Clutch problem

[EssamKh]

Hi guys ... today I had a very strange issue ... i was in a garage and it was a bit crowded on the way out ... at the end there was a high ramp going up and I held the car with the clutch for like 2-3 mins then I found smoke coming out and a burning smell ... then the clutch went down and became very soft. After i went out it drove normally and the clutch was back to normal but I still have this burning smell

What would be the reason?

I only have 10,000km on the mileage and i never ever raced or did any heavy driving.

Tomorrow I will take it to dealer to check what's wrong.

Your comments/advices would be appreciated.

[MightyMouseTech]

Why the hell were you holding the car with the clutch?!?!??!

Are you trying to kill the clutch? If you were, you were successful.

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Why the hell were you holding the car with the clutch?!?!??!

Are you trying to kill the clutch? If you were, you were successful.

It's the first time to do that with the M
But I used to do it with a lot of other cars with no problem at all

[MightyMouseTech]

I suggest you sell the 1M and buy an automatic.

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I suggest you sell the 1M and buy an automatic.

Regardless of your sarcastic tone, I am here seeking for help and advise not for someone to make fun of me.

Thanks anyway!

[MDORPHN]

Much better to use the handbrake -- rather than "riding" the clutch -- to hold the car stationary.

Neil

[GimmeanM]

2-3 minutes is a REALLY long time. Not sure if you are exaggerating?

I have used the clutch to 'friction hold' other vehicles before, but only for a second or two before setting off.

If you think about whats happening you are constantly slipping the clutch to maintain a stationary vehicle. Bad news.

Have you done the CDV delete mod? Not that it would have any influence what you are describing...

Was the hill assist not working on the 1M? Or does that only work in reverse? I reverse up my rather steep driveway into the garage and love that hill assist feature.

In any case that's not a good thing to do for the future, hope it checks out okay for you.

-Dave

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by GimmeanM3

2-3 minutes is a REALLY long time. Not sure if you are exaggerating?

I have used the clutch to 'friction hold' other vehicles before, but only for a second or two before setting off.

If you think about whats happening you are constantly slipping the clutch to maintain a stationary vehicle. Bad news.

Have you done the CDV delete mod? Not that it would have any influence what you are describing...

Was the hill assist not working on the 1M? Or does that only work in reverse? I reverse up my rather steep driveway into the garage and love that hill assist feature.

In any case that's not a good thing to do for the future, hope it checks out okay for you.

-Dave

Thanks Dave.

Yes it was almost 2 mins. No mods at all. The hill assist is working. I was just on the phone and didn't notice what I am doing.

So what is the worst case? Clutch disc replacement?

[GimmeanM]

Originally Posted by EssamKh

Thanks Dave.

Yes it was almost 2 mins. No mods at all. The hill assist is working. I was just on the phone and didn't notice what I am doing.

So what is the worst case? Clutch disc replacement?

I'm no expert, but yeah possibly. Maybe the flywheel too?

Best case scenario maybe you just wore it a bit and decreased it's life, but didn't fully destroy it.

Cross your fingers.

[FIRSTM]

your clutch is fine for now, just the smell linger little longer from the clutch burn.

My brother in law did the similiar thing to my 911 but much worse, and the smell was there for like 3 days, everytime I get near the car. Thats what I get for letting someone who have no exp driving a manual. Anyway, the clutch in the 911 is fine, that incident happens 6 months ago, and still running like a charm.
So I assume yours as well, the 911 clutch is little heavier than the 1M, but I still think that the 1M clutch is not that fragile as most would think.

[FIRSTM]

can you do me a favor if its possible for you to take a pic of the 1M with the pyramid in the background and post it on 1addict please lol

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by FIRSTM

can you do me a favor if its possible for you to take a pic of the 1M with the pyramid in the background and post it on 1addict please lol

Unfortunately I live in Saudi Arabia

[FIRSTM]

Originally Posted by EssamKh

Unfortunately I live in Saudi Arabia

oops, silly me.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by EssamKh

Thanks Dave.

