Clutchmasters FX100 Clutch and JB Racing Flywheel Review

[simsima325]

The topic of clutch and flywheel replacement is of increasing interest to the E46 community, as these cars get on in years. Having found my clutch engagement becoming messier over the last two years, the search was on for a replacement.

My 2001 325Ci is a daily driver, so naturally I was focused on finding the clutch and flywheel setup that would best meet my goals of retaining the best drivability while adding a sporty feel to my shifting. After searching the internet and hearing many positive reviews of the entire line of Clutchmasters FX clutches, I set about deciding which stage clutch was best for my needs.

With the 2.5L powerplant, I don***8217;t require something that holds massive amounts of torque, nor do I need a system that would bang off jerky shifts ideal for racing conditions. The FX100 Stage 1 Organic clutch fits the bill, offering me increased pedal feel and weight, clutch life, and an increased holding capacity of 70%, (should I ever feel the need to produce that much). Speaking at length with Rob from Bimmerworld.com was an immense help in making this decision.

With the new clutch surface, a new flywheel was in order, and I decided on the 10lb JB Racing flywheel for E46 non-M. This clutch and flywheel combination weighs about as much as the OEM BMW flywheel alone, and this drastically changed the driving experience for the better. Rob assured me that I would retain excellent drivability for my daily commute, yet have the sporty feel I was looking for.

Having followed the 500 mile break in period, I could properly assess the changes this made to my car. While the RPM***8217;s may not climb much faster, they sure drop more quickly, allowing for quicker shifting and very smooth re-engagement with the drivetrain during spirited driving.

Here are the respective weights for each of the old and new units:

(See Thumbnail Pics below)
OEM Clutch- 12lbs
OEM Flywheel- 23lbs
FX100- 14lbs
JB Racing Flywheel- 10lbs

After 1500 miles on the new setup, my car has come to life again. Shifting is crisp and sporty, a huge improvement over my worn stock unit. These benefits far outweigh the only negative I have found to date: the increased flywheel chatter. During 97% of downtown driving, I never hear the flywheel chatter and really forget it is there until I enter a parking garage or enclosed area, and sit at idle. While moving, there is slightly increased transmission noise below 2000rpm, but with the addition of a sporty exhaust system, this additional noise is even less noticeable.

A special thanks must go to Rob and James at Bimmerworld.com for their mechanical expertise! Superb customer service and quick delivery in time for my scheduled install at a local shop helped make this a very positive experience.

[Custom3]

Great review!
i wonder if this would be a better option then UUC flywheel and the M5 clutch:hmm:

[TKC]

Price? (parts and labor, please) :)

[simsima325]

www.bimmerworld.com/ for pricing details. Price will vary a bit, model to model. I paid ~400 for installation at a local shop :thumbsup:

[jeffro3000]

Great review!
i wonder if this would be a better option then UUC flywheel and the M5 clutch:hmm:

the M5 clutch is heavy.

[330i ZHP]

jb racing flywheel and clutchmasters stage iii clutch....engagement great, grip good, but DAMN the trans rattles and when its cold the clutch (kevlar) makes a screaching noise when slipping the clutch (first gear or reverse on a hill) or downshifting (mostly into third) from 6th or 5th

otherwise happy with rpm drops (and I have the other duplicate engine/trans to compare) and the grip

[simsima325]

^ i haven't experienced any of the screeching your car shows, but I am running an organic clutch, to your kevlar.

[323power]

I drove simsima's car, and now I want the same setup :) Definitely a worth while upgrade if your clutch is bad. :)

[BMW_Matt]

Nice review, Brendan...:thumbsup:

[zeppelin4]

what happens if you dont allow for the 500 mile break in period

[simsima325]

For break in i just kept it under 4k RPM and avoided full throttle.

I guess if you did not follow break in, the clutch surface could be scarred, and this would hamper its longevity/performance down the road.

[zeppelin4]

i changed my tranny fluid recently after having a sport clutch and lightweight flywheel installed to reduce that flywheel rattle but ever since then my shifts havent been as smooth im just hoping i didnt mess up my clutch and flywheel cause i didnt wait exactly 500 miles...more like 400

[hummer]

^ i haven't experienced any of the screeching your car shows, but I am running an organic clutch, to your kevlar.

That's because you didn't make the mistake he did by buying way more clutch than he needed. Racing gear on street cars can have negative results!

