Clutch Life...?

[Fetch]

Couldn't find anything with search....
What is the average clutch life in the gearbox paired with the M60?

I've got 150,000 miles, and I haven't felt the clutch slip at all, but it just engages pretty 'late' even though I don't have another bmw clutch to compare it to.


Is my car on it's 1st or 2nd clutch possibly?

If I told you how much further the clutch pedal travels after it engages would you guys be able to guess how much is left in it ?

Thanks

[Fetch]

bump

[colo525i]

Can't really be sure as for the 530, i think it depends on how you drive. I have seen a clutch start to slip at 30k on a vw beetle turbo, and i have a friend who drives a subaru with 300k with the original clutch still in it. Totally possible that it has been replaced. I know my 525i with 210k on it is on clutch 2, replaced by the 2nd owner.

[PaulJ]

Just changed my original clutch at 145K in the 1991 535iA 5 speed. The disk was not the problem, the release bearing (throwout bearing) had locked up and self-destructed. Disk had lots of material left but you know the story......

Paul

[KenB]

Mine has 178k on the original clutch. I keep wondering how much longer it can last. Catches 1/2 way up but no slippage yet, been like that for over 3 years now.

[ericcamaro]

I only push my clutch in a couple inches, pedal travel is really minimal. Im at 125k on my original and it is holding very nicely and I dont drive my car like no grandma.

[MagicMike]

I have a very similar 1994 530i 5spd that I am currently changing the clutch on. I did not see any signs of slipage but one day I pressed the clutch to downshift and it never went back up. I dropped the tranny and found that the disk itself has dicipated. I was shocked how well it performed prior to the problem. I just hit 160,000 miles. This is my 1st clutch. Let me know if you need any advise. They say that you learn from your mistakes. Well I must have learned alot because there were lots of mistakes.

[Fetch]

oh wow...hmmm, I hope mine gives me more notice!!

I still haven't decided if replacing the clutch is something I would attempt on my 'own' (with friends too probably).

How long did it take you?
How much did you pay for all parts if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for the info, I haven't felt any slipping yet, but I'm expecting it.....lol

[Ferret]

Clutch wear is all dependant on driving conditions - if (like most beemers) it spent it's early life on motorways - you can get astronomical mileage out of a clutch.

If it's a town car in a small city I wouldnt be surprised to see it go bang at 70k like my lil Rover 214i did... promptly before gearbox failure *grrr*

laksdjfoaigj;aoinv;aorinfa <-- frustrated keyboard rage

It's usually the release bearings or damper springs that fail on really high mileage vehicles leading to a catastrophic plate failure.

[Fetch]

What symptoms would bad/breaking release bearings or damper springs yield?

Also, what exactly is a catastrophic plate failure? The plate cracking or something?

sorry and thanks!!