new clutch $$?

[JamesRRS]

'94 R1100RS, 34k miles...

What can I expect to pay for a clutch replacement at a BMW dealership?

Do you have to retrofit the clean bearings to do the clutch job?

Any info appreciated.

James

[jweicht]

James - The price of a complete clutch kit (friction disc, spring, cover plate & pressure plate) this past spring was around $320 if memory serves. Not sure what a dealer will charge for labor.

There is no reason to replace the bearings in your gearbox if there is nothing wrong with them. When I pulled my gearbox to replace the clutch, I found a small amount (.002" or so) of back & forth movement on the input shaft. As the original bearings are tapered rollers, they need to have a preload (via shims) on them and properly preloaded bearings will have no play. I had my gearbox opened by a dealer, and the tapered rollers & their races were indeed shot. All of the other bearings were fine though, so I only had clean bearings installed on the input shaft. Worked just fine that way. If you have no metal in your gearbox oil and the shaft is properly preloaded, why waste your money?

[JamesRRS]

I agree...don't want to waste the money if I don't have to. I thought I had read somewhere that if the dealer does the work they railroad you into it. Hope not anyway.

I'll be happy to get the input splines lubed anyway...just hope the dealer doesnt want my first born for the labot costs.

If it were a japanese bike, I would do it myself...pretty easy job...just don't like the though of totally tearing that thing down to get to the clutch (and I don't have a garage).

Thanks for the info

James

[BMW-K]

actually, having just done a full clutch replacement, I can tell you the work really isn't that bad. About 8 hours of labor, but really, the disassembly/re-assembly isn't bad at all.