Need new clutch. Options?

xShadows · 07-25-2013, 09:37 AM

Is there any options out there currently besides spec? Not that I don't want to use them, I just like to maul over all of my possible options and make the best choice.

As for the clutch, should I do fly wheel and as well as pressure plate? I know the OEM flywheel is Duel mass, but should I get a single mass flywheel? I don't want a bunch of unnecessary noise if possible and I hear that's what I would get with a single mass. But if it's really -that- much better I'm not against that either.

I just want something that is going to handle my FBO JB4 G5 ISO 50/50 e85/93octane car and still be usable on the street. Clutches are one of those things I'm not very versed in. Any help and advice is appreciated guys.

Stohlen · 07-25-2013, 10:01 AM

I'd go with clutch masters. They are the only ones i've never heard bad things/haven't had bad experiences with.

I've had many bad experiences with Spec's customer service. They are awful to deal with.

Maina · 07-26-2013, 07:09 PM

More info needed guys, please. I need to replace mine asap too!

DSP_135i · 07-26-2013, 07:30 PM

Mine was slipping after I switched to map 5 on the JB4. Swapped it out to the ACT Street clutch and haven't had any issues. About to add meth so we will see?

dsh135 · 07-26-2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

As for the clutch, should I do fly wheel and as well as pressure plate? I know the OEM flywheel is Duel mass, but should I get a single mass flywheel? I don't want a bunch of unnecessary noise if possible and I hear that's what I would get with a single mass. But if it's really -that- much better I'm not against that either.

Be careful with a single mass unit if you don't want noise. Apparently how noisy a single mass is varies between car models and I don't have personal experience with one on my 135, but I had one on my previous VW and it was brutal - rattled like a bucket of bolts. There is some perceptible performance improvement between a lighter single mass and the heavier OEM unit but it isn't dramatic, and definitely not worth the noise tradeoff on my last car. I think there's a legit reason why Dinan's LFW is a lightened oem dual mass and not just another aluminum single mass. Probably best if you could find someone with single mass flywheel on their 1er and see what you think before committing.

flinchy · 07-26-2013, 11:49 PM

i don't believe anyone when they say a single mass flywheel is noisy

i've owned/driven TONS of cars, all with SMFW's and there's no flywheel noise

my DMFW however? marbles in a coffee can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsh135

I think there's a legit reason why Dinan's LFW is a lightened oem dual mass and not just another aluminum single mass. Probably best if you could find someone with single mass flywheel on their 1er and see what you think before committing.

the problem with ANY DMFW though, is they can fail, and at high power cause false knock detection.

brusk · 07-27-2013, 12:19 AM

For some reason on cars with DMFW like BMW's the singles make some noise. Aluminum flywheels noisier than the steel version. Plenty of people stick with their DMFW but depending on the prior mileage and abuse I would consider looking into a new DMFW if that's the route you go. There have been a few cases of the flywheel springs braking and even a few cases of flywheels leaving the transmission which can be very dangerous. I personally will trade a little noise for that extra bit of safety not to worry about if my flywheel might fly apart cause a spring got wore out.

Jai2008 · 07-27-2013, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flinchy

i don't believe anyone when they say a single mass flywheel is noisy

i've owned/driven TONS of cars, all with SMFW's and there's no flywheel noise

my DMFW however? marbles in a coffee can.

the problem with ANY DMFW though, is they can fail, and at high power cause false knock detection.

Too bad none of those cars are a n54. Its a fact that SMFW on our cars make noise. You can choose to not believe it all you want.....

OP, do a search, there a numerous videos of noises from both steel and aluminum flywheel on "our" cars.

Ænema · 07-27-2013, 01:15 PM

Cars that run OEM SMFW are quiet because the engineers took that into consideration when dealing with NVH. We have OEM DMFW(they can absorb/smooth out NVH pretty well) so that gave them some room for error. Now when we install a SMFW that "room for error" is no longer there and we get gear chatter and vibration when accelerating from a low RPM.

OP, A spec stage 2+ clutch with a new DMFW(buy the luk brand, it's the OEM unit without the BMW tax) is pretty much exactly what you're looking for.

flinchy · 07-27-2013, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jai2008

Too bad none of those cars are a n54. Its a fact that SMFW on our cars make noise. You can choose to not believe it all you want.....

OP, do a search, there a numerous videos of noises from both steel and aluminum flywheel on "our" cars.

i can't find any video on it

heck, i've been in track cars that don't make flywheel noise

all i know is i've never been in a noise SMFW, it's not possible for it to be noisy as there's nothing for it to 'rattle' against, unlike a DMFW which has springs and 2 masses to clatter

and that my DMFW is noisy as shit lol.

Jai2008 · 07-27-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flinchy

i can't find any video on it

heck, i've been in track cars that don't make flywheel noise

all i know is i've never been in a noise SMFW, it's not possible for it to be noisy as there's nothing for it to 'rattle' against, unlike a DMFW which has springs and 2 masses to clatter

and that my DMFW is noisy as shit lol.

type "n54 spec smfw" in google and you'll find many post on it.

They work great as long as you can put up with some rattle.

froop · 07-29-2013, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jai2008

type "n54 spec smfw" in google and you'll find many post on it.

