[911Fiddler]

Originally Posted by HassanEido

Hope that was it! At your mileage if you haven't done the bearings yet, it's good idea to just do them now anyway.

Yes the rod bearing shells were done a while back....

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=104983

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=104983

[paulclaude]

One of mine is making almost the exact same noise right now. I'm 99% sure it's either the clutch release/throw out bearing or broken pressure plate. The noise disappears if a gear is engaged, only does it in neutral or at standstill in gear (clutch disengaged).

I'm pulling the gearbox this weekend.

[911Fiddler]

Originally Posted by paulclaude

One of mine is making almost the exact same noise right now. I'm 99% sure it's either the clutch release/throw out bearing or broken pressure plate. The noise disappears if a gear is engaged, only does it in neutral or at standstill in gear (clutch disengaged).

I'm pulling the gearbox this weekend.

I had that same prob on my (this car) SMG, 3 years back. Was different noise Id say. At first I thought it was the power steering pump, was a growly rotary sort of noise. The clutch release bearing had failed.

[911Fiddler]

News...
The job is moving slowly, injured finger!
-vanos is rebuilt and timed up using digital angle gauge (v accurate) as photo.
-checked the spark plugs to rule running issues out of play -all identical/perfect colour.
-I cut open the oil filter, nothing much in it at all (5.5k miles).
-I bought a new bucket, emptied the oil into it, waited 2 days for things to settle then looked at the dregs, outcome: virtually none (but some) metal, not enough to consider a rod bearing failure, unless as stated earlier, I've caught it & stopped the engine seconds after a spun shell.

I'm hoping its not a rod bearing and so far no evidence that it is, which is good of course, however instinct tell me it is.

More news asap.

[HassanEido]

some metal isn't a good sign usually..I was hoping it would be a bad follower or a spit shim or something minor, maybe check those? Maybe u missed it

[911Fiddler]

Its the clutch!
-pivot pin looks ok
-attrition marks where the clutch release arm was hitting the clutch
-release bearing burnished on the outside, not the pressure face/land
Root cause,,,,,-> a bit unclear.
New everything in there should fix it

[911Fiddler]

It was the clutch limit stop, -fractured after 40k miles.
New flywheel has killed off the M clunk ! I'm pleased.

[M3_#67]

How did you arrive looking at the clutch?

[911Fiddler]

Originally Posted by M3_#67

How did you arrive looking at the clutch?

Progressively eliminated possible faults until best option was to drop out the gearbox. Only when out was the fault clearly visible.