couple problem

Post Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:14 pm

1000km since i bought the car and: 1983 320i

Is the clutch self adjustable or i need to adjusted, when i first got the car the gears were nice and smooth, now i need a bit strenght to put it in any gear especially when the car is working and in place.. when moving it's easyer, and also when it's off... and i need to press the clutch all the way down...

and second.. i pulled out the plugs to see how the car is working, and on couple of them, i saw something like oil,,, but not where the electrode is, i found it on the beggining of the thread on the place where you turn the key, it was outside... the oil is almost on the same level when i first got it, maybe it has moved less than one milimetar so it's nothing to worry about..

Post Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:50 pm

Clutch is hydraulic and therefore self adjusting. Sounds like your hydraulics are on their way out.
Try bleeding the clutch system (soon, before you destroy the gearbox syncromesh), which will probably give a temporary solution, but start saving up for new clutch slave and master cylinders.
Is your clutch fluid a nice straw colour or black?

Post Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:19 pm

i just came from my garage, and i took out the cylynders, the one that is near the gearbox seems ok, cause i toook it off and when i press it and put my finger on the holes it stays in vacum doesn't loose the pressure, the cylynder that is inside the car connected to the clutch, i guess that is the one that is gone, doesn't make any pressure at all, i keep pressing on the clutch and no fluid is coming out of the other side, i checked the hoses they are all ok they are not cluged. the fluid is a bit darkish, not in the original colour as it should be... tommorow i will try to find new rubbers for the cylynder the one inside and replace them... i hope that i won't need to buy new cylynder... i hope i didn't damage the cyncromesh cause i stoped driving the car right away this problem occured, only today nothing more than 35km...

thanks fo the help

Post Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:05 pm

Change both,or you'll be doing the job again in a fortnight! Trust me.
They're not expensive(in the UK, at least) from Eurocarparts or GSF.

Post Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:35 pm

well it's like this. i changed all the rubbers bought them from BMW, not really cheap

, and now both the pumps are working ok, ... but maybe the pumps were working ok before cause the problem wasn't solved, or maybe them not working properly caused the clutch to wear out... so i need to change the clutch, in BMW they said it would cost me 160 euro for the set, maybe i can find some aftermarket like luk cheaper but i would rather give the money than buying something that will not work ok...
i have chaged set of clutch to other car i owned before, but never on a bmw is it hard? is there any place where i can see tips?

thank you

best regards Kiril

Post Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:23 pm

Sure the clutch hydraulics are bled properly? When filling from empty, I find that it takes two bleeding sessions half a day apart to get it working properly.
Your symptoms just don't sound like a mechanical clutch failure. Dud release bearing would cause your symptoms, but they usualy announce their demise by horrible vibrations and noises.