E30 M3 Expensive Sounding Clutch Problem

[matthew_h]

The clutch on my M3 has started behaving a little oddly.

When engaging or disengaging the clutch there is a significant amount of judder and vibration through the pedal. It still seems to work and isn't slipping (unless I do emergency starts in the dry but it has been like that for a while) but the judder is rather off-putting.

Any one got any ideas?

I'm thinking that the main suspect is the release bearing but it might be something else. Dodgy backplate maybe?

I have a horrible feeling that the result is going to be a full new clutch though which will not be cheap.

[beardymat]

could be a broken spring in the pressure plate as this shows up as juddering

if you end up replacing one item its always good practice to replace the whole clutch kit whilst you have the box out anyway

[matthew_h]

Cheers Mat,

Do you have any recommendations for where to take it in Sheffield?

I've taken it to AutoTecnic a couple of times but I'm not 100% sure about them and they aren't the cheapest.

I was planning to change to whole clutch but it has all come about three months early

[beardymat]

try nick thompson in hilsborough (go round the back of the leisure centre). he`s a german car specialist who used to work at sytners. knows his onions but hes always busy so youll have to book in.

[Nick_TBMW]

When my M3's clutch went, it was indeed the release bearing. New Sachs clutch from GSF isn't too expensive though

[matthew_h]

Cheers chaps for the advice.

Just looked up the clutch on ECP and GSF. ECP list a Sachs/LUK clutch kit at £162 (which I assume is without VAT) and GSF list a clutch kit at £142. Will the GSF one be Sachs too?

Does anyone know how difficult changing the clutch is? I have the impression that it is a bit of a bugger but I may be mistaken.

[Nick_TBMW]

The one I got from GSF was the proper Sachs jobbie. Job is about 3 hours worth, maybe a bit longer

[matthew_h]

So it is a pain in the arse then?

Why is it so tricky? Just a pain getting the gearbox off or something else?

I only have a Haynes manual for the normal E30s atm. Will this be sufficient for me to figure out doing the M3 or do I need further info?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to work out whether it is worth me doing it or getting someone else to do it for me.

Cheers

[beardymat]

once the box is out its fairly straight forward but doing it on the floor will make things awkward, especially when it comes to dropping the box out.the general procedure would be the same for normal e30s and M3s

[matthew_h]

Cheers Mat

It completely behaved itself this evening on the way home from work so I'm going to keep an eye on it and see what happens.

[beardymat]

i may be able to help you out with a clutch swap later on in the year if it can wait that long,just getting things sorted at work so ill have more free time.might be a two poster ramp on the very distant horizon too which would help out enormously.let me know how you get on

[matthew_h]

Nice one, cheers for that Mat, I'll give you a shout in due course.

[gareth]

is there any signs of fluid leaking? a leaky clutch slave cylinder or crackshaft rear seal can get onto the clutch and cause juddering.