Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Hi everybody. Bought a 1999 Funduro with 45 000km on the clock on 15 March. Took it to BMW and was told that the bike would need a new clutch. R 2 500 quotation. I'm a bit cash strapped now. I saw this article on the web and would appreciate some feedback/suggestions. I have allready booked the bike for repair in next week, but would just like to know if this article might hold some thruth. Read Below: New Clutch Plates and Springs Installation FAQ by Kristian #562 This FAQ is about the installation of New Clutch Plates and Springs. How do you know when they’re worn? What are the Symptoms.? • The Clutch slips (or rather the Plates slip), particularly when you drive up a steel hill in low gear. • BE AWARE however, that it’s a Wet-Clutch i.e. bathed in the same Engine Oil that lubricates the rest of your bike. • "One of the most probable reasons for a slipping clutch (assuming everything is adjusted OK) is the use of EC (Energy Conserving) rated oils. (Has an EC in the API - American Petroleum Institute) star logo. Not sure if you have them in HK or Yurp, or how they are marked (probably NOT with an API symbol!) but they are very common in the US, especially with the synthetic oils. The EC additives are VERY BAD for use with wet clutches, cause excessive slippage, and are difficult to "wash" out if used - might take several oil changes. In other BMW's with a dry clutch, using EC oils is common, so it's probably a common mistake in the service shop also." • When I took mine out at about 25,000 miles to replace the Springs, the old plates JUST looked like the new ones. So my guess is a LONG time. • I can’t tell you how many miles they’ll last there is no “Magic Number”, because it depends on your driving style, whether you do a lot of highway, or lots of clutch-work (i.e. slipping) in and around town, your engine oil type, how far you drove with low engine oil or perhaps how far you drove with emulsified engine oil when your water pump fails. • So before you go wasting some money and time on New Clutch plates, try fully synthetic oil (not just the Semi-Synthetic Stuff). Ramey of Ron Woods racing has previously observed that with e.g. Redline FULLY Synthetic Oil people with Clutch Shifting Problems went away happy. I can’t say THIS will fix your problem, but try it first. You should be using Fully Synthetic after 6000 miles anyway, to protect your engine after the break-in period.