Clutch slips - possible reasons?

[Porker]

My car is at the workshop, initially to have the clutch changed, but apparently my clutch was still in good condition.

They then 'reteached' the SMG clutch biting point, without result, clutch still slips for about one second after every shift. They'll now bring the car to an official BMW workshop to check if the SMG has all software updates necessary, I have no clue whether that could be the culprit, advice would be most welcome. :beer:

[CSLScot]

Before I bought mine from NJ last Feb, it had a clutch slip problem which BMW Oxford diagnosed as a worn clutch. NJ duly replaced that (even although there was clearly little wear on the clutch itself) but it still had the problem so he put it back to BMW Oxford who on further diagnosis replaced the actuator. This fixed it.

[Mark CSL]

This can be the sleeve the release bearing runs along
Mine did this and after the new sleeve it super fast changes

[JBird]

Before I bought mine from NJ last Feb, it had a clutch slip problem which BMW Oxford diagnosed as a worn clutch. NJ duly replaced that (even although there was clearly little wear on the clutch itself) but it still had the problem so he put it back to BMW Oxford who on further diagnosis replaced the actuator. This fixed it.

Then i believe i have driven your car sir! Infact my first time may have actually been with your girl :119: :smt055. It was at the begining of those problems when I went to look at at, so I steered away and tested a few others. Glad to hear its been fine for you.

Do you still deal with Oxford? I've been less than impressed by them.

[Porker]

Very helpful guys, thx!

[CSLScot]

Then i believe i have driven your car sir! Infact my first time may have actually been with your girl :119: :smt055. It was at the begining of those problems when I went to look at at, so I steered away and tested a few others. Glad to hear its been fine for you.

Do you still deal with Oxford? I've been less than impressed by them.

Could be. It was 41k miles (04 plate) & at that time NJ had a 15k miles one in - I had a hard job telling which one had the lower mileage such was the excellent condition of the one I bought. To be fair to NJ, he made sure the issue was properly sorted before I got the car. I'm in Edinburgh so have had no further dealings with BMW Oxford.

[Neil M]

I doubt that it would be the actual clutch, they're usually good for 100K smiles :)
More likely to be the actuator as previously stated, comparatively cheap fix :supz:

[CSLScot]

I doubt that it would be the actual clutch, they're usually good for 100K smiles :)
More likely to be the actuator as previously stated, comparatively cheap fix :supz:

I guess it depends on the comparison (against something much worse?), but BMW Oxford charged NJ £1250+VAT.

[JBird]

Could be. It was 41k miles (04 plate) & at that time NJ had a 15k miles one in - I had a hard job telling which one had the lower mileage such was the excellent condition of the one I bought. To be fair to NJ, he made sure the issue was properly sorted before I got the car. I'm in Edinburgh so have had no further dealings with BMW Oxford.

Yep, thats the one! The 15k looked way worse for ware, cosmetically at least, than the 41k car (i saw them parked side by side).

[Porker]

Ordered a new clutch actuation pump, hope that'll solve the issue. Will let you know!

[_Nathan_]

Mine did this quite a lot, Initially BMW just put new clutches in as they couldn't fix it, the old ones looked fine but a new one fixed it for a while each time.

Eventually they put a new SMG ECU in and it was fine for ages.

[cantfind1]

+1 Sleeve or actuator......

[NZ_M3]

+1 Sleeve or actuator......

+2 on the sleeve .... stupid dry fit design - once you get a small wear mark on it it bloody catches and then wears more and eventually you get sticky clutch release - mine had this and was replaced under warranty - otherwise the clutch and pressure plate were as good as new.

[cantfind1]

Ordered a new clutch actuation pump, hope that'll solve the issue. Will let you know!


Shit that would have been expensive...I am sure the accumulator is available separately from the pump??

[Porker]

Shit that would have been expensive...I am sure the accumulator is available separately from the pump??

I have no idea to be honest, the garage said it was considerably cheaper than a clutch, so I assume they've only ordered the accumulator. Will check and let you know when I collect the car.

Still not sure if that's indeed the fix, they should work on it tomorrow.

[Porker]

I have no idea to be honest, the garage said it was considerably cheaper than a clutch, so I assume they've only ordered the accumulator. Will check and let you know when I collect the car.

Still not sure if that's indeed the fix, they should work on it tomorrow.

