Has yours blown up too?

 

The way a BMW should look

 

so what does BMW really stand for....

Blow My Whengine up ? lol

 

Think it's an E65 (7 series for those not in the know)

 

It is

 

Rookymatt - nice to see you back.

Little question for you - do you know anything about the clutch-judder issues affecting some 2.0d BMW cars?

 

I've seen a couple of audis on fire although not to that extent. Neighbours a4 cab got turned to toast after a fuel leak on the a38 a few years back.

 

Hi Zip, i have had a few issues with some 120d's having clutch issues, some were down to the programming of the engine management unit.
Others were due to a defect in the pressure plate, causing issues which damaged both the clutch and flywheel.
What car is it on and what year??

 

Matt, it appears a few Alpina D3 BT's are also having this issue and can't seem to be fixed.
I know a few who are on their 3rd clutch in a year, under warranty, but it seems BMW don't have a permanent fix for it.

Just in the process of ordering one and was wondering if you had an idea on what BMW were doing about it.

 

Tell them you're not ordering one and give them the reason why.

 

Zip, why are you ordering a car when you feel it has some issues that can't be resolved? I think you'll me mighty p5ssed off if your car is in the dealers every 6 months having a new clutch put in.

I know all cars have issues and can fail etc but if there is a recurring problem that seems not to have a permanent fix personally I wouldn't buy it. A new car is a lot of money, you shouldn't have to put up with it.

I would do what John suggests and also email BMW HQ and ask them to provide you with information regarding clutch failures and your model

 

John, Ding...

I've spoken to the Alpina brand manager who happens to reside at my local Sytners.

He assures me that it's a very small number of cars that this has affected.
Seemingly, it's not just D3's but any 2.0d engined BMW car.

He also assured me that they've been out in the cars with the owners and put a lot of the judder down to driver 'error', as many of the techies haven't been able to replicate it.
It also seems a very random problem , occurring very occasionally on the affected cars.

On delving further today, it appears not to be the actual clutch or flywheel, but the Clutch Delay Valve (CDV) - http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm

There's a few chaps on the Alpina Register that seem to have found the problem and are in contact with Alpina themselves.

Just wondering if Matt has had any input with this problem.

I'm not going to let a problem that *may* occur on what is an absolute peach of a car put me off buying one, as to be perfectly honest there isn't any other derv coupe on the market with the ride, frugality and panache of the D3 that I'd ever want. (A5? - no way! )

Similarly, should it put one off buying a Porsche seeing as there's still an issue with *some* RMS's leaking?
No, it wouldn't.

 

in writing Zip? talk is cheap

 

True Hodgy, very true.

Out of the 43 manual D3's sold in the UK in 2010, it seems that we know of 5 that are having this problem.
I haven't a clue how many 'normal' 120d/320d's are having the same issue.

I'm holding off ordering it until more info comes to light on the issue, but as I said in my last paragraph....

 

That is still quite high if you see how few they have sold, it's almost 8%.
The clutch release valve has never been changed on any car i have dealt with.
The valve is designed to allow the clutch fluid pressure to return back gently, when the pedal is realeased rapidly. This is to stop a "snatchy" feeling. I have to say i have never delt with an Alpina 2.0d as yet. However i would suspect that the clutch is not uprated in an Aplina when compared to a stock 2.0d. Don't let this issue stop you buying an alpina, the car still has a full 3 year warranty, a new one will have the latest software in the DDE, plus i'm sure you know how to drive correctly so i doubt you'll see any issues.

 

How annoying! No clutch on our BM

 

That's because you don't know how to drive properly





Rookymatt - it's actually only a two year warranty....

We've had 2 BMW 2.0d's and never had this problem before.

It just makes one wary of spunking a not inconsiderable sum on a car if this problem isn't sorted.
The clutch is only a stock one but consider that it has the power and torque of a 2.5d engine going through it, which is actually a 3.0 engine, is that adequate?

I know that Alpina in Germany are actively looking into this due to the pressure from people on the Alpina register.

 

You're right! it is a two year warranty- forgot that!!
it's probably not up to the task (clutch) I doubt Alpina will do much about it though, it would take alot of legal pressure for them to move their *****.

 

Reading more into it, the replaced clutches appear to have negligible wear to them, which points to it not actually being the problem.

Be interesting if you could find out more - all I can do is get the info from a salesman...

 

I'll have a butchers on the dealer info system in the morning for you mate.

 

Much appreciated.

 

Didn't BMW had a problem with starter motor's sticking on and causing some cars to catch fire.

 

Not that i know of buddy.

 

I had a similar problem before I bought my 335i. I couldn't get on with the A5 and I was worried about the BMW's 225M sport alloys cracking. BMW still haven't resolved the problem but I thought F**k it I need a new car and I didn't fancy anything else.

 

really common problem because vw camper owners fail to think its probably worth renewing 30/40 yr old fuel lines. and a camper had bloody loads of them underneath, in lovely weather exposed positions.

they;re normally dead good and hanging some curtains, buying dream catchers or getting the best awning. bit of servicing- well no: I mean everyone knows how reliable a VW is


he says having owned 6 or 7 of the things

 

Guess BMW are keeping quiet about it as i can't find anything on our info system.

 

Wear is not real the issue IMO, a clutch is not just about the firction material; There are so many parts at play, all of which can cause judder that simply saying 'no wear' generally assumes that all thats been inspected is the friction linings and nothing else.

For example: The fulcrums, fingers and forks on the cover, the rivits between the disk, the drive plates, the cover staps, the damper/springs, pressure plate, deposits, release bearing. It just goes on and on:

http://exedy.co.uk/techinfo/howto_trouble_eng.pdf

http://65corvette.nonethewiser.net/t..._diagnosis.pdf

The daft thing is, one can have a completly knackered clutch (uneven deposits, bent fingers, dished clutch disk with outer part of the linings almost down to the rivits). And the car drives perfectly fine. No slip, no judder, nada and felt no different to a brand new one.

 

Thanks for looking, anyway.

It now appears that other marques are and have been having the same issues for a number of years.
Chaps on the Alpina Register are finding Mercs and Toyota's having the same problem.

It appears the CDV probably is to blame on these manual dervs.