Do I need to bleed the clutch on an SMG when doing a brake fluid change?

PIR3lly · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 11:05:44 AM

Hey guys, I've been searching the forum, but I can't really find an answer.
I have to do a brake fluid change soon and I've been reading the diy about this.
It says I have to bleed the clutch.
I'm just wondering if and how I do this on an SMG.
Is it nessecary? Do I need special tools? Can I do it myself or do I need to go to an bmw specialist?

Any restrictions on the type of brake fluid or should I just go with ATE 200 or RBF 600 (use it as my daily driver and almost never track the car)?

tonggi · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 01:00:42 PM

its the same as the caliper. its a bleeder nipple underneath the car by the tranny, driver side.

ivietg04i · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 01:40:30 PM

does it just drains? thanks

PIR3lly · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 02:56:03 PM

Ok, so there's a nipple. But how do you bleed it?
I can't push in the paddle because there is no clutch paddle.

GotM? · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 03:10:52 PM

I don't have an SMG...but my guess would be a power bleeder.

kingofqueenz · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 04:16:06 PM

Its not required. I know of alot of smg owners who bled their brakes without doing the clutch fluid and it caused no problems.

.333 snubnose · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 04:43:43 PM

am i missing something?
why would you bleed the smg hydraulics when bleeding brakes?

PIR3lly · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 05:41:33 PM

Not the smg hydraulics, but the clutch.
Clutch on a M3 uses the same fluid as the brakes (at least, that's what I've been told).
Just read this Diy and you'll see what I mean. Unfortunately he doesn't mention how it's done on a SMG.

So I could skip bleeding the clutch, but if I want to do it, I need to use a pressure bleeder, correct?

avusbluem3 · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 05:54:21 PM

I was researching this a while ago but can't find the links now. I believe SMG does not use brake fluid to actuate the clutch, it uses the SMG fluid. It's independent of the brake system.

.333 snubnose · Thu, Mar-25-2010, 08:29:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIR3lly

Not the smg hydraulics, but the clutch.

As previously stated...same thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIR3lly

Clutch on a M3 uses the same fluid as the brakes (at least, that's what I've been told)

And while we are on the topic of 6MT...
although the clutch cylinder uses the same brake fluid, is it really necessary to bleed both together? How is it different than any other manual tranny? (other than convenience

)

Not trying to bust your balls...just wondering if the M3 6MT clutch fluidics are unique.

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 11:05:44 AM	#1
PIR3lly Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Age: 38 Posts: 175 In the garage: '08 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Near Amsterdam	Do I need to bleed the clutch on an SMG when doing a brake fluid change? Hey guys, I've been searching the forum, but I can't really find an answer. I have to do a brake fluid change soon and I've been reading the diy about this. It says I have to bleed the clutch. I'm just wondering if and how I do this on an SMG. Is it nessecary? Do I need special tools? Can I do it myself or do I need to go to an bmw specialist? Any restrictions on the type of brake fluid or should I just go with ATE 200 or RBF 600 (use it as my daily driver and almost never track the car)? Last edited by PIR3lly; Thu, Mar-25-2010 at 12:16:48 PM.

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 01:00:42 PM	#2
tonggi Tonggi Tuning, LLC Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 15,100 Reputation: 0 Location: skankville, NJ	its the same as the caliper. its a bleeder nipple underneath the car by the tranny, driver side. __________________ TiTS Racing in association with MMFN Racing and AYO STFU Want to buy your High Mileage Car!

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 03:10:52 PM	#5
GotM? Admiral Douchington Join Date: Jul 2008 Age: 12 Posts: 2,930 In the garage: '98 FORD RANGER '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 0	I don't have an SMG...but my guess would be a power bleeder. __________________ - Chris 2004 Mystic Blue Metallic Convertible

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 04:43:43 PM	#7
.333 snubnose Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 474 Reputation: 0 Location: Golden State	am i missing something? why would you bleed the smg hydraulics when bleeding brakes? __________________ For Rent: RTAB tool (MIS), FCAB tool (MIS), Valve Shim Kit & Tool For Sale: OE FCAB brackets (lollipops)

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 05:41:33 PM	#8
PIR3lly Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Age: 38 Posts: 175 In the garage: '08 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Near Amsterdam	Not the smg hydraulics, but the clutch. Clutch on a M3 uses the same fluid as the brakes (at least, that's what I've been told). Just read this Diy and you'll see what I mean. Unfortunately he doesn't mention how it's done on a SMG. So I could skip bleeding the clutch, but if I want to do it, I need to use a pressure bleeder, correct? Last edited by PIR3lly; Thu, Mar-25-2010 at 05:45:42 PM.

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 01:40:30 PM	#3
ivietg04i Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 85 Reputation: 0 Location: Lady Lake	does it just drains? thanks

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 02:56:03 PM	#4
PIR3lly Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Age: 38 Posts: 175 In the garage: '08 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Near Amsterdam	Ok, so there's a nipple. But how do you bleed it? I can't push in the paddle because there is no clutch paddle.

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 04:16:06 PM	#6
kingofqueenz Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 359 Reputation: 0	Its not required. I know of alot of smg owners who bled their brakes without doing the clutch fluid and it caused no problems.

Thu, Mar-25-2010, 05:54:21 PM	#9
avusbluem3 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 487 Reputation: 0 Location: NJ	I was researching this a while ago but can't find the links now. I believe SMG does not use brake fluid to actuate the clutch, it uses the SMG fluid. It's independent of the brake system. __________________ 95 E36 M3 Avusblue/Dove Gray :Sold 02 E46 M3 Steel Grey/Black Nappa/SMG II

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