SMG Clutch Overheating
07-04-2006, 11:39 PM
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MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Just came back from the 4th of July fireworks in Pasadena CA. There is a huge hill to go up to get out of the park. I put the car in AUTO mode like I do 80% of the time and started slowly going up the hill. After a few minutes the warning light came on "Clutch Overheating... Pull over to cool down." I was dumbfounded for a sec and realized I had been riding the clutch? 
I know what riding the clutch is. It's when you hold the car with the throttle on an incline without the use of the brake. What I did was slowly apply throttle in D1 and come to a stop using brake. I think by slowly accelerating I was burning the clutch eventhough I was using the brake when I had to stop.
There really wasn't a place to pull over to the left or right. So, I stepped on the foot brake, pulled on the hand brake and switched the gear to Neutral. Everytime the car in front of me moved a few feet, I put the gear back into first and release my brakes and inched on forward. When I got far enough ahead, I stepped on my foot brake, pulled on the hand brake and switched to Neutral again. This was repeated over and over for a good 30 minutes as I slowly climbed the hill. In doing what I did, I gave my clutch enough time to cool down.
Now, here is the question. How bad did I mess my clutch up? First time I ever remember ever riding my clutch like that. Learned my lesson and will never do it again.
oh!:
I've already read the other thread about burning the SMG clutch which has been locked: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=10321
I know what riding the clutch is. It's when you hold the car with the throttle on an incline without the use of the brake. What I did was slowly apply throttle in D1 and come to a stop using brake. I think by slowly accelerating I was burning the clutch eventhough I was using the brake when I had to stop.
There really wasn't a place to pull over to the left or right. So, I stepped on the foot brake, pulled on the hand brake and switched the gear to Neutral. Everytime the car in front of me moved a few feet, I put the gear back into first and release my brakes and inched on forward. When I got far enough ahead, I stepped on my foot brake, pulled on the hand brake and switched to Neutral again. This was repeated over and over for a good 30 minutes as I slowly climbed the hill. In doing what I did, I gave my clutch enough time to cool down.
Now, here is the question. How bad did I mess my clutch up? First time I ever remember ever riding my clutch like that. Learned my lesson and will never do it again.
oh!:I've already read the other thread about burning the SMG clutch which has been locked: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=10321
07-04-2006, 11:52 PM
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Not sure about overheating clutch on a BMW but it is a common problem for Ferraris in Hong Kong with our traffic jams. I am used to driving the F1 box in the ferrari so I don't have such problem with my smg. But I don't think you have done much damaged on your clutch, it's only a warning to ask you to let the clutch cool before further driving.
07-05-2006, 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by jiio' post='306991' date='Jul 5 2006, 12:39 AM
Now, here is the question. How bad did I mess my clutch up? First time I ever remember ever riding my clutch like that. Learned my lesson and will never do it again. oh!:
oh!:Sorry to hear that, hope it's not serious or bad. Next time go to Disneyland (I was there), not hills to screw up the clutch, though I will probably go there next year.
Oh and I'll go clubbing w/chu
07-05-2006, 04:44 AM
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You'll probably be fine jiio. As far as cooling down the clutch, I'm not sure why putting the car in neutral would make a difference but on the other hand, I don't think it would do any harm...
07-05-2006, 07:10 AM
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Wow what hill was that in Pasadena? <--- Keeping note so I dont go there. 
Ya... if you're creeping slow the clutch is slipping... it never fully disengages... you have to be able to get up to speed then slow down and it'll then disengage the clutch fully. I've notced that.
Putting the car in neutral at least will disengage the clutch in neutral. While leaving it in D or 1 will leave the car in first gear with the clutch engaged.
So maybe it does help to put it in neutral.
Ya... if you're creeping slow the clutch is slipping... it never fully disengages... you have to be able to get up to speed then slow down and it'll then disengage the clutch fully. I've notced that.
Putting the car in neutral at least will disengage the clutch in neutral. While leaving it in D or 1 will leave the car in first gear with the clutch engaged.
So maybe it does help to put it in neutral.
07-05-2006, 12:09 PM
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Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Originally Posted by x550-ed' post='307003' date='Jul 5 2006, 01:18 AM
J,
Sorry to hear that, hope it's not serious or bad. Next time go to Disneyland (I was there), not hills to screw up the clutch, though I will probably go there next year.
Oh and I'll go clubbing w/chu
Sorry to hear that, hope it's not serious or bad. Next time go to Disneyland (I was there), not hills to screw up the clutch, though I will probably go there next year.
Oh and I'll go clubbing w/chu
I don't think it's too bad of a problem. I just have to avoid being stuck on a hill for 30 minutes. I'll probably not be going to Pasadena next year, that's for sure.
Wanna go clubbing, eh? You sure you can keep up?
07-05-2006, 12:13 PM
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Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='307106' date='Jul 5 2006, 08:10 AM
Wow what hill was that in Pasadena? <--- Keeping note so I dont go there.
Ya... if you're creeping slow the clutch is slipping... it never fully disengages... you have to be able to get up to speed then slow down and it'll then disengage the clutch fully. I've notced that.
Putting the car in neutral at least will disengage the clutch in neutral. While leaving it in D or 1 will leave the car in first gear with the clutch engaged.
So maybe it does help to put it in neutral.
Ya... if you're creeping slow the clutch is slipping... it never fully disengages... you have to be able to get up to speed then slow down and it'll then disengage the clutch fully. I've notced that.
Putting the car in neutral at least will disengage the clutch in neutral. While leaving it in D or 1 will leave the car in first gear with the clutch engaged.
So maybe it does help to put it in neutral.
07-05-2006, 12:15 PM
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Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Rudy and WilliamsF1 M5, thanks for the reassurance that my stupidity didn't damage the SMG. 
07-05-2006, 03:43 PM
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Sure it matters... I wanted to know which rich neighborhood you were hitting up. HAHAHA
07-05-2006, 03:52 PM
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Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='307232' date='Jul 5 2006, 04:43 PM
Sure it matters... I wanted to know which rich neighborhood you were hitting up. HAHAHA