[neilmc]

Keep forgetting to post this up, but is it just my driving style and not being fully used to a diesel bmw, but when pulling away from a traffic jam on a steep ish incline or doing a hill start i am getting clutch judder quite badly. Dealer just said use more revs. Car is pefect on the flat pulling away, but several times it has done this to me. i am very light on clutch and revs, but as it pulls away ok on the flat I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Are diesels that that much different to petrols.

[TK - 421]

Originally Posted by neilmc

Keep forgetting to post this up, but is it just my driving style and not being fully used to a diesel bmw, but when pulling away from a traffic jam on a steep ish incline or doing a hill start i am getting clutch judder quite badly. Dealer just said use more revs. Car is pefect on the flat pulling away, but several times it has done this to me. i am very light on clutch and revs, but as it pulls away ok on the flat I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Are diesels that that much different to petrols.

Hi Neil....

Haven't got an answer but i have the same on my 330d, if i pull off just of the revs i get clutch judder...really annoying.

I have reported this to the dealer just in case it screws up in the future...seems poor if you ask me.

[neilmc]

I agree anygreg. Sorry you havre this as well, but sort of glad it is not just me. I suppose diesel clutches are heavier, but why is it ok on the flat and with virtually no revs? I presume the clutch plates heat up a bit if you hold your car on the clutch like me, but this also happens if you park on a hill and then pull away after an hours shopping or so. it sometimes happens in steep car parks when crawling around looking for a space at low speed. Anyone else any ideas?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by neilmc

Keep forgetting to post this up, but is it just my driving style

Are diesels that that much different to petrols.

Yes, there is much more low end torque in a diesel than a comparably sized petrol engine.

Clutch shudder in general is caused by the user overheating the clutch through improver or abusive driving technique. You are probably using a lot of throttle when you slip the clutch, and because turbo diesel has a lot of low end torque you are frying the clutch.

Learn to use less (or no) throttle when slipping the clutch. It could be too late to save your clutch if there is already shudder, but next time you get a new clutch be nicer to it

[neilmc]

Car has only done 1500 miles and I use very little throttle, like I said previously I am very light on clutch and throttle. If the clutch is buggered in less than 1500 miles they must be pretty poor. i have done dozens of standing starts and always hold my cars on the clutch in various high powered petrols over the years and with no problems at all. I have never had one clutch failure. Think a trip to the dealer is due. Besides if the clutch was worn it would do the same whenever I pull off, hill or on the flat.

[willhollin]

I have had a bit of the kangaroo juice a few times, just put it down to getting used to driving my van though and then getting in the car.

[neilmc]

Possible i suppose, it just feels like you get on an old car when the clutch is shot. Like I say i have been easy on the clutch and running it in,just hold it on the clutch like i have always done with all my cars and they have had no problems.Have noticed occasionally all power seems to die and when i am waiting to pull out of a junction, but just put this down to holding the clutch in while waiting to pull off. Am beginning to find the eff.dynamics a bit annoying though.Sometimes it gets turned off.

[uzi9mm]

Personally I think you need a part removed, which helps the clutch. clutch delay valve?

Its made for people who cant clutch control, thus always over gas.

[xenon]

Yes, it's the CDV.

[medrep]

I have the same thing Neil on my 06' 320d. Only happens occasionally though, and everytime it does I get the tut from my wife thinking its my driving. I actually thought it was 'my' driving until I read your post!

Im getting my new eff dynamic 320d edition on the 1st sept, so will be interested to see how it compares to my current one. Not sure if im going to get on with the whole stop start thing?

I also second the lack of power issue on occasions, it feels as if I do not give the engine enough revs and it dies down? Maybe thats exactly what it was.....

[tisme]

Not had the problem on my old E46 2L

What I did find though is that from stationary, you can put the car in first gear and lift feet off all pedals and it will accelerate by itself without stalling and without juddering.

