Cars without a DMF

[LudaMusser]

I’m considering buying a new (to me) car but I really don’t want one with a dual mass flywheel. My current and previous VW’s both had a DMF as they were DSG and both needed replacing.

Is there any way of knowing if a car has a DMF?

If people can list cars that don’t have one that would be great, looking for a five door or estate up to £4K. Would like to spend less really. I’ve been told that Audi A2’s 2000-2002 didn’t have a DMF but I probably need something a bit bigger

Thanks

[stevemcs]

Easiest way is to find a car, go to your car parts, look at clutches and flywheels and if it says nothing available then there is a good chance it has no dmf. You will find nearly every diesel has one. Your probably better off looking at a 1.6 petrol Focus.

[ging84]

dmfs are not some passing fad that manufacturers are backing away from because they didn't work out, they are pretty much the standard for clutched gearboxes now, so basically you want a traditional auto with a torque converter, but they come with thier own set of expensive problems.

You can avoid all the various parts that you've heard of that can have big repair bills, dmfs, autoboxes, turbos, direct injection, dpf etc but if you want a certain level of performance comfort and economy then you find they need these things, and unless you have particularly unusual usage it is a false economy to avoid them.

[Jamaica]

ging84 said:

dmfs are not some passing fad that manufacturers are backing away from because they didn't work out, they are pretty much the standard for clutched gearboxes now, so basically you want a traditional auto with a torque converter, but they come with thier own set of expensive problems.

You can avoid all the various parts that you've heard of that can have big repair bills, dmfs, autoboxes, turbos, direct injection, dpf etc but if you want a certain level of performance comfort and economy then you find they need these things, and unless you have particularly unusual usage it is a false economy to avoid them.

Cars with TC are generally really reliable. A 1.6 focus with a traditional TC is a good car.. petrol, reliable gearbox.. will return 43 mpg on a run.

No need to faf with unreliable dsg gearboxes

[redandwhite]

8th generation civics e.g FN2 have no DMF , not sure about the other generations/fuel

Plus no timing belt , or turbo or DPF to worry about. Precisely the reason I bought one.

Surprisingly 40mpg on the trip home, realistically it’s 30mpg day to day.

Edited by redandwhite on Monday 10th February 19:55

[aka_kerrly]

A dmf is not always one second away from disaster and certainly not something to panic over when buying a car.

If the flywheel does fail or needs replacing when the clutch is changed it can be possible to swap to a single piece flywheel by using parts from other models.

Its very common on VWs from late 90s to late 00s to fit a Golf Vr6 clutch and G60 flywheel instead of a dual mass. I've lobbed them into passat/golf tdis. I know people do similar with BMWs utilising E30/39 parts.

[samoht]

ging84 said:

You can avoid all the various parts that you've heard of that can have big repair bills, dmfs, autoboxes, turbos, direct injection, dpf etc but if you want a certain level of performance comfort and economy then you find they need these things, and unless you have particularly unusual usage it is a false economy to avoid them.

The counterpoint would be that you might rationally choose to put up with the vibration without a DMF, in exchange for having one fewer thing to go wrong, especially on a second-hand car and a part that is relatively common to fail and relatively expensive to replace. One of my cars has a DMF and one doesn't, I think I can feel the difference but it doesn't bother me to drive the older car.

[imck]

The First of the Ceed Diesels did not have DMF or DPF
Pre-2010 I think.

If you can get over the Badge, they are pretty decent Cars.
My 2008 is with a Colleague on 190K with very few problems. Original Clutch and Turbo.

[strath44]

You've either been unlucky or you had high mileage cars.

DMFs are here to stay, there's a reason manufacturers use them. Alternatives tend to be unrefined and conversions put strain on other components generally due to the increased component weight.

If you're really worried buy one that's had it done or buy a slightly cheaper car and have a contingency fund for repairs.

Avoiding then is very much a false economy - definitely a biting ones nose to spite the face scenario!

If you put in a few variables on ebay cars will come up that have had a new clutch / dmf / timing belt etc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-BMW-318d-2-0TD-M-S...

[chrisch77]

DMFs are not only there to improve driver comfort from engine vibrations, they are also there to protect the gears in the transmission from rattle so beware that removing a DMF could reduce the life of the transmission and other driveline components.

[srekkas]

I drive Golf MK7 1.6 TDI 105ag, 5 gears gearbox. It have SMF and it is pretty smooth.
If you lug it bellow 1500rpm it has vibrations, but you realy should'nt do what even with DMF.
Even on idle is vibration free, older 1.6tdi is more lumpy on idle with DMF on Passat B7.

I think i will not buy another car with dreaded DMF. But i not considering new car, only used.

[MrGTI6]

LudaMusser said:

My current and previous VW’s both had a DMF as they were DSG and both needed replacing.

Thanks

I would say the DSG 'box is to blame rather than the DMF in your instance. Riding the clutch and labouring the engine at low revs is what kills DMFs; DSGs are hopeless and do both of those things. A DMF should last the lifetime of a manual car provided you treat it with mechanical sympathy.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for a conventional auto & you'll be fine.