[simsima325]

That's because you didn't make the mistake he did by buying way more clutch than he needed. Racing gear on street cars can have negative results!

He is going big power. Prob needs the holding capacity.

[330i ZHP]

That's because you didn't make the mistake he did by buying way more clutch than he needed. Racing gear on street cars can have negative results!

hey hummer - my car will potentially be breaking the 500hp mark when its all over at the flywheel. it is already at 364 at the rear wheels and i havent gone to stage III yet or the other things...

[JamesC]

i changed my tranny fluid recently after having a sport clutch and lightweight flywheel installed to reduce that flywheel rattle but ever since then my shifts havent been as smooth im just hoping i didnt mess up my clutch and flywheel cause i didnt wait exactly 500 miles...more like 400

It isn't a strict mileage thing - it is really a matter of transfering the disc material onto the friction surfaces. I can do it in an hour at the racetrack, but that is a lot of shifting and I am very aware of what the goal is and I use my clutch pedal accordingly. By the same token, 400 miles on interstate will not at all break it in...

Worth the effort to make sure it is done properly. Even more so with Kevlar.

[rcryder]

I have the uuc stage II moderate lightweight steel flywheel with the m5 clutch, while the clutch is heavier than the stock clutch the flywheel makes it so it is still much lighter than the stock combo, I have some chatter at idle which is louder when you put on the AC. I used a combo of two different redline trans fluids to help out with this and the sprung hub design of the clutch helps too. Overall I love my setup, my car (325i) accelerates so much quicker, smoother downshifts because its easier to match revs, the clutch peddle is obviously stiffer but you don't notice it after about a week

I chose the steel lightweight instead of the aluminum lightweight because my car is purely a street car right now and I wanted to have the quietest and most comfortable yet sporty set up I could, and damn is it sporty.

[Tater49]

Does anyone have or know how the Stage II performs. Do I even need a Stage II because I'm trying to go for a little N/A build with around 250 to the wheels. Do I get the Stage II or stick to the Stage I?

[simsima325]

According to the Clutchmasters website, both the FX100 and 200 have an increased holding capacity of 70%.

[vI6ious]

Good review

[huyner328]

See, remember when I told u that the Flywheel was the best mod to do? (Minus the chatter)

[simsima325]

Huy you were indeed correct :) LOVE driving my car now. Get back in other E46's and feel out of place :lmao:

[SL Blak Soldier]

Do you still get that really gay pedal feel like on the stock clutch? or is the engagement always the same compared to the SACs unit?

[simsima325]

Do you still get that really gay pedal feel like on the stock clutch? or is the engagement always the same compared to the SACs unit?

Clutch engagement feels close to stock, but more crisp. I wanted close to stock though, for better DD drive-ability. If you are looking for more aggressive, Clutchmasters and Bimmerworld have units that fit the bill, thats for sure. This is the closest to OEM that they produce.

The pedal feel is MUCH improved over stock, its nice and weighty, but you will adjust to it after a week or so.

[tylerpdx]

Great Review! Very helpful!

The clutch on my 02 325xi just started slipping barely in 5th, definitely time to have it replaced, not to mentioned I burned it real good getting unstuck in the snow a few weeks ago.

After getting the $2,200 quote (880 labor, 1,320 parts ) from my local bmw shop I was a little sticker shocked, and came here looking for some aftermarket / performance alternatives and here was this review!

$880.00 labor for the clutch install seems fairly steep to me (8 hours). However that is from the specialty BMW mechanic that I usually take my car too. I will have to shop around for some better pricing. The 400$ simsima paid seems more appropriate. Anyone know a good shop in Portland Oregon?

[simsima325]

def. check in your regional forum for decent shops in Oregon. good luck!

[TxZHP04]

$880.00 labor for the clutch install seems fairly steep to me (8 hours). However that is from the specialty BMW mechanic that I usually take my car too. I will have to shop around for some better pricing. The 400$ simsima paid seems more appropriate. Anyone know a good shop in Portland Oregon?

When comparing pricing, be sure to factor in whether or not the shops warranty parts and labor and whether you're willing to pay to have the job done again should any problems arise.

[Billy Drama]

Excellent thread Sinsima! :thumbsup:... Whats ironic for me is that this thread was on the main page when i logged in, and I'm actually having a JB lightweight flywheel installed in my car tommorow!, along with a sachs oem clutch. So after reading this thread, im only more confident that it will be a great setup for my e46.

