How can I tell I need a new clutch

I’m on the verge of doing a drivetrain + suspension overhaul... Well, rear suspension (all the bushings in the back).

I also wanted to do the clutch while i’m at it.

The issue I am faced with: I don’t know if I even need a new clutch. I’m pretty good at shifting. The clutch is adjustable, and it’s possible the previous owner replaced the clutch (got the car at 100k, have 170k now).

I don’t want to do work unnecessarily, but if pull the exhausts and the rear suspension only to realize I need a new clutch 10k miles later, I will be pissed.

How can I tell the condition of my clutch? The clutch doesn’t slip or show any other signs of problems.

You can't really tell on our self adjusting clutches unless I'm missing something. If you are good at shifting I've seen the original clutches last between 200-300k miles so I doubt you'll have any issues in the next 10k miles. Either way if you have the budget available, there's nothing wrong with replacing it now even if it still has some life left.

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Originally Posted by Galapolis

You can't really tell on our self adjusting clutches unless I'm missing something. If you are good at shifting I've seen the original clutches last between 200-300k miles so I doubt you'll have any issues in the next 10k miles. Either way if you have the budget available, there's nothing wrong with replacing it now even if it still has some life left.

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This is my understanding.

I think I’m going to pass on the clutch then. I think the rear suspension and some interior elements will be annoying enough as it is.

What is this self-adjusting clutch you guys are talking about?

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Originally Posted by Oli77

What is this self-adjusting clutch you guys are talking about?

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Basically keeps the bite point consistent as the clutch wears. Seems to be a staple with BMWs of this era, along with dual-mass flywheels

Adjusting pedal travel you mean?

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Originally Posted by Oli77

Adjusting pedal travel you mean?

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Not the length of pedal travel, but the point at which your clutch will start to engage throughout that travel. Some more info can be found here

Also FWIW I'm at ~215k mi on the original clutch. Still grabs hard everytime I launch at autox :)

Right, got it. But that would not interfere with finding out whether you're clutch is good or not. I've always been told to put it in the 4th at 20 miles an hour and push hard on accelerator, if rmps raise high and car doesn't, clutch is toast. If car slowly accelerates, however, clutch is good.

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Originally Posted by Oli77

Right, got it. But that would not interfere with finding out whether you're clutch is good or not. I've always been told to put it in the 4th at 20 miles an hour and push hard on accelerator, if rmps raise high and car doesn't, clutch is toast. If car slowly accelerates, however, clutch is good.

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The test you describe lets you find out if the clutch is worn at instant - if it fails that test, you have maybe <3k miles to replace it before it becomes very bad. If you want to find out approximately how much mileage is left if your clutch is still good, you can't do so with the self-adjusting clutch since the bite point is consistent from factory. Without a self-adjusting clutch, you can make a judgement call on how much life is left based off how high the bite point is.

Yes, I understand your point, like in my 5spd 1993 Camry, when towards the end of its life, the clutch engagement was way up the pedal travel. I know that was a cable-driven clutch.
This point can be modified or adjusted in a hydraulic clutch? I didn't realize that.

Thanks T

By chance I was watching a TV show about buying used cars and in order to test the clutch life left on a 318i the guy put it in 2nd gear, engaged the handbrake and then let off the clutch slowly and depending on how fast the engine dies, that told him how much life was left in the clutch.

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Originally Posted by Galapolis

By chance I was watching a TV show about buying used cars and in order to test the clutch life left on a 318i the guy put it in 2nd gear, engaged the handbrake and then let off the clutch slowly and depending on how fast the engine dies, that told him how much life was left in the clutch.

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you mean the hamster under the hood*