[wrongmark]

I've had this issue for a good few years now. It's an intermittent issue but more often than not, the car judders when releasing the clutch setting off in 1st gear.

I can't really work out a pattern to it. It sometimes does it and sometimes it doesn't, hot and cold, stop start traffic and normal driving.

I've always thought it must be the clutch and/or DMF being on its last legs, but sometimes it's fine, it seems to have always done it and the clutch seems to still be ok apart from this intermittent issue.

The juddering can sometimes be avoided more revs and more slipping.

I've a few posts on this but wondered if anyone had ever gotten to the bottom of it.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Do you still have the stock Clutch Delay Valve?
How many miles on the clutch?
Have you ever burnt the clutch?

[Terraphantm]

Similar symptoms for me ended up being the throwout bearing

[desertman123]

It's a characteristic of these clutches.

Now if it's NORMAL, I don't know. But mine does this too, usually when it's cold out.

[dwashy]

Could be failing DMF (dual mass flywheel)

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Typically judder on take off is uneven surface on either the clutch disc, pressure plate or DMF surface.

I'd give it a couple good high rpm slips and see if it improves.

- Your Friendly Neighborhood Manual Trans Engineer

[hassmaschine]

Mine does this every once in a while, usually when it's cold (but not always). Not often enough to really worry about though. Clutch feels the same now at 141k as it did at 99k. When the DMF fails, then I'll replace it.

[6ixSpd]

Mine has been doing this since I bought the car two years ago! Only during the colder months though, I don't think it's ever happened in the summer... Nowadays it's winter and every cold start take off in 1st causes a lot of shudder but it can be mitigated by slipping it with a bit more RPM.

No issues otherwise, doesn't slip, etc... I'd love to fix it but if I go into the transmission I'm going to replace everything anyways so I doubt I'd be able to pinpoint the actual cause.

[UncleShrek]

My does this all the time. Its super annoying as i cant figure out what the hell im doing wrong, relieved to know its not just me.
Wish there was a solution without going into the trans.

[Phil325i]

I have the same issue, it seems pretty common. My workaround is to add revs before lifting the clutch. I fitted a CDV delete years ago, but I wonder if part of the function of the OEM CDV is to minimise judder. If so, might it be worth refitting? Any views..?

[wrongmark]

Looks like I'm not alone anyway. Unfortunately this is now the least of my worries as I ran into the back of another car this evening. I'm pretty annoyed at myself as this is the first at fault accident I've had in 16 years of driving.

[mrnuke]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Mine does this every once in a while, usually when it's cold (but not always). Not often enough to really worry about though. Clutch feels the same now at 141k as it did at 99k. When the DMF fails, then I'll replace it.

So my paranoid self thought this was the DMF failing and was starting to research flywheel upgrades. If you don't mind sharing, what are some symptoms of the DMF failing?

btw, BMW tech owned the car I have before me and had the DMF replaced at 45k due to failure. Car at 90k now.
Thanks!

[hassmaschine]

I think it pukes grease everywhere and makes a racket. dunno, this is the only car I've ever had with a DMF.

if you're only at 45k miles I don't think you'll have a problem anytime soon. That tech must have beat the shit out of the clutch....

[Thorin]

Mine has done this too, more prominent after sitting all night in the cold, and goes away after a bit of warmup (a block or so). This morning I remedied it by easing into the cold clutch a bit better. I suspect the DMF is uneven, but until it fails completely I'll hold off on trying to remedy it and just take it easy on the clutch.

[Efthreeoh]

I'll chime in. I think it is just a characteristic of the E90 clutch. My car started exhibiting the judder sometime around 80,000 miles IIRC. I removed the CDV thinking that was the cause and bled the clutch. Removing the CDV helped a slight bit, but not much; TBH I never found removing the CDV drastically improved or changed the clutch behavior. I noticed it only juddered when launching the car unusually, like when leaving a stoplight and the knucklehead in front of you stops or slows down and you have to disengage the clutch for a second and then relaunch while slightly rolling.

Around 240,000 I discovered a high RPM vibration when shifting at 5,000 RPM or higher. I spent months, driveshaft parts and thousands of miles chasing the cause. By 293,000 miles after finally discovering there was such a thing as DMF failures, I replaced the clutch and DMF. It cured the high vibration problem and the juddering went away as well. My E30 (back in the day) and Z4, both with DMF, did not and do not have the juddering clutch issue. My E90's DMF never puked grease.

[AWSB328iM]

I also have this judder and it annoys the crap out of me. Glad to know everyone else is experiencing it and it's not my driving. My E36 328i was smooth as silk for 219k Miles and this E92 shakes like I don't know how to drive a manual.

[avocet]

I had something similar, and when I did my trans mounts with Megan units the judder went away. I have since out in AKG engine mounts and I have no signs of any judder returning.

Keep in mind I first did my trans mounts at well under 100000km's, and the engine mounts weren't too far behind.

[bushwa]

Originally Posted by avocet

I had something similar, and when I did my trans mounts with Megan units the judder went away. I have since out in AKG engine mounts and I have no signs of any judder returning.

Keep in mind I first did my trans mounts at well under 100000km's, and the engine mounts weren't too far behind.

Happens to mine once in awhile too. Almost 190,000 km and recently did the engine mounts. Have trans mounts in a box. How hard were they to change out?

[avocet]

Trans mounts we're super easy... Engine mounts kinda a pain in the ass in comparison.

[mmbingo]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff

Typically judder on take off is uneven surface on either the clutch disc, pressure plate or DMF surface.

I'd give it a couple good high rpm slips and see if it improves.

- Your Friendly Neighborhood Manual Trans Engineer

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has this issue from time to time. I'll take Hawkeye's advise next time.

First started happening when I bought the car (2011 328i xDrive) with 45k miles, then started acting up again around 120k miles, and then again at 138k miles. I'm at 140k now and it's not having this issue.

Now that I think of it, I did adjust my clutch technique each time - allowing more high rpm slips while shifting. Then it would just go away for a while. I don't know what causes it each time.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by mmbingo

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has this issue from time to time. I'll take Hawkeye's advise next time.

First started happening when I bought the car (2011 328i xDrive) with 45k miles, then started acting up again around 120k miles, and then again at 138k miles. I'm at 140k now and it's not having this issue.

Now that I think of it, I did adjust my clutch technique each time - allowing more high rpm slips while shifting. Then it would just go away for a while. I don't know what causes it each time.

Essentially a driving habit that doesn't allow even slip (really lugging it down low, just barely letting it launch....."chugging" launches basically) OR an imperfection from factory. It doesn't take much to make a surface not true and is why there's a spring in the middle of the clutch disc on most OEM applications.

[Nafy]

I had the same issue. Flywheel was replaced under warranty. Much better since then. I bought my car used. Maybe the previous owner didnt use the clutch properly.