I am about 600miles into the break in now and man the clutch is super smooth now. I was a little worried at first because it was kinda grabby.

I suppose I had to re adjust because I have been driving automatics for a year before this.

Is it a thing? Does the clutch need to break in too?

 

No. Some hints to extend clutch and TO bearing life: Keep your foot off the clutch pedal except when shifting. Do not sit at idle with the clutch pedal depressed, don't even rest your foot on it. If you don't know how to rev match, don't try downshifting until you do, there are youtube videos all about that and I'm sure some local club members would be delighted to teach you. But most of all, learn how to enjoy the total control a manual gear box adds to the pleasure of motoring.

 

After posting this it occurred to me that the owner's manual may have something to say about it:





Seems to conflict with your answer? I just noticed it really started working perfectly just recently. Before it was more grabby. I guess it wasn't my imagination.

Also I have driven a manual for 19yrs, but couldn't recall what a fresh brand new clutch was like.

 

Yes regular street car clutches do have a break in period. Typically it's something like 500 miles.

 

On second thought, that makes a bit of sense. Brake pads require a break in procedure as well. Anyway, to get the longest possible life out of that thing, the previous advice is still valid. I had to 'train' (a dangerous thing to do) my co-pilot to treat the system with more kindness. She had her foot on the thing from start to stop.

 

I think it's more of a "bedding in " process. IMO the clutch should be used only in one fashion; min amount of throttle while getting off the pedal asa it starts to grab then accelerate. There should be zero slip. I always felt my JCW clutch sucks. Take up is horrible due to light flywheel and no FW inertia

 

Light flywheel? You're funny. The DMF in the mini is quite hefty.

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