Bought one! need answers on 5-speed

[Rina120@yahoo.com]

I pick it up this week:)
It's 93 525i black/tan interior with 130K miles, 5 speed (my first and I am a bit scared of learning how to drive it, but I will).
Anyhow, it was one owner and all service was done at the dealer. Many new parts except for one - the clutch.

So I am assuming since I am a new driver and this is the original clutch that I will most likely blow it.

My question: when a clutch "goes", what exactly does that mean? I have been dong research and I see master cylinder, slave, flywheel etc.
I am trying to figure out how much I need to put aside for this bill. Have any of you done it yourselves? I'm pretty mechanical and would love to just take care of it before the winter if it's not too difficult.

TIA and it's good to be back:)

[ryan roopnarine]

ed did a powerpoint of when he did his on his 535i. go to the main page, its there. i clikced on the links, though, and they seemed to be dead. i would assume he has them stashed somewhere, hopefully.


I pick it up this week:)
It's 93 525i black/tan interior with 130K miles, 5 speed (my first and I am a bit scared of learning how to drive it, but I will).
Anyhow, it was one owner and all service was done at the dealer. Many new parts except for one - the clutch.

So I am assuming since I am a new driver and this is the original clutch that I will most likely blow it.

My question: when a clutch "goes", what exactly does that mean? I have been dong research and I see master cylinder, slave, flywheel etc.
I am trying to figure out how much I need to put aside for this bill. Have any of you done it yourselves? I'm pretty mechanical and would love to just take care of it before the winter if it's not too difficult.

TIA and it's good to be back:)

[TheGeak]

E34's are SUPER easy to learn stick on. My girlfriends first time driving stick was in my M5, she got it figured out in about 3 minutes.

[Rina120@yahoo.com]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!
I will let you know how well I make out since I need to learn how to drive it back! ha ha

[bimmerd00d]

I have replaced the clutch/flywheel twice on my '93 525i. I'm kind of a veteran at it now :P Where do you live, maybe i could save you a few bucks :)

[Rina120@yahoo.com]

Thanks for the offer man, but unfourtunately from you profile, I see that you are far far away. I'm in King of Prussia, PA, just outside of philadelphia.
Anyone else interested in helping me:)

[bimmerd00d]

jon k is nearby, he could be of some help i'm sure.

[TheGeak]

Hey, i'm in West Chester! I've never done a clutch before, but i'm sure Jon K and I could be pursuaded to help ;)

[Rina120@yahoo.com]

Hey Geak! If you see a black 5 series stalled on the side of the road on thursday with a girl behind the wheel crying, it's me and I figured out the HARD WAY that I can't drive stick! hee hee.

I'll provide the beer and the parts:)

[Brian C.]

1....A Damsel in distress.

2....In a BMW.

3....Willing to buy the beer.


I'm thinking about taking a ride that aways myself! Hold On Rina!! I'm only about 22 hours away! I'm sure that someone will gladly come to your rescue soon. Good luck......and the stick thing isn't that hard to master. Just work on letting the clutch out sloooooooowly. And if all else looks like disaster, just stomp down on the clutch, roll to a stop and take it out of gear.

Brian C.

[bjl4776]

I replaced the clutch on my '92 525i. It isnt bad at all, alot of stuff to do, but it relatively easy. I was 16 and the first time i had ever seen a clutch up close, so it cant be too hard. The exhaust and the drive shaft have to come down, iv heard from people that you dont but it gives alot more room to work with. I picked up a sach's kit that includes clutch, pressure plate, through out bearing and pilot bearing off a ebay from a company that has them on there all the time for 175, best price i could find. Other than that you'll need gaskets for the exhaust that are a couple dollars apiece, torx head sockets if you dont have them already, and a bentley repair manual. Give yourself a weekend to do it, it took me two days to do it the first time, but when i put it back together my slave cylinder exploded inside the bellhousing so it had to come down again, it only took a day the second time. The best way to describe it gowing out is when your on the highway in 5th gear, and when you press on the gas the revs go up alot, but you dont accelerate. Try to find access to a lift it makes it alot easier, but can be done with jack stands. I live in CT, but would be glad to help if i had the time, nothin like a little roadtrip in an e34. My email is bjl4776@hotmail.com , let me know when your goin to do it and ill see if i can help.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7905336357&category=33730

[bimmerd00d]

Hey Geak! If you see a black 5 series stalled on the side of the road on thursday with a girl behind the wheel crying, it's me and I figured out the HARD WAY that I can't drive stick! hee hee.

