21 years old, almost 194,000 miles ....
 

.... and my car still has its original clutch.

Either BMW makes robust clutches, or I'm a pretty good stick driver, LOL.

The beauty of all this is, the clutch take up has hardly changed at all. Then again, wear could be SO gradual that I hardly notice it, but it sure does feel the take up is at its original spot.

I suppose that's what I get from not tracking my car, and concentrating on making smooooth upshifts/downshifts each and every time I row through the gears.

Anyway, just a random thought.

Please return to your original programming ....

:lol: :lol:

I've never replaced a clutch. I think BMW ones are incredibly robust. Although the most miles I had on one is about ~150k

I've never replaced one in ANY of my manual cars either: 1980 Toyota Corolla SR-5 Liftback, 1988 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 2WD and my current BMW.

Come to think of it, I haven't replaced a clutch on my motorcycles either, LOL.

I suppose it also helped that I don't live in a hilly town like SF. And when I'm stopped on a hill, I usually do the Handbrake Trick instead of rapidly switching from the brake pedal to the accelerator with my right foot, which I firmly believe facilitates rapid clutch wear.

Impressive especially with BMW vague clutch engagement.

I have never had to replace a clutch either but have not held on a car long eough to need it. Sadly not planning on owning my GTI over 100k

I've only replaced a couple clutches because they wore out. They usually get replaced as a "while I'm in there" thing. That said, while I aim to drive smoothly, I also don't baby the clutches. I enjoy the occasional high RPM launch. :) I was extremely good at launching the old 325xiT - the optimum rev to get off the line "quickly" was about 4,500.

I replaced the clutch in the Mazdaspeed around 180,000 miles not because it wore out, but because the release bearing started to squeal and it made sense "while I was in there."

Same here. If engine or trans is out, I put in a new clutch. But never had to just replace a clutch.

I was involved in a required change on a friend's Capri V-6 2800.

I did replace the clutch in my 85 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z, but mainly to put in a better holding pressure plate. A Centerforce kit.

Daytona Z, that brings back memories. I think mine was an 88. I hated the black rear window louvers, so a friend with a shop at home helped my paint it red. (his wife had a similar car, but with T tops, so he painted both louvers at the same time)

Mine was a Shelby and I had hair back then! (the weird spots in the pictures are from tiny mold on the old 35mm slide scans, there was no damage on the car)

Never had to replace a clutch either, but I've never owned a car that long nor had a MT with over 100k miles. The oldest clutches were on the NC Miata (~90k miles) and 997 TT (~85k miles), and both seemed to have plenty of life.

I am concerned for the GTI though. Lots of reports of clutches needing replacement under 50k miles and as low as 30k miles. At 33k, ours still feels great, but I am very easy on clutches. In the next year it will transition to being the kids' car. We'll see how it holds up then.

Both you and the car look awesome in a period correct kind of way :cool: