[JimmyNY]

pressing the clutch almost all the way down? Not only I hear it but I feel through the pedal and the shifter.

 

[Josh (PA)]

Someone brought this up last week, there is a TSB on it and BMW will replace your clutch free of charge. Do an archive search, it was brought up not long ago, the full TSB is posted in the thread.

Edit: I looked it up myself:
Here it the clutch TSB:


As per SIB 21-01-01:

A popping sound or clicking sound may be heard from the clutch pedal at the last third of the clutch pedal travel when the clutch pedal is engaged or released

Procedure: Only if the customer complains of the above symptoms should the clutch be replaced.

Affected vehicles:

All E46's produced up to 3/01 (M52TU, M54 and S54 engines)
All E39's with 6 cylinder engines made from 9/97 to 3/01
All E39's with 8 cylinder engines from 9/96 to 3/01
All X5's with the M54 engine up to 3/01
All Z3's from 9/98 to 3/01
All Z8's up to 3/01

 

[JimmyNY]

Oh thats not good.... Thanks.

I wonder how the clutch is clicking? Pressure plate?

it only happens sometimes... really at random

 

[webguy330i]

My clutch "pops" and it makes the slightest slightest sound, but it was produced in May '01. Dammit.

 

[Josh (PA)]

My clutch "pops" and it makes the slightest slightest sound, but it was produced in May '01. Dammit.

Free Clutches are nice. I wouldn't mind if my clutch started popping around say39,000 miles...

 

[webguy330i]

Free Clutches are nice. I wouldn't mind if my clutch started popping around say39,000 miles...

I'd prefer about 49,999 miles but hey I'll take what I can get.

Maybe I should talk to my service dept. about this. I'd be willing to bet they'd cover me regardless of the date on the TSB.

 

[ERK]

My clutch "pops" and it makes the slightest slightest sound, but it was produced in May '01. Dammit.

My friend's 330i was built around May '01...I remember because he got his about a month before me and I have a June '01 build...anyway, he had a clutch that had a "pop" to it and it turned out to be a corroded slave cylinder.

 

[webguy330i]

My friend's 330i was built around May '01...I remember because he got his about a month before me and I have a June '01 build...anyway, he had a clutch that had a "pop" to it and it turned out to be a corroded slave cylinder.

So they covered it no problem eh? Trouble is that my clutch doesn't pop if the temperature is warm or the car is warmed up.

 

[ERK]

So they covered it no problem eh? Trouble is that my clutch doesn't pop if the temperature is warm or the car is warmed up.

I am 99% sure they covered it in full. They weren't happy about having to take the whole clutch apart but eventually they found the problem and replaced it.

 

[in_d_haus]

Someone brought this up last week, there is a TSB on it and BMW will replace your clutch free of charge. Do an archive search, it was brought up not long ago, the full TSB is posted in the thread.

Edit: I looked it up myself:
Here it the clutch TSB:

As per SIB 21-01-01:

HEY! I had this my dealer told me it was the switch making the click and blew me off! It has gone away now and the clutch works fine. I may go back to them and whine though

 

[ESS]

I have this sound also. It's really more of a click. I think it is the switch that tells the ignition that the clutch is depressed in order to allow the car to start. I don't hear the click all the time though.

 

[in_d_haus]

mine was more of a pop, you could feel it through the clutch pedal. Almost a tin canning effect, pop-pop, down and up. As I mentioned it went away and the clutch works fine.

 

[Ben Chou]

View my post on it. The dealer is replacing my whole clutch assembly. It starts as a click the the clutch will start to shudder. Terrible.... But at least they are fixing the whole clutch

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6859

 

[in_d_haus]

View my post on it. The dealer is replacing my whole clutch assembly. It starts as a click the the clutch will start to shudder. Terrible.... But at least they are fixing the whole clutch

I had the pop with no vibration.

 

[Dan325ci]

I get the clicking when the key is in the "on" position and I am pressing the clutch back and forth.

I dont hear the clicking when the engine is on. Does this TSB still apply to my vehicle then?

 

[webguy330i]

Wow my clutch shudders when its cold, also when I get the clicking/popping. Man I guess I should bring this up to my dealership sometime.

 

[Ben Chou]

Wow my clutch shudders when its cold, also when I get the clicking/popping. Man I guess I should bring this up to my dealership sometime.

You definitely should. My dealer is replacing my whole clutch assembly. I think the throw out bearing is the main culprit causing everything to be off inside the clutch body. Anyways, I can't wait to get a new clutch and get rid of the clicking and shuddering. I think my clutch action should get much smoother also.

 

[pdagal]

My 3251 was built 8/01 (2002 model) and it had the shuddering problem, but that myseriously disappeared after an 800 mile road trip on the freeway.
Now I've got the pop problem, just started a few weeks ago. *sigh* I wonder if BMW will expand the date range for recalled E46s.

My clutch "pops" and it makes the slightest slightest sound, but it was produced in May '01. Dammit.

 

[DrBimmer]

From SIB 21-01-01

"an improved clutch pressure plate was introduced in production in March 2001 to eliminate the potential clutch popping sound and the click felt in the clutch pedal as described above

Note: the clutch pedal popping noise and click felt in clutch pedal has no effect on clutch service life.

Only if a customer complaint is received and the popping and clicking is verified in the clutch pedal should the clutch set be replaced as outlined in the repair manual...."

In other words, the dealer will only fix this if you specifically complain of it and if they can verify it. It IS NOT a recall, it is a service bulletin that serves to inform the dealer of a reoccuring issue. Since there was a part update for 3/01, I doubt any vehicle made after that date will qualify. If the dealer tries to make the repair, BMWNA will reject the claim as the build date of the car will be after the cut off date for the Defect Code used to submit the claim.

 

[Mystikal]

I get a slight click or pop sound in the last bit of clutch travel, but I always thought it was the switch that controls the ignition on start up. :dunno:

Not loud enough to sound threatening at all though. :angel: