$2K Clutch replacement?

[montjuic]

Hey folks,
Hope all is well. So, I've gone through the archives on all things "Clutch"
for my dying--now dead--clutch. Almost 150,000 on the original
clutch in hilly San Francisco--not bad, actually.
Due to lack of tools, a full garage, and just really want to get it done
right, I've brought it to a shop here in SF. I won't say who it is, but
they are well respected and I think one of the best for when your
car is released from those trying BMW dealerships and you need
a honest mechanic. I've taken my old 320 to them in the past and it was all good.

Anyways,
here's my question: I have been quoted $2,200 for a new clutch and flywheel for my 1998 TI. I'm a little, okay a lot, surprised.
I was expecting it to be in the $1K range. Since this is somewhat new
territory for me, I have to ask. My car is totally stock and looking
to replace with stock equipment. I just have to ask: does that quote
seem reasonable?

Thanks for the help,
B

[CirrusSR22]

The issue with the new clutch AND flywheel is the flywheel cost. A stock BMW 318ti clutch is pretty cheap (<$200 at most places online). The dealer cost is probably around $250. A new stock dual mass flywheel is VERY expensive! The cheapest OE flywheels online are $650-800. I wouldn't be surprised if a shop you charge you $1,000 for one. My local BMW dealer wants $1,170 for one!! So, the clutch and flywheel alone might run you close to $1,200. $1,000 for labor seems a bit high though. Do you have a written quote that breaks down cost vs. parts?

You could try an aftermarket flywheel for less money, or try a new clutch and leave the flywheel intact. You might also be able to find a shop that would be willing to resurface your dual-mass flywheel.

[lazoh]

Originally Posted by CirrusSR22

The issue with the new clutch AND flywheel is the flywheel cost. A stock BMW 318ti clutch is pretty cheap (<$200 at most places online). The dealer cost is probably around $250. A new stock dual mass flywheel is VERY expensive! The cheapest OE flywheels online are $650-800. I wouldn't be surprised if a shop you charge you $1,000 for one. My local BMW dealer wants $1,170 for one!! So, the clutch and flywheel alone might run you close to $1,200. $1,000 for labor seems a bit high though. Do you have a written quote that breaks down cost vs. parts?

You could try an aftermarket flywheel for less money, or try a new clutch and leave the flywheel intact. You might also be able to find a shop that would be willing to resurface your dual-mass flywheel.

+1 and what's wrong with your flywheel? You can also look online for a used flywheel for sale, that should at least bring the price down to less than $1K.

[montjuic]

Thanks for the replies.
They haven't looked in it yet, but they told me on E36s of this
age, wear, etc. that they do not resurface the flywheel, but just
get a new one. I was taken a bit aback.

My clutch symptoms over the past 2 weeks were high, high
whistling when depressed, massive vibration (I even felt it in
the break pedal, slipping in ALL gears. And then it finally
died and wouldn't go in gear last week and grinding and smelling to
high heaven--it's not pretty.

B

[CirrusSR22]

Check out www.car-part.com and search around for a used stock flywheel. If the mileage isn't listed, give the selling salvage yard a call and maybe they can tell you the mileage. You could probably find one with much fewer miles than yours.

[mohaughn]

I did my clutch around 120k miles. It didn't need the flywheel replaced at that time. And I would say the cost is about what you were quoted minus the cost of a new flywheel.

Maybe even post something up on bimmerforums, or here in the wanted section. See if you can find somebody who went with a high performance flywheel and is willing to ship you the old one.

[montjuic]

I thought I'd just double back and report:
Thanks to all for the tips, but I went ahead and got a new clutch, flywheel, throw-out....when they removed my original clutch, my jaw dropped. It basically disintegrated: bits from the pressure plate were missing, the throw out bearing looked melted, flywheel scored. It was rough and amazing it even ran!

So replaced it all with stock parts AND decided to fix my leaking steering rack with a new ZF one and tie rods.

Well,
my 150K car now runs wicked!
In the city, in the Marin hills, down the coast--my TI is back.
It goes like the clappers! (anybody English?)

It's funny, the other the day I saw a '88 635csi manual for sale (one of my all-time fav. BMW) and with the advent of the 1 series....I'm just fine with my car!


laters,
B

[Philly]

I wish I had held on to my old dual-mass when I upgraded... I would have sold it for $50 give or take - only had 100,000 miles on it at the time... i didn't realize how expensive they really were until recently!!!! *slaps self*

Might I reccomend upgrading to a leightweight flywheel and clutch kit?

It sounds like your getting shafted...
I paid about $800-900 for mine when the CDN dollar was weak including shipping to Canada for a HEAVYDUTY sachs M3 clutch, sachs pressure plate, fidanza flywheel and other little tidbits.

I believe it was $679 US for the kit at the time... all oem or oem+
and my shop only charged me less than $500 to install it (as well as installing my new control arms, tie-rods and balljoints....all on the same $500 bill)


EDIT : just noticed you went ahead and fixed it anyways, hopefully not for the $2k price tag

[thesk8nmidget]

well glad its all up and running...

what was the final cost?

[montjuic]

I also got the rack and new tires so that muddles the total, but $3,200.
The clutch and flywheel alone would have been $1,700--I worked it
a bit in the end.

It's all good.
Except I think my driver's window is about to fall.....

B

[318tiv8]

I have a clutch,pressure plate and flywheel with 75,000 km on it if interested!