E30 Zone

I've not yet looked at the Haynes manual, but I'm guessing there will be a fair amount of disassembly of other bits - exhaust, prop-shaft, gearbox.

While I'm in there are there any parts I should consider replacing, eg bushes, mountings, bearings etc? It could be a good opportunity to do a bit of preventative maintenance and maybe reduce drivetrain backlash or play in the gear change?

Perfect opportunity to stick a lightened/lighter flywheel on there...

There are plenty of topics about this on the Zone, worth a look IMO.

Consider replacing the bushes around the gear stick and perhaps upgrade to a Z3 1.9 shifter (details in Articles above).

When you get the exhaust down it may be more worn than it appears and worth replacing while it is removed. Also clutch slave and master cylinder and associated pipework (more rotting rubber, with reference to your other topic).

Preventative maintenance is good and 'a stitch in time saves nine' although, trying to save too many stitches will take burn time and inflate costs. Excellent method it is though... yes...

Ideal oppotunity to re-furb the gear linkage whilst the 'box is out,you will be able to see what you are doing and the job will add only minutes to a clutch change.Have a good look at the gearbox to propshaft coupling as well,these are expensive at £50 odd but once again you have to unbolt half of it's bolts to get the gearbox out.

will this job be done by yourself?

while your at changing it i would get an m20 lightend flywheel and clutch its alot lighter than the big lump that is normally on the back of the engine. but to do this you will need an m20 flywheel, clutch and starter.

(i have a starter and flywheel if you need one)

I'm considering doing the job myself, but I'm not sure I've enough spare time. How long does a clutch change take? Also, the weather's not too predictable at the moment either, so might bite the bullet and take it to a local garage - I'm lucky enough to have found a good one. Need to make sure I buy all the right bits for him though.

Thanks for the tips guys.

if its as easy as an m40 clutch to do ive done one in 4hours on my back or if its a bit more like doing an m20 clutch its more like 5 to 6 hours on your back. dont worry about rain your not made of sugar are you if a garage do it i would say your looking at paying around £120 to £160 for labour i charge £100 to do then

make sure you change the thrust bearing and while your there you may as well change the gearbox oil

So which bit will I need to replace the clutch? I'm looking at this page on RealOEM. I guess it's all parts on that page - or is it?!

buy a clutch kit and that comes with all you need

i have an IS and a spare m40 flywheel,,what could i expect if i put it straight on...
and what to expect if i lighten it,,,and what would be a safe weight...
i've heard that if you go too mad it won't run right,,,tickover
i know the m 42 flywheel is heavier and different,,,and the m40 will fit...

magpie wrote:i have an IS and a spare m40 flywheel,,what could i expect if i put it straight on...
and what to expect if i lighten it,,,and what would be a safe weight...
i've heard that if you go too mad it won't run right,,,tickover
i know the m 42 flywheel is heavier and different,,,and the m40 will fit...

the best way of doing that is use an m20 flywheel clutch and starter motor becu=ause the m20 flywheel is easier to lighten than than the m40 one and if your IS is an early one it will have the m40 one on it anyway

why thank you,,,but what are the gains doing this?
car was reg 01,03,91

it make the acceleration alot better just makes it a little different to pull away but not that bad. well worth doing i always thought it wouldnt do much but i put a lighted flywheel on my 325i and straight away you could tell

1 for the future that when and if i ever take the box out,,,cheers

if you have as much room as on an m40 engine to work the box is an easy job to do on your drive 4 hours at the most to remove and refit

yeh i have done loads of rwd boxes clutches etc,,,,so a spring time mod for sure,,
i need to get crimbo out the way first or i'll be looking for digs if i spend any more just now.

Also the M20 clutch is physically larger, giving a stronger coupling (to contain the awseome powwaaaahh of the M42)

have you done it????????

Looking on m42club.com, other M42 owners who've done this report a much noisier clutch after the mod, at certiain engine speeds. Some love the mod, others would go back to the original just because of the horrible noise it produces. Maybe something to do with the fact it was designed to be harmonically balanced in the first place.

Anyway, does anyone have experience with non OEM clutch kit? Can I trust one from ECP? I keep hearing about refurbed items from them having lots of play in bushes, and I've bought stuff from them in the past where parts have been missing out of the box. Have they improved at all?

thanks for that cheesebox,,,soz for thread highjack,,,whats the prices oem v's ecp??????

cheesebox wrote:Looking on m42club.com, other M42 owners who've done this report a much noisier clutch after the mod, at certiain engine speeds. Some love the mod, others would go back to the original just because of the horrible noise it produces. Maybe something to do with the fact it was designed to be harmonically balanced in the first place.

Anyway, does anyone have experience with non OEM clutch kit? Can I trust one from ECP? I keep hearing about refurbed items from them having lots of play in bushes, and I've bought stuff from them in the past where parts have been missing out of the box. Have they improved at all?

the one from ecp is a sachs clutch kit i've not heard any bad things about them.

also i can get flywheels lightened, don't know about the duel mass one though