how to know if flywheel needs replacing in addition to clutc

[Chestrockwell]

I have a manual M240i, clutch slips, so if I'm doing 60 mph in 6th gear, I can press the throttle a tiny bit without it revving higher, however if I do try to use the torque available, the revs build a lot quicker than the speed, I think that's what a slipping clutch is

The power on the car is also limited, according to the xdrive says drive train issue and my carly obd reader says its clutch related.

The car makes no noises, doesn't smell and drives fine unless I bury my foot.

i have been quoted £650 for a clutch however, I was also told I might need a flywheel and that costs £1250 and it's a big job

This makes me lose sleep at night, can somebody reassure me and tell me the symptoms my car is displaying is a simple clutch job?

Edited by Chestrockwell on Friday 28th March 21:12

[E-bmw]

Chestrockwell said:

I have a manual M240i, clutch slips, so if I'm doing 60 mph in 6th gear, I can press the throttle a tiny bit without it revving higher, however if I do try to use the torque available, the revs build a lot quicker than the speed, I think that's what a slipping clutch is

can somebody reassure me and tell me the symptoms my car is displaying is a simple clutch job?

First the good news.

What you describe is a slipping clutch that WILL be fixed by the fitting of a standard clutch kit.


Now the not so good news.

Your car has a dual mass flywheel that (any competent garage) will be able to be checked when the mechanic is in there & if it looks like it is coming up for needing replacement it would be pertinent to fit while they are in there.

Why?

Because other wise they will be there doing it next year at double the labour cost rather than just another hour of labour + parts.

[Crudeoink]

Chestrockwell said:

I have a manual M240i, clutch slips, so if I'm doing 60 mph in 6th gear, I can press the throttle a tiny bit without it revving higher, however if I do try to use the torque available, the revs build a lot quicker than the speed, I think that's what a slipping clutch is

The power on the car is also limited, according to the xdrive says drive train issue and my carly obd reader says its clutch related.

The car makes no noises, doesn't smell and drives fine unless I bury my foot.

i have been quoted £650 for a clutch however, I was also told I might need a flywheel and that costs £1250 and it's a big job

This makes me lose sleep at night, can somebody reassure me and tell me the symptoms my car is displaying is a simple clutch job?

Edited by Chestrockwell on Friday 28th March 21:12

The added labour for the flywheel shouldn't be much more than the clutch. The labour will be in dropping the gearbox out with any associated steering rack and subframes that are in the way. I don't get why a flywheel change is any larger a job than the clutch ? The flywheel is an expensive component, especially if it's dual mass but should be OK unless it's warped or cracked from where it's been slipping. These M-Lite cars are expensive to run but £1250 for a flywheel isn't that bad IMO

[stevieturbo]

Chestrockwell said:

I have a manual M240i, clutch slips, so if I'm doing 60 mph in 6th gear, I can press the throttle a tiny bit without it revving higher, however if I do try to use the torque available, the revs build a lot quicker than the speed, I think that's what a slipping clutch is

The power on the car is also limited, according to the xdrive says drive train issue and my carly obd reader says its clutch related.

The car makes no noises, doesn't smell and drives fine unless I bury my foot.

i have been quoted £650 for a clutch however, I was also told I might need a flywheel and that costs £1250 and it's a big job

This makes me lose sleep at night, can somebody reassure me and tell me the symptoms my car is displaying is a simple clutch job?

Edited by Chestrockwell on Friday 28th March 21:12

If you cannot afford a modern car, don't buy such a car.

DMF's can be expensive....and a quick google suggests that alone could be around £12-1400 for the DMF flywheel alone. Although I see some offer a solid flywheel for half the price.
That can be a grey area.

Is there big miles on it ? Has it been abused ? Does it have any extra power over standard ?

[Tony1963]

Chestrockwell said:

This makes me lose sleep at night, can somebody reassure me and tell me the symptoms my car is displaying is a simple clutch job?

Edited by Chestrockwell on Friday 28th March 21:12

If it’s purely the cost of this potential work that’s causing you to lose sleep, then my advice would be to have it fixed and then sell the car. You know this won’t be the last repair it ever needs, and as much as it’s a very nice car, losing sleep over it just isn’t healthy. If it’s any consolation, I had the clutch and DMF replaced on my diesel VW Bora about 16 years ago, and that came to £750 in total.

[Chris32345]

Crudeoink said:

The added labour for the flywheel shouldn't be much more than the clutch. The labour will be in dropping the gearbox out with any associated steering rack and subframes that are in the way. I don't get why a flywheel change is any larger a job than the clutch ? The flywheel is an expensive component, especially if it's dual mass but should be OK unless it's warped or cracked from where it's been slipping. These M-Lite cars are expensive to run but £1250 for a flywheel isn't that bad IMO

Also if they have too much play they need to be replaced

[Chestrockwell]

stevieturbo said:

If you cannot afford a modern car, don't buy such a car.

DMF's can be expensive....and a quick google suggests that alone could be around £12-1400 for the DMF flywheel alone. Although I see some offer a solid flywheel for half the price.
That can be a grey area.

Is there big miles on it ? Has it been abused ? Does it have any extra power over standard ?

It’s done 75k miles, I’ve personally put 40k miles on it, I’ve remapped it, ive abused it and I’ve had the time of my life with it

Me being able to afford the repair costs or not being able to doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean it isn’t a kick up the bks either way

Anybody who can get hit with a 2k bill isn’t going to skip down the road singing are they, it’s a big deal

The losing sleep comment is a figure of speech, I’m not losing sleep but I am distressed at the idea of spending £2000 on repairing my car

I don’t know why you’ve had to start your message the way you did

[Inline__engine]

The answer is obvious, you just dont want to accept it.

[Tony1963]

Chestrockwell said:

It’s done 75k miles, I’ve personally put 40k miles on it, I’ve remapped it, ive abused it and I’ve had the time of my life with it

Me being able to afford the repair costs or not being able to doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean it isn’t a kick up the bks either way

You’d better hope your gearbox and diff don’t let go, in that case!

[E-bmw]

Crudeoink said:

The flywheel is an expensive component, especially if it's dual mass but should be OK unless it's warped or cracked from where it's been slipping. These M-Lite cars are expensive to run but £1250 for a flywheel isn't that bad IMO

Firstly, unless it has previously been replaced with a solid flywheel, there is no "IF", it will be a DMF.

Secondly, wrong, the "suspension" springs between the parts can & do wear out, that is the main failure mode for a DMF.

Chris32345 said:

Also if they have too much play they need to be replaced

Which is what I eluded to in my earlier post when I said it can be checked when the mechanic is in there, as unless it is already noisy, you will only be able to tell this when the mechanic takes the gearbox out of the way.

Edited by E-bmw on Sunday 30th March 08:26

[Vsix and Vtec]

Well at least you admit you've deliberately shortened the life on your clutch and chose fun over mechanical sympathy. Every choice comes with a consequence though doesn't it, and in this case, it's "drive it hard, pay the costs"

I think the quote is quite reasonable, especially considering the DMF. I'd say it's very much worth doing it at the same time as the clutch, especially if the first thing you're going to do once the clutch is replaced is go straight back to driving like before. If you want it to last another 40k miles, make sure you're buying parts that are as good quality as the original BMW parts, or you'll be back in the garage for a second clutch sooner than you'd like (and probably be back on here bemoaning your self induced £2,000 misfortune).

Drive it how you want, it's yours, not mine, and it doesn't cost me a penny, but if this is a shock to you financially, maybe consider being a bit less aggressive with your car and it'll last longer. That said, I really don't care if you carry on as you are, it's you who's footing the bill for your decisions after all.

[cliffords]

Chestrockwell said:

stevieturbo said:

If you cannot afford a modern car, don't buy such a car.

DMF's can be expensive....and a quick google suggests that alone could be around £12-1400 for the DMF flywheel alone. Although I see some offer a solid flywheel for half the price.
That can be a grey area.

Is there big miles on it ? Has it been abused ? Does it have any extra power over standard ?

It’s done 75k miles, I’ve personally put 40k miles on it, I’ve remapped it, ive abused it and I’ve had the time of my life with it

Me being able to afford the repair costs or not being able to doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean it isn’t a kick up the bks either way

Anybody who can get hit with a 2k bill isn’t going to skip down the road singing are they, it’s a big deal

The losing sleep comment is a figure of speech, I’m not losing sleep but I am distressed at the idea of spending £2000 on repairing my car

I don’t know why you’ve had to start your message the way you did

OP, there are endless people on here who try and fight or bait simple questions or requests for advice, just ignore them. I took it that he was just jealous as he has a 18 year old diesel Focus .

To your point ,if the clutch is being replaced, the additional labour to do the flywheel is 30 mins . I am sure it would not even take that long . However if you leave it and then it needs doing in the future. It's all the labour again just to get to it .
I think a proper job would be replacing them both. Clutch friction plate with pressure plate and bearing ,plus flywheel.

[stevieturbo]

Chestrockwell said:

I am distressed at the idea of spending £2000 on repairing my car

I don’t know why you’ve had to start your message the way you did

Yes, the truth can often offend.

But now you're equally in a quandary given the use and application....will a new standard clutch be the best route ? Or should you look at an uprated clutch, which may well cost more.

Or you could take the risk of opting for a cheaper solid flywheel, but you'd need to investigate if that is really a tried and tested option.

On many cars with a DMF, it is very important it is retained or it can lead to other parts failing if it is removed.

Modifying and using cars hard costs money, £2k isn't huge in the grand scheme of things.

[stevieturbo]

cliffords said:

OP, there are endless people on here who try and fight or bait simple questions or requests for advice, just ignore them. I took it that he was just jealous as he has a 18 year old diesel Focus .

LOLOLOLOL

grow up.