and go traffic), but other times it 
grabs a few inches from the floor, which seems more normal.

I've put about 17,000 miles on this car in about 6 months, but I 
still don't feel totally comfortable with the clutch feel; I can 
never tell exactly how close the clutch is to grabbing.  In contrast, 
the clutches in my old GTI 16V and my wife's Miata felt much easier 
to modulate.   (The brake/clutch fluid was replaced and bled after I 
bought the car, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference).

Just for the record, I've never owned an automatic, I double clutch 
or heel and toe when downshifting at high revs, I never ride the 
clutch at stop signs or lights, and my previous cars (all manuals) 
got over 100k on their original clutches before the cars were sold or 
the clutch was replaced for other reasons (I replaced the clutch in 
my GTI 16V at 95k miles when the transmission failed, but the car now 
has 105,000 miles on the second clutch).

How do folks think the E36 clutch feels compares to other cars?

Are the symptoms I'm describing merely a symptom of wear (this car 
did get some serious Pro Solo use in its previous life), or is this 
normal?

I've been meaning to drop by my local dealer to drive another E36, 
but I haven't had a chance.

Thanks,
James
______________________________
James McElroy
mailto:mcelroy@domain.elided

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