Variable clutch engagement height 4BW

[albertw]

The most annoying issue with my 4BW is the clutch engagement height. When starting off in 1st the clutch engages at approximately the mid-point of the total travel. Unfortunately the engagement point for all upshifts is much closer to the floor - roughly 1/4 of the total travel.

Sixty years of driving manuals have conditioned my muscles to remember the engagement point for starting off and I automatically use that height subsequently, which causes a lurch during upshifts in the BW as the clutch engages abruptly while I'm moving it rapidly upwards to the initial engagement height. I can get smooth upshifts if I consciously override what my muscles want to do, but in 2000 miles they still haven't learned the new clutch pattern.

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this. If it is uncommon perhaps something in my clutch was not set up correctly and possibly it could be corrected.

 

[BimmerFan]

Scientifically and/or logically, this should never occur. A clutch is a clutch, and it doesn't matter what gear you are in.

That said, I have a similar issue in my Corvette. I've bled the system, and the clutch is better, but every-so-often it feels like the engagement point is not where I expect it to be. But it's an old car. My Blackwing never has this issue.

Sixty years of driving manuals - wow, you're even older than I am.

My only other thought is that there is a difference between starting from a stop, and changing gears while moving. It may just be the torque curve of the engine too, since as a turbo engine it takes a while to spool up, and that could cause issues, although honestly, as I think through this (as I write) it seems to me that the result would be the opposite of what you describe.

Sorry, I probably was not much help.

 

[albertw]

I wondered if the electronics adjusts the clutch to help avoid stalling when starting out in first, just as the throttle is managed to make it possible to pull away without touching the gas pedal. Not only is the engagement point higher in first, but the engagement seems to happen over a larger range of travel. So maybe this is normal in the 4BW and I should just adapt to it. I'm a bit disappointed no 4BW owners have bothered to reply with their experience.

I'm getting better at compensating in ordinary driving. It's a problem mainly when going for maximum acceleration, when there's a lot more to think about and I revert to muscle memory for the clutch.

 

[obeykube]

I am wondering if this sensation isn't being given by the auto-e-brake anti-roll back feature. I have noticed these cards do it without letting you know, and sometimes dis-engages slightly after you engage the clutch.