[Billy Drama]

Great review!
i wonder if this would be a better option then UUC flywheel and the M5 clutch:hmm:

I spoke with TC Kline on this matter, who I believe produce or at least vendor the JB flywheel, which is ultimately an exact replica of the Turner Motorsport lightened flywheel. And basically, what Steve at TC Kline said was that its an excellent setup for a lot less money over the UUC flywheel.. He also went into saying that the M5 cluthces in the 3 series, down the road have/can lead to issues, due to the fact that its not an original set up.

[Billy Drama]

jb racing flywheel and clutchmasters stage iii clutch....engagement great, grip good, but DAMN the trans rattles and when its cold the clutch (kevlar) makes a screaching noise when slipping the clutch (first gear or reverse on a hill) or downshifting (mostly into third) from 6th or 5th

otherwise happy with rpm drops (and I have the other duplicate engine/trans to compare) and the grip
Do you know anything about the level of "rattling" with the JB flywheel and an OEM clutch, as opposed to say, a stage 3 clutch?? Is there less rattling with an oem clutch and lightened flywheel, vs. an aftermarket and ltwflywheel?... Or are they all the same more or less?

[Custom3]

Thanks for the info :thumbup:
I spoke with TC Kline on this matter, who I believe produce or at least vendor the JB flywheel, which is ultimately an exact replica of the Turner Motorsport lightened flywheel. And basically, what Steve at TC Kline said was that its an excellent setup for a lot less money over the UUC flywheel.. He also went into saying that the M5 cluthces in the 3 series, down the road have/can lead to issues, due to the fact that its not an original set up.

[rcryder]

I spoke with TC Kline on this matter, who I believe produce or at least vendor the JB flywheel, which is ultimately an exact replica of the Turner Motorsport lightened flywheel. And basically, what Steve at TC Kline said was that its an excellent setup for a lot less money over the UUC flywheel.. He also went into saying that the M5 cluthces in the 3 series, down the road have/can lead to issues, due to the fact that its not an original set up.

Weird because I spoke with someone at TC Kline before buying my UUC setup and he didn't say anything like that about the M5 clutch, he told me that he knew quite a few cars with the set up and urged me to follow through with it, he said whenever you replace a stock component with a non stock component there is a risk but that the M5 was at least an OEM component and will last better than a lot of the other options for clutch replacement. If its something to worry over then stick with stock. But, when you get an upgraded flywheel, why the hell would you go and take the fun away by not getting a new clutch too!

[rcryder]

Do you know anything about the level of "rattling" with the JB flywheel and an OEM clutch, as opposed to say, a stage 3 clutch?? Is there less rattling with an oem clutch and lightened flywheel, vs. an aftermarket and ltwflywheel?... Or are they all the same more or less?

if you just replace your clutch with another normal OEM Sachs clutch and you have the lightweight flywheel you're gonna be kicking yourself in the ass because the OEM E46 clutch isn't sprung hub and is gonna allow a LOT more rattle to be heard. The good thing about the Sprung Hub design is it literally has springs around the center that absorb the rattle (combined with the right Redline Tranny fluid you can have very little rattle). Now if you go with a stage 3 setup, rattle isn't something you worry about because youre probably on the racetrack or running crazy power and your engine would probably drown it out.
Also the fact that you have a 10 pound flywheel is gonna provide for rattle, period. The main reason I got the UUC setup was due to the option of aluminum (8.5 lbs i think) and steel moderate lightweight (16.9lbs). I got the steel because I don't track and since it is heavier it doesn't rattle nearly as much. Despite being 16.9 (stock is 25) my setup is still a lot lighter.....I actually raced the exact stock version of my car the other night (first time a 325i has raced me since my clutch flywheel upgrade) and I put close to a car and a half on him by the time i was out of 2nd gear. acceleration is so much quicker with the lightweight set up so whatever kind it is you'll have a lot more fun with your car.

Also when the AC is on the rattle is louder, at red lights I like to turn off AC otherwise you can hear it reverberate between the cars on either side. with the AC off its audible but easy to live with.

