Re: On the numbers...

Post #350,867 by pwhysall 11/18/11 10:39:48 AM Reply	Re: On the numbers... No, instead you get to replace TWO clutches :-) I don't know of many people who have replaced clutches that "just wear out". The people I know who replace clutches seem to be the same people every time, and when you're on your third vehicle in a row where you've replaced the clutch, then I reckon the problem is the nut on the steering wheel, not the clutch itself. If ya know what ah'm sayin'. Most (manual) cars that go beyond 100K miles do so on their original clutch. Perhaps British drivers are just more sympathetic in their driving style. Perhaps clutches fitted to vehicles in the UK market are beefier. I dunno. One of the things that worries me most on the 528i is that it has a DMF, and those babies are expensive if they go wrong, both in terms of parts and labour. I suspect that if the DMF fails, i'll be weighing the car in for scrap or breaking it for parts, as the cost of fixing it will be not far off the resale value of the whole car.
Post #350,879 by static 11/18/11 6:28:30 PM Reply	Clutch replacements and drivers. Clutch replacements are done frequently enough most mechanics know how long it will take them to get inside the thing and do it, but most cars last for years without one. My sister's car came with a new clutch and the car wasn't that old (20 years?): that strongly suggests a previous driver did the damage. That is also suggested by my own experience: got a new clutch for my 924, but that was mainly because the pilot bearing was dying and if you're going to spend the time to get into the bell housing, you may as well replace the clutch plate as well. Turns out it was a bit dodgy, but then it is a sports car and I've little doubt at least two previous owners saw that aspect first and foremost. And since I've now seen what a clutch mechanism looks like (and how much it weighs!) I am somewhat astonished they've figured out how to put two clutch plates in one, driving a concentric axle for the gearbox. A DCT, in other words. Wade. Static Scribblings http://staticsan.blogspot.com/
Post #350,889 by Another Scott 11/18/11 8:20:45 PM Reply	I'm assuming the machine can shift better than me. Yes, it's a good point that it has 2 clutches. :-) However, if it can shift in 8 ms, then there's almost no stress on the clutch linings (compared to normal US drivers who work hard to minimize jerking even as they burn up their linings) so they should last the life of the car if it's designed properly. But it sounds like the US tuning is different from yours - http://www.nytimes.c...ml?pagewanted=all Oh well. I wasn't aware of dual-mass flywheels. I guess you need to keep on the look out for vibrations at 900 and 1800 rpm. Fingers crossed. Enjoy your new buggy! Cheers, Scott. (Whose SIL just got a new Prius.)
Post #350,892 by folkert 11/18/11 8:22:29 PM Reply	I use the clutch for startup from being stopped only. After that its a clutchless affair, even most downshifts.
Post #350,894 by Another Scott 11/18/11 8:36:56 PM Reply	Bike? Car? Both? I haven't tried that myself. Some claim it's hard on the synchronizers not to use the clutch; others says there's no problem. I dunno. Presumably if you're good enough to match the RPMs without the clutch then you're good enough to put little wear on it anyway. I dunno if I'll try it in my TDI - the turbo kicking in would make it challenging.... Thanks. Cheers, Scott.
Post #350,897 by drook 11/18/11 10:25:08 PM Reply	Upshifting, yes; down, no That's on the bike, anyway. In the car, the throw on the shift lever is long enough that it's not worth it to try. -- Drew
Post #350,901 by folkert 11/19/11 1:36:37 AM Reply	You are... Full of crap. I can hit my Lancer near every time up and down with out grinding the syncs except from 2nd to 1st... Heck, if I do it right I can even get my car to go into gear without grinding from a start without using the clutch. My Bikes, easy to do with the throttle and the toe shifter.
Post #350,903 by drook 11/19/11 1:59:35 AM Reply	I"m happy for you You like clutchless shifting, and you're good at it. I don't mind using the clutch, and of all the manuals I've owned I've never had to replace a clutch. Looks like we're each happy with our own driving. -- Drew
Post #350,905 by pwhysall 11/19/11 2:21:17 AM Reply	People who change gear without using the clutch are... (a) in a tiny, tiny minority (b) inevitably still going to make some alarming grunching noises when they don't quite hit the spot; no-one's perfect
Post #350,906 by Steve Lowe 11/19/11 3:05:53 AM Reply	(c) they're driving a semi
Post #350,907 by crazy 11/19/11 6:03:10 AM Reply	Or mildly retarded Really, that's the word. My brother's best friend (neighbor 3 doors down) since he was a little kid ended up with a volkswagon beetle (in 1979). The guy is mildly retarded, which makes for great "best friend" material. Nicest guy in the world, but dumb enough to annoy constantly unless you partition out that area of your brain while talking to him. Grind it until you find it was his standard method of shifting.
Post #350,914 by folkert 11/19/11 8:25:10 AM Reply	... c) People that use the clutch inevitably still going to make some alarming grunching noises when they don't quite hit the spot; no-one's perfect
Post #350,960 by pwhysall 11/21/11 3:40:16 AM Reply	Re: ... Shrug. If I miss a gear, I dip the clutch again, no harm done other than feeling a bit daft. If you miss a gear, it's metal-to-metal contact in the gearbox. Still, if it works for you, that's cool.
Post #350,976 by folkert 11/21/11 11:05:57 AM Reply	Re: ... I haven't ground a gear not using the clutch either... it I miss a shift, it doesn't sound like you think. It sound just like when you miss a gear. There is metal to metal contact when you miss a gear as well. Especially with these modern manual transmissions. You guys are just daft.
Post #350,902 by folkert 11/19/11 1:41:43 AM Reply	Well, obviously... I've done it on all of my manual cars since I was 16. My Dad's 1973 Pinto, my 1976 Pinto, the Nissan Sentra, Monte Carlo with a saginaw tranny, the Ford 3 on the tree, the chevy truck 454 with a Muncie, My honda Accord, My Mits Lancer. Of course the bikes I've had and have. All without grinding the syncros. Heck, even when I drove a delivery truck for a while, never used the clutch after a start... up or down, except to 1st. Its not hard, it just takes finesse and timing properly... the shifter just falls into place when you do it right. I guess I just do it right.
Post #350,910 by boxley 11/19/11 7:39:59 AM Reply	yes, years ago I even offered crc to teach his kid to do it some brit whiner started complaining that he wouldnt lend me his car if I visited Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free American and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 55 years. meep

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