Ok I've now put a little over 800 miles on my clutchmasters FX200 clutch/flywheel combo. Mini Corsa installed at 30194 on the clock. Thus IMO it should be broken in enough to handle one pull through the gears. I made the first half of this video before the install (obviously), every time I heard about the lightweight flywheels I was always concerened. People say that 11lbs would be too light and I would stall everywhere, and that the chatter is unbearable, as well as people feeling a loss of torque (due to reduced inertia). Well, thus far I am very happy with the setup.

Why did I choose clutchmasters:
Long story short...Jan. I talked to several people about different clutches, and if I even needed one. I didn't want a heavy clutch, I didn't want something that would wear out uber quick, I didn't want something super grabby and unstreetable. My car is a daily driver and I need something daily driveable , so "like stock" but better was my hope. In the end it was Jan and Danny would helped me finalize my decision.







Inital Impression:
Whoa! Thats LIGHT! That was my first thought upon getting in the car after Danny finished the install...he just smiled and said "Yep!" It is actually lighter the stock in pedal force, but the pedal travel is MUCH more defined. With the stock clutch, sure any experienced driver could drive it smoothly, but you never really were able to FEEL the engangement point in the pedal. Without even having the engine on, and simply pressing the pedal you can tell exactly where it grabs. It is just as easy to drive as stock but so much more rewarding in feel.

Nearly broken-in:
The engagement is still very nicely defined...I have not felt a single bit of slip with this clutch, though my stock was doing just fine as well. The only reason I actually put a clutch in was because I was getting a Quaife LSD installed...and while in there I might as well start my 30k mile clutch clock back at 0. Now that has this many miles on it I feel I can get on the car a little harder as long as I'm not too hard on the clutch. The free reving and rev matching is MUCH easier now. Its amazing that the engine actually feels quite alive now. I have not had ANY problems with starting from a stop. Ok, ok...ONE but it was "intentional" the hill up to my home is on a 10-11% grade up hill, so its quite STEEP. I normally never stop on this portion of the hill, but I wanted to try and make sure the clutch could handle it. Sure the first time I stalled, but less then half the flywheel weight, a little more inertia needs to be built up in the engine. The clutch IS noisier...everybody warns you of this, but really its not bad IMO. However I did come from an S2000, also I did have a Quaife installed at the same time...so that makes noise as well. The majority of the noise is at idle with the clutch out, it chatters, I'll make a vid of that soon. I also do get a bit of a decel buzz and accel buzz at lower RPM (below 3k) but that could be either the Quaife or a combination of the two.

Anyway if you have any questions for me, let me know...I have a track event this Friday the 26th, but I am not expecting any problems or changes. The mileage at the end is just there to prove I did this WELL after the recommended break-in.



By the way...I have a stock flywheel and clutch in good condition if anybody is interested

 

Your car sounds nice...great job with the video.

 

Haha...thanks, its stock apart from the pulley and JCW intake

 

I had some of the same impressions as you with the FX200 and lightweight flywheel. The clutch chatter at idle, the buzzing on decel, etc. Overall I like it for a daily driver.

In the beginning of your video when you're revving the engine, your accelerator pedal sounds like a toggle switch. I kept hearing a click each time you would push down on the pedal. Your MINI sounds great by the way!

 

I agree, for a daily driver it works great. It feels like it could be a stock clutch. And yea...the accelerator is noisy when you basically slam it to WOT and release .

 

Great Review! Got alot of helpful info, thanks!

 

I was in the same boat as you guys were. I was a bit worried that it might get a bit too annoying. I actually like the sound. Yes call me weird if you guys want. I am happy that I went this route vs a OEM setup again.

 

This is exactly the input I have been searching for. My clutch went at 58k(second clutch) Looking to upgrade to the FX-200 and Findanza flywheel.
Thanks!

 

how is this holding up? I've heard alot of bad things lately about CM dying only after a few thousand miles.

 

Easy now...no jinxing. I just got the car back yesterday after a master cylinder failure.
Fingers are crossed!

 

any ideas on how bad doing a hard pull or 2 before the 500 mile break in is? I just had mine replaced (CM fx200 clutch and flywheel) about 2-3k miles ago, and ever since i had it installed (about 300 miles in) when the engine rpms are super low, and you accelerate, i get a chirping sound as if the clutch is slipping on the flywheel. (get the car going, clutch all the way out, break the car down almost till it shudders a lil, and when you step on the gas you get a chirp. most defined in reverse where the rpms regularly dip that low)

as i said i did ~2 hard pulls before 500 miles, but it was because i live off of a 50mph highway that everyone goes 60 on, and i have to make a turn on to a hill on the highway (going uphill) and the traffic moves fast and there are spans of 10 min that will pass without a large enough gap to slowly accelerate. could those pulls have caused this? or is this even something i should be worried about? I was told if you didnt break it in the only really bad thing that would happen would be the throw out bearing might chirp, but unless it chirps with the clutch all the way out, i am concerned as to the sound my car is making.

sorry for the thread steal op