Yes it was almost 2 mins. No mods at all. The hill assist is working. I was just on the phone and didn't notice what I am doing.

So what is the worst case? Clutch disc replacement?

Hill assist would not have worked if it was for 2 minutes long: according to the e82 manual it will hold for approx 2 seconds. In terms of 'how to', I'm with Neil on using the parking break regardless of 1M or cars with an even stronger clutch.

Next drive out, once the car is heated up (should be within minutes in your region), on a suitable stretch of dry road, go for a full throttle acceleration for up to 10 seconds. With the clutch full engaged and no wheel spin, unless the revs go out of pace with the speed, you're fine for a while. With your mileage unlikely, but otherwise: new clutch.

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by eeghie

Hill assist would not have worked if it was for 2 minutes long: according to the e82 manual it will hold for approx 2 seconds. In terms of 'how to', I'm with Neil on using the parking break regardless of 1M or cars with an even stronger clutch.

Next drive out, once the car is heated up (should be within minutes in your region), on a suitable stretch of dry road, go for a full throttle acceleration for up to 10 seconds. With the clutch full engaged and no wheel spin, unless the revs go out of pace with the speed, you're fine for a while. With your mileage unlikely, but otherwise: new clutch.

Yes I know that hill assistant is working only for few seconds. I still didn't go to dealer I don't have time. The car drives perfectly ok and the smell is gone. I will still go to the dealer tomorrow coz I have oil change service due. I will ask them to make a checkup.

Thanks everyone for the advices.

[TXmtrhed]

You probably only overheated the clutch. Should be fine for now but you used it up a little.

[rapter]

Originally Posted by EssamKh

Thanks Dave.

Yes it was almost 2 mins. No mods at all. The hill assist is working. I was just on the phone and didn't notice what I am doing.

So what is the worst case? Clutch disc replacement?

Hey dude, sorry to hear your woes... many people like to use the forums as a venue to mock and make fun of perceptible "non-common sense" behaviour - because frankly there is no consequence for it.

Long-story short: It sounds like you were distracted on the phone which is cool. But the reality is the in-line six has a lot of power, the car has weight, and if you were suspending the weight of the vehicle on an incline with the clutch you have completely over-heated the material and wore through the entire surface of the clutch plate.

Will you have scorched the flywheel as well? Maybe... there is so so so much friction heat in the situation you have described.

The smoke was your clutch plate (I bet it had a very peculiar smell... something hard to define but powerful) burning and escaping from the bell housing.

Clutch pedal going very soft can be either the bearing plate being warped/ overheated and/ or the clutch fluid.

Sorry to hear it, but the vehicle should have been held on brakes until a clear path was available to drive-out. No exception, when starting on any hill brakes are your friend and clutch cannot be substituted.

[Nkc]

2 to 3 minutes sounds more like a calf workout.

[EssamKh]

UPDATE: The clutch is perfectly fine ... it was just overheating
Thanks everyone

[lightning]

Originally Posted by EssamKh

UPDATE: The clutch is perfectly fine ... it was just overheating
Thanks everyone

glad to know that it's working fine. have fun with your car!

[a7med606]

do the clutch test if its hold with no slippage congrats your clutch life is still there , if not then you have to change the clutch disk and flywheel .

if you dont know how to do a clutch test then here what you have to do

drive an a highway on 6th gear , RPM 2000 full throttle and see if its accelerating normal you are fine .

thats how i check my clutch every time i feel there is something wrong

[EssamKh]

Originally Posted by a7med606

do the clutch test if its hold with no slippage congrats your clutch life is still there , if not then you have to change the clutch disk and flywheel .

if you dont know how to do a clutch test then here what you have to do

drive an a highway on 6th gear , RPM 2000 full throttle and see if its accelerating normal you are fine .

thats how i check my clutch every time i feel there is something wrong

Thank you A7med .. I already did the test and everything seems normal
Also, it has been checked at the dealer and they confirmed it is fine