Slight clutch judder (320Td)

[Patrick Bateman]

Hit a massive puddle, well, ocean really (i.e. enough to bring the car to a grounding halt from 60 rather quickly), the other day and I'm just wondering if it's possible that some water could have gotten into the clutch?

Pulling away in first it seems to occasionally judder through the pedal. It only happens in first when pulling away and only occasionally. I tried to do it a few times from a stop earlier on while out and about and it was fine. Also, immediately after I hit the water the gearchanges didn't feel very smooth, coming off the clutch smoothly seemed to result in jerkiness in first, second and third gears although this seems to have all but disappeared now.

[Patrick Bateman]

Was out again just there to try and provoke it and it seemed to do it only a couple of times to begin with when cold.

[anonymous-user]

put the handbrake on, lift revs to about 1200rpm, then lift clutch till you can feel the car starting to try to pull away, sit like that for 15 sec max, see if it still judders, then repeat till it's either fixed or properly broken!!


(you're just trying to get a bit of heat into the clutch and flywheel to dry it out!)

[Spudler]

Common problem. Apparently due to clutch/pressure plate design. Should only happen when cold.
Dont give it to much gas when pulling away.

ETA Had the same problem on the wifes E90 for a while now.

Edited by Spudler on Sunday 16th January 14:17

[Patrick Bateman]

After searching the internet it does seem surprisingly common from cold, even at low miles.

[8Tech]

I'm afraid thats most likely the dual mass flywheel causing the problem rather than the clutch.

[Magnus Barelegs]

Sadly, it is too common a problem.
My Alpina D3 did it.
My new 320ED does it.
But only when cold.
Still, they shouldn't do it at all, ever.
Cars a third of the price don't.