This if for my 585 rwhp SC M3 with SMG, but I wanted to ask my 996 Brethren since they are the most knowledgeable, IMO. I am not getting too many answeres in the M3 section.

I need to replace my clutch (a Cerametalic from UUC) that is fried. I am looking at the Feramic clutch from HPF. This clutch has an excellent rep.

I was told that I needed to go back to the OEM flywheel because "You will eat clutches with the lwfw. It will work, but you run the risk of ruining the disk. The lwfw doesn't dissipate heat fast enough and will warp at the higher temps. This cause the disk to melt and often fuse to the flywheel."

Is this only a problem for M3's because everyone I know runs a ltwflywheel in the 996TT community. Wouldn't the problem be endemic to all ltwtfw set ups?

 

This is for a M3,who cares?.That stinky M3 is not a Porsche so maybe Walmart sells a good clutch.

 

sounds weird to me??? What sort of material are we talking about for the LWF anyways?

 

I believe mine is aluminum...but you are right, Sharkster, sounds odd. Are the laws of physics different in the M3 world or is maybe the SMG a factor?

Paulie, still having trouble digesting the walking I gave you, I see. Next time I will bring the M3 to give Tweety a fighting chance.

 

The funnything is a stock GT2 gave that 9000hp M3 a whipping,so maybe it would be a better race for my Deville......

 

Maybe it is the feramic material. I just found a web site that will sell the stock flywheel for $300 so I will call them.

 

Sean, Contact Clutchmasters and talk to them about it...Sounds hinky to me...

Mike

 

Mike,

I called Clutchmasters and they said they had a clutch (double carbon for 1.7k...good price) that would solve all my problems. However Drew (DLSJ5...540 rwhp SC M3) tried a Clutchmaster 6 months ago and had nothing but trouble. They apparently had issues and I was bothered by the fact that the Clutchmastsrs salesman was totally oblivious.

 

My research has suggested that indeed the feramic does cause problems for ltwtflywheels..

 

I would call Turnermotorsports.com because they race the M3's at the tracks I used to talk to them when i had my M3's very nice guys i have met them at the track also, gave them a call they will help you

 

As a BMW tuner in Greece,I can tell you SMG is not an issue...Both manual and SMG uses the same clutch,pressure plate and flywheel...If you need OEM flywheels they are $300 plus shipping...However in two supercharged E46 M3 SMG we have here we use sachs race clutch+unorthodox flywheel and everything is ok...Cars are at 500hp...

 

My nephew has a HPF stage 2 kit and its smg. I drove it and the clutch is great but does shudder alittle in 1st.

Jag

 

SMG is great for LWFW...When you are idling in traffic light the SMG presses the clutch and so there is no noise at all.Manual on the other hand is noisy when idling...

 

Sean what sort of benefits are you looking to get out of this lwfw? Your M3, though very strong up top is not a tq monster by any means. When launching your car with a heavier fly wheel the rotating mass should assist it in getting the car moving. I'm not sure if the power gains (minimal) will be worth all the inherit issues you're finding out about.

Zac

 

Zac,

Not really looking for any benefit...the ltwtflywheel came w/ the car and I don't want to shell out the cash for another one....$600, although I have found one for 300.

All I care about is fast shifting (my now worn out UUC set up took .3 seconds, not really fast) and durability (I got 12 K from the UUC set up, again, not very good). I want to keep my cost around 1k (not counting the 1K for install and SMG reprograming).

I have found a site that will sell a stage 1 HPF feramic clutch for $825 and the OEM flywheekl for 300. If that price checks out I will buy the pair although I would prefer the stage 2.