E46 Engine Problems - Help

[indykalsi]

Hi There

Firstly Apologies if this has been covered else where - (my excuse id i'm new)

I've got an e46 325Ci Convertible (M Sport) on a 2004 '54' Plate with 90300 mils on the clock (most of which i have done), i've owned for 3 years with no problems what so ever up until now, and it seems that they have all come at once, and most probably are all linked.

1. I have a very bad clutch judder once the car is up to temperature, it bad when setting off and really bad when when down shifting (to the extent my passengers can also feel it through their seat) - i have a feeling the clutch on is way out or is it something else. If a new clutch is required what kind of costs am i looking at?

2. I have a rattling coming from the engine - sounds like loose nuts and bolts rattling around and i have no idea what it is. Some people have mentioned it could be the vanos unit(s) - but not sure, aldo what is the vanos units?

3. Severe loss of power. doesn't even feel like a 2.5 completely lost that pokyness - in fact the drive has become so rough it doesn't feel like i am even driving a BMW and does not feel like it did when i first bought it.

I've been told to get sell the car but i have become attached to it and cannot bear to part company.

It might sound like the car has been neglected but i can assure you it hasn't - been serviced regularly and had the oil changed regularly and the exterior/interior is perfect, even the wheels haven't been scuffed.

i think it may be down to the age and mileage.

Any help on the above issues will be greatly appreciated, and any recommendations where I can take the car to get checked over and repaired, (Main Dealer prices are too steep, even for a diagnosis)

Thanx

[Greeney2k1]

honestly mileage shouldn't effect a beemer ive driven a few and theyve all felt as tight as one another

Id check air flow sensors and exhaust the smallest errors there can cause massive issues

I cleaned my MAF sensor the other day and the car is like new! such a different car!

as for the rattling / clutch.... is anything loose under the car? could be the clutch bearings as you clutch is on its way out which may also explain the loss of power