2003 BMW 330Xi 5 speed/Manual Clutch/Gear Engagement Issue

I am writing about a 2003 330xi 5speed that my girlfriend bought. She bought the car about a year and a half ago, drove it for 8mths and during that time we had no problems other than noticing that the clutch didn't engage until it was nearly completely released(Top end) expecting it needed a new clutch.

One day we got in the car and reversed out of a parking spot fine, switched gears into 1st to leave and the car did not go anywhere. I could release the clutch completely in 1st gear and you could hear something spinning like clutch chatter but, no
engagement/clamping force.

We had the car towed to a friend's shop and the clutch, clutch slave cylinder, and slave cylinder hose was replaced. They also checked the dual mass fly wheel and reset the auto adjust...(not exactly wha that's called but the flywheel was checked and reset)

The car drove fine for about two weeks until one day she drove it to work in the early morning (7:30isham). Got off work at 8pm went to leave after driving it in the am, nearly 13 hours previous. It was back to ambient temperature and the same thing happened as before, the car was in reverse/1st gear but, no engagement and the same clutch chatter (ChhhChhhChhhChhh...lol).

I had the car towed to my friends shop again and they pushed it inside while I was there with them inspected the lower exterior, lowered the lift and the car worked fine like nothing was wrong. This happens on and off/intermittent.

The shop and I have searched threads and forums about it and no one else has had any input. I'm really curious if anyone here has ever had this problem before or even heard of it happening...

What was changed along with the clutch? Throw-out bearing? Why was the slave and clutch line changed?

A new clutch kit was installed which included the clutch plate,pressure plate and throwout bearing. The slave cylinder was leaking and the hose was bad.
When the symptom occurred the second time a new clutch kit was installed just in case the other was bad and the car still did the same thing.
Were now thinking about replacing the dual mass flywheel....although the tolerances seem to be ok. Gonna remove the transmission again tomorrow and investigate for at least the 4th time!

If you are taking the tranny down again, replace #5,#6,and #7 too.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...93&hg=21&fg=05

I would have a good look at the master cylinder first though. It sounds like it's sticking when you release the clutch pedal. The leaking clutch line is not normal. I would investigate further before taking down the tranny again.

Originally Posted by Kubica

If you are taking the tranny down again, replace #5,#6,and #7 too.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...93&hg=21&fg=05

I would have a good look at the master cylinder first though. It sounds like it's sticking when you release the clutch pedal. The leaking clutch line is not normal. I would investigate further before taking down the tranny again.

Sorry, it wasn't the clutch line, it was the slave cylinder hose.

Is the clutch on these cars hydraulic? If so, does it run together with the brake line system? Has the clutch line been bled for air if engagement is inconsistent?

Ok everyone here is the answer to the problem I was having.....

It was the aftermarket axel I bought. It didn't/will not seat completely. She drove it for several mths after I changed it, before the problem started. It was intermittently sliding out just enough to not allow the diff to engage properly. We just ended up getting a remanufactured OEM axel.

I would not recommend buying these...
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...5xi-bmwe46pair

Wow. Too bad you had to replace the clutch to figure that out.

The car was bought used and we had no idea when the clutch was last replaced. Now we know for future reference and shouldn't have to worry about changing it again for a while...the glass is half full

Never buy anything made in China for your E46.

Originally Posted by Kubica

Never buy anything made in China for your E46.

Almost (if not) impossible.

Originally Posted by chilone

Almost (if not) impossible.

Here we go with the idiotic comments.

Originally Posted by Kubica

Here we go with the idiotic comments.

Oh no it's the hedge fund analyst's gopher. What are you doing on here? Run out of roofies and can't "bang" any more emotionally unstable children like you're so proud of doing?

Originally Posted by chilone

Oh no it's the hedge fund analyst's gopher. What are you doing on here? Run out of roofies and can't "bang" any more emotionally unstable children like you're so proud of doing?

I'm here to remind everyone that you are a moron.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...422&highlight=

Find the dishes yet? Lol.

Originally Posted by Kubica

I'm here to remind everyone that you are a moron.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...422&highlight=

Find the dishes yet? Lol.

Hahahaha! According to kubica's tried and true infallible logic, if your car makes a strange noise that you can't figure out then you're a moron lol. No wonder this self proclaimed hedge fund analysts gopher can barely afford an E46. Any hedge fund analyst worth their salt should be in a brand new M3 at the very least.

Originally Posted by chilone

Hahahaha! According to kubica's tried and true infallible logic, if your car makes a strange noise that you can't figure out then you're a moron lol. No wonder this self proclaimed hedge fund analysts gopher can barely afford an E46. Any hedge fund analyst worth their salt should be in a brand new M3 at the very least.

No, I actually took logic in college....I didn't see any in your last post.

You are a moron, so you think you have dishes in your dash, and aren't intelligent enough to find them. A noisy car does not make you a moron. You were born that way- that's why you sell inferior Chinese parts for a living.

Originally Posted by Kubica

No, I actually took logic in college....I didn't see any in your last post.

You are a moron, so you think you have dishes in your dash, and aren't intelligent enough to find them. A noisy car does not make you a moron. You were born that way- that's why you sell inferior Chinese parts for a living.

You wouldn't know logic if it hit you in the face. Go ask daddy for some more roofies. You need to get laid. You're pathetic.

Not to throw a wrench into a great discussion but. A lot of parts are now made in China. I order a Behr part and it says made in China on it. Everybody is cheaping out and subletting to them. So it will be real hard not to have a Chinese part in your fine German auto.

Those weren't even Chinese axles. Just crappy American ones. USA Industries

http://www.usaind.com/

Originally Posted by bmwbob89

Not to throw a wrench into a great discussion but. A lot of parts are now made in China. I order a Behr part and it says made in China on it. Everybody is cheaping out and subletting to them. So it will be real hard not to have a Chinese part in your fine German auto.

Hey Bob. Yep, you and I live in the real world so according to kubica, we're idiots and we all know what an authority he thinks he is lol.