New clutch needed - what upgrades should I look at?

[bimmerphile]

Yeah, I know.

Can I have it resurfaced locally?

Boise Cylinder Head Service Inc
200 W 35th
Garden City,  ID 83714
(208) 345-4474

Block & Head Shop Inc
2914 S Cole Rd
Boise,  ID
(208) 562-8856


Whichever. Both are good shops.

[Sean]

Yeah, I know.

Can I have it resurfaced locally?

Boise Cylinder Head Service Inc
200 W 35th
Garden City,  ID 83714
(208) 345-4474

Block & Head Shop Inc
2914 S Cole Rd
Boise,  ID
(208) 562-8856


Whichever. Both are good shops.

Cool, thanks Kris!

[derek w]

Re: New clutch needed - what upgrades should I look at?

Ok... i just bought a 1988 325 and it needs a clutch pretty bad.

Not only have I never done this, but I'll definately be taking my time. I'll probably end up doing this while the car is up on jackstands. But, if that's the case, it won't matter how long it takes to get done. ;)

But, basically, I wanted to ask what I should look at buying. I need some help coming up with a list of all parts that I will need, and any upgrades I should persue.

I found the Sach's Clutch Kit at Bavarian Auto - I guess it has everything I enneed for $260? Well, since I'm going to be doing this myself, I want to see if anything can be upgraded.

Basically, I want to know - what are ALL the parts I need to buy that are OEM, like their parts numbers and stuff. Then I want to cover the parts that CAN be upgraded.

So, any suggestions, comments, or anything are definately welcome. I will be doing this myself, and I'm willing to look at all upgrade possibilities.

Thank you! :D

Lightweight flywheel from metric mechanic

[derek w]

I'd stick with the OEM clutch. Mine lasted me 200,000 miles, I saw no reason to upgrade. Do the lightened flywheel, you can get an aluminum one from tons of places, Ireland Engineering, BMP, Bav Auto, etc... I got a shaved down OEM one from Metric Mechanic that I like a lot for about $350 with core.

Since you're dropping the transmission, you might check into replacing some shifter parts like Bill said. You might even replace that knuckle assembly that connects the selector rod to the transmission too since that is sometimes a big source of shifter slop.

Agreed. The stock OEM clutch is more than sufficient for your needs. Its my understanding that this clutch package can handle 200+ HP easy, and my 325i is making around 170. If not abused it can last a very long time. My car presently has 220,000 miles on it with the original clutch. Not bad if you ask me.

As for flywheel options, you have many. On my previous E30 I opted for a Metric Mechanics lightened flywheel. This part is a machined down stock wheel, not a bonafide aftermarket aluminum part. MM shaves enough metal down so it weighs around 13lbs. Not the lightest, but a respectable improvement. I immediately felt a difference with matching revs during heel/toe maneuvers and there was only a slight trace of a vibration that was noticable at idle (a compromise with lightened flywheels). The best part of this upgrade, the price. After sending back my original for a core refund my final cost was about $250. IMHO, its worth considering.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Jon

My MM LW FW (huh..?) weighs 10LBS.

[Spaz]

hey maybe jordan can post a picture of his lightweight flywheel also, it look mint :P

[Sean]

OOOOkk...

Looks like I have mostly everything figured out here, in terms of clutch:

	
Tranny Mounts (x2 - price for both)	 $12.00 	Pelican Parts	BW-22-31-1-094-916
New Guibo	                         $29.50 	Pelican Parts	BW-26-11-1-225-624
Clutch Release Fork	                 $10.50 	Pelican Parts	BW-21-51-1-204-229
Clutch Master Cylinder	                 $43.85 	Pelican Parts	BW-21-52-1-156-000
Torx Female Socket Set	                 $13.00 	Pelican Parts	TOL-LIS26750
Pilot Bearing Puller	                 $36.00 	Pelican Parts	PEL-TOL-1088
Clutch Disc Alignment Tool	         $8.80 		Pelican Parts	PEL-TOL-CABW
Clutch Super Kit	                 $262.50 	Pelican Parts	PEL-SKCKE30-05

msot stuff located here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/cata...clutch_pg1.htm

I'll probably get my flywheel resurfaced here in town.


NOW - my questions regarding all the above:

1. Is that Super Kit the Sach's Heavy Duty clutch? Cause, that's what I want.

2. The Clutch Super Kit includes all the following:

Three piece Sachs clutch kit
New flywheel and pressure plate bolts
New flywheel and transmission mainshaft seals
New selector rod seal
New exhaust gaskets
New pilot bearing
New release bearing spring clip
New clutch pivot pin
New slave cylinder
New slave cylinder hose

Since it says it has "new flywheel and tranny mainshaft seals" I'm assuming that's all the seals I need?

I figured since I was getitng a new slave cylinder, might as well get a master one too. ORR, is that really not needed?



For the SSK aspect of all this, this is what I'm thinkin (made another thread for this too):

1x . . . 25 11 7 507 964 - Z4 2.5l Shift Lever $43.81 
4x . . . 25 11 1 220 439 - Spacer Rings 
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 832 - Rubber Bearing sleeve 
2x . . . 25 11 1 220 379 - Circlips $0.50 (one extra) 
1x . . . 25 11 1 220 600 - Shift Bushing - $4.00 
1x . . . Delrin Carrier Bushings - ROUND from UUC Motorwerks - $25 (that's what I want to get right?) 
1x . . . Shift Linkage Kit, 325i/is/iC (1987-91) - Pelican Parts - $51.50

Should I get the Pelican Parts shift linkage kit? Or, should I buy upgraded parts seperately? Not sure what to do here, comments gladly welcome.


NOW, an overall question i have here:

On Pelican Parts, they have these two choices that I cannot decide betwen for both the Clutch Kits and the Linkage Kits

Do I choose, A:
325/e/es (1984-86)

OR, B:
325i/is/iC (1987-91)

Since my car's an 88, and soon to be a 2.7i I engine, I'm thinkin B? i'm a little lost though. ;)


Sooo much. Someone help me out here. I want to make sure I got everything I need, so I don't royally fuck stuff up.[/code]

[Sean]

Bump... 8)

[bimmerphile]

Call em.

[Sean]

Yeah, I got lots of places to call Monday, it seems. ;)

[Sean]

OK, thought I'd share my experience here.

I've decided to just get the regular clutch, no reason in getting the heavy duty, kind of overkill. If I ever upgrade to anything more powerful than a 2.7i Stroker, I'll have some left over for a better clutch. ;)

So, therefore, I'll probably be buying the SSK stuff from Pacific BMW and the Clutch Parts from Pelican parts.

One other question for you guys - Should I get a new master cylinder??? <<<

Thanks!

[Bill 84 318i]

One other question for you guys - Should I get a new master cylinder??? <<<

Thanks!

It's just as 'easy' to replace the master cylinder later on (when it actually dies) as it is during the clutch job.

But it's not a bad idea (read, $55 or so) if your car is high mileage.

[Sean]

I could get it for $36 from Pelican Parts.

I talked to Kris, and he said it didn't need one. So, I'll just go with that, and replace it when the time comes.

[M42Technik]

I have a M Roaster SSK in my E30 and I couldn't be happier. It is a bit shorter and notchier, but the throw is rediculously short and sweet. Just my , I chose that one over the Z4....keep us updated man.

[Sean]

Yeah, I'll see how the Z4 2.5 is. I'll take pics of everything along teh way, I'll keep you all psoted.

[matt325is]

My flywheel is practically the same as Jordans. It weighs approx. 12lbs. It was milled down by a machine shop from a standard flywheel.




matt