Lightened/Single-Mass Flywheel and Clutch

[Ed Doe]

Hi All,

Does anyone have any direct experience fitting a lightened single-mass flywheel & Clutch to their M?

I'm looking at stuff I need to sort out this winter, and wondering if the whole rear end is apart it's just easier/sensible to get the clutch sorted at the same time...

Cheers in advance,

Ed

 

[lucasxdiniz]

I don't have any experience with lightened flywheels on the S54, so can't help you much. But I did come across this reel on Instagram that makes one very appealing, the OP was also happily answering questions in the comments.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKNP6heR2T1/?igsh=MTFqdGxseWZzdXd5Mw==

Just general comment about straight 6s: very long crank so harmonics are very important. Keep an eye on that bottom end if you change anything on the rotating assembly.

 

[MrPT]

Christ, the sound with those headers…

 

[Vanne]

Gday Ed,

ive got that JB kit installed in my car, ive done prob 4 track days in it before i took the car off the road. Its a nice kit, easy to live with , just do your due dillenge on the part numbers, when i ordered mine back then , they sent me the clutch kit for the e46 m3 combines with the z4m jb race flywheel.. obviously that was a frikking drama.. pro's or cons, depending what you like, the car will sound like an old school Duke, rattling at idle.. (i personally I like that, others hate it, too bad for them )

Much quicker pickup than the stock set.

But, ive already got a different setup sorted for when this clutch plate goes, and it will go.. It gets punished quite a bit using autoblip.

i bought this last year,

https://tiltonracing.com/product/bmw-clutch-flywheel-assemblies/
and then select the 2 plate e46 M3 version.

prob a bit harder to live with, (its on/off) but much much more better, esp now the car is SCed.

 

[RedUn]

I don't have any experience with lightened flywheels on the S54, so can't help you much. But I did come across this reel on Instagram that makes one very appealing, the OP was also happily answering questions in the comments.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKNP6heR2T1/?igsh=MTFqdGxseWZzdXd5Mw==

Just general comment about straight 6s: very long crank so harmonics are very important. Keep an eye on that bottom end if you change anything on the rotating assembly.

That is indeed epic :evil:

 

[Dubbedown]

I run a sm flywheel with oe clutch and it’s quite civil. I’ve been in cars where it sounds like a bag of nuts and bolts were thrown in a blender lol. Mine is nothing like that. Key is to find a steel flywheel that’s lighter than stock but not so light like aluminum.

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Going to a single mass flywheel is a very bad idea

Getting the harmonics right at both ends of the crank is key - changing just 1 end is going to lead to problems further down the line given the crank damper and dual mass flywheel both have damping elements associated with them.

I’ll wait for the tsunami of abuse…

 

[beanie]

I’m sure I’ve read a few threads over the years where people have had some nasty failures on S54s shortly after messing with the flywheel and/or harmonic damper.

It was a long while ago and I remember plenty or others who’d had no issue, but it was enough to put me off given my cars use. Shame, as a freer revving engine is a great thing.

 

[Ed Doe]

I’m sure I’ve read a few threads over the years where people have had some nasty failures on S54s shortly after messing with the flywheel and/or harmonic damper.

It was a long while ago and I remember plenty or others who’d had no issue, but it was enough to put me off given my cars use. Shame, as a freer revving engine is a great thing.

So this is the mutterings I'd started to see from my research so far. Enough to concern me a little...!

 

[Vanne]

Meh don't believe everything you read. I ran 2 seasons with my clutxh/jb racing flywheel, zero issues aside from a stripped clutch plate (engineering issue) refunded for a new one. I still have the same clutch, but have a new one ready to go from Tilton when i blow this one this coming season.

 

[Ed Doe]

Meh don't believe everything you read. I ran 2 seasons with my clutxh/jb racing flywheel, zero issues aside from a stripped clutch plate (engineering issue) refunded for a new one. I still have the same clutch, but have a new one ready to go from Tilton when i blow this one this coming season.

Interesting - how many miles you done with it fitted? have you had any of the engine apart at all since fitting either?

 

[Dubbedown]

Going to a single mass flywheel is a very bad idea

Getting the harmonics right at both ends of the crank is key - changing just 1 end is going to lead to problems further down the line given the crank damper and dual mass flywheel both have damping elements associated with them.

I’ll wait for the tsunami of abuse…

I’ll report back when my drivetrain explodes but so far in the 10 track days I’ve logged it’s been a hoot. That combined with the pulley kit, the revs just climb/fall so much easier to the point I had to force myself to be quicker on rev match. It's really a fun experience and changes the driving dynamics.

I’m sure I’ve read a few threads over the years where people have had some nasty failures on S54s shortly after messing with the flywheel and/or harmonic damper.

It was a long while ago and I remember plenty or others who’d had no issue, but it was enough to put me off given my cars use. Shame, as a freer revving engine is a great thing.

Agree on harmonic damper - that should be left alone. But flywheel is not an issue. Plenty of E85 and E46 owners have gone down this road with race cars that see way more abuse than daily driving and they've held up fine. Go with a reputable brand & kit. Also there's varying degrees of lightweight. Vanne runs the JB kit which is as light as you can go but there's stuff in the middle (~8kg) that feels very much like factory.