Clutch BMW: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the BMW models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 F30Campaign over the clutch pressure plate bolts (manual gearbox)Yes: in July 2013 BMW recalled 3 Series F30 cars with a manual gearbox over a risk related to the clutch pressure plate bolts. Check with the chassis number whether your car has already been repaired.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 E60Wear of the ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox and of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel assemblyThe 5 Series E60's ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox needs an oil change sooner than BMW suggests despite being advertised as "lifetime", and the clutch and dual-mass flywheel assembly on manual versions tends to wear out from around 160,000-200,000 km, according to fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de.Appears at around 160,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X1 E84Premature wear of the clutch and flywheel on the manual X1According to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch is the most cited point on the manual X1 E84: 48 mentions out of 315 reports, with vibrations, noise in first gear and wear between 32,000 and 95,000 km. There is no known official campaign.Appears at around 32,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X1 F48Delay in power engagement when pulling away on the 7-speed dual-clutch Steptronic gearboxIt is a known trait and not an isolated fault: on X1 F48 cars with the 7-speed dual-clutch (DKG) Steptronic gearbox, the engagement of power when pulling away is noticeably delayed, something Gebrauchtwagenberater.de recommends checking on the test drive.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X2 F39Automatic gearbox jerking and clutch pedal vibrationsAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 4 owners cite jerking or gear selection faults in the 8-speed automatic gearbox, or difficulty engaging gears when cold in the manual, and others cite clutch pedal vibrations from 6,000 km. No official recall is on record.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Z4 E85/E86Premature clutch wear and slipping when hotAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, 5 of 78 Z4 E85 owners cite clutch faults, with slipping when hot or problems engaging gear, from around 150,000 km. No cost is given.

By BMW model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Parts for your BMW for faults with the clutch

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Clutch kit
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Frequently asked questions

What faults with the clutch do BMW cars have?

In 6 models from BMW there are 6 documented faults with the clutch. The most important: campaign over the clutch pressure plate bolts (manual gearbox), wear of the ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox and of the clutch and dual-mass flywheel assembly and premature wear of the clutch and flywheel on the manual X1. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which BMW models have the most problems with the clutch?

BMW Z4 E85/E86 (1 fault), BMW Serie 5 E60 (1 fault), BMW X1 E84 (1 fault) and BMW Serie 3 F30 (1 fault).