1986 325e Clutch Issues

[z50_Jumper]

Well my clutch / clutch pedal started feeling funny last night, I have searched high and low about issues relating to the clutch master slave failing and causing the pedal to not return, the only way mine doesn't feel the same way is the fact that my clutch will always return all the way up but starting last night the clutch return doesn't have the same pressure against my foot as normal. If i press the clutch to the floor, and no matter how long i hold it there, if i release my foot the pedal will jump straight up so I don't feel like its hydraulics related. When I pump the clutch pedal with the car turned off there is a squeaking noise coming from under the car. Mind you my car has well over 300k on it and I have no idea how old the clutch or transmission are. My throw out bearing has always made a dry sounding spinning/raddling noise and if I recall it would go away within the first inch of pressing the clutch in and now the clutch seems to engage closer off the floor than normal and the throw out bearing doesn't get quiet until closer to the floor now. Also the clutch return seems kind of notchy, if I slowly release the clutch it feels like its grinding against stuff on its way back up. The clutch still grabs fine.

Any thoughts?

[Adrian_Visser]

Don't rule out hydraulics so quickly. When the clutch master cylinder went on my e28 the pedal would still return normally. Same symptoms as you, in one half hour drive I noticed the the clutch releasing closer and closer to the floor then I at a stop light I realized I could no longer engage first gear at a stand still with the engine running. Pushed it to a roll and it would go in. I would seriously suspect the master OR slave cylinders as the problem, the slave is much easier to replace but you'll still have to bleed the whole system which is a bitch.

[z50_Jumper]

Ok so I attempted to take the car to work today and sure enough the clutch started sticking to the floor. I took the day off work to try to get this fixed and tied a string around the clutch pedal to limp it home, i made it to my driveway and ironically the clutch decided to completely freeze on me. it wont engage or disengage, it froze mid swing so the clutch is almost fully dis-engaged. I really hope its just the clutch hydraulics.

[z50_Jumper]

Well the shop down the street from me told me that the clutch master cylinder has pressure, there is not air in the system and they even bled it to make sure, they are telling me it has to be the clutch plate, however I wanted to confirm with a BMW mechanic and he said that the only way the clutch plate could freeze is if the clutch breaks apart and is stopping the plate from moving but it should be obvious if that happened. im kind of at a loss with no money to fix this...

[abepark]

I'd say get under your dash and look at the master cylinder. Then get under your car and look at and maybe even learn a thing or two and take the slave cylinder out. Usually if the master or slave goes it will leak fluid, so look for those clues.

[z50_Jumper]

Is it possible for the master or slave cylinder to actually freeze? or is it possible this is actually my clutch?

The pedal is stuck and wont move up or down at all.

The clutch is stuck open because if the car is turned on i can go through the gears and they are not engaged.

Shop pressure tested the hydraulics and checked for leaks, all looks fine. They recommend clutch replacement. Just want to make sure anyone else has not experienced these symptoms.

[Adrian_Visser]

the slave or master could be jammed in position too and not leaking. it's a hell of alot easier to rule these out before you go pay a shop $$$ to do a clutch job and find out that isn't the problem. okay here is what i want you to do jack the car up on jackstands, get under there undo the two bolts holding the slave cylinder onto the bellhousing. leave the hydraulics connected! now try to operate your clutch pedal. If the pedal will move now then yes the clutch fork is somehow jammed. if it still won't move then one of the hydraulic cylinders are seized.

[z50_Jumper]

Ok thank you, i didn't know if I could disconnect it without messing anything up. Great idea.

[z50_Jumper]

Well Wednesday night I wanted to unbolt the slave cylinder to start testing and I was delighted to find a puddle of brake fluid under my car :) To most people that is not a happy thing to see but in my case that means that something in the hydraulics was broken and from the location of the puddle it looked like the slave. Autozone had the part in stock and I just took my car out for a drive. Thank you for the replies and giving hope that my clutch was not dead. I only spent $45 and learned to replace yet another part on the e30.

The old slave cylinder literally fell apart when I unbolted it so I'm thinking that it broke apart and jammed itself and that's where my clutch pedal froze up.

[Adrian_Visser]

good to hear it, nice it was the slave too, much easier to replace