Project E46 M3: Part 13 – Lightweight clutch and flywheel, and more!

The Clutch Masters clutch kit includes a factory replacement throw-out bearing, which is easily replaced (it just slides on and off).

If you choose to use Clutch Master’s high performance hydraulic bearing, it replaces both the throw out bearing and the clutch fork, and ties into the clutch line. Ok yes, these black gloves can rip, as you can see by my index finger, but it took a bloody one to do it.

The new flywheel is installed here, and each bolt was torqued to 85 ft-lb with Loctite. We were missing a bolt but thankfully ACE Hardware had the exact same bolt, just not in black.

Next to go on is the sprung ceramic disk. It’s important not to install this backwards (I’ve witnessed this happening to someone once before on an E36 M3 and it’s not a good situation to be in).  In the E46’s case, the bulkier side faces toward the transmission, while the flatter side faces the flywheel. When putting in the disc, you’ll want to use the Clutch Masters-supplied alignment tool (keep this in until after tightening down the pressure plate).

The pressure plate then goes on with six Allen bolts. Once it’s tight, you can remove the alignment tool.  Under normal circumstances, the transmission would now be ready to be reinstalled. The whole clutch setup, including flywheel, runs about $1340 from BimmerWorld.

But first we’ll be installing a new short shifter from UUC Motorwerks, and we will have it in the next part, along with some clutch dyno testing. Stay tuned!