Clutch slipping not sure what to do.

[coolmg]

This is my story, I purchased a 03 RT 4years ago shortly after that the clutch started slipping. BMW did a warranty replacement that lasted 12K miles. I replaced the clutch the second time being very careful to adjust and torque everything as per BMW specifications, also changed the lip seals in the transmission. This job lasted 200 miles and yep it's doing it again. Now the question do I sell or trade it as, fix it again as I am not really sure just what is the problem or what? Your openion please.

[guitardad]

How much free play do you have in the clutch lever?

[alien_hitchhiker]

What did you find when you replaced the clutch with just 12K miles on it? Was it worn out, oily, or what?

That is an amazingly short clutch life.

[kpjensen]

How much free play do you have in the clutch lever?

The 03 RT has a hydraulic clutch, I don't think you have the free play like you would with one with a cable. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Andy VH]

Only 12K on a clutch replacement means something else is wrong. Did you just replace the friction plate? I did my first clutch replacement at 60,000 miles on my 94 R1100RS (mostly because a failed main seal oiled it). At that time I just replaced the friction plate and "dressed" the pressure plates with a stone.

Then, at 112,000 miles I replaced the entire clutch kit, new friction plate, new pressure plates, new clutch hardware, all of it. Works better than it did new. The original pressure plates had developed a tapered wear on the faces that only allowed about a 1/4" engagement on the friction plate. No wonder it began slipping early.

A clutch replacement should actually go anywhere from 60K to 80K if you take care of it, keep it properly adjusted and don't abuse it.

[dsenn]

are you sure it's the clutch? my '00 RT felt like clutch slipping when in fact it was the drive shaft.

[coolmg]

clutch disk had oil on it, hydraulic clutches don't have free plan, I replaced all the seals in the transmission however the engine seal did not look like it was leaking. And the drive shaft was replaced due to failing u-joints. I can smell oil when it really gets hot.

[Rpstk53]

you smell oil so this may not apply, but my '02 RT clutch slipped at 22K and it was the slave cylinder leaking brake fluid onto the friction plate, needed new clutch and slave.
what a bummer for you to have a repeat failure, I know how discouraging that can be!:bottle
Bob