Saab 9-3 Clutch/dmf

[pompei]

My daily is a Saab 9-3 1.9 150. It's done 125k miles. On the whole I'm pleased with it - it is quick, comfy and does 50 mpg. However, there is a metallic rattling noise coming from the left hand side. This gets much louder when I depress the clutch a little, and disappears entirely when the clutch is fully depressed. T'interweb suggests it might be a gearbox input shaft bearing, or dmf failure. If it is either of these, I'm assuming it will cost £££ to fix. If I just leave it, what is the worst that can happen (as we say here)?

[Albert Ross]

You could shear the end off the crank through vibration, and the whole assembly decides to meet fresh air via the bellhousing at 4500rpm..... Or you could buy the bits and fix it before it kills itself. I just replaced the same on my mates Vectra 3.0 Diesel.... 9 hours using a 2 poster. I was bloody knackered!