M3 Clutch/flywheel dilema: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 12, 2011 3:17 p.m. NOHOME Reader

Bit out of my league on this one. Helping a friend with the clutch on his 2000 BMW M3.

He had a light flywheel installed a year ago along with a new clutch. Seems there has been a rattle ever since the light flywheel went in, and now the clutch slips badly.

Looking for a source of clutch and flywheel that wont break the bank. I believe his love affair with exotic parts is over and would be more interested in a return to stock.

I can't imagine what BMW will want for a new flywheel. Is there a "Go-To" place for used BMW mechanical and maybe a suggestion of what brand clutch to look for?

Secondary to this, I suspect he is looking for me to volunteer to do a clutch job with (for him). Not something I am afraid of unless someone tells me that the M3 has a particular challenge I don't want to deal with. Advice from those who have been there welcome.
Jan. 12, 2011 3:32 p.m. docwyte Reader

It's rattling because he removed the stock dual mass flywheel and installed a lightweight, single mass flywheel.

They all rattle. Seriously.

If he doesn't like the rattle, he needs to go back to stock for the flywheel.

If the clutch is slipping, that's another issue, especially since my stock clutch held almost 500 rear wheel hp on my '02 M3 just fine..
Jan. 12, 2011 3:44 p.m. NOHOME Reader

docwyte:

Yeah, both the rattle and the fact that the car does not go forward have lost the novelty factor. I found a tutorial on line on how to change the e36 M3 clutch and it SEEMS straightforward.

Need to find a source of stock flywheel and aftermarket clutch kit since he did not get the old one back when they did the light flywheel. I suspect BMW is not the place to go asking for this part unless you want to spend a lot of $$$$
Jan. 12, 2011 5:34 p.m. docwyte Reader

Go on the BMW forums and try to find one from someone who pulled it out in favor of a lightweight flywheel.

Go with a stock clutch disc, although the one he has now shouldn't be slipping.

It's not a hard job, but some of the bolts are a PITA to get to and you'll need a 3' extension...
Jan. 13, 2011 8:15 a.m. 7pilot Reader

You'll need: 1, New flywheel bolts. 2, New pressure plate bolts. 3, New pivot pin for the arm. 4, All new clutch kit. don't allow the owner to skip the throw out bearing especially. 5, He should pay you in tools....A set of torx internal sockets, and wobbly extensions.

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Jan. 13, 2011 8:19 a.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

so it sounds like its an e36 M3? there wasnt really a 2000 year model, so its either a late 99 e36 or early 01 e46. e36 is pretty straightforward iirc. i havent done an e46 so i cant comment, but what i dont remember is if the M3 used a self-adjusting clutch similar the other e46s used.
Jan. 13, 2011 1:40 p.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

docwyte wrote:

It's rattling because he removed the stock dual mass flywheel and installed a lightweight, single mass flywheel.

They all rattle. Seriously.

If he doesn't like the rattle, he needs to go back to stock for the flywheel.

If the clutch is slipping, that's another issue, especially since my stock clutch held almost 500 rear wheel hp on my '02 M3 just fine..

I can't say I agree with you Doc

I've got over 10,000 miles on my ACT clutch and flywheel and it doesn't rattle......ever. Granted, my flywheel is a "middle ground" piece, and not a super-light racing variant.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1997-bmw-m3/fresh-friction/

I'd be pretty concerned with a botched installation if the car has a slipping clutch, along with the rattle.

The e36 Clutch install was pretty straight forward, but having the right tools handy made it much easier.
Jan. 13, 2011 5:51 p.m. Mikey52_1 HalfDork

A slipping clutch is either 1)oil on the faces, or 2)a SNAFU adjustment. I've never seen another cause. I'd bet on the adjustment since it's a replacement clutch. Good luck.
Jan. 13, 2011 8:48 p.m. ansonivan HalfDork

WilberM3 wrote: I dont remember is if the M3 used a self-adjusting clutch similar the other e46s used.

e46 m3 is self adjusting like the others of the same vintage.
Jan. 13, 2011 8:54 p.m. ansonivan HalfDork

Joe Gearin wrote: I've got over 10,000 miles on my ACT clutch and flywheel and it doesn't rattle......ever. Granted, my flywheel is a "middle ground" piece, and not a super-light racing variant.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1997-bmw-m3/fresh-friction/

I'd be pretty concerned with a botched installation if the car has a slipping clutch, along with the rattle.

The slipping may be an installation issue or driver error but the rattle is all too common on e36's which have been equipped with a single mass lightweight flywheel. Adding half gear oil/half atf to the gear box instead of 100% atf can help reduce the noise. I've heard the rattle on two customer cars with sub-10lb flywheels and my 328 equipped with an e30 single mass flywheel/clutch/starter does it occasionally as well.
Jan. 13, 2011 8:55 p.m. ansonivan HalfDork

Mikey52_1 wrote:

A slipping clutch is either 1)oil on the faces, or 2)a SNAFU adjustment. I've never seen another cause. I'd bet on the adjustment since it's a replacement clutch. Good luck.

There is no adjustment on an e36 clutch.