I don't know much about clutches, master cylinders and slave cylinders.

There has been a slow leak, but I don't know from where. I'm about to go under the car and look around.

I'm hoping by the time I get back to the computer a few of you have had the same problem and can tell me where to start.

Just from searching here and looking at all of the DIY pages I can find.

Looks like I should be taking a look at the slave cylinder.

I'm going to skim the Bentley manual, take a look at the car, and I'll be back.

Thanks for reading.

yep, I would say check the line going to the slave and the slave, but first you need to see where the fluid is and remember that you will not have any brakes with no fluid.

Doug, thanks for the input.

The brakes feel fine.

I just went under the car and the slave and the line to the slave cylinder look fine. The leak seems to come from the bell housing, is dripping onto the brace(the bar the x-brace replaces) and from there is dripping on the the ground.

I'm going to take a picture. in a few minutes.

In the brake res. there is a "seperate compartment" in the back (towards the booster) that is for the clutch make sure your looking there too! and not just at the overall res!

Take some pics!

Good luck!

http://www.freepixhosting.com/uploadedfiles/DSC00836.JPG
All of the circled parts are moist with brake fluid
http://www.freepixhosting.com/uploadedfiles/DSC00844.JPG
A pic of the slave cylinder
http://www.freepixhosting.com/uploadedfiles/DSC00838.JPG

Well I filled the reservoir with brake fluid.
Started the car and pumped the clutch.
Eventually the pressure was back.
I looked under the car and no leaks.
I turned the car off, and I'm going to check for leaks in an hour.

Any ideas where this leak is coming from?

At least I now have a way to get it to a mechanic if I need to.

Any ideas where this leak is coming from?
Yup, your slave cylinder is toast. The leak is around the shaft seal, dripping in to the bellhousing, running down the inside and out the bottom.

Yup, your slave cylinder is toast. The leak is around the shaft seal, dripping in to the bellhousing, running down the inside and out the bottom.

Thanks bimmer95

Now a couple questions pertaining to a solution for my slave cylinder problem.

1) Where is the best/ cheapest place for me to pick up a new slave cylinder?

2) I know it's dependent on the size of the leak, but can I drive around with the bad slave cylinder? For work until the weekend comes around, to pick up parts / brake fluid?
a) I'll carry brake fluid with me in the car.
b) Can this leak damage the clutch itself due to the brake fluid gettng into the housing?

Is this all I have to replace?

BW-21-52-1-158-903
$39.50 from pelican parts

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/catalog/images/clutch_parts/slave_cylinder.JPG

1) bimmerparts.com or the like would be cheap, but I'd spend the extra and buy a real BMW one from a dealer. I had an OEM M3 slave on my wife's 318ti and it only lasted a year. The OE BMW parts are best.

2) Like you said, depends on the leak
a) See above
b) Yes, brake fluid isn't good for adding clutch friction