Cheapskate method of making a clutch line...

[ChaseN]

Hey guys

I'm in the middle of a 5-speed swap on my iX, and, well, I just realized tonight that the ONLY part I haven't bought yet is the line between the master and slave cylinders. So, I cruise on over to RealOEM, plug the part number into Tischer's website, and HOLY SH!T they want $60 for a freaking HOSE, that will take an unknown amount of time to get (thats my only gripe about getbmwparts.com really, that you can't tell whats in stock and what isn't).

So, I got to thinking...its really only a brake line, the hard part of which I could bend myself using pre-flared brakeline from autozone (I already have the hardline coming from the master out the firewall) with a flex portion to compensate for the different movements between the transmission & body. So I think, where can I find cheap flex line? I log onto Jeg's and find 10" SS braided flex hose, and its only $9.99, and ships tomorrow from Ohio (which is obviously very close to where I live). Only problem is its female to female -03AN. SO, a quick click on adapters finds me -03AN to M10x1.0 adapters for $9.99/pair. SUCCESS!

Basically, I just wanted to run this by the members here and see if it won't work for some reason. I don't see why it wouldn't. To sum it up, it would be (in order from master cylinder to slave cylinder):

stock hardline through firewall
adapter to -03AN
10" -03AN flex hose
adapter back to M10x1.0
Autozone pre-flared M10x1.0 hardline to slave cylinder

All for less than $20, and I know it will be here by Wednesday. Beats ~$60 and unknown arrival time.

What say you all? I know its a lot of adapters and what not, but with mostly new hardware I'm not really worried about leaks.

Chase

[Conrad311]

did something similar on mine last month and so far so good (knock on wood)
bleeding it out sucked ass though.. it took forever with out a vac. bleeder or a press bleeder.

good luck with it

[ChaseN]

did something similar on mine last month and so far so good (knock on wood)
bleeding it out sucked ass though.. it took forever with out a vac. bleeder or a press bleeder.

good luck with it

Luckily, I have a Motive pressure bleeder. Plus, from my experience on my S50B32 swap, even the BMW OEM components take FOREVERRRR to bleed.

Good to hear I'm not the only one doing this.

[MR 325]

Seems like it should work fine. I'd go OEM but that's just me.

[jlevie]

Get a used line from a salvage yard.

[FredK]

A new one at AutohausAZ is $28, though it'll take a while to get it. You can call Bav Auto in New Hampshire and have them price match it.

Besides, Jegs has a handling fee according to your order size.

[ChaseN]

A new one at AutohausAZ is $28, though it'll take a while to get it.

Wow, thanks. Ended up just ordering one of these.

[Mossman]

Yeah only problem with this plan is the stock line has a hardline section on the end with a bend to get it out of the way so you can access the 13mm nuts that hold slave to tranny with a socket and extension. But yeah new is cheap and I don't think stainless will offer any change in clutch feel like it may with breaks, and 4 more places to leak is bad news.

You made zee right choice chase!

[DJB]

The clutch line is under less peak pressure than brake lines, but otherwise it's constructed exactly the same. You can just assemble two off-the-shelf M10 hard lines with a M10 F-to-F hose -- either a generic length or the ones used for the rear subframe. (The front and rear wheel hoses are M-to-F.)

[SpecM]

The clutch line is under less peak pressure than brake lines, but otherwise it's constructed exactly the same. You can just assemble two off-the-shelf M10 hard lines with a M10 F-to-F hose -- either a generic length or the ones used for the rear subframe. (The front and rear wheel hoses are M-to-F.)

thats exactly what I'm doing

got an inner rear brake hose, and a 8in section of hard line

costs less than $10