URGENT! Please respond if you've had clutch problems! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

SteveP · 30th November 2000, 14:25

My February build M5 with less than twelve thousand miles has a very bad clutch slippage problem. It's at the dealer, and I'm waiting for a call from them. Someone named Doug posted at bimmer.org that his M5 with only 8K miles is at the SAME dealer with the same problem. They told him it's $1650 to fix it.

If you HAVE had problems with your clutch, and had BMW fix it, did you have to pay? Or is it included under the full maintenance program? I have never tracked my M5. I don't baby it though, either. I am inclined to put up a MAJOR stink if they tell me I have to pay. If there is precedent for BMW fixing clutches under warranty, I want to make sure we get the same treatment. Please respond by posting, or email me at spaulin@cisco.com if you have had any repairs done to your clutch, and indicate whether you had to pay or not.

Thanks!
-Steve

Black M5 · 30th November 2000, 15:31

Yes i had my clutch burn at around 8000 miles. I was really shocked becuase i didn't really spin the wheels or abuse the clutch. The only thing i had was wheelspining due to the power and not the use of the clutch. The clutch started to slip when i shift fast, and i showed that to the serviceman. They told me that they would check the clutch and see whether it got burned because of default or abuse. And i also should be prepared to pay some $1000 if it was my fault. Then they told me it was a default and i didn't have to pay.
I would like to point out that a friend of mine had to pay for his clutch of his M5 bacause his delear told him that it was his fault.
Anyway good luck with your delear.

StupidGrin8UP · 30th November 2000, 16:32

Yo guys.

As a local - which dealerships have you been working with on these or other issues. Any positive/negative feedback?

My feeling is that FM West has gotten bad because they have more customers than they know what to do with. I also know a guy who quit working at Chambers because he said they were dishonest.

I've been dealing with Wagner in Boylston and been very happy w/ them so far.

SteveP · 30th November 2000, 16:34

My car is at Wagner. I don't know who Doug is who posted on bimmer.org, but his car is also at Wagner.

bravex · 30th November 2000, 19:50

steve,

i just burnt my clutch in 4000 miles. it was my fault cause i used to spin the wheels and put tremendous strain on the clutch. however
i was very firm with my dealer and told him
that this should not happen and got it down under warranty/

moreover, it takes a lot of time to get used to this clutch.study this board , especially
the one titled clutch problems on page 6 or 7. the clutch needs to be feathered during normal driving, otherwise the car jerks and the clutch slips. during aggresive driving , dsc off, and reving till 6500 then the ckutch needs to be shifted quickly. at least i think so , i could be wrong. let me know how it goes.

jeromeb · 31st December 2000, 21:53

I have 9500 miles on my M5 and the clutch is starting to spin. Please need advice.
Warranty item ?

bobafett · 1st January 2001, 01:33

Spin as in the clutch slips when you give it gas and there is no appropriate correlation in acceleration.

And yes, this is definetly covered under the warranty. Clutch failure after 9000 miles is unacceptable.

--Dan

sam · 1st January 2001, 01:39

Same thing happened to me at ~10K - I drive the car hard but do not abuse it. The dealership covered it. This has happened to quite a few owners on this board.

Good luck!

kenneth · 1st January 2001, 01:50

My clutch is slipping as well. I've 9k miles on my M5. It's only slipping during fast rpm shifts. Although I'm an aggressive driver, I never abuse my clutch. The clutch on the M5 is simply weak. Even the mechanics at my dealership agreed to it. I've already scheduled an appointment with the dealer. Repair will be covered under BMW full maintenance program.

Later,
Kenneth
'00 silverstone M5