Clutch Issues

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by DIB17

I shall be discussing this with Murketts tomorrow to get their views. Anyone know the best person to speak to there?

just to be clear Andy doesnt do any more than ask the right people the right questions at BMWUK


He knows thru trial and error what bmw will and wont give as warranty and good will on the CSL and takes genuine cases forward to whatever conclusion

unlike alot of other dealers who just cant be bothered or are too big headed to ask

[shane@mbtech]

Originally Posted by shimmy

just to be clear Andy doesnt do any more than ask the right people the right questions at BMWUK


He knows thru trial and error what bmw will and wont give as warranty and good will on the CSL and takes genuine cases forward to whatever conclusion

unlike alot of other dealers who just cant be bothered or are too big headed to ask

Very well put Shimmy.

He is rare these days in that he is good at his job.

[_Nathan_]

And that he gives a fook.

[DIB17]

Not looking good!

I have spoken to Andy Pressland at Murketts (He is a really nice guy and very helpful) and he agrees with the verdict from Sytner. The only way the clutch plate would get warped would be due to overheating and that would only happen from the launches. No other form of driving including lots of trackdays would put that much load and heat into the clutch! So it's as a result of the way the car has been driven and not a component failure. His advice was to persue it through BMW customer services and BMW GB.

I have spoked to customer services and explained the situation. The process is for Sytner to raise the complaint with BMW GB, and they would send in the regional technical manager to inspect and validate the clutch, he has the final say! But as he was in Sytner yesterday, and has already seen the clutch and said definatley not covered by warranty due to wear and tear from the way the car has been driven - it's not looking particularly good!!

I am continuing to pursue it, more along the lines of goodwill now but it's not looking hopefull! Any more ideas from you guys?
Dave

[BADCSL]

had the same problem with clutch riding, taken it to bmw. they reset computer and when i went to pick it up they told me it was fine. took it down the road with the workshop supervisor and was still riding. Eventually bmw has agreed to replace the clutch kit and new flywheel. will get car next week. will keep u posted. thank god for motorplan.

[NZ_M3]

I recently got myself a clone GT1 and have been looking through the diagnostic functions within the SMGII control unit - interestingly there's lot more functions than I initially thought and I now have an alternative theory to the slur.

On the service functions there are usually 4 procedures involved whenever a clutch kit is replaced or the gearbox is pulled:

1. Re-teach clutch curve
2. Reset clutch slip point
3. Full gearbox adaptation
4. Re-teach longitudinal acceleration sensor.

Each of these are done in a particular order - if you do one before the other the gear operation doesn't work properly (yes I tried it and it was horrible haha ... ended up throwing a couple of codes which I had to clear )

These are the normal functions performed by BMW whenever they are told a clutch is slipping (usually they will simply reset the clutch curve and re teach the slip point as an initial measure).

In addition to this there's also an additional reset function for the clutch curve - this I am presuming must be a rest of adaptation values within the software.

Now if the hydraulics are opened up there are separate function that "vent" various valves within the hydraulic system - these are usually NEVER performed.

I've yet to try it on my car as personally I reset my clutch curve and reset the clutch slip point on a very regular basis and I don't have any slip or slur issues.

I am still going through all the functions on the valve vents - but a couple of these relate to the clutch hydraulics (I am not talking about bleeding the clutch reservoir fluid here - it's something else as far as I can tell).

My point here is - much like a normal manual transmission - if the hydraulics aren't bled properly (or the valves operating them) you are going to get slip even if you do the full readaptation functions - I personally think this has a big variance on why we are seeing slips in the clutch system. Put it this way, when was the last time any of the owners actually got the dealership to bleed their clutch system or the SMG pump?

I've also been tempted to fully reprogram the SMG control unit via the SSS progman, but have been a bit too scared about bricking my control unit - maybe later when I've learnt how to use the GT1 and SSS properly.

[grumps]

When i had clutch troubles i asked bmw to check if it had the latest software and they said they were not aware of any updates after telling them their was! A week ago i took delivery of a autologic diagnostic unit and guess what their was an update!I carried it out which has made for a smoother change! so as they say if you want it doing do it yourself.

[DIB17]

Just a year after having a new clutch fitted it's slurring again and also, sometimes there is a small judder when pulling away, especially low speeds in second. Back in the garage today and they need to remove the gearbox to look at the clutch plate.

Lets hope they don't come back with bullshit about the clutch plate being worn and not covered by warranty!! Am I right in saying a new clutch comes with 2 years warranty? I have extended warranty and there is no way it can be worn in a year and 8,000 miles!!

We all know BMW are tightening their belts with warranty payouts so I hope they aren't going to turn into coonts with this one!!!

Dave

[MKoop]

Originally Posted by DIB17

Just a year after having a new clutch fitted it's slurring again and also, sometimes there is a small judder when pulling away, especially low speeds in second. Back in the garage today and they need to remove the gearbox to look at the clutch plate.

Lets hope they don't come back with bullshit about the clutch plate being worn and not covered by warranty!! Am I right in saying a new clutch comes with 2 years warranty? I have extended warranty and there is no way it can be worn in a year and 8,000 miles!!

We all know BMW are tightening their belts with warranty payouts so I hope they aren't going to turn into coonts with this one!!!

Dave

I feel your pain
Had to fork out after the clutch started sluring even with warranty.
As far as I know you have a two year warranty on a new clutch & should replace free of charge.

[DuncanR]

It costs a lot of money obviously to keep a clutch working in tip top condition ! You have to thrash the bollocks out of it on the road, at loads of UK trackdays, and around the Ring like I have, costs a fortune in fuel, hotels, tyres, ferries,JK's, and TD's, but it works !! ...after all the miles mine has done, the gearbox/ clutch is the only left to change on the broom.... thats fooked it now i bet !