BMW Clutch

When Does Your BMW Need a Clutch Repair?


By Bavarian Performance Specialists June 7, 2019

Owning a car can be a great experience because you can drive where you need to go, take friends on trips, and enjoy the spirit of driving a luxury BMW. It can also be a big responsibility that requires constant maintenance to repair vital parts of the car to keep it running in top condition.

The clutch is an important part of your BMW that can wear down over time. The clutch is a vital part of a your vehicle which allows it to change speeds. It also keeps your car running when you are idling at a red light or stop sign. In the article below, let’s take a closer look at the clutch in a BMW, its function, how to diagnose problems with it, and where to take it for repairs.

What is a clutch?

The clutch is what allows a car to speed up or slow down and to keep an engine running while the vehicle is moving. Clutches work in both manual and automatic transmissions. A manual transmission requires you to use a clutch to change gears yourself, using timing, speed, and a gear shifter to accelerate. The clutch system in an automatic transmission changes gears automatically, depending on what speed your car is going.

Symptoms of a Bad Clutch

There are some easily self-diagnosed symptoms of a bad clutch in a BMW. If the pedal is too easy to push, too hard to push, or if it is vibrating, you may be nearing the time for replacement of your clutch. If you have to push your clutch all the way down to the floor before you can shift gears, this is a big indication of a problem. Shifting should be a smooth and graceful experience in manual or automatic transmissions. Not only is this potentially dangerous for you as a driver, but it can cause major problem if you engine is revving because you cannot engage the proper gear.

Two other signs that the clutch in your BMW may need to be replaced is poor acceleration and momentary loss of acceleration. Experiencing poor acceleration while revving your BMW’s engine is a strong indication that something is wrong with the clutch. You may also experience momentary loss of acceleration, which is sometimes referred to as a slipping clutch. These two issues could be a sign of a bad clutch because both involve problems with accelerating. You will need to get your BMW looked at if you are experiencing either problem to make sure it is the clutch.

Grinding Gears

One of the easiest ways to diagnose a clutch problem is by the dreaded sound of grinding gears. We’ve all heard it before. It makes you physically cringe when you hear it and have trouble shifting into the proper gear. You may experience these grinding noises when you press down on the clutch pedal and try to manually shift. However, this may not be a serious problem because it could simply be a bearing in the clutch that needs to be replaced, but it could be that your clutch is worn out and needs replacement.

Where to Go for Help With Clutch Repair for your BMW

Grinding gears can lead to more costly damage if you do not have your BMW checked out and fixed before more damage is done to your engine and transmission. This is why it is beneficial to take your BMW into a certified mechanic. They will be able to diagnose the problem, check your engine and transmission for resultant damage, and put together a repair and replacement plan that is suitable for your vehicle and your budget.

Bavarian Performance Specialists

The clutch or clutch system is an BMW Clutch Replace important part of your BMW that is involved with changing gears. It is a good idea to keep an eye out for the symptoms of a bad clutch mentioned in this article so you can have it replaced. For any clutch issues, be sure to visit Bavarian Performance Specialists. We utilize the latest technology to diagnose and repair your BMW with certified parts. We are conveniently located at Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Westlake, Malibu, and Newbury Park, CA.