Tranny issues

[Krank]

Hey, guys, I've been having some clutch/tranny issues as some of you may know; notchy shifting and a clutch that is smooth sometimes and really stiff/hard other times. A couple new things have come up. Now, sometimes when I depress the clutch all the way down, it will make a grinding/chopping sound with the pedal at the stop and you can feel it in the pedal. Most of the time, it will not do that. I do not run a clutch stop, just the stock rubber piece down there behind the clutch pedal. On a couple occasions, I tried to put the car into first or reverse upon first start in the morning and it grinds and I can't get it in. After that, it will go in just fine and not grind anymore.

Shifting through all gears even when the car is hot is notchy. When the car is off, it is fine and a lot smoother. I have been told this could be a problem with there not being enough lube on the input spline shafts on the tranny. I have also been told I could have bad synchros that are on their way out. I've replaced the slave cylinder and bled the clutch, still the same. Could it be a bad throwout bearing? Clutch, flywheel, and throwout bearing were replaced 20k miles ago with new parts. Think pulling the tranny out is called for?

Thanks, guys.

[E30Danny]

Sounds like the pressure plate.

[Anthony@EDGE]

It sounds like it could be a bad throw out bearing. But the issue is almost impossible to diagnose without inspecting the car.

You mentioned that the clutch was replaced 20k miles ago, what parts were used? What flywheel in is the car? does the clutch slip or is there just noise and shifting issues? Also, what year and model car?

[Krank]

Hey Tony, it's got the Fidanza lightweight flywheel with Sachs Sport clutch combo, stock pressure plate. '99 M3. No clutch slipping, just the noise and notchy shifting. It's intermittent as well, it's got a new mood everyday.