Clutch Replacement Questions
 

Alrighty gents, a question about clutches!

My clutch is going out on my 97 ti, and I am looking at replacements. Eventually I want to go autocrossing in this car, but for now it's a daily driver. It has 223,000 miles on what I have reason to believe is the original clutch (bought it with 94,000 and never replaced it)

First off, the flywheel. Do I really need to replace the dual mass? If so, should I just buy another one or go with an aluminium one? I had a BMW mechanic tell me the aluminum one's a no go on the M44 (he told me if I ever missed a gear I'd bend a valve, but I think he's FOS), is this true?

Secondly, how do I go about bypassing the Clutch Delay Valve?

Finally, any Nashville Area members have any recommendations on shops? All the ones I've found have either been ridiculously expensive (one place quoted me over $2300 bucks), or would not allow me to supply my own parts.

Thanks!
Steven Wood

If you don't replace the flywheel the new clutch will last weeks...

The dual mass flywheels cant be machined outside of the factory or by mere mortals... :(
There are several all steel solid flywheel sprung hub clutch kits for the TI...

Good Luck
Dave

Weeks!? Wow, didn't expect that...

That's probably what I'm gonna do, any particular kit recommendations? I was looking at the Valeo kit from BavAuto.

Thanks!

:) Mine only has 190K on it so i haven't done this clutch yet.. :)

But the BAv Auto kit looks pretty good, I plan on a solid flywheel and a spring hub clutch I hate the feel of the dual mass flywheels...

Dave

Bumping this thread.
Lets talk flywheels and clutches for our Tis

My car has 160k on it, according to its receipt package its got all stock clutch, pp, etc.
I am wanting to get clutch replacement on my radar.

I do not want to replace anything with "dual mass" anything.

I have heard that our M44 is the same flywheel and clutch as non M e36 (M5X)?
Is this true?

Or when shopping for single mass flywheels and clutch parts do I need M44 specific clutch parts?

I'm shopping for ideas, opinions on what you guys may have used.
I know what I use on the E30M3s, but those are single mass from the factory.
I'm looking for a "sporting" street combination.
Single mass flywheel and a good clutch combo.
Lets hear what you have used.
Cheers
jimmy p

Flywheel, clutch, pressure plate seem to be M44 specific. The getrag transmission is the same trans used on the M50 cars, M52/S52 cars use the ZF.

Most of the super-light single mass flywheels are pretty pricey for the M44. I'm going to go with that valeo kit (valeo p/n 52161203) when my clutch finally goes.

The main thing I keep reading about the valeo kit is that the wrong pilot bearing is included, so get another one and the correct alignment tool from somewhere else.

While it is not much, I've also gotten info that the complete valeo replacement is 5lbs lighter than stock and that the included single mass could be further lightened if desired.

I'm quite worried that my Ti only has 141,000 miles on the clock and the gears are quite grumpy in 1st 2nd nd 3rd, the kinda clunk, I don't know why

Any Ideas Guys?

Thanks Dave.
That Valeo looks like the ticket.
I was looking at converting to 6 cylinder parts,,, but probably not necessary.
Mine lived and is still working fine at 163,000,,, I guess cant fault the stocker. Plus the Valeo kit gets rid of the Dual Mass which must lighten it up some and get rid of the mushy feel.

I will take your advice and buy a separate pilot bearing when I get it just to be sure.
Cheers
jimmy

Did you try changing the trans lube?
It could be low?
If you still have the stock lube its quite thin,,, possibly could have some leakage and be low?

Out of most of the things with my Ti,,, I really like the trans.
Mine shifts great at 160K
I changed my trans lube when I bought the car at 155K.

One other thing to check when shifting gets hard is your clutch slave or clutch master cylinders.
If you have air or either item is starting to fail, its possible that you are not getting the clutch to fully disengage which would cause hard shifting.
I'm not so sure about the E36 transmissions, but on the E30s,,, the transmissions were so overbuilt, so robust that its rarely ever a trans failure.
Its usually a surrounding system.

Good hunting.

Thanks for that

How do I change the trans lube? im not sure where to find it to see if it is low and just needs topping up

There will be a plug about mid way up the case on the passenger side of the trans case.

If you remove that and fluid does not drip out its low. The fluid should be full to that fill plug on the side.

To change it:
1) first remove the side Fill Plug
2) place a catch container underneath the bottom Drain plug, then
3) remove the bottom drain plug and let the trans empty.
4) replace bottom drain plug
5) Fill trans through side fill plugg hole until it just starts to run out
6) replace side fill plug

There is not much room to work in the trans tunnel near the fill port, so you will need some kind of hand pump to pump the trans fluid into the hole. You cannot just pour it in like adding oil.
I think its about 1.5 - 1.75 quarts. Thats going from memory.
2 Quarts on hand will usually do the job for a full change.

HTH
jimmy p

Thanks so much jimmy, i'll get onto it now ;)