Clutch R1150RS

[SamBoris]

Looks like my clutch slave cylinder has self destructed.

I'm afraid to bring the bike to a dealer in the south of Ireland for fear of what they might charge - it's a bit like opening up your wallet on a windy day!

Does anyone know how much UK dealers charge?

[Mike F G]

Ouch!

You could chat to Phil Hawksley AKA "The Boxer Man" who is an independent Boxer specialist base in the midlands who offers a mobile service, though only in the Midlands, you would have to get the bike to him in Leicester which would possibly out weigh the advantages of using someone in Ireland. He has standard service and repair prices listed on his website which are a good point of refernce for a decent independent:

http://www.boxerman.co.uk/r11series.htm.

He is also as likley as anyone to know of a BMW independent repairer in Ireland you could try as he has been around boxers for years.

Good luck

[SamBoris]

Thanks for that. I'll give him a shout. We get seriously ripped off here. I see from his web that Phil repalces a clutch plate for £310 - I was quoted €900 + VAT (@21.5%!) "possibly more" from a Dublin garage yesterday.

The BMW guys in Belfast are good - I think I might be able to get the bike that far.

From what I read on the web - It looks like the clutch slave cylinder has come apart, I have all the symptoms - black particles in the clutch fluid, loss of pressure on the lever and a strange smell!

There's 50k miles on the bike and if I open the throttle aggressively the clutch slips. Either the clutch plate is worn or fluid has contaminated the plate or something even more sinister. So the clutch plate possibly has to also be replaced.

All great fun.

[Mike F G]

The Clutch on my RS was replaced at about 46k (Fortunatly under warrenty from S/H dealership I bought it from). As it will be coming to bits anyway I would get the plate changed regardless of other issues at the mileage you have on it.

Good luck with getting it sorted.

[spot]

If its slipping then whilst the slave cylinder being goosed might have caused it the clutch now needs replacing rather than just a new slave cylinder. Its a pity as the slave cylinder can be done by an average to below average diy repairer. Have you tried contacting beemerjay of here? based just north of belfast.

[SamBoris]

Hi Spot,

Thanks for that. As luck would have it, a trained BMW mechanic has only just opened up shop in Bray less than 8 miles from my house. I'm dropping the bike down to him on Saturday. Hopefully he won't be hit by the same greed bug that seems to affect all the other BMW guys around here. A pal of mine was charged €70 yesterday to fit a front tyre (he provided the tyre) - surprisingly those mechanics didn't appear to have any bikes in their workshop, I wonder why?!

If the Bray guy doesn't work out I'll get in touch with beemerjay.

I have a trip planned to South Wales for next weekend - there's still a chance I might make it!

SB