Public Service Announcement: Watch your 6MT clutch! Carnage pics inside

[dbyrd]

I missed this thread when it came out, but I lost my e90 M3 to a fire that started at the clutch/transmission in 2015. The cause of the fire was speculative, but it certainly could have been what Deansbimmer describes in this thread.

The speculative diagnosis involved the slave cylinder or the hydraulic line from the slave cylinder to the master cylinder ruptured - this prevented the clutch pedal from returning and caused brake fluid to drip onto the exhaust which then ignited.

More detail here - https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1207473

[lvevo]

deansbimmer Would you recommend a LUK clutch #6223308000 as a replacement? From what I understand it is the same clutch as a stock BMW one so wouldn't it have the same defects?

Thanks

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by lvevo

deansbimmer Would you recommend a LUK clutch #6223308000 as a replacement? From what I understand it is the same clutch as a stock BMW one so wouldn't it have the same defects?

Thanks

LUK is the OEM supplier for BMW. They are the EXCACT same thing you'd buy from BMW just without the licensing expense of having BMW's stamp on the part.

[FazerBoy]

Sounds like people are recommending a Spec clutch as a replacement/upgrade.

I have a 2013 6MT with an ESS VT2-625 supercharger. It’s not a daily and I drive it relatively hard with a few track days a year.

Which Spec model should I go for and should I be looking to upgrade both the clutch and flywheel or just the clutch? (I’m not very technically-minded so I understand very little about this stuff!).

I don’t have any issues with my clutch (yet) so it would be done as an upgrade and preventative measure, especially with the extra power of a supercharger.

Thanks

Jack

[deansbimmer]

Lately I haven't been a fan of the SPEC clutches for these cars. Before you decide one way or the other try to drive a car with the SPEC clutch to see how it handles. The ones I've driven have been "difficult" compared to the OEM clutch. Paired with their lightweight flywheel it becomes much more difficult to drive on the street. OEM will handle off-the shelf 625 SC systems. There's no reason to upgrade unless you're trying to go for huge numbers.

I know a lot of people parrot SPEC as a popular replacement, but I think in reality very few have any first hand experience with them on this platform.

[FazerBoy]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

Lately I haven't been a fan of the SPEC clutches for these cars. Before you decide one way or the other try to drive a car with the SPEC clutch to see how it handles. The ones I've driven have been "difficult" compared to the OEM clutch. Paired with their lightweight flywheel it becomes much more difficult to drive on the street. OEM will handle off-the shelf 625 SC systems. There's no reason to upgrade unless you're trying to go for huge numbers.

I know a lot of people parrot SPEC as a popular replacement, but I think in reality very few have any first hand experience with them on this platform.

Thanks, although having read this thread I am a tiny bit concerned about my stock clutch breaking up etc.

Do you recommend any other aftermarket replacement?

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by FazerBoy

Thanks, although having read this thread I am a tiny bit concerned about my stock clutch breaking up etc.

Do you recommend any other aftermarket replacement?

No other recommendations. Luk is the best overall solution IMO. This is a rare failure. Depending on your year and mileage this may just be good preventative maintenance.

[Richbot]

The oem unit is lasting into the 200k mile range on many cars

Ain’t broke don’t fix and a clutch that goes that long on a performance car ain’t broke imo

[Scharbag]

And remember - driving hard with the clutch fully engaged is not hard on the clutch. If you pound through shifts, slipping the clutch and being abusive, then that is what will murder the clutch.