The two worst things about my M3 is the drive train clunk/lash. One thing I've never been able to stand on any stick shift car is this. My 328 has none of it. And the sloppy/clunky shifter. I assume this should be fixed w/ a new shfiter, but what about the drivetrain slop?

Thanks!

I dont think there is a fix for it unless you put a different rear end in it.

The drivetrain clunk is normal... it's part of owning the M car. The sloppy shifter is more than likely due to worn bushings. Contact www.uucmotorwerks.com they will have a solution for you. It'll tighten it right up.

if motorsport didnt think they needed the clearance they wouldnt f-ing put it in.
go get a solid rear end if u want none of that. a big IRE will def have clearance like that, goes with the horsepower it has to handle. i believe the guy with the mustang said he had the same thing.... and its an IRE too. see the trend?

Yep it's one of the carsd disadvantages, my 325ci was smooth as silk.
But anytime you demand more performance your going to sacrifice some luxuries it's just a trade off but the E46 M3 is a as damn fine as an inbetween as I have found.

My 99 cobra had bad drivetrain clunk till I swapped in a solid rear. I dont think your correct. I think its poor/sloppy engineering. The C5/C6 vetter has a IRS and doesnt have clunk like this.

Poor sloppy/engineering? If thats the case, my gearbox would have given up ages ago :stickoutt Man ,mine clunks into gear sometimes. A lot comes down to drivingstyle. If you're going to bang the gears in, you're going to get some clunk/noise. As long as there's no crutching, all is normal.

I think its poor/sloppy engineering.


:lol

yes i am correct and i work on automotive products for a living. if i didnt know what i was talking about on this subject i would have stayed shut-up.
the reason u cant hear it on a corvette is either A) they didnt put the clearance in becuase they are not the smartest dudes around.
B) its made in mexico and they forgot to put the clearance in
or C) its a big thick diff and it muffles the sound out (doubtful)
lots of power makes lots of heat, and u need clearance for the oil to cool it all off.

what exactly causes that clunking noise...it's pretty fooking annoying? Only happens at very low speeds, etc...at least with me!

My 99 cobra had bad drivetrain clunk till I swapped in a solid rear. I dont think your correct. I think its poor/sloppy engineering. The C5/C6 vetter has a IRS and doesnt have clunk like this.
The corvette also has leaf springs in the rear...

The corvette also has leaf springs in the rear...

not the way you think they are they do it for weight savings





http://www.corvetteconti.com/images/C6-Corvette-Front-Suspension.jpg

what causes the Clunk is nothing bad its just a Very very light clearance from the pinon gear and the ring gear allowing the gear to move a very little bit before it hits the ring gear.

They do this to allow oil to cool the Diff