'Snatchy' clutch

tim wrote:
> I seem to have developed a slightly 'snatchy' take up when pulling away
> from idle, so I have to put the revs to 1200-1500 before really gently
> letting out the clutch or I notice a couple of 'snatches' (and even doing
> this I can just about detect it). Only just started happening on my 2000
> 318Ci with only 36k miles on the clock; sound like anything to anyone? It
> doesn't happen in any other gear, or when rolling (like when you slow down
> to go over a speed bump then accelerate away), only when from idle.
>
> All thoughts appreciated )
> tim
>
>

I'm not sure what you exactly mean by "snatchy", but for what it's
worth:

My 325TDS (over 200,000 miles on the clock) has a similar problem:
when pulling away in 1st, it "judders" in a fashion somewhat reminiscent
of the juddering you get when driving over "washboarded" areas under
stoplights at some intersections.

BUT: it only does it after being parked for a while (at least 2 days),
and usually only in the summer. After driving for a couple of minutes,
the behavior goes away. It never occurs overnight.

Mechanic said the clutch disk was "sweating" oil (whatever) which, in
two days caused sufficient accumulation of grease on the disk surface
proper, to account for the slippage/juddering. He also said, "Just live
with it."

I have ever since, mostly because the car rarely spends more than a
single night standing still. After a while, you stop thinking about it.

Hope this helps.

> I'm not sure what you exactly mean by "snatchy", but for what it's
> worth:

'judders' would be a better word, yes )

Wasn't noticeable today from dead cold, but after a while started to feel it
again.

Will monitor it I guess, but maybe jaffa could say how much a new clutch was
(and did you use a franchise to replace)?

TIA
tim

tim wrote:
>>I'm not sure what you exactly mean by "snatchy", but for what it's
>>worth:
>
>
> 'judders' would be a better word, yes )
>
> Wasn't noticeable today from dead cold, but after a while started to feel it
> again.
>
> Will monitor it I guess, but maybe jaffa could say how much a new clutch was
> (and did you use a franchise to replace)?
>
> TIA
> tim
>
>

Since the judder starts to come on after your car's warmed up,
your problem doesn't seem to be what I described, I'm afraid.

If it really is a defect in the clutch, replacement is the only
solution. My guestimate for a new clutch would be about EUR 300?
(Not at the dealer's though.)

Good luck

"jaffacake" > wrote:

>I had this on a '90 318is when it was warm (90K miles I guess).
>Garage informed of 'manufacturing defect' on the original material
>used on the clutches, and although not worn it wasn't smooth and
>would snatch. New clutch solved problem, 170K miles and still going....
>However since you car is 10 years younger than mine it most
>porbably unrelated!
>
>strong.

my '93 318 does that... original clutch i think.. when it gets
really bad i just polish the friction disk a bit by putting it in 4th
and letting the clutch out a bit while stopped with the handbrake on.
stop when it smells. this fix lasts about 3 months.