Burning clutch smell

aedeau · 10-28-2008, 05:50 PM

I noticed some burning clutch type smell outside the car this morning. Is it possible to break those ZF gearboxes? I was told that it will refuse to downshift too many gears if your speed is too high. In my experience, say I'm on the freeway at 100kph and try to drop it 2 gears, it'll drop it momentarily, but then automatically shift up again. Normally, if i want to overtake someone I'll just put the car into DS and manually drop it down 1 more gear.

Is it possible the smell is from the brakes?

minijet · 10-28-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aedeau

I noticed some burning clutch type smell outside the car this morning. Is it possible to break those ZF gearboxes? I was told that it will refuse to downshift too many gears if your speed is too high. In my experience, say I'm on the freeway at 100kph and try to drop it 2 gears, it'll drop it momentarily, but then automatically shift up again. Normally, if i want to overtake someone I'll just put the car into DS and manually drop it down 1 more gear.

Is it possible the smell is from the brakes?

I only noticed the clutch type smell from my step in the begining.
now that its got 1600km on it its gone.

aedeau · 10-28-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minijet

I only noticed the clutch type smell from my step in the begining.
now that its got 1600km on it its gone.

funny thing is, i never even noticed it when it was new. It's got about 8000kms on the odo now, and it's just starting to smell :iono:

I guess i'll monitor it and see if it hangs around.

Wraith · 10-28-2008, 08:59 PM

In order to solve this one, you need to take good note of what the smell actually is, sounds funny I know but sometimes certain burning smells can appear to be something else all together to what it actually is...

In your case, there is no clutch, so it can't be a burning clutch !

And when automatic transmission stall converters quit, there's also no such smell - so at a guess I'm going to say that there 'might' be a leak or residue transmission or power steering fluid/oil (they are one and the same) getting heated up/burning away causing that smell and maybe that's why it eventually disappears...

I recommend if it persists, take advantage of the warranty and bring it in and get it looked over :wink:

BTW the ZF gearbox itself is super tough !

Yep 135 · 10-28-2008, 10:07 PM

I had a similar smell a few years ago on another car and it turned out to be a plastic bag had gone under the car and melted onto the exhaust. It subtely hung around for weeks.
Yep.

Bahraini135 · 10-28-2008, 11:57 PM

I get the smell everytime I use the manual mode. I have 1300km only.

sevo · 10-29-2008, 01:05 AM

+1 for this smell on the step

?maybe a little less now

will keep an eye on this one.......

amk2912 · 10-29-2008, 03:14 AM

Haven't noticed a smell from my auto. The only smell I've noticed is when I show a passenger how much grunt the 135i has.............but that's another matter! :biggrin:

2bob · 10-29-2008, 04:37 AM

I had the smell when driven quickly using the paddles--i have1800 km on the clock.

AussieRacer · 10-29-2008, 05:39 AM

I'm at 2100km and only get pleasant smells (at least to my petrol head nose) when I've give the car a rough time. :smile:

white 125M · 10-29-2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aedeau

funny thing is, i never even noticed it when it was new. It's got about 8000kms on the odo now, and it's just starting to smell :iono:

I guess i'll monitor it and see if it hangs around.

Mate, I would take it back to the dealer and get them to check it out. In the meantime, have you checked the engine oil level? I assume there are no warning indications on the panel? After 8000 kms, I'd be getting the fluid levels checked - it may be that there is a leak somewhere and it may be dropping onto the exhaust - all 'maybes' so best thing to do is get it checked out by a mechanic.

Phil

aedeau · 10-29-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil_d

Mate, I would take it back to the dealer and get them to check it out. In the meantime, have you checked the engine oil level? I assume there are no warning indications on the panel? After 8000 kms, I'd be getting the fluid levels checked - it may be that there is a leak somewhere and it may be dropping onto the exhaust - all 'maybes' so best thing to do is get it checked out by a mechanic.

Phil

The smell wasn't there last night or this morning, so maybe it was related to me thrashing it a bit yesterday morning?

Not sure about the fluid levels. No warning lights are flashing or anything, so I'm assuming everything is ok? Yeh bit lazy to take it to the dealer, gotta arrange a loan car, book it 2 weeks in advance because they're always out, then I'm late for work becasue traffic in the morning is lame... so yeh, avoiding the dealer like the plauge

Guran · 10-29-2008, 09:32 PM

So it IS true ... autos do stink!

:wink:

white 125M · 10-30-2008, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aedeau

The smell wasn't there last night or this morning, so maybe it was related to me thrashing it a bit yesterday morning?

Not sure about the fluid levels. No warning lights are flashing or anything, so I'm assuming everything is ok? Yeh bit lazy to take it to the dealer, gotta arrange a loan car, book it 2 weeks in advance because they're always out, then I'm late for work becasue traffic in the morning is lame... so yeh, avoiding the dealer like the plauge

Ah ha, well, if it's been thrashed, then that would explain it. Cars will 'smell' if they've been driven hard, at least that's my experience others may disagree, so if it wasn't there in the morning then I wouldn't worry about it. You're not getting any amber or reds on your panel so sounds like all is good.

Phil

BBK · 10-30-2008, 06:54 AM

A bit off topic, but what are people's thoughts about the acceleration of the auto v manual? Has anyone driven both back to back?

And does anyone know if the 0-100 times are very different? I remember reading a review of the 335i saying the 0-100 was just as quick in the auto?