They work great as long as you can put up with some rattle.

This last video is actually there to demonstrate the lack of rattle with the steel SMFW.

To be honest the other videos didn't sound that bad to me either.

I reckon when I need a clutch upgrade I might go the spec 2+ with steel SMFW.

sparkyblue · 07-29-2013, 02:55 AM

Heard great things about the Spec Stage 2+ , and keeping the factory dual mass flywheel (but still must resurface it).

I don't have personal experience with the setup, but that's what I found after doing some research on clutches. As mine was slipping badly with the Cobb E30 E85 mix map. The clutch holds fine on any of the stage 2 maps though.

dsh135 · 07-29-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

all i know is i've never been in a noise SMFW, it's not possible for it to be noisy as there's nothing for it to 'rattle' against, unlike a DMFW which has springs and 2 masses to clatter

The noise in question is from the gear teeth rattling against each other at low rpm when in neutral, not the flywheel itself. A dual mass damps this out whereas a single mass does not - or at least not as effectively.

Stohlen · 07-29-2013, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flinchy

i don't believe anyone when they say a single mass flywheel is noisy

i've owned/driven TONS of cars, all with SMFW's and there's no flywheel noise

Go drive any subaru with a SMFW. Every single one rattles like hell.

07-25-2013, 09:37 AM	#1
xShadows Lieutenant 137 Rep 455 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M4 Comp xDrive Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sanford, NC iTrader: (2)	Need new clutch. Options? Is there any options out there currently besides spec? Not that I don't want to use them, I just like to maul over all of my possible options and make the best choice. As for the clutch, should I do fly wheel and as well as pressure plate? I know the OEM flywheel is Duel mass, but should I get a single mass flywheel? I don't want a bunch of unnecessary noise if possible and I hear that's what I would get with a single mass. But if it's really -that- much better I'm not against that either. I just want something that is going to handle my FBO JB4 G5 ISO 50/50 e85/93octane car and still be usable on the street. Clutches are one of those things I'm not very versed in. Any help and advice is appreciated guys. __________________ 2022 M4 Comp xDrive in Wildberry Metallic
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07-25-2013, 10:01 AM	#2
Stohlen Major 66 Rep 1,267 Posts Drives: AW 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Waterford, Mi iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [5.66]	I'd go with clutch masters. They are the only ones i've never heard bad things/haven't had bad experiences with. I've had many bad experiences with Spec's customer service. They are awful to deal with.
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07-26-2013, 07:09 PM	#3
Maina Enlisted Member 3 Rep 40 Posts Drives: x3 35i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Des Plaines, IL iTrader: (0)	More info needed guys, please. I need to replace mine asap too! __________________ Current - 2011 x3 35i/BMS Stage 1 Previous - 2008 Montego Blue 135i/M-sport /BMS-DCI/Cobb stage1 aggressive /235s Potenza s04 Pole Position - 265s Potenza RE11 /ATE TYP 200/EBC Yellow Stuff/NGK 5992s/Slotted and drilled rotors
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07-26-2013, 07:30 PM	#4
DSP_135i Private 5 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (2)	Mine was slipping after I switched to map 5 on the JB4. Swapped it out to the ACT Street clutch and haven't had any issues. About to add meth so we will see?
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07-27-2013, 12:19 AM	#7
brusk Lieutenant 33 Rep 578 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cleveland, TN iTrader: (1)	For some reason on cars with DMFW like BMW's the singles make some noise. Aluminum flywheels noisier than the steel version. Plenty of people stick with their DMFW but depending on the prior mileage and abuse I would consider looking into a new DMFW if that's the route you go. There have been a few cases of the flywheel springs braking and even a few cases of flywheels leaving the transmission which can be very dangerous. I personally will trade a little noise for that extra bit of safety not to worry about if my flywheel might fly apart cause a spring got wore out. __________________ 2008 135i - MHD/JB4, MS DP's, AMS IC, UI CAI, CDV delete, M3 control arms/Links, RE Toe Link, ECS Trailing Arm, M3 rear SF & Trans bushings, SS brake lines, Michelin PSS.
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07-27-2013, 01:15 PM	#9
Ænema Captain 14 Rep 961 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Arizona Bay iTrader: (0)	Cars that run OEM SMFW are quiet because the engineers took that into consideration when dealing with NVH. We have OEM DMFW(they can absorb/smooth out NVH pretty well) so that gave them some room for error. Now when we install a SMFW that "room for error" is no longer there and we get gear chatter and vibration when accelerating from a low RPM. OP, A spec stage 2+ clutch with a new DMFW(buy the luk brand, it's the OEM unit without the BMW tax) is pretty much exactly what you're looking for. __________________ "I'm not surprised you get along well with all the other neighbours. If you put fifty children with Down's syndrome in a room there is going to be a lot of hugging." David Thorne
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07-29-2013, 02:55 AM	#13
sparkyblue Captain 64 Rep 760 Posts Drives: E82 135i & F80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (8) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	Heard great things about the Spec Stage 2+ , and keeping the factory dual mass flywheel (but still must resurface it). I don't have personal experience with the setup, but that's what I found after doing some research on clutches. As mine was slipping badly with the Cobb E30 E85 mix map. The clutch holds fine on any of the stage 2 maps though.
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