[///Motorsport3 kID]

its normal, you also can hear it when you shut down the engine (the light clanking).

heres a tip, when you shut down the engine keep your foot on the clutch and the noise will stop.

cheers

-r

[E36graduate]

03 - 123,000 miles - original clutch, been doing this since I've owned her.....nothing wrong with my clutch either. My other E46 5MT 328i had very similar clack, clack, clack, just not as loud...probably due to 190 hp versus 350 hp (some mods)?? My 04 S4 6mt did almost the same noises when you pushed in the clutch...clack clack clack.... I've gotten used to these noises my m3 makes. she starts up and drives very dependably everyday....might not sound like a smooth machine....but I kind of like that raw mechanical feeling of the m3.

[PricklyPete]

'02 with same issue. It only seems to happen when in stop and go traffic where engine has a load for a very short period of time and then I push the clutch pedal down at the same time I let off of the gas pedal. It seems to happen more on inclines (even slight) more than it does when flat or going down hill.

Almost the exact same thing occured with my '05 Toyota Tacoma V6 that I recently sold...EXACTLY the same sound and scenario where it would occur.

[PennStateM3]

yep ... only happens for me under load when go very slow on an incline as well (rpms <1K) .. just part of the M experience .... try pushing in the clutch pedal before rpm <1K ... if you push it in at the right moment, you won't hear that rattling sound

[///TOMMY S54]

This happens to me too, I get a rattle 90% of the time when I disengage (push on clutch) in 1st to go into neutral. It never really happens when I'm going into 2nd.

[16v100bhp]

From bimerfest - Link

"I’m with BMW of North America, LLC. The M3 is a refined version BMW’s race cars. It is designed to provide optimum power and performance in a street legal package.

In order to transmit engine torque to the rear wheels instantaneously, without any time lag, the whole M3 power train was designed with maximum torsional rigidity. To achieve this maximum torsional rigidity, the flywheel mass and its damping capability has been reduced to a minimum.

As a result, during an abrupt torque transfer (e.g. 1st to 2nd gearshift at low engine speeds) the driver can receive an acoustic feedback, which can be interpreted as a “clunking or rattling” noise.

The acoustic feedback characteristic is not a symptom of a failure, and does not compromise long-term reliability of drivetrain components (clutch, transmission, differential), nor does it adversely affect performance of the vehicle.

If you have any questions, you can phone us at 800-831-1117"

[TboneM3]

Just say "heavy duty driveline" to yourself while driving. I attribute all noises and clunks to the race track orientation of these cars.

[ire]

This is a relief that the sound can be normal. I hear a similar noise on my '04 w/60k miles most prominently during the 1st --> 2nd shift, but also occasionally (and only slightly) during the 2nd --> 3rd shift as well. There never seems to be a problem engaging; no shuddering, vibrating, etc.

[BrokenM3]

Originally Posted by Mr.Yi

I know that rattling a bit is okay but when i accelerate in first and push the clutch in (sometimes in traffic) i get MASSIVE amounts of rattling. engagement seems fine (i have 38k miles) but the clutch seems reallly loose with all the rattling. Also when i am doing about 30 in 2nd and a feather the throttle the clutch seems to judder quite a bit. My car also is a 2001 model year.

any ideas? anyway to "tighten" the clutch?

Go to a qualified shop to get i checked out. Had similar simptoms,(@34000 miles)was able to reproduce the rattling under hard braking also. Turned out to be a fallen out flywheel pin, as it slid forward it got into the flywheel, the flywheel tried to kick it out, and as a result, i had a busted bellhousing too.
Hope this is not the case with your car, just sayin' it might be worth to take a look at it. Either way, GL.