Cooks m52 316i - going S54!

[stup86]

Where did you take it to be dyno'd?

[Cook318IS]

The place i always take my cars to be dynoed now - alan jefferys in plymouth. A reputable place for dynoing and a great bunch of guys down there who will always try and help you out.

http://www.enginetuner.co.uk/home.htm

The rolling road operator stuck his impreza on which got an impressive 520bhp - sounded awesome to. I have a video of it actually that i'll probably upload at some point.

[Cook318IS]

The clutch seems to be really tempremental. I've got a make-shift clutch stop for the mean time. Its worked fine for about 120 miles so far but last night i went to reverse into the driveway and i got the noise again - with the clutch stop Started the car up again this morning and the noise was still there, ive driven to college and its not making the noise again - wtf

[DanThe]

Possibly air in the system

[Cook318IS]

don't they bleed themselves abit though through the tiny hole in the clutch lid? I might have to try bleeding the clutch again then
cheers dan

[Jhonno]

Nice figure..

Definitely worth it then

The clutch issue confuses me also, Jai has the same issue with his

It isn't something daft like 2 different part numbers for the 328i box or something is it?

If it were taken apart now, you could see where it was hitting, but obviously that isn't an option you would want to take

[Jhonno]

Much higher than expected!

What his ride height still?

[Cook318IS]

No, the gearbox coming out again wouldnt be an ideal situation.

Looks like a chap on another forum im on had the same problems in his e36...

We had exactly this problem with our 328 when we changed the clutch. Turned out that the splines inside the clutch were not the right size and the plate was not sliding back all the way when depressing the clutch pedal.

[oldroydsr4]

Cook, have you replaced the water pump? If not put it in the todo list and get one with a metal impeller.

The original ones are crap and the impellers fall apart ( I should know got stuck on an autobahn on the way home from the ring in a 328i sport) this will cook your Ali block faster than you can imagine.

[Cook318IS]

Yup, i put a new metal impellor waterpump in along with the metal thermostat housing off the old m50 before the engine was dropped in

Jhonno - do you remember what clutch you had and was it the same clutch you sold jai?

[DanThe]

We had exactly this problem with our 328 when we changed the clutch. Turned out that the splines inside the clutch were not the right size and the plate was not sliding back all the way when depressing the clutch pedal.

If the spline was not the right size the box wouldnt have gone on.
The centre plate will only move 1mm or so and wont make any grinding noises if slipping

[Cook318IS]

i quote the other chap on the other forum...

The problem on ours was the new Sachs clutch. They had made an error in production (The splines were each about 0.01mm too narrow) and that stopped it sliding back all the way. Sachs were adamant that there couldn't possibly have been an error and refused to send out another unit. So, we re-fitted the original as we'd taken the gearbox down to change some seals and the plate did have some life left in it and sent the Sachs one back and got a refund.

I drove the car home from college again tonight. was fine by the time i got to college this morning(checked as i parked up). Got to the car tonight and it "built up" just after i started it - no noise at cranking but as soon as it was running you could feel and hear it getting louder. By the time i had got to the end of the road it was gone again

[DanThe]

I dont understand what he is on about, can you not link to the forum thread?
If the plate fits on to the input shaft spine then thats that, it doesnt 'slide' in operation it literally only moves miniscule amounts.

Space the slave cylinder back with a couple of washers and see if there is any change

[Cook318IS]

It was in a PM bud.

Is there enough thread to put washers on it? I dont want to risk shitting a few week old bmw slave cylinder :-/

[DanThe]

Yeah plenty of thread, has it got 'any' better since changing the slave for a larger bore version?

[Cook318IS]

I'd say so. It was a REALLY bad noise - a very expensive sounding noise! At the moment its quiet in comparison- almost like a very loud tappet. But it does appear to be getting louder.

[eko]

Paul the box needs to come out to see whats going on,clearly something very wrong going on
Im busy all this weekend but how you fixed for me having it Monday eve onwards??

[Cook318IS]

How about i live with it for about a week or so and leave it with you over the holiday - you have plenty of time to do it at your "leisure" . I'll phone you tommorow night and discuss

EDIT:
I'll phone you if o2 will sort their network out!!

[DanThe]

Fcking hell Tony I dont envy you mate, makes me sad just thinking about M50 conversion clutches

[eko]

Can you come over Thursday PM and ill space the slave as Dan suggested?
Shouldnt take long.

[Cook318IS]

of course .

[eko]

Fcking hell Tony I dont envy you mate, makes me sad just thinking about M50 conversion clutches

I know mate,talk about headfuck

[eko]

of course .

Ill get Chris to cut some 5mm U shaped spacers,that way ill only have to slacken the nuts and slide them in rather than struggle removing and refitting the bloody thing.

[Cook318IS]

sounds good to me.

[Dezzy]

Nice figures mate. Hope you get the clutch sorted.

[Cook318IS]

A bit of a mini update. I've invested in more parts this weekend to get stuff sorted over the next few weeks. I've worked out that over the last 200 miles i've averaged 27mpg - thats including about 50-60 miles of motorway, backroads, stop start traffic and traffic light grand prixs so it's a good variation.

Sort gearbox/clutch issue out. I bought a new sachs clutch yesterday
Replace the diff for the m3 lsd i've got. New oil and z3m bush is in the post
Install the rear subframe bush void fillers.
Fit the m50 inlet.
Fit the bigger radiator and replace the top hose.
and... Lower it

And after about 8-9 weeks, 3 emails, a phone call and an answerphone message i have finally recieved the prize from total bmw magazine any excuse to wash it and take a photo...

[Jhonno]

Nice pic fella

[DanThe]

Oooow, very arty

[Dezzy]

I thought it was a little gay. Is that what you guys ment

[Cook318IS]

I thought it was a little gay.

says the one who has to polish his bumpers to stop them from getting corroded

[Dezzy]

I thought it was a little gay.

says the one who has to polish his bumpers to stop them from getting corroded

Eh? Is that a sure way of spotting bumboys? I never knew that.

[Cook318IS]

Right, im back from the middle east i've been awake for about 38 hours with no more than 4 hours sleep so im not doing a full update! (Thanks to mrlee by the way for a great time!)

Before (shots courtesy of a mate on the way to the rolling road day)




NOW With the 318iS springs

They are the springs off the 318iS i used to own, which sat like this so it doesnt sit too much different


I've inspected the old clutch and pics will be up tommorow. It looks like the springs in the clutch were catching slightly. The m3 lsd is in, rear beam bushes now have the void fillers but its still running an m52 manifold.

I'm now going to collapse into a tired heap

[Jhonno]

Well at least it is sitting marginally lower..

Hurry up and get some proper suspension on there you tart

[Cook318IS]

I still think it needs settling in a bit. The springs have been sat in a box for many months and its only an m52 under the bonnet its not exactly an m30

Hartges comes before suspension i think.

[Jhonno]

Suspension before Hartgays.. Definitely! It looks great on BBS' (unless of course some Hartgays come up cheap..)