1984 BMW 318i flywheel

[Sunnyledge]

Does anyone know the purpose of the circled item on this 1984 M10 flywheel. This motor doesn’t use a crankshaft sensor. My machine shop say its in the way of having the flywheel resurfaced.

[superj]

that's odd. maybe its a flywheel from another bmw that does? its not a balance weight so they can remove it but it will have to be balance afterwards because its way out from the center of the disk so it will effect the balance

[Sunnyledge]

This is a photo of the original flywheel that is in my car, which I have owned since new. This flywheel was used on M10 BMWs from Sept 82 thru 85. The actual flywheel at the shop is identical. I am doing a performance rebuild of a donor motor and the resurfacing was being done before rebalancing the rotating assembly with the 2002 crankshaft I am using.

[superj]

I wonder why they cannot refinish the surface than? Tons of those have been refinished by other people

[vpilarry]

95% sure its for the crank reference sensor as this flywheel is also used in the Euro E28 518/518i.

Since the US E30 318i doesn't use that sensor you could remove the offending bit but re-balance the flywheel if you do.

[Sunnyledge]

Thanks. That what I thought it might be, but couldn’t fine any info documenting the use of a crankshaft sensor on the M10 (US or Euro). The machineshop is going to remove it, resurface it and send it out for balancing.