Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / BMW Cars / June 2009

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

High Clutch Pedal 540i

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
teambuilder - 25 Jun 2009 02:46 GMT
Had clutch instaled 1998 540i. Pedal grabbed right off floor. That
only lasted a few months. Now it is like it was before the new clutch.
The old disc that was removed still had a fair amount of meat.
Plate,flywheel.slave looked good. The entire package was installed
new. Plate,disc, bearing. Has anyone heard of a way to qure this.
Thank's Pete
Scott Dorsey - 25 Jun 2009 03:04 GMT
>Had clutch instaled 1998 540i. Pedal grabbed right off floor. That
>only lasted a few months. Now it is like it was before the new clutch.
>The old disc that was removed still had a fair amount of meat.
>Plate,flywheel.slave looked good. The entire package was installed
>new. Plate,disc, bearing. Has anyone heard of a way to qure this.

Is the problem intermittent?  Does the pedal stick to the floor?
Will pumping it a couple of times move the pressure point back up to
where it belongs?  Is there any visible leakage around the piston of
the clutch master cylinder?
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Jeff Strickland - 25 Jun 2009 17:01 GMT
>>Had clutch instaled 1998 540i. Pedal grabbed right off floor. That
>>only lasted a few months. Now it is like it was before the new clutch.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> the clutch master cylinder?
> --scott

The hydraulics will put the pedal closer to the floor when they fail, not
near the top.

I agree with your symptom test, pump the pedal and see if the symptoms
change, but I'm pretty sure that if the hydraulics are the problem, the
clutch will engage near the bottom of th epedal travel, not near the top.

PS
The clutch master cylinder can fail internally and there will be no leakage
to the outside at all.
Alan Mac Farlane - 25 Jun 2009 16:29 GMT
Recommend automatic transmission .. last just as long and you get the
same gas mileage and brake wear and less repair like you are doing now.

My guess, is that if you have a hydraulic master/slave cylinder for
actuating the clutch plate ... that is wearing out.  It is the only
variable in the subsystem you are working on ... as the mechanics are
fixed and absolute ... have a lot of meat on the plate still with poor
performance.

Master/slave/hose have to be replaced if you decide that is necessary
... as all three are worn out from use.

To replace the master cylinder alone will blow out the weaker slave and
hose subsystems in the clutch hydraulics ... that is if you have that
going on.

Next car ... go automatic ... BMW is close to making the infinity
transmission ...the V-12 large flywheel torque engine will be at idle
all the time and you will have a transmission pedal on the floor to burn
rubber at any speed.

sumbuddie hopes that helps

:?

> Had clutch instaled 1998 540i. Pedal grabbed right off floor. That
> only lasted a few months. Now it is like it was before the new clutch.
> The old disc that was removed still had a fair amount of meat.
> Plate,flywheel.slave looked good. The entire package was installed
> new. Plate,disc, bearing. Has anyone heard of a way to qure this.
> Thank's Pete
Brewster Fong - 25 Jun 2009 20:22 GMT
> Recommend automatic transmission .. last just as long and you get the
> same gas mileage and brake wear and less repair like you are doing now.

The problem with this *recommendation* is an auto tranny, even if the
slushbox last "just as long as a clutch," will cost at least 4-5x
times the price of a clutch replacement!  BMW auto trannies are known
to be problematic and based on varies comments here and in
publications like Roundel, seem to have a "lifetime" of about 100K
miles. After that, you're lookng at spendng 5-6K for a rebuilt
transmission.

In contrast, even if a clutch wears out at 100K and it only cost about
$1K in parts and labor to replace; alot cheaper than having to buy a
new transmission.  Further, another recommendation is to replace your
transmission and differential fluids with a good synthetic from
Redline or RP. Makes shifting feel like butter.....Good Luck!
Dave Plowman (News) - 26 Jun 2009 09:50 GMT
In article
<9cabc0f0-07ad-4f55-91b5-eea81d059216@p5g2000pre.googlegroups.com>,
> BMW auto trannies are known to be problematic and based on varies
> comments here and in publications like Roundel, seem to have a
> "lifetime" of about 100K miles. After that, you're lookng at spendng
> 5-6K for a rebuilt transmission.

Which transmission are you referring to? Generally ZF are pretty good,
life wise.

Signature

*Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses*

   Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                 To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Jeff Strickland - 26 Jun 2009 01:36 GMT
> Recommend automatic transmission .. last just as long and you get the same
> gas mileage and brake wear and less repair like you are doing now.

My clutch lasted more than 200k miles. If my transmission only lasted that
long, I'd be upset. The clutch costed $850 to replace, how much does a
transmission cost?
Alan Mac Farlane - 26 Jun 2009 14:37 GMT
I have 185,000 on a 528i 2000 edition ...

engine and autotranny are full on factory specs.

fuel pump is wearing they say ...

still it tests at factory specs as well.

no indicators for replacement other then miles on 8 years roadwork.

>> Recommend automatic transmission .. last just as long and you get the same
>> gas mileage and brake wear and less repair like you are doing now.
>
> My clutch lasted more than 200k miles. If my transmission only lasted that
> long, I'd be upset. The clutch costed $850 to replace, how much does a
> transmission cost?
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2009 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.