Ultimate
Lightweight Flywheel and "sprung hub" performance clutch package
exclusively for '01-'06 M3
ALL-NEW HYBRID M5 CLUTCH CONVERSION!
Ultimate throttle response and faster acceleration at your command...
UUC's unique "sprung hub" clutch
design Stage2 lightweight flywheel has been named one of European Car
magazine's "Top 10 Products" for 2003 in the E36 fitment. Now the same
technology is available for the E46 M3.
Tipping the scales at only 8.5lbs, this aluminum flywheel boasts the
same great features as our first-generation flywheel, but is designed
to use the pressure plate, and throw-out bearing from the 3.6 liter E34
M5 and UUC's own sprung-hub clutch disk (available in different
materials depending on intended use).
Big news for E46 M3 owners!
Many E46 M3 owners have experienced mushy clutch feel, inconsistent
engagement, and premature wear of the clutch in their
manual-transmission cars. The reason is quite simple - the original BMW
(LUK-manufactured) clutch in the E46 M3 has a new "SAC" (Self Adjusting
Clutch) design. This new mechanism built into the clutch pressure plate
is supposed to keep the clutch pedal engagement point the same as the
clutch wears... but in all reality, it's a case of "an answer to a
question that nobody was asking." They have added a layer of complexity
and feedback isolation, filling a need that didn't need filling - it is
not too often that anybody notices that their clutch engagement point
as moved 1/2" over 50K miles.
The SAC mechanism itself causes problems; it over- or under-adjusts the
pressure plate and therefore causes the clutch to slip or burn out
prematurely. They are also known to shift, causing the pressure plate
release fingers to slip off the plate, keeping 1/3 of the pressure
plate engaged at all times. Bottom line is that the only fix is a
complete clutch job, and your dealer is likely to claim "driver abuse".
We have seen it happen too many times.
The SAC mechanism may not give a clean release like a standard clutch.
Instead of just two sets of springs, there is an adjuster mechanism
that makes engagement feel mushy or slow.
The M5 component conversion eliminates
the SAC mechanism and restores traditional clutch feel with predictable
and crisp engagement.
This clutch has several advantages for the enthusiast driver:
- Maintaining the reliability and over-the-counter availability of
a BMW factory part.
- Greater clamping force than standard 3-series clutch.
- Elimination of the SAC mechanism.
- Incorporates a sprung-hub design for quiet operation
with a heavy-duty steel pressure plate.
The advantage of a sprung-hub clutch
design is improved resistance (and in many cases, complete elimination)
of the residual rattling noise at idle that some lightweight
flywheel-equipped cars can experience.
Because BMW spec'd this clutch design for use on the powerful
S38-series engine in the M5, it is up to the task of handling the
output from the M3's S54 motor.
The total weight of this clutch disk
and pressure plate combo is greater than that of a standard E46 clutch,
so we have reduced the flywheel weight to achieve an overall rotating
mass that is almost identical to a standard 11.5lb lightweight flywheel
and 3-series clutch combination.
You can be assured not only of the performance increase you will
experience, but the long-term ease of ownership that comes with knowing
that replacement clutch components are never any further away than your
dealer's parts counter. Ideal clutch combination is the E34 M5 pressure
plate and UUC sprung-hub clutch disk, although standard fixed-hub E46
M3 clutch disk (emergency repair) may be substituted - increased gear
rattle will result.
Now available - complete Stage 2 flywheel and clutch kits with choice
of these clutch components:
- OE-style clutch kit
- Kevlar - track use, not recommended for street use
Not sure which clutch? CLICK
HERE for clutch material selection guide.
