Clutch hose leak ???

[wfarrell]

While crawling under my car today, I've discovered a slight weep of hydraulic fluid -- I think it's from the clutch hose ???

Is this a common problem, if yes do people fit BMW parts, or go the Goodridge route ?

Any advice much appreciated, thanks Will

[r80ter]

Don't know if its common, but it is common to upgrade to a braided line!

[wfarrell]

thanks r80ter,

...does anybody know where to get the braided hose kit for the ZM Coupe/Roadster clutch ?

ta, Will

[exdos]

Reading through the posts relating to difficulties with engaging gears, the cure seems to be the draided hose, Therefore replacing your leaking hose with a braided hose should kill 2 birds with one stone.

Try, Branded Untouchable, CA Automotive or Demon Tweeks.

[wfarrell]

cheers guys :)

[maahny]

For future reference you can get the required braided hose from http://www.hampshirehose.co.uk/. They had made a run of them for a stealer who was charging £60 per hose! Buy direct and get it for £30.

Mine is in for a new clutch and the braided hose will be going in at the same time. Hopefully enough ttime to bed it in before the Welsh Weekend.

[wfarrell]

Thanks guys - i called Hampshire hoses today, who were most helpful; braided clutch now in the post :)

Ta, Will

[wfarrell]

...after much knuckle-scraping and cursing I managed to remove the old OE clutch hose today and fit the new braided hose.

Has anybody bled their clutch slave cylinder ? The BMW TIS advises that the cylinder must be removed from the gearbox, and the piston pushed-and-held in during the bleed procedure.
Is this really necessary ?

Thanks, Will

PS: I took a close look at the standard BMW clutch hose -- one end has a very narrow bore (circa 1.5mm), which partially explains why the clutch pedal requires so much effort, and the clutch is so sluggish to respond to rapid gear changes (i.e. narrow bore acts like a damper etc).