[M2guru]

Anyone else experience a slow-to-engage clutch at 0F or below?

[DanG]

I think that is normal.

[supersam]

Ya its sticky for the first 15 mins

[detroitm2]

Yup. Mine did that this morning as well. took a bit to warm up.

[guyno]

Mine actually stuck disengaged for a fraction of a second for the first 10 minutes. Was fine after that.

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by guyno

Mine actually stuck disengaged for a fraction of a second for the first 10 minutes. Was fine after that.

Mine too! I actually thought the tires were slipping but I think it was the clutch because I didn't give it much throttle and I didn't skid to a stop at that location.

[No Boost]

Machinery doesn't work well in -28° temps, no matter how sophisticated and advanced it may be.

My stick shift felt like it was stuck in soft cement this morning in -3° temps.

[dcmac]

Yep same here, everything is pretty clunky in those first 5-10mins on a cold morning. I just take it easy on the shifts and throttle engagement etc but once moving I try to shift up around 3-4k rpm (rather than short shift) to heat everything up efficiently.

Not sure if it's an M2 thing or normal for manual cars but yeah the thing is clunky as hell when it's super cold.

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by dcmac

Yep same here, everything is pretty clunky in those first 5-10mins on a cold morning. I just take it easy on the shifts and throttle engagement etc but once moving I try to shift up around 3-4k rpm (rather than short shift) to heat everything up efficiently.

Not sure if it's an M2 thing or normal for manual cars but yeah the thing is clunky as hell when it's super cold.

Its a manual thing. Most, if not all, manuals I've owned have been like this in frigid temps.

[guyno]

All mine have been like that except for a pontiac lemans hatchback I had back in the day. It didn't have much of a clutch left though so that could possibly be why it wasn't stiff.

[DETRoadster]

Man I don't envy you mid-west guys. -30 degrees. Sticking clutches. F that. You all are bad asses!

[5.M0NSTER]

Is the brake fluid reservoir and clutch reservoir shared on the M2? I was on my Mustang. But either way, think of clutch fluid in the same way you think of brake fluid. When it's cold it's like molasses. It does not want to flow. So clutch and brake performance is slower.

[Dabozo]

Perfectly normal

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

Its a manual thing. Most, if not all, manuals I've owned have been like this in frigid temps.

Don't forget the E46 M3 SMGII transmission clunkiness on cold mornings.

[QM]

When it got really cold (-20F), I heard and felt a really faint noise and very slight pulsation from the steering just after startup and when turning at low speed. I'm guessing that was the electric steering motor? Once the car warmed up it was gone.

[XutvJet]

Fluid is very thick and viscous at those temps. Also, care should be taken until the gear oil is fully warm (at least 10-15 minutes of driving on a stone cold tranny, even more so in extreme cold) or else you risk munching a syncro, especially the 1-2 which is under a ton of torque under boost/full power.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by M2guru

Anyone else experience a slow-to-engage clutch at 0F or below?

Clutch material is like brake pads. The compounds have a certain amount of bite at certain temperatures. Cluthches are meant to hold up to a lot of heat and unlike your crossdrilled brakes and open wheels, there is no airflow. So it makes sense that the clutch would be less efficient at those temperatures. That is why you are supposed to drive the car easily until it comes up to temperature.

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by nachob

Clutch material is like brake pads. The compounds have a certain amount of bite at certain temperatures. Cluthches are meant to hold up to a lot of heat and unlike your crossdrilled brakes and open wheels, there is no airflow. So it makes sense that the clutch would be less efficient at those temperatures. That is why you are supposed to drive the car easily until it comes up to temperature.

I appreciate your contribution and it's a valid point. However, this situation was more about the fluid than the clutch disc because the pedal felt differently and was slow to come back up. Makes me want to mod the slave cylinder to allow faster clutch engagement (hot or cold).

[nachob]

Originally Posted by M2guru

I appreciate your contribution and it's a valid point. However, this situation was more about the fluid than the clutch disc because the pedal felt differently and was slow to come back up. Makes me want to mod the slave cylinder to allow faster clutch engagement (hot or cold).

Yes good point. If fluid congealed it would also slow down the release. That's a tough one. I would see if there is a clutch delay valve in the m2 and start there before changing the entire MC.

[M2guru]

Originally Posted by nachob

Yes good point. If fluid congealed it would also slow down the release. That's a tough one. I would see if there is a clutch delay valve in the m2 and start there before changing the entire MC.

Was thinking of exploring the removal of the clutch delay valve as opposed to messing around with the MC.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by M2guru

Was thinking of exploring the removal of the clutch delay valve as opposed to messing around with the MC.

I removed it in my e46 where I felt it got in the way but not in the 1M. The clutch release is perfect for me. Also the torque made by these motors can impact the driveline if you drop the clutch. However in this cold weather case it might make sense. You can also explore different brake fluid. Find one that has better cold weather properties though most fluids are focused on high temps not cold. Cdv is probably the best bet if it has one and easy to undo also.