[- Paul -]

Don't have it on my 2005 320d

[330cdsport]

It happens with my wife's 320d E91 (July 2007 car)
Tis really annoying too.

[PeteJ]

Hi Guys,

I bought a 320d Convertible (08 plate) a few months ago. Really enjoying the car apart from this shuddering problem at slow speeds and hill starts. I'm glad to see it's not just me!

I've got the car booked in to go to the dealer and from the comments on this thread I think I will be requesting a new clutch.

Has anyone had any problems getting this done?

Cheers

Pete

[Carrera RSR]

Still have it on my Aug 08 E91. Most noticable when slipping the clutch during hill starts and pulling off occasionally from junctions.

[dkan]

happens on my e92 325i, i been driving manuals all my life and never had this problem until i got the beemer....my conclusion is the BMW make manuals which are utter dogs s***. I taken it several time to the dealer and they say its fine.

[PeteJ]

Well my mum has just taken delivery of a new 118d and that drives perfect, no shudder at all!

This is what has made me think something might be wrong with mine.

I've always had manuals, and just can't understand BMW selling a car which does this!!

[monkeynuts]

I've recently picked up a 2006 320d (with 49K miles) from a dealer and am experiencing what sounds like the same problem. Pulling away in 1st results in juddering whether cold or warmed up. If I use no virtually no throttle at all it is fine, but otherwise and more than half the time, it exhibits the juddering behaviour. I also get sticky gear changes (mainly between 2nd & 3rd - up or down). Otherwise, the drive is fantastic which makes it all the more annoying!

I have contacted the dealer about it and will be pushing hard for any potential clutch replacements to be done under warranty as even 49K seems way too early for a clutch to reach the end of its life. I did 96K in an Audi A6 with no problems.

Will let you know how I get on.

[PeteJ]

Hi MonkeyNuts

Yeah, that sounds like my problem. Mine's going into the garage tomorrow, however for something slightly different. It's going in on the 16th for the investigation into the clutch "judder" problems.

I love the car so much, and this really is the only thing runing the enjoyment! Very Annoying

[webby318dEMS]

Mine does this too. Bit disappointing as I've only had my car a week and a half, and it's only done just over 2000 miles from new!

Will be taking it back to the dealer to get checked out very soon.

[Thetoycollector]

Did not have any judder on my 05 320D but there is a definate slight judder on my 08 model.

As people have commented it is worse when cold.

It is not bad enough to return to dealer but just an annoyance.

My car has done 41K now but the judder has always been there.

[mrgrumpy88]

Mines done 48,000 miles and get the occasional judder. It's completely random regardless of weather and temperature. It was -4°C this morning and no judder at all.

Not bad enough to take back to the dealer as it's fine most of the time. Are these clutches self adjusting - is the mechanism at fault?

[monkeynuts]

This is weird - mine was fine yesterday... didn't notice it once! Dealer is going to look at it all the same. If it's a 'characteristic' of the car and not a sign of an early clutch failure or some mechanical problem, I can live with it but it's a bit annoying - I wouldn't really expect this kind of thing on a BMW being as it's otherwise so well engineered...

[Thetoycollector]

I think this must be typical of the latest 320D engine, so many people have noticed it.

Like I said before (and others have said as well) that it is not apparent on earlier models.

It must be something to do with the release mechanism being uprated from previous clutches, probably to handle the inreased power of the latest model.

I think (to me) it is just an annoyance than a major fault. I have found the gearboxes in both my BMW's to be excellent, with nice sweet changes (except if you try to rush 1st to 2nd where the heavy spring bias can sometime baulk a change).

The clutches in the latest models have to handle a lot of torque for their size so there has to be some trade off I suppose.

Back in 2002 I had one of the new Renault Laguna's with the latest 120hp DCi engine, that was fitted with a puny clutch. I went through 3 sets in 109,000 miles. I have never (before or since) used up a clutch in a car.
The dealers denied there was any fault!

I certainly would not knock BMW manual gearboxes for after nearly 30 years of driving and over 50 types of car I have found them to be very good.

[F104]

i've got this problem too. I came only in the last weeks aware of the CDV issues. I've got now 500+ k kms in three 320d's, like to think i can use a clutch.. To me it is the CDV. A check on bmw.info shows the part on my car/model year, item no 13 on the bmp, i trust the "13" is just coincidence..

Also note BMW calls it a lock valve. One posting said BMW will not know what you're talking about if you mention a CDV (clutch delay valve)

This site has good info / insight on the CDV, now only getting hold of one..

www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm

[monkeynuts]

Hi F104

I've read about the notorious lock valve AKA CDV but is it definately on the 320d as a couple of other posts / reference sites suggest not?

Thetoycollector - I take your point and like I say, it's not the worst thing in the world but high-torque diesel engines aren't exactly a new thing. Most people seem to agree that this is only an issue with BMWs which I would say is a bit surprising that's all!

[PeteJ]

Originally Posted by F104

i've got this problem too. I came only in the last weeks aware of the CDV issues. I've got now 500+ k kms in three 320d's, like to think i can use a clutch.. To me it is the CDV. A check on bmw.info shows the part on my car/model year, item no 13 on the bmp, i trust the "13" is just coincidence..

Also note BMW calls it a lock valve. One posting said BMW will not know what you're talking about if you mention a CDV (clutch delay valve)

This site has good info / insight on the CDV, now only getting hold of one..

www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm

Hi F104,

Thanks for your post, it's very interesting even for the completely none technical (me being one!)

I've been reading more about this CDV from the website you linked to and others which I've found and it does make sense that this is the problem. However like Moneynuts was saying, it's seems difficult to confirm that the CDV is installed on the 320d as most the websites seem to list 325i as the starting model with it installed.

[FieldingMellish]

This seems to be the same problem I reported here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198437

If by 'judder' you mean a jerkiness akin to what you might experience just before a stall? I find the best way to circumvent this is to apply plenty of throttle. But since we need to get through 1st, 2nd, and into 3rd gear fairly fast in these diesels, the 2nd gear being problematic is very unwelcome. I'm going to have my local dealer look at it.

[monkeynuts]

Hi FieldingMellish

Could be the same - although mine's just gone past 50K! Your descrtiption of the 2nd gear issue is exactly how mine is sometimes. I've had to delay mine being looked at to later in the month so will update this post when I get some dealer feedback. In the meantime, I had a thought today that the 1st gear 'judder' may be an over-enthusiastic (or malfuctioning) DTC system, so plan to experiment with turning this off - I admit that this is a long-shot, but you never know!

I've also noticed that it is possible to modify my driving style to stop it happening and I'm getting used to this - but for me, it's really only solved by using hardly any throttle at all (like no more than 1000-1100 rpm) when moving away. Any more and half the time it'll do it, and the other half it won't.

[FieldingMellish]

Oh yes that's right - another way round the problem is to start off very slowly, which I often find myself doing when just beginning a journey. BUt when you need to be quick, and get through first and second into third, you often have to really insist that it goes into second and then give it plenty of throttle. Otherwise my car is great, just that little problem. I will see what the dealer says.

[craig stephen]

had my 320 m sport in to dealers yesterday with the same problem they found a slight oil leak from the gear box so its going in next week for repair and they will check the clutch at the same time hopfully that will sort the problem out

[monkeynuts]

Hi Craig...

Interesting... I was considering not bothering to take mine in as I'm gradually getting used to it, but having read your post, i'll definately keep my booking with the Dealer.

[PeteJ]

Mines going in next friday. I've told them already about the CDV. See what they come back with... see if I can blag a 7 series for the day while mines in!