I'll provide the beer and the parts:)

i'd have to agree :) free beer, working on a bmw, and girls! I'd be in heaven, if only i weren't in TX :p u have AOL IM?

[TheGeak]

Hey Rina,

email me jk586966@wcupa.edu if you really do need help with anything. Seeing as how KoP is only 25 mins away and i work in Paoli, i'm always in the area. Good luck with the learning of stick.

[TheGeak]

oh, and before you buy ANY parts...do you know about BMA? www.bmaparts.com ? If not, check them out...great prices, great service, and just an overall plesant way to spend lots of money :-D

[Jon K]

Jon K to the rescue... hahaha. I've never done a clutch, but Jason and I are pro's when it comes to dismantling S38 motors and halves of M50's lol. Remember we did my alternator and it started snowing Jason? Ah yes, those were the days. So yeah, we're not far if help is needed.

[Warren N.CA]

My 1990 325is is believed to have its original clutch at almost 200K. The clutch doesn't wear much when you don't change gears much. So, they last longer in cars that have their usage skewed toward highway driving.

Parts for the clutch are inexpensive, but it is a labor intensive task. Call a BMW specialist in YOUR AREA and ask what the job costs. Labor costs in the USA vary by a 2:1 ratio, depending on economic conditions in specific geographical ares.



I pick it up this week:)
It's 93 525i black/tan interior with 130K miles, 5 speed (my first and I am a bit scared of learning how to drive it, but I will).
Anyhow, it was one owner and all service was done at the dealer. Many new parts except for one - the clutch.

So I am assuming since I am a new driver and this is the original clutch that I will most likely blow it.

My question: when a clutch "goes", what exactly does that mean? I have been dong research and I see master cylinder, slave, flywheel etc.
I am trying to figure out how much I need to put aside for this bill. Have any of you done it yourselves? I'm pretty mechanical and would love to just take care of it before the winter if it's not too difficult.

TIA and it's good to be back:)

[Warren N.CA]

car before you leave. That way you'll have one less concern to deal with while you are buying your "new" car.



Thanks for the vote of confidence!
I will let you know how well I make out since I need to learn how to drive it back! ha ha

[KenB]

Hey Rina,

I'm on the other side of Philly in NJ, just over the Betsy Ross bridge and work just north of Philly in Bensalem. My black '93 has a stick and 133,000 miles. I bought it a year ago with 110,000; I'm hoping that the clutch lasts for 200,000 at least, not looking forward to replacing it. I had to re-learn to drive the stick but this car is the easiest I've ever driven, and the most fun! I've never done a clutch myself, but I drink beer and know how to drive a stick, maybe I can help....you'll find no shortage of volunteers with the offer you've thrown out. Good luck with your new car, you will love it.

[Paul in NZ]

i didnt see the final part of the ressurection of the m5......what happened.I saw the first series of pics,and some posts about the "second part" but no pics or anyhing since......what happened,or did i just miss it?

[Jon K]

Hey Rina,

I'm on the other side of Philly in NJ, just over the Betsy Ross bridge and work just north of Philly in Bensalem. My black '93 has a stick and 133,000 miles. I bought it a year ago with 110,000; I'm hoping that the clutch lasts for 200,000 at least, not looking forward to replacing it. I had to re-learn to drive the stick but this car is the easiest I've ever driven, and the most fun! I've never done a clutch myself, but I drink beer and know how to drive a stick, maybe I can help....you'll find no shortage of volunteers with the offer you've thrown out. Good luck with your new car, you will love it.

Where in Bensalem Ken? I went to high school at Holy Ghost

[Jon K]

i didnt see the final part of the ressurection of the m5......what happened.I saw the first series of pics,and some posts about the "second part" but no pics or anyhing since......what happened,or did i just miss it?


No you didn't miss it. Being college kids Jason and I are both hindered by time and money. We have been talking lately about going up and putting the motor back in, but I have E46's to work on this weekend and his father is in the hospital so we're handicapped again. Don't fear, Jason and I ARE persistent and we WILL get the car finished...

[Paul in NZ]

i dont think i would have attempted what you guys did......Will be good to see her back on the road some day!

[Jon K]

i dont think i would have attempted what you guys did......Will be good to see her back on the road some day!


it's not half as bad as it might seem. just need to perservere.

[TheGeak]

yeah....now that jason has a reliable car again, life is going to be much better. I won't be trying to fix 2 cars and rebuild an M5....now i can just worry about the gf's lebaron and fixing the M5. Now to find some time...

[Rina120]

I'm a cardinal dougherty gal myself:)


Where in Bensalem Ken? I went to high school at Holy Ghost