[neilmc]

Rang service today and mentioned clutch delay vavlve and was told that 320d does not have one. Anyway have never had anyproblems holding any car on the clutch and am always very gentle with throttle etc so still none the wiser. Service did say that it is quite common and even driving slowly holding it on the clutch every now and again in crawling traffic or multi storey car parks etc will build up heat and cause judder. Tried to use the clutch as little as possible and turn off the eff dynam. to save dipping the clutch and having it turn off and just take it out of gear when needed and rely on the easy diesel nature and it did not do it,but then again it is not all the time. Perhaps after 17 years and 250000 odd miles 2 advanced tests and a few other qualified standards I need to change my driving style with my first diesel!.Either that or BMW 320d clutches are utter crap? Have had no problems with previous quattro audi's,tuned cosworths,968cs,evo's etc is nothing built to high standard any more, do manufacturers just make things to a minimum standard and hope the fail early and need replacing?

I am off for a driving lesson!

[daveyboy]

hi i have had the same problem. bought a 1 year old 320d m sport with 5500 miles on it and almost instantly felt the clutch judder. I took it back and mentioned it to the dealer and they replaced the clutch under warranty seemed to be a common problem when i mentioned it.

[neilmc]

Will see how it goes daveyboy. Did they give any reason for it failing ? i.e. oil contamination or just wear and tear.

[daveyboy]

no they didnt say anything specific just wear and tear?

[TK - 421]

Originally Posted by neilmc

Rang service today and mentioned clutch delay vavlve and was told that 320d does not have one. Anyway have never had anyproblems holding any car on the clutch and am always very gentle with throttle etc so still none the wiser. Service did say that it is quite common and even driving slowly holding it on the clutch every now and again in crawling traffic or multi storey car parks etc will build up heat and cause judder. Tried to use the clutch as little as possible and turn off the eff dynam. to save dipping the clutch and having it turn off and just take it out of gear when needed and rely on the easy diesel nature and it did not do it,but then again it is not all the time. Perhaps after 17 years and 250000 odd miles 2 advanced tests and a few other qualified standards I need to change my driving style with my first diesel!.Either that or BMW 320d clutches are utter crap? Have had no problems with previous quattro audi's,tuned cosworths,968cs,evo's etc is nothing built to high standard any more, do manufacturers just make things to a minimum standard and hope the fail early and need replacing?

I am off for a driving lesson!

Like i said...get it reported, get them to check it, then if it does screw up you can reffer them to when you reported it....just covers your ass

[neilmc]

I think I will drop in next time i have the chance and get them to have adrive. the did offer to look and roadtest to be fair to them but as I was busy I declined for the moment, but they have made a note of it. Like you say better to cover all angles anygreg.

[Carrera RSR]

I have had this on all my 3 series over the last six years. I thought the kangaroo juice was just a BMW thing being rear wheel drive.

[TK - 421]

never had this on my E46 330d....and that had done 126,000 miles when i sold it!!

[neilmc]

Maybe it is a design fault or just weak clutches carrerarsr cant see how it being rwd should make any difference. I had a manual jag xjr years ago and it never did it. Maybe a bigger engine and auto is the way to go. Hope not as I actually like the car or maybe I will by an MG

[dxb335d]

should not have any judder. Should have enough torque to pull away with a gentle ease off of the clutch without any throttle.

[downtime]

My current E91 320d, Oct 2005, started to develop clutch judder after 14 months and only 7000 miles. In my case it only appeared to happen after a cold start.

I contacted my dealership and I was asked to bring the car in. They confirmed the judder and contacted BMW UK. BMW UK claimed that either the flywheel or the clutch pressure plate design, I can't remember which, had been changed and advised that the new design be fitted to my car under warranty. I do remember however that this also had the knock on effect of requiring the new style clutch plate which was also replaced under the same warranty claim.

I would however expect that all cars, 2007 onwards, to have the new design fitted.

Downtime.