AlBel1214 · 11-16-2008, 05:05 PM

I have noticed the smell also but have not noticed any performance problems so I am not to worried..

aedeau · 11-16-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBK

A bit off topic, but what are people's thoughts about the acceleration of the auto v manual? Has anyone driven both back to back?

And does anyone know if the 0-100 times are very different? I remember reading a review of the 335i saying the 0-100 was just as quick in the auto?

If anything I would have thought the auto would be quicker (if you're a crap driver) as you don't need to worry about shifting?

05C4R · 11-16-2008, 05:37 PM

there are some reviews claiming the auto is as quick or quicker then the manual coming out of america. and there are heaps of manual times out to 5.6 seconds by wheels mag. on youtube there is a 135i vs evo X video that claims 4.7 seconds for 0-60mph in an auto.

10-28-2008, 05:50 PM	#1
aedeau Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 244 Posts Drives: VE Clubsport R8 LS3 6.2Ltr Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Burning clutch smell - steptronic I noticed some burning clutch type smell outside the car this morning. Is it possible to break those ZF gearboxes? I was told that it will refuse to downshift too many gears if your speed is too high. In my experience, say I'm on the freeway at 100kph and try to drop it 2 gears, it'll drop it momentarily, but then automatically shift up again. Normally, if i want to overtake someone I'll just put the car into DS and manually drop it down 1 more gear. Is it possible the smell is from the brakes?
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10-28-2008, 08:59 PM	#4
Wraith Captain 13 Rep 814 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	In order to solve this one, you need to take good note of what the smell actually is, sounds funny I know but sometimes certain burning smells can appear to be something else all together to what it actually is... In your case, there is no clutch, so it can't be a burning clutch ! And when automatic transmission stall converters quit, there's also no such smell - so at a guess I'm going to say that there 'might' be a leak or residue transmission or power steering fluid/oil (they are one and the same) getting heated up/burning away causing that smell and maybe that's why it eventually disappears... I recommend if it persists, take advantage of the warranty and bring it in and get it looked over :wink: BTW the ZF gearbox itself is super tough !
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10-28-2008, 10:07 PM	#5
Yep 135 Lieutenant 11 Rep 591 Posts Drives: BMW 135 manual Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canberra iTrader: (0)	I had a similar smell a few years ago on another car and it turned out to be a plastic bag had gone under the car and melted onto the exhaust. It subtely hung around for weeks. Yep.
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10-28-2008, 11:57 PM	#6
Bahraini135 First Lieutenant 28 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 09 M-Packaged 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 11.85@116.4mph ... [10.00]	I get the smell everytime I use the manual mode. I have 1300km only. __________________ '73 240z Triple-Carbed '03 350z Supercharged '09 135i Twin-Turbocharged *11.85@116.4mph*
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10-29-2008, 01:05 AM	#7
sevo New Member 1 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	+1 for this smell on the step ?maybe a little less now will keep an eye on this one.......
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10-29-2008, 03:14 AM	#8
amk2912 Lieutenant Colonel 87 Rep 1,663 Posts Drives: '10 X5 40d & '12 F10 520d Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Perth iTrader: (0)	Haven't noticed a smell from my auto. The only smell I've noticed is when I show a passenger how much grunt the 135i has.............but that's another matter! :biggrin: __________________ 2012 BMW F10 520d M-Sport 2010 BMW E70 X5 xdrive40d
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10-29-2008, 04:37 AM	#9
2bob Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 264 Posts Drives: AW white135 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: bilgola plateau NSW australia iTrader: (0)	I had the smell when driven quickly using the paddles--i have1800 km on the clock.
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10-29-2008, 05:39 AM	#10
AussieRacer Major 24 Rep 1,058 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Aust iTrader: (0)	I'm at 2100km and only get pleasant smells (at least to my petrol head nose) when I've give the car a rough time. :smile: __________________ Current: 135i Auto, Le Mans Blue - w/ Bridgestone RE-11 rears, GP Thunder 7500k angels, & "golf tee" mod plus a few M3 suspension bits and pieces...
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10-29-2008, 09:32 PM	#13
Guran Captain 24 Rep 895 Posts Drives: 08 135i Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wollongong, Australia iTrader: (0)	So it IS true ... autos do stink! :wink: __________________ 08 BMW 135i Sport Coupe \| Manual \| Sparkling Graphite \| Coral Red Boston Leather \| 10 Speaker Hi Fi
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10-30-2008, 06:54 AM	#15
BBK Banned 88 Rep 3,070 Posts Drives: A boring one... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [5.76]	A bit off topic, but what are people's thoughts about the acceleration of the auto v manual? Has anyone driven both back to back? And does anyone know if the 0-100 times are very different? I remember reading a review of the 335i saying the 0-100 was just as quick in the auto?
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11-16-2008, 05:05 PM	#16
AlBel1214 Major 52 Rep 1,118 Posts Drives: past 135i, now c6, future M3?? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	I have noticed the smell also but have not noticed any performance problems so I am not to worried.. __________________ -----LS3 C6----- *z51 suspension,* *NPP dual mode exhaust(wild2mild),20% tint,* zr1 replica wheels, gloss black fender stripes** R.I.P SGM 135i w/ some mods
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11-16-2008, 05:37 PM	#18
05C4R Major 62 Rep 1,147 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: sydney iTrader: (0)	there are some reviews claiming the auto is as quick or quicker then the manual coming out of america. and there are heaps of manual times out to 5.6 seconds by wheels mag. on youtube there is a 135i vs evo X video that claims 4.7 seconds for 0-60mph in an auto.
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