Strange Clutch Problem!! Any Ideas?

Mon May 10, 2010 11:04 pm

Just bought a 318is. I had a similar problem with my old 325 touring.

The clutch is fine for driving and when I hold it down for a long time the biting point doesn't change. Yet if i just touch my foot on the clutch pedel very gently the pedal will slowly go all the way to the floor. Any ideas? Seems very strange.

M

Tue May 11, 2010 12:08 am

Sound like you are starting to have problems with the master or the slave cylinder

Tue May 11, 2010 1:04 am

have you noticed your fluid level getting lower?

Tue May 11, 2010 8:56 am

Failing main seal in the master cylinder. Get enough pressure on it and it seals; press slowly and fluid leaks past it.
won't be any external leak.

Tue May 11, 2010 6:23 pm

thanks Brian, appreciate it. is that an easy fix? im skint but next month il get it sorted. what sort of money you think i'd be looking at?

thanks again

Tue May 11, 2010 7:48 pm

Master cylinder is about £75 from the likes of Eurocarparts. They also sell a cheaper one at about half of that price, but it's strongly recommended that you go for the better part!
Some would recommend that you change the slave cylinder at the same time as well, as the new master is likely to push the slave cylinder piston that little bit further than it did before and it is quite likely to fail within a month. Eurocarparts do one for around £30, and again, a cheap one at half that price.

Wed May 12, 2010 1:49 pm

its just had a slave cylinder dude,

Wed May 12, 2010 6:39 pm

brummimatt wrote: The clutch is fine for driving and when I hold it down for a long time the biting point doesn't change. Yet if i just touch my foot on the clutch pedel very gently the pedal will slowly go all the way to the floor.

if you're on the cheap you could try to just change the fluid. i had the same problem and discovered that the original fluid was a dark green! a simple bleed/change and the problem has reduced to hardly noticeable. i think the seals just needed a bath in fresh stuff.

Wed May 12, 2010 7:49 pm

BlueEyes_1 wrote:its just had a slave cylinder dude,

That's what's killed the master then! The piston in the master has been further over than it normally goes, and the seal has been damaged on the ring of crud in the bore.
Confirms they need to be changed as a pair.

Thu May 13, 2010 1:36 am

brake fluid is changed at service intervals.
the clutch fluid gets ignored most often. but is open to the same fluid detrioration (absorbing water and corroding the internal pistons, bore and pipes causing faiure of componets and seals) as brake fluid.... as its one and the same fluid!
change master and slave cylinders together to guarantee reliable service.

Thu May 13, 2010 1:04 pm

Just fitted a new master 2 weeks ago & now it now working. This is the 2nd one to have gone in 4 weeks. I will now change both cylinders.
Its good to read that some one out thier has the answers.
Thanks to all

Thu May 13, 2010 1:23 pm

brummimatt wrote:Just bought a 318is. I had a similar problem with my old 325 touring.

The clutch is fine for driving and when I hold it down for a long time the biting point doesn't change. Yet if i just touch my foot on the clutch pedel very gently the pedal will slowly go all the way to the floor. Any ideas? Seems very strange.

M

Forgive my ignorance (and hijacking of the post) but my clutch bites about three quarters of the way up 99% of the time but if I depress it the entire way down to the floor it bites immediately (and I mean milimeters off the floor)...Is this a similar fault to the one you've had and might it be the same fix?

Sat May 15, 2010 1:52 pm

I'd be interested in an answer to this too as mine has just started doing similar again after replacing the clutch slave and master about 6 months ago.

Sat May 15, 2010 2:13 pm

f4stjay wrote:
Forgive my ignorance (and hijacking of the post) but my clutch bites about three quarters of the way up 99% of the time but if I depress it the entire way down to the floor it bites immediately (and I mean milimeters off the floor)...Is this a similar fault to the one you've had and might it be the same fix?

If you're not losing fluid, it will be the same problem.

Sat May 15, 2010 2:14 pm

rrs wrote:I'd be interested in an answer to this too as mine has just started doing similar again after replacing the clutch slave and master about 6 months ago.

Did you use the cheap GSF/ECP stuff? 6 months is about right for the lifespan of these.

Sat May 15, 2010 3:47 pm

Thanks Brian it had occurred to me but I was hoping it wasn't the case. I learnt about 2 weeks after they were changed of there poor quality.

What brands are ok if I don't go to BMW for the replacements?

Sat May 15, 2010 4:02 pm

rrs wrote:
What brands are ok if I don't go to BMW for the replacements?

The more expensive stuff from ECP/GSF. About double the price, IIRC.

Sat May 15, 2010 5:49 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
f4stjay wrote:
Forgive my ignorance (and hijacking of the post) but my clutch bites about three quarters of the way up 99% of the time but if I depress it the entire way down to the floor it bites immediately (and I mean milimeters off the floor)...Is this a similar fault to the one you've had and might it be the same fix?
If you're not losing fluid, it will be the same problem.

No loss of fluid so I guess that's problem solved. Much appreciated Mr Moooore