Im back! -- with a clutch story.... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

1C00lVC · 9th June 2003, 01:12

I was away from the board for almost 3 months!! But now I am back..

A couple of weeks ago I brought my car in to the dealers with a squeaky clutch. I could hear the squeak when the window was open and I depressed the clutch. The dealer (after 4 days waiting for parts) replaces a couple of bearings and the fork. When I got the car back the clutch felt different, the pedal was softer and smoother, and the engagement point was higher...
a couple of days later I was showing off, and did a hard launch from a red light and something went wrong. The clutch was all out, and the rpm at 4k and the car not moving!!! SLIPPORAMA!
Immediately I depressed the clutch and drove normally. I was sure I cooked the clutch... But he next few days I tested the clutch for slipping and it was fine. But I know that once the clutch slips it is cooked and sooner or later would need to be replaced.

And as I am about to take a 3000 miles trip to BC I wanted to make sure I do not get stuck in the middle of no where with no clutch, I called my independent BMW garage (German Motors/Sunnyvale) and asked them to replace my clutch ($1000k quote)... They called me 3 hours later telling me that hey tested the clutch and were able to burn rubber in 1st and 2nd gear, and as far as they are concern it is safe to take a long trip with the car...

PHEW!!

so anyways, it is nice to be back here, and on Tuesday I about to hit the road north -> California ->Oregon -> Washington-> British Columbia... stay 4 days in Van, and go back in a round about way, about a week... Also, to prepare for the trip I bought Nav maps 2 (Pac Nor west) and 8 (Canada) on EBay for $20 a map (ver 200.1)...

P.S. I forgot to add that the folks at german Motors explaind it as a problem with the M5 pressure plate that has a self adjusting mechanism and it takes a couple of days for it to adjust after installation. I must say that now the engagement point of the clutch feels more "normal"...

MIB · 9th June 2003, 12:42

Welcome Back Arie,

Enjoy your trip.

MAH · 9th June 2003, 17:28

Good to hear from you Arie. Sorry we missed you on the last N.CA. drive. Are you attending the Concorso in Monterey?

Mark

Teutonaddict · 9th June 2003, 18:25

Quote:

Originally posted by 1C00lVC
....the folks at German Motors explained it as a problem with the M5 pressure plate that has a self adjusting mechanism and it takes a couple of days for it to adjust after installation...

Glad you're back, and without being stranded, Arie!

When my clutch was replaced at 43K miles, it was due to a failed "self-adjusting mechanism," or so I was told. They told me that the friction surfaces showed only normal wear, and zero heat damage.

When I tried to get the BMWNA Regional Tech Rep to duplicate my symptoms, he claimed (without me in the car) there was NO slippage. Of course, when I demanded a ride-along so he could demonstrate to me the lack of any clutch slip, it was--as you say--SLIPPPOOORAMA!!

When they discovered the failure, BMW replaced the clutch under warranty. So perhaps there's something to intermittent slipping and the self-adjusting mechanism.

I don't mean to imply that your new clutch is problematic. Rather, your independent shop's explanation has shed a little more light on my understanding of E39 M5 clutch woes. Thanks for posting!

-Dave

JEM · 9th June 2003, 18:46

Welcome back.

Hmm...Peter Pan BMW changed my clutch a couple weeks back (diagnosis was rusted - yes rusted, don't ask me how - release bearing/fingers and a leaky rear main seal.)

The replacement clutch came with a break-in instruction sheet that in essence said "Don't show off for a few weeks."

1C00lVC · 9th June 2003, 23:33

I should add that I have 36k miles on my car...