2003 E46 BMW 320Ci facelift (54k miles)

For last month or so I've suspected I have slight clutch judder. This only occurs in 1st gear from a standing start. To (try) and overcome the judder, I have to very carefully 'ride' the clutch and feather the throttle - but even then it can still give a slight judder.

This is a well looked after car with full BMW service etc. 54k seems a little soon to be replacing the clutch, but this that my only option?

If I have to have the clutch replaced, how much should I expect to pay at a main dealer (UK price).

Does replacing the clutch require and 'engine-out', or can the gearbox be dropped with engine in situ?


Thanks for any help.

Jimbo.

have you owned it since new? Does anybody else drive it? It does sound like the beginning stages of a failing clutch. Since it's a self-adjusting clutch, the clutch pedal engagement point doesn't get higher and higher as the clutch wears - like a standard clutch does - until right at the end of its life. Therefore the rising clutch engagement point signifies the last few days of the clutch's usefulness. The shudder is usually what happens a few days/weeks before the rising clutch pedal. Here in the States, at a dealer, the clutch job usually runs upwards of a thousand dollars.

Question for Critter7r: this may be a dumb question, but how did you surmise that he has a self-adjusting clutch? The reason I ask is that my 02 330ci has 75k miles on it and I imagine that i'll need a new clutch in the near future because it seems its engagement point is close to the top (although, I heard once that BMW clutches normally catch higher to begin with). Therefore, I'm watching other posts about clutches to try to learn as much as I can so I can hopefully do the repair myself. Cheers.

All E46's have a self-adjusting clutch. At least here in the U.S. I suspect the Euro versions do too. BMW clutches normally catch an inch or two off the floor (about a third of the way through the up travel), whereas many other domestics have clutches that start to catch right at the floor, which is where BMW's got their reputation for grabbing "higher" than most others.

BMW use hydraulically actuated clutches, inherently self adjusting. Chatter means flywheel and/or pressure plate is warped. Flywheel can be machined (dual mass a bit trickier) or replaced. Lightweight flywheels are something to investigate. Not without peril, they can cause rattling in the gearbox (search topic).

Good DIY to give an idea of the job:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/E36-Clutch_Replace.htm

sounds warped. i think it happens more when the flywheel isint resurfaced when a clutch is installed.

i've also noticed most my cars do this in the winter, ,most my cars have high milage clutch/flywheel though

one more thing, from what i know, the further away from the floor the clutch catches, usually the newer the clutch. ive had cars where the clutch was almost done, and it would start to grab as soon as i started to let it away from the floor

in other words a good clutch you shouldnt have to floor it to disengage/engage