How do i know when my clutch is on its way out?
#1
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: m54
I have an 04 530i with a manny tranny and i have no idea how to know when my clutch will need replacing... The other day i went to peel out from a stop sign when no one was around so i had the rpms at around 5000 when i let the clutch out a little to start rolling forward and then i dumped it thinking the wheels would spin but the engine stayed reving and nothing happened almost as it would if the clutch was still in except it wasnt, a few seconds after dropping the clutch the wheels finally recieved the power and started to move. this incident was also followed by a burning smell... any advice is appreciated
#2
Contributors
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
maybe doing burnouts is killing your clutch and gearbox, it usually does. This thread is like someone ramming their car into a wall and asking if it will buff out afterward.
#3
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: OC, SoCal
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '05 545i SMG, 35% Tint, LED Angel Eyes
Your clutch is shot. Your engine is failing to engage with the tranny thus no power is being transferred to the rear wheels. For some reason, I am picturing a gear box with a bunch of smooth rings in burnt oil instead of toothed gears.
#4
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: m54
hahahaha ok then, well thanks for the input but i also realize im sixteen and i will drive like a sixteen year old no matter what car i have, granted my car i bought at 97000 miles and it now has 100700 miles so who knows how the person(s) before me drove it, probably not as hard as me but still. and so what happens when the clutch is totally shot and how would i know if the gearbox is actually messed up, sorry for acting like a stupid teen but hey ill have my time to drive slow when im retired.
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
hahahaha ok then, well thanks for the input but i also realize im sixteen and i will drive like a sixteen year old no matter what car i have, granted my car i bought at 97000 miles and it now has 100700 miles so who knows how the person(s) before me drove it, probably not as hard as me but still. and so what happens when the clutch is totally shot and how would i know if the gearbox is actually messed up, sorry for acting like a stupid teen but hey ill have my time to drive slow when im retired.
#6
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2008 535i:
(8/07 Build) Metallic Bronze, Beige NASCA Leather, Ventilated Seats, Sport Pkg, Cold Wxr Pkg, Logic-7 Sound, HUD, Night Vision, PDC, Split Rear Seats, NAV, Premium Pkg, Comfort Access, HD Radio, Sport Auto Trans
Current mods: M-Aero Kit, JB4, Motorcepts 6000k HID Foglamps
Umnitza ICE-Lite 10w LED 6000k AE's
1992 Camaro RS:
Fully Restored w/Custom Interior, 5.0L V8, T-tops, OEM Z28 Foglamps, Inst Cluster, & Spoiler, Custom Sound, Too many engine mods to list
A neutral drop from 5k rpm??? I see a blown tranny in someone's future........
#7
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2008 535i:
(8/07 Build) Metallic Bronze, Beige NASCA Leather, Ventilated Seats, Sport Pkg, Cold Wxr Pkg, Logic-7 Sound, HUD, Night Vision, PDC, Split Rear Seats, NAV, Premium Pkg, Comfort Access, HD Radio, Sport Auto Trans
Current mods: M-Aero Kit, JB4, Motorcepts 6000k HID Foglamps
Umnitza ICE-Lite 10w LED 6000k AE's
1992 Camaro RS:
Fully Restored w/Custom Interior, 5.0L V8, T-tops, OEM Z28 Foglamps, Inst Cluster, & Spoiler, Custom Sound, Too many engine mods to list
hahahaha ok then, well thanks for the input but i also realize im sixteen and i will drive like a sixteen year old no matter what car i have, granted my car i bought at 97000 miles and it now has 100700 miles so who knows how the person(s) before me drove it, probably not as hard as me but still. and so what happens when the clutch is totally shot and how would i know if the gearbox is actually messed up, sorry for acting like a stupid teen but hey ill have my time to drive slow when im retired.
#8
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you started to crawl before you dumped the clutch then what it sounds like you've done is spun the flywheel at 5000rpm lightly touching the clutch. This would have started to burn away at the clutch so when you did dump the clutch, it was against a burnt surface and hence it took a while before it gained traction. The burning smell would have been from the burnt clutch. If it's only happened once then it shouldn't be a problem but I strongly recommend that you don't do that again as you'll be asking for trouble.
Most normal cars have not been designed with the durability to dump the clutch with high revs. Even top end sports cars with higher durability parts will have issues if you carry out this technique (I'm thinking Nissan Skylines, Evos etc).
With regards to knowing when the clutch is on the way out, as previously posted, if the clutch starts slipping under normal use (e.g. accelerating in 6th gear from low revs) then this will be the easiest indicator to spot.
Most normal cars have not been designed with the durability to dump the clutch with high revs. Even top end sports cars with higher durability parts will have issues if you carry out this technique (I'm thinking Nissan Skylines, Evos etc).
With regards to knowing when the clutch is on the way out, as previously posted, if the clutch starts slipping under normal use (e.g. accelerating in 6th gear from low revs) then this will be the easiest indicator to spot.
#9
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you started to crawl before you dumped the clutch then what it sounds like you've done is spun the flywheel at 5000rpm lightly touching the clutch. This would have started to burn away at the clutch so when you did dump the clutch, it was against a burnt surface and hence it took a while before it gained traction. The burning smell would have been from the burnt clutch. If it's only happened once then it shouldn't be a problem but I strongly recommend that you don't do that again as you'll be asking for trouble.
Most normal cars have not been designed with the durability to dump the clutch with high revs. Even top end sports cars with higher durability parts will have issues if you carry out this technique (I'm thinking Nissan Skylines, Evos etc).
With regards to knowing when the clutch is on the way out, as previously posted, if the clutch starts slipping under normal use (e.g. accelerating in 6th gear from low revs) then this will be the easiest indicator to spot.
Most normal cars have not been designed with the durability to dump the clutch with high revs. Even top end sports cars with higher durability parts will have issues if you carry out this technique (I'm thinking Nissan Skylines, Evos etc).
With regards to knowing when the clutch is on the way out, as previously posted, if the clutch starts slipping under normal use (e.g. accelerating in 6th gear from low revs) then this will be the easiest indicator to spot.
#10
Members
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545i 6mt, Titanium Silver, Sport Package, Winter Package
e60.teamegypt.4 is is very common for clutches to slip even if it is good under very spirited clutch engagement. Stock clutches(depending on the make, and model of the car) are rated close to the power output of its corresponding engine. In a burnout what should break free are the tires. If you install wider tires then your chances of burning out are reduced and slipping the clutch increases. If you want to do a good burnout you need to dump the clutch aggressively and not feather into it.