The BMW brand is one of the world’s most popular vehicles. Known for quality and performance, the BMW is sought after by car enthusiasts and regular owners alike.
Owning any brand of car requires regular maintenance and even eventually repairs if driven long enough. One such service that will be required at some point is that of the clutch system. Let’s discuss the purpose of a clutch and what to do when service is required.
The Purpose of a Clutch
A clutch is found on manual transmissions and is used to shift gears by the driver of the BMW. Without it, your car is not able to change out of whatever gear it is currently in.
When a vehicle takes off from a stopped position, a lower gear gives it more torque to allow the car to start moving. As the car increases in speed and RPMs, the transmission needs to shift to higher gears. For this to happen the driver must press the clutch pedal, which activates the system and allows for a gear change. The same happens in reverse when a car is slowing down or comes to a stop.
How Long a Clutch Lasts
Clutches are designed to last several thousand miles. Most BMW clutches will last upwards of 150,000 miles, but this all depends on the driver. How the driver operates the car and proficiency with the clutch can greatly reduce the lifespan.
Another cause of premature failure is if an owner of the BMW skips regular servicing of their vehicle. If scheduled servicing of your BMW is not adhered to, you can find yourself in need of an expensive repair to your clutch system or other issues with your BMW. This repair can run around $1800 or more at a dealership.
Signs of Clutch Failure
The clutch system in a BMW or any other car is usually thought of as the pedal on the floorboard by many drivers. The truth is that multiple components work in conjunction when the pedal is pushed down. Each of these components can individually wear and fail over time. Here are a few signs the clutch system is going bad on a BMW.
- The clutch pedal is soft or spongy: If a clutch fails over a long period of time, it may be difficult to remember what pushing the pedal down felt like when new. When the pedal is pressed, there should be some resistance felt. If the clutch needs servicing, you may find the resistance is either no longer there or much less than when new.
- You may hear a grinding sound when changing gears: When the clutch system is activated on a BMW the gear shift should move smoothly into the next gear. If force is required and there is a grinding noise made when forcing the gears to shift, you most likely have a clutch issue.
- Vibrations when changing gears: If the clutch on your BMW is failing, you may also feel vibrations when pressing down on the peddle and trying to change gears.
- Your car will not go into the selected gear: If your car will not slide into the next gear when the clutch is activated, there is a good chance the clutch has failed.
More on Proper Servicing
As an owner of a BMW, you must understand that recommended and scheduled servicing of your car is important for not only creating a long lifespan for your vehicle but for costing you less over time. Many high dollar repairs can be avoided by having an experienced BMW technician inspect and repair any minor issues during servicing. If these services are ignored, you may find yourself on the side of the road, needing an expensive repair.
The Best Garage to Maintain Your BMW Clutch System
Bringing in your BMW to an experienced shop like 
My Dad’s Automotive can save you time and money over expensive dealerships. Our ASE certified technicians are trained in keeping your BMW clutch and other mechanical and electrical components working in top condition. By finding issues during regular inspections and servicing, we can help keep your car on the road and save you from costly repairs that can be avoided.
We proudly serve customers in and around Lee’s Corner, Centreville, Oak Hill, South Riding, Schneider Crossroads, Fairfax, Reston, Arlington, and Chantilly, VA. Contact us today for quality servicing of your BMW.