Clutch or Master Cylinder on 325i

[chippenham_touring]

Clutch has always been stiff and engaged right at the bottom of its travel, but it is now getting difficult to engage gears particularly when cold, will replacing the slave and master cylinders solve this or does it need a new clutch as well?
Release bearing? squeals when the pedal is depressed, but i dont this can be cured without removing the gearbox can it?

[e30den]

the carpet under my clutch pedal was damp a clear indication of of knackered master cylinder.
hope that helps

[agreen]

is it loosing fluid ?

[chippenham_touring]

Hi, No, its been on full for the last 2 years. Is it worth changing the fluid?

[agreen]

id find the fault first then defo chage the fluid

[HenryM3]

If the area under the clutch pedal is dry then M/S is probably ok, if your not leaking fluid underneath then the slave cylinder is probably ok, thats all the good news there is. If release bearing is squealing and you have a stiff pedal, then it's going to be g/b out job.

[chippenham_touring]

Thought so, is the sachs kit the one to go for? Does it include the release bearing

[HenryM3]

Not sure which is the best kit for the 325, I wouldn't go spending money on a load of kit when maybe all you need is a release bearing, wait till it's stripped, the clutch plate may be fine, I say that cos I got mates who have changed clutches and not done the release bearing, stupid ,I know but maybe the previous owner was one of them. You'd be gutted if you bought a clutch and there was nothing wrong with it. I'm confident somebody will tell you which is the best kit.

[Chris-W]

Sachs is just fine

[chippenham_touring]

I think it is still the original clutch with 85k on clock.
Do the kits include the release bearing?