I see you live in the central coast, I live in SB, if you wanna feel/hear what its like to have the lightweight flywheel you can PM me

[Billy Drama]

if you just replace your clutch with another normal OEM Sachs clutch and you have the lightweight flywheel you're gonna be kicking yourself in the ass because the OEM E46 clutch isn't sprung hub and is gonna allow a LOT more rattle to be heard. The good thing about the Sprung Hub design is it literally has springs around the center that absorb the rattle (combined with the right Redline Tranny fluid you can have very little rattle). Now if you go with a stage 3 setup, rattle isn't something you worry about because youre probably on the racetrack or running crazy power and your engine would probably drown it out.
Also the fact that you have a 10 pound flywheel is gonna provide for rattle, period. The main reason I got the UUC setup was due to the option of aluminum (8.5 lbs i think) and steel moderate lightweight (16.9lbs). I got the steel because I don't track and since it is heavier it doesn't rattle nearly as much. Despite being 16.9 (stock is 25) my setup is still a lot lighter.....I actually raced the exact stock version of my car the other night (first time a 325i has raced me since my clutch flywheel upgrade) and I put close to a car and a half on him by the time i was out of 2nd gear. acceleration is so much quicker with the lightweight set up so whatever kind it is you'll have a lot more fun with your car.

Also when the AC is on the rattle is louder, at red lights I like to turn off AC otherwise you can hear it reverberate between the cars on either side. with the AC off its audible but easy to live with.

I see you live in the central coast, I live in SB, if you wanna feel/hear what its like to have the lightweight flywheel you can PM me

Hey thanks for all the useful info!:thumbsup: Thats really good to know about the difference between the sprung hub set-up and oem. It was over a week ago when I went in for the original estimate, but if i remember correctly, he did say he'd be putting in a sachs sprung hub clutch, which i guess if is sachs could still be considered oem.

[Billy Drama]

Weird because I spoke with someone at TC Kline before buying my UUC setup and he didn't say anything like that about the M5 clutch, he told me that he knew quite a few cars with the set up and urged me to follow through with it, he said whenever you replace a stock component with a non stock component there is a risk but that the M5 was at least an OEM component and will last better than a lot of the other options for clutch replacement. If its something to worry over then stick with stock. But, when you get an upgraded flywheel, why the hell would you go and take the fun away by not getting a new clutch too!

:confused: Yeah thats strange, I guess we spoke with different people. The guy I spoke with didn't seem to highly regard it.

[rcryder]

Hey thanks for all the useful info!:thumbsup: Thats really good to know about the difference between the sprung hub set-up and oem. It was over a week ago when I went in for the original estimate, but if i remember correctly, he did say he'd be putting in a sachs sprung hub clutch, which i guess if is sachs could still be considered oem.

Oh ok yeah thats the same clamping force as the stock unit just with springs to dampen the noise. The one I have is a sachs but is made for the M5 so it has greater clamping force than the stock and has the springs. I believe both are organic though.

[Transporter99]

I'm wondering if it's time to do this job on my 328i. I have 151k on my stock clutch, but it still happily pulls to redline rather easily. However, I can tell (when I pay attention) that she doesn't pull as hard as she used to. Since I drive rather under 3500 rpm mostly, i hardly notice.

Any tests i can do that will indicate my clutch is nearing the end of its life?

[simsima325]

That doesn't sound like you have a bad clutch.

My engagement was not grippy and it slipped a few times in gear, so i went ahead and did clutch and flywheel at the same time.

[rcryder]

That doesn't sound like you have a bad clutch.

My engagement was not grippy and it slipped a few times in gear, so i went ahead and did clutch and flywheel at the same time.

when you say it slipped in gear do you mean yours was doing that thing where youre in gear and you accelerate and at certain rpms the tach needle jumps up real quick then drops back down, gear catches and then it starts to accelerate...thats what mine was doing before i got it fixed and i have two friends that had the same problem with their e46.

[simsima325]

^ Ya, thats what a clutch slipping feels like.

[rcryder]

^ Ya, thats what a clutch slipping feels like.

well thats one way a clutch slipping can feel like but when a clutch goes bad it can act up in a number of ways. The reason I asked was to see if yours slipped the same way mine and my friends did because I wanted to see how recurring of a problem this specific type of slipping is in the e46 model line.

[simsima325]

Mine only slipped 2 or 3 times in total... mostly in 2nd gear in hot hot weather, stop and go traffic.