Apparently they've already worked on it today, with the new pump, it apparently shifts OK on some occasions, but then it slipped three shifts in a row. Not entirely solved with the new pump.

Next up, sleeve?

[Mark CSL]

it will be wear on the shaft the release bearing travels along i have had 2 replaced :whistle:

[Porker]

Does anyone have a part no of this "sleeve"? I have no idea what it is, to be honest.

[Mark CSL]

Does anyone have a part no of this "sleeve"? I have no idea what it is, to be honest.


Item no 1 on this picture :)

[Porker]

Thanks man!

[hoshy]

Interesting thread.

My clutch operation isn't quite perfect but I've always had the feeling the clutch itself isn't a problem.

could somebody supply the actuator part number - I couldn't see on realoem what this part is (unless you mean the slave cylinder?)

if it's something easy/external fitting I might make a preemptive strike on a decent oil change and actuator before getting in to the more expensive stuff.

[Porker]

Got news from the workshop, apparently the suggested sleeve is indeed in need of replacement, as well as part nr. 3 in this picture.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E46/Coupe/Europe/M3_CSL-S54/LHD/N/2003/browse/clutch/clutch/

I hope with this, the culprit has been found. Meanwhile they're also working on the subframe and changing all necessary rubbers, it'll be as good as new when it returns to the Nordschleife this week-end!

[MKoop]

I'm have similar issues with my clutch & need to get them sorted.

So your getting replaced:

Item No.1 Guide Bush
http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MzAzNV9w.png

Item No.3 Clutch Release Bearing
http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MTI2NDJfcA==.png

:thumbs::thumbs:

[cantfind1]

Got news from the workshop, apparently the suggested sleeve is indeed in need of replacement, as well as part nr. 3 in this picture.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E46/Coupe/Europe/M3_CSL-S54/LHD/N/2003/browse/clutch/clutch/

I hope with this, the culprit has been found. Meanwhile they're also working on the subframe and changing all necessary rubbers, it'll be as good as new when it returns to the Nordschleife this week-end!

Yep this will solve ur issue!

[chicken]

This is a logical answer, since the symptoms are the same as a worn CRB, but most gearboxes these days are self adjusting and it would need to be pretty knackered?

which then also doesn't makes sense why the low milers like the ultra low milers which were recently sold have the "slurr" slip issue. unless of course those either had their clocks turned back or they were stopped in 9k miles of traffic in gear (not hard to do in London mind haha)

or what you guys think?

[Porker]

This is a logical answer, since the symptoms are the same as a worn CRB, but most gearboxes these days are self adjusting and it would need to be pretty knackered?

which then also doesn't makes sense why the low milers like the ultra low milers which were recently sold have the "slurr" slip issue. unless of course those either had their clocks turned back or they were stopped in 9k miles of traffic in gear (not hard to do in London mind haha)

or what you guys think?

Mine has actually covered quite a lot of miles in heavy traffic last year, I was also thinking that might have accelerated the issue...

Looking forward to crisp shifts again! :thumbs:

[Porker]

I'm have similar issues with my clutch & need to get them sorted.

So your getting replaced:

Item No.1 Guide Bush
http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MzAzNV9w.png

Item No.3 Clutch Release Bearing
http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MTI2NDJfcA==.png

:thumbs::thumbs:

@Mkoop, that's correct!

[Porker]

Got the car back, and imo, the issue hasn't been solved 100%. It's better at low to med revs during full throttle upshifts, but the revs still stick when upshifting at higher revs.

Above items 1 & 3 have been changed, as well as a completely different gearbox to verify the difference with my old gearbox, yet the issue persists. Perhaps it's just normal SMG behaviour?

Clutch is as new, apparently.

[MKoop]

That's not good:banghead: You should have crisp changes no matter what rev range your in. Did they swap out the smg ecu when they changed the box? If they did I'm not sure what else there is to change!

Got the car back, and imo, the issue hasn't been solved 100%. It's better at low to med revs during full throttle upshifts, but the revs still stick when upshifting at higher revs.

Above items 1 & 3 have been changed, as well as a completely different gearbox to verify the difference with my old gearbox, yet the issue persists. Perhaps it's just normal SMG behaviour?

Clutch is as new, apparently.

[cantfind1]

Slave cylinder is could be on its way out as well....