I don't necessarily agree with everyone here. I am now having my M5 clutch replaced at 11k miles. This is a first for me, and I have never had a clutch problem previously. My last two cars were a Viper GTS and a Prosche 993. Neither of those cars showed any sign of clutch degradation at over 20k miles.
The garage (the car is in Europe right now) has removed the clutch and given me their opinion: premature clutch wear NOT caused by abuse.
You know, there are alot of high torque cars out there, including the Viper GTS which I used to drive around the US and Europe. And you know what, I have never heard of so many clutch issues. Some have said that maybe M5 owners are less experienced, or some don't drive quite right.... Bullshit. Plenty of Corvettes driven by people with little experience and I don't hear about their clutches burning up after 2k, 5k, or 10k miles. There are people here debating whether the 10 burnouts they did caused the problem... never heard something so ridiculous. I have no idea of the cause of this problem, but if BMW tried to make the clutch engagement more "refined" by trading-off clamping force (again, this is not my area of expertise), then they did the wrong thing for an M car.
I just got my car back yesterday after paying $1,400 for a new clutch. Frankly it pisses me off that some dealers will cover it under warranty with no questions asked, and others will not. I made them give me my old clutch disk and pressure plate so I could send it along with the repair bill to BMWna. Ive driven a stick my entire life and Ive never had to replace a clutch. BTW my weekend car is a 1967 Shelby Cobra Replica (Superformance) The car has a built 460ci that produces a little over 650hp with 540 lbs of torque. I often take the snake to the track, where it runs in the high 10s in the 1/4 mile. I use 11 inch Good Year racing slicks with about 12 psi.Its funny, the clutch doesnt slip, even when I come out of the hole at 6000 RPM. I might break an axle from time to time, but at least the clutch doesnt slip.
Now heres my point, when I set up the tranny and clutch I made sure they could handle the abuse that a 650hp+ engine would put them through. Why in the hell didnt BMW do the same thing? I think BMWna needs to issue a clutch recall and refund all of us who have had to pay for it out of our own pockets.
Sorry to ***** guys, just needed to vent for a few minuits.
Regards,
Eric
These clutch problems/issue seem to be pretty common for the M5s. I have discussed it with my service writer at the dealership and they have been warrantying the clutches lately.
I just got mine broken in and pulled it hard for the first time, smell the clutch burning as well. I figure it would only a matter of time before it starts to wear out, depending on how I handle the car.
Just don't be too surprised.
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Adrian
01 M5 LeMans Blue/Silverstone - Titanium Trim
just a word of advice. if you guys wish to persue this, then i believe it must be done in numbers. I dont think a petition like i did before may be effective. I am not sure how, but if there is a leader, they will only try to break him down and put him out to be a rebel rouser. i dont know what else to say. o and broker, im really sorry to hear you needed to pay for your clutch. isnt it a ***** that you will have to pay for it again in another 10 k miles .
Fais2000 it sounds like you must have gotten a call or letter from the legal team huh? Guess you can't say but when you try to get something like that going I suppose they have a contengency plan to knock the wind out of you quickly...
Broker, did you pay for the clutch at Braman? What did Lauderdale tell you?
Yes I paid at Braman, and Lauderdale told me that it wasnt covered. I found a dealer that would cover it, but they are in NY.(Rally BMW) What I really want to know is who I can send my clutch and pressure plate to at BMWna.
Any thoughts guys?
Regards,
Eric
Quote:
Originally posted by Aussie2U: Fais2000 it sounds like you must have gotten a call or letter from the legal team huh? Guess you can't say but when you try to get something like that going I suppose they have a contengency plan to knock the wind out of you quickly...
Broker, did you pay for the clutch at Braman? What did Lauderdale tell you?
[This message has been edited by BROKER (edited 24 May 2001).]
well i cant really say. but afterwards, unless you are a lawyer i guess, you feel pretty freaked out, making people believe something that is false is called slander, and slander is a crime. very distressing when you are thinking you are doing the right thing, and then you get bludgened for it, especially when they misconstrue your reasoning. and it really pisses me off that somebody like broker, the same as anybody else, has to pay for his clutch, and others dont, all on just who you speak to and how you speak to them. That is not fair at all. But i guess my hands are a bit tied on it, i dont wanna put my feet to much deeper into this ****. Im a bit dismayed by it to be honest.
[quote]Originally posted by BROKER:
[b] What I really want to know is who I can send my clutch and pressure plate to at BMWna.
Any thoughts guys?
Regards,
Eric
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Send it to "The Man"
Thomas Salkowsky
M Brand Manager
BMW of North America Inc
300 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake
NJ 07675
If/when i'm in this boat I will be polite but firm regarding the entire issue.
I subscribe to the old saying "you can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar"
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