Clutch Masters 05-07 BMW 330I 3.0L 6 Spd FX100 Clutch Kit w/Steel Fly

This is the Clutch Masters FX100 kit for the BMW 330i with the 3.0L inline six and the six-speed manual, sold as 03CM3-HD00-SK with a steel flywheel in the box. It is the kit for an owner whose original clutch is slipping, chattering or near the end of its travel, or whose dual-mass flywheel has started to knock and rattle, and who wants one order that covers the clutch, the release bearing and the flywheel. The FX100 is Clutch Masters' entry street kit, so it is meant for a stock or lightly modified car that still gets driven every day.

What the FX100 clutch kit does in a 330i six-speed

Clutch Masters pairs its Power Plus I heavy-duty pressure plate with a steel-backed organic disc that uses a Marcel spring wafer under the facing. The wafer gives the disc a progressive bite, so engagement feels close to factory, and Clutch Masters rates the FX100 at a 70 percent increase in holding capacity over stock with only slightly more pedal effort. That margin is aimed at cars with intake, exhaust or tune work, not forced induction. The kit adds a new release bearing, a pilot bearing where the application uses one, and an alignment tool.

The SK suffix is the part that matters on this car. The six-speed 330i left the factory with a dual-mass flywheel, and a worn dual-mass unit is a common reason these clutches feel rough. The SK kit replaces it with a single-mass steel flywheel, which removes the dual-mass wear item for good. The trade-off is that a single-mass flywheel passes more driveline noise into the cabin, so expect some gear rattle at idle in neutral that the stock flywheel used to soak up.

Symptoms that point to a worn 330i clutch or flywheel

• Rpm flares without matching road speed in fourth, fifth or sixth under full throttle
• Shudder or judder pulling away, especially in reverse or on an incline
• Clunk or knock on take-off and when you lift off the throttle, typical of a tired dual-mass flywheel
• The engagement point sits very high, or pedal feel has changed
• Bearing whine that changes or disappears when you press the pedal
• Hard engagement of first or reverse because the clutch is not releasing fully

How to confirm before you buy

Run a slip test in fourth from about 2,000 rpm at full throttle and watch whether the tach jumps ahead of the speedometer. Look at the bottom of the bellhousing for oil from the rear main seal or fluid from the slave cylinder, because either will glaze a new disc. If the pedal is soft or sinks, check the hydraulics before blaming the clutch. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers telling a slipping clutch from other driveline faults, and the manual vs automatic repair cost guide helps you plan the labor bill.

Fitment

Our listing is titled 2005 to 2007 BMW 330i 3.0L six-speed. The Clutch Masters application data for the 03CM3-HD00 FX100 kits lists the E46 330 3.0L six-speed for 2004 to 2005, along with the E60 530 3.0L and 525 2.5L six-speed for 2004 to 2005. It is an E46 and E60 part. The E90 330i sedan that arrived for 2006 uses a different engine and clutch, so if your 2006 or 2007 330i is an E90, send us the year and VIN before ordering. E46 330Ci coupe and convertible owners should also confirm with the VIN, since the E46 six-speed start of production matters. More kits are in our rebuild kits category, and if you are after a ceramic street-and-track setup, compare the ACT race sprung 6-pad kit for the E46 330i.

Install notes

• Fit the included steel flywheel in place of the dual-mass unit with new flywheel bolts torqued to BMW's specification, and clean the friction face before the disc goes on.
• Center the disc with the supplied alignment tool and draw the pressure plate down evenly in a crisscross pattern.
• Install the new release bearing, and inspect the fork pivot and guide sleeve while the gearbox is out. The pilot bearing comes out cleanly with a slide hammer pilot bearing puller.
• The E46 clutch hydraulics share the brake fluid reservoir, so bleed with fresh brake fluid of the grade on the reservoir cap.
• The driveshaft has to come down for this job; it is the right time to replace a cracked guibo with the E46 flex disc and center bearing kit.
• Drive gently for the first few hundred miles so the organic facing beds in before launches or full-throttle shifts.

Does this fit an E90 330i?

Clutch Masters lists the 03CM3-HD00 FX100 kits for the E46 330 3.0L six-speed and the E60 525 and 530 six-speed. The E90 330i that started in 2006 is a different car, so send us your VIN before ordering if yours is an E90.

Why does the SK kit include a flywheel?

The six-speed 330i came with a dual-mass flywheel, which wears out and causes clunks and judder. The SK version ships with a single-mass steel flywheel so you replace the clutch and the flywheel in one order.

Will the steel flywheel make noise?

A single-mass flywheel does not absorb engine pulses the way a dual-mass unit does, so some gear rattle at idle in neutral is normal. It does not mean anything is wrong with the clutch.

How much power can the FX100 handle?

Clutch Masters rates the FX100 at a 70 percent increase in holding capacity over stock and aims it at street cars with bolt-ons such as an intake or exhaust. Supercharged or track-driven cars should step up to a higher-rated kit.

What else should I replace while the transmission is out?

Check the rear main seal for leaks, inspect the fork pivot and guide sleeve, and look at the driveshaft flex disc and center bearing, since the driveshaft must come out anyway.

• How to Diagnose Transmission Slipping
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell Them Apart