My engagement was more worrying, very sloppy.

[rcryder]

oh ok, my old jetta would pop out of gear and the actual shifter would pop out of place and everything and eventually I had to hold each gear in place while driving in order to get it to the shop. With my e46 it would always slip when I would try to accelerate at either 2300 rpm or 3300 rpm in 3rd & 5th gear and then eventually it started doing it in every gear but my engagement never got bad which I though was weird

[330i ZHP]

the shifter popping out is more a case of worn bushings and guides on the shifter mechanism i think

[nosoule46]

THanks for the write-up.

How many miles were on your old clutch

[simsima325]

99k miles on my old clutch.

[w3God]

148k on mu clutch and what not, probably replacing come this summer...

[simsima325]

GL with your replacement :)

[FLPSIDE]

thanks for the review... i am minutes away from getting the same set up.

[simsima325]

thanks for the review... i am minutes away from getting the same set up.

Awesome, flip :) post up your experience :thumbsup:

[cristi81]

volan bmw 320 2003

[glegsurf]

I had an '02 Mini Cooper S, and I put a light weight flywheel and Kevlar clutch in it. Loved it. Excellent throttle response. RPM's come so much easier and quicker. I just got a 2001 330i, and I'm sure it will be one of my first changes.

[DarkJoker]

anyone have video or a recording of some sort of the chatter
im curious to what it sounds like

[simsima325]

DarkJoker, I think that the chatter will be different car to car. My setup is identical to another member here, and our cars sitting side by side were totally different. His 328 was SO loud, and my chatter was almost unheard until I turned the AC on.

[DarkJoker]

im not really worried about that i just wanna know what to expect
when the time comes for the upgrade

[Tonester]

I recently changed my clutch/flywheel.

JB Racing flywheel
ClutchMasters FX300 - Kevar face, Solid hub
Motul Gear 300 75w-90 for the trans

I get chatter when the tranny really heats up, chatter is also really dependent on what gear oil you're running.

Engagement is smooth and clutch pedal feels slightly heavier than stock... but very little. (CM takes an OEM SACHS pressure plate and reinforce it) so pedal feel is very similar to factory.

[simsima325]

I recently changed my clutch/flywheel.

JB Racing flywheel
ClutchMasters FX300 - Kevar face, Solid hub
Motul Gear 300 75w-90 for the trans

I get chatter when the tranny really heats up, chatter is also really dependent on what gear oil you're running.

Engagement is smooth and clutch pedal feels slightly heavier than stock... but very little. (CM takes an OEM SACHS pressure plate and reinforce it) so pedal feel is very similar to factory.

:thumbsup:

[Unar]

Can someone help me to get the wiering for a BMW 320i 2005 WTCC car.The car is built by BMW Motorsport 2005 for WTCC and is now raicing in the swedish raicingseries STCC.
Last afternon when we started it up for checkin that everything is ok,the display totaly died so i think its someting with the steeringweel.
But to be shure i need the wiering diagram so we can get it out and do some serius raicing this weekend...

Unar :)

[MPower7]

What is the best clutch to get in order to reduce the rattling of a lightweight flywheel for my application?

[greentrbo95gst]

go with OEM, I couldnt get rid of the chatter with the CM

[JamesC]

An OEM clutch is not sprung hub and shouldn't address the rattle issue at all?

You really need to have a sprung hub system and it depends on the flywheel you have on your car - we usually sell them as a package because we use a different flywheel that is machined to accept a sprung-hub clutch.

[TxZHP04]

You really need to have a sprung hub system and it depends on the flywheel you have on your car - we usually sell them as a package because we use a different flywheel that is machined to accept a sprung-hub clutch.

James, do you guys have any experience with the FX100 (with rigid clutch disc) paired with a stock flywheel on an e46 6-spd? I had a local shop install this combination on my car earlier this year but after multiple install attempts (each using a new clutch) as well as shipping my clutch, flywheel, and transmission to CM to see if they could sort things out, we never could get it to fully disengage. We finally gave up on getting the FX100 to work properly and returned to a stock clutch which has worked flawlessly ever since. Just curious if you have ever run into similar problems with the 6-spd applications or if there is some reason why it would only work with the JB Racing flywheel and not a stock flywheel.

[JamesC]

Shouldn't be an issue, assuming you got the right parts. We have never had the problem and I would have to investigate to know.