Clutch Pedal drops to floor. What's the problem?

I recently got into my car and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor. Their is absolutely no pressure in the system. There is fluid coming from somewhere, I can't really tell. I don't think the master cylinder or the slave are the faulty parts. Any ideas what else it could be?

The car is a 1988 BMW 325i.

I have not really done much maintenance to my car, except routine things like oil changes etc.

thanks

-Nick

On my 86 325es it was the master cylinder but i did not have a leak.

Is the leak under the dash, under the hood or under the car?
Is the reservoir filled up to the line?

Trace the leak back to the problem.

The leak is coming from somewhere under the car, around the transmission. It is not dripping enough to see where it is coming from. (The problem is I don't really know a whole lot about cars.) All I have is the Haynes manual.

Why do you rule out the slave cylinder as being the problem? (It almost certainly IS the problem).

Well, I guess I ruled it out because it didn't seem like fluid was leaking from there, however I could take a closer look. And, as I said before I am an amateur in the realm of vehicle maintenance.

It is probably your master cylinder or slave cylinder.
Either one can pack up without any loss of fluid....the early E30s had a major problem with the master cylinder packing up, requiring a replacement of the master cylinder seals and a complete bleeding of the system....I had to do this a few times on my early E30s!

Its the salve cylinder. The fluid will leak out of the little drain hole on the bottom of the bell housing. Pull the slave and push the rod in, you will know if thats the problem as soon as you do this. It will possibly just fall out also. Same thing happened to me a month or so ago. Make sure you bleed the system up towards the res. Go buy an oil can from a parts store and a 3mm hose and pump the fluid up till you see no more bubbles in the res. and its bled. GL

I just replaced the slave cylinder on my e30 and I am now trying to bleed the air out. No matter how many times I pump the clutch peddle, no pressure is built. Does anyone know how many times I have to do this? Could there be another problem?

It's your master Cylinder I had the same problem. Very simple to replace did it in my driveway. Don't worry about any leaks there are none I had the same thought. Just the cylinder isn't pushing fluid you're fine just replace it.

Originally Posted by Nick Wilkinson

I just replaced the slave cylinder on my e30 and I am now trying to bleed the air out. No matter how many times I pump the clutch peddle, no pressure is built. Does anyone know how many times I have to do this? Could there be another problem?

Read my post its right before yours it answers your question.

just an fyi, when my master cylinder went the fluid was traveling down the line and outside the car, where it was dripping from where the hard line connects to the rubber line going to the slave cylinder.

What is the price range to repace the master and or slave cylinders on my 325i?

thanks for using search button.

are you wanting to pay someone to do it as well or just to buy the parts and do it yourself? i recommend getting someone to do it, bleeding the clutch without the correct tools is a pain in the ass

I had this issue and had to replace the master cylinder in the dark ......it was a pain in the butt. Good luck man if you have the time to do it, Do the research and do it its a interesting experience.

I lost track. How many thread jumpers on this? To OP - change both the master and slave. Both have been used the same number of times.