Clutch master cylinder

Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:05 pm

Hi All,
The master cylinder in my daily has deposited what seems to be the entire contents of the clutch's hydraulic system on my new beige drivers mat!

Wiki only seems to have the procedure for replacing the slave -http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _Cylinders
Can anyone talk me through the process for replacing the master? Pics would be worth double karma points.

Cheers, Nick

Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:13 pm

sorry, I can't but I can advise definitely not to buy a replacement from GSF, a few of us have had them recently and the shaft shears at the top after only a few "presses"

iirc they are not a bad job, a bit fiddly due to location but nut and bolt exercise

Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:43 pm

Take the front seat out before you start, unless you are acquainted with a good chiropractor.

Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:27 pm

Nick45 wrote: Can anyone talk me through the process for replacing the master? Pics would be worth double karma points.

Cheers, Nick

No pics but I'll take the karma points

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=240621

Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:34 am

Cheers DHFiS, much appreciated. Will try and take pics when I do the job.

Following on from what Jimbo has posted, can anyone recommend where to get replacements if not GSF?

Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:41 am

Car parts for less seems popular

Not too expensive from bmw also iirc

Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:43 am

Will try both Jimbo - cheers.

Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:27 am

A good idea to do the slave and master together really. As the new will only wear out the old slave in the system. I bought a slave and master from BMW and was around £260 it think.. that was with the discount through here at Cottswold too. I think as Jim says CP4L do a pagid one for a reasonable price. Most people say they're good for the job.

My slave went on mine. So I think I still have the OEM master i pulled off of the car when replacing it all last year. If you're interested I could sell you that as a cheap fix. Might work better with your old slave cylinder if you didn't want to replace both..

Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:59 am

I'm not paying £260 for 2 glorified syringes...

PM me a price "posted" mate if you do still have it and the condition is OK - cheers

Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:05 pm

Nick45 wrote:I'm not paying £260 for 2 glorified syringes...

PM me a price "posted" mate if you do still have it and the condition is OK - cheers

Sort of how I felt after having spent the cash.. oh well you live and you learn.. and then forget..

I'll have a look for it tonight and get in touch...

Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:24 pm

Thanks - top man.

Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:05 pm

I have recently done mine and a customers, there is a place on ebay selling febi ones. Came in at under £60 for the pair to the door.

Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:10 pm

That is a good deal !

Last time I looked on CP4L the e34 535i slave cylinder was £3

It's the same as the m20 slaves, both Rav and I have one fitted and it's been perfect and I've done about 3000 miles with mine now.

I bought 3 of them !

Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:16 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-316-3 ... 2ec91da92f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-CLUTC ... 2c707a3a66

Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:23 pm

Nice one Byron, what a good deal

Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:37 pm

Just to update. This has turned into a right f. job. The two bolts that hold the master cyl to the pedal assembly are totally rounded/ made of cheese and I can't get an angle grinder or a hacksaw in there to cut them off... Or a drill bit either.

I don't have a heat gun or a welder.

Any ideas?

Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:53 pm

Dremel?

Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:57 pm

If you're sure it can't be done in situ, you'll have to disconnect the brake pull rod and remove the whole pedal box.

Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:48 pm

Is that pretty straightforward Brian? I've been staring at it all afternoon, upside down admittedly, but I can't bring to mind how it looks/ fixes. Thanks for the advice.

Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:05 pm

Heya mate

Here is the diy for the pedal assembaly removal
http://www.kneb.net/bmw/E30/BMW%20E30%2 ... 511000.htm

Here is the removal for the clutch mast.cyl. If you still need it.
http://www.kneb.net/bmw/E30/BMW%20E30%2 ... 152000.htm

I did these both a couple weeks ago , as i needed to change my heater core.. And loosen the steering column at the same time.. A long night..

Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:12 pm

Thanks for this Johnono. I'm going to try one of those special gripping sockets for rounded nuts before I get into taking the pedal assembly off though. Anyone had good results with these or similar?

http://www.griptitetools.com/

Even if it doesn't help with this, I reckon it might be a good E30 related investment

Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:10 pm

Yep they do work, but get GOOD QUALITY ones , or the teeth will just disappear...

Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:22 pm

Saving this for future ref

Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:50 pm

Finally got the fecker off Nobby. I'd start with the Wd40 now. It might be ready to tackle in 6 months.

Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:54 pm

Lol im hoping I can fix mine without removing!