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#1 |
Slacker Extraordinaire
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 3,721
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21 years old, almost 194,000 miles ....
.... and my car still has its original clutch.
Either BMW makes robust clutches, or I'm a pretty good stick driver, LOL. The beauty of all this is, the clutch take up has hardly changed at all. Then again, wear could be SO gradual that I hardly notice it, but it sure does feel the take up is at its original spot. I suppose that's what I get from not tracking my car, and concentrating on making smooooth upshifts/downshifts each and every time I row through the gears. Anyway, just a random thought. Please return to your original programming .... ![]() ![]()
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2016 Toyota Sienna SE - hers 2002 BMW 325i - his 1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his 2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20) 2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop 2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's 1995 Fleetwood Flair 27R - EVERYBODY'S ! |
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#2 |
Hello.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5
Location: Downingtown, PA
Posts: 5,531
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I've never replaced a clutch. I think BMW ones are incredibly robust. Although the most miles I had on one is about ~150k
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Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3 |
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#3 | |
Slacker Extraordinaire
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 3,721
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Quote:
Come to think of it, I haven't replaced a clutch on my motorcycles either, LOL. I suppose it also helped that I don't live in a hilly town like SF. And when I'm stopped on a hill, I usually do the Handbrake Trick instead of rapidly switching from the brake pedal to the accelerator with my right foot, which I firmly believe facilitates rapid clutch wear.
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2016 Toyota Sienna SE - hers 2002 BMW 325i - his 1994 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 Sportside Z71 - whoevers vehicle is in the shop 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Vivid Black) - his 2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited - hers 2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low (Pearl White) - hers (SOLD 02/29/20) 2011 Tao Tao 50 - whoevers bike is in the shop 2007 Reinell 186 FNS - the dog's 1995 Fleetwood Flair 27R - EVERYBODY'S ! |
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#4 |
Old Fart
Join Date: Oct 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI
Location: San Diego
Posts: 8,564
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Impressive especially with BMW vague clutch engagement.
I have never had to replace a clutch either but have not held on a car long eough to need it. Sadly not planning on owning my GTI over 100k |
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#5 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,458
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I've only replaced a couple clutches because they wore out. They usually get replaced as a "while I'm in there" thing. That said, while I aim to drive smoothly, I also don't baby the clutches. I enjoy the occasional high RPM launch.
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2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo ![]() |
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#6 |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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I replaced the clutch in the Mazdaspeed around 180,000 miles not because it wore out, but because the release bearing started to squeal and it made sense "while I was in there."
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#7 | |
Carmudgeon
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,717
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Quote:
I was involved in a required change on a friend's Capri V-6 2800. I did replace the clutch in my 85 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z, but mainly to put in a better holding pressure plate. A Centerforce kit.
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Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer |
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#8 | |
older fart than ZBB
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: On the road again
Posts: 8,900
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Quote:
Mine was a Shelby and I had hair back then! (the weird spots in the pictures are from tiny mold on the old 35mm slide scans, there was no damage on the car)
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2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium |
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#9 |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,263
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Never had to replace a clutch either, but I've never owned a car that long nor had a MT with over 100k miles. The oldest clutches were on the NC Miata (~90k miles) and 997 TT (~85k miles), and both seemed to have plenty of life.
I am concerned for the GTI though. Lots of reports of clutches needing replacement under 50k miles and as low as 30k miles. At 33k, ours still feels great, but I am very easy on clutches. In the next year it will transition to being the kids' car. We'll see how it holds up then. Last edited by FC; 11-13-2023 at 02:59 PM. |
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#10 | |
Hello.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5
Location: Downingtown, PA
Posts: 5,531
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Quote:
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Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3 |
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
10 years and 108,000 miles later.... | 3LOU5 | Technical Superiority | 7 | 11-06-2012 03:47 PM |