[Boz335i]

I've just sent my wifes 2.0 Golf Tdi in with a clutch judder problem, got a report back that the flywheel has seized and isn't covered under warranty.
I don't understand how the flywheel could have seized as I drove it to the garage.

Cost £950!! to replace flywheel and clutch.

Car is just under 3 years old and has 27000 on the clock.

I wondered whether my car would have been covered under a BMW warranty?

Also, I've done a bit of research on DMF's and it seems that they are pretty unreliable. Then my mum comes out with the statement: "that's why I never buy a manual car". It seems everyone knows about this flywheel problem but me

[doughboy]

I think failures are pretty rare, but as all manual cars have them there's a lot of them about these days.

Depends if they class it as part of the clutch as clutches are not covered by warranty, they're a replacable part like brake pads.

But even a clutch shouldn't fail at 27K that's ridiculous, let alone a DMF. I'd argue its an unreasonably short life for a part that should normally do 80-100K easy in regular use.

But if they won't budge, don't buy a VW one, get a branded OE replacement from an independant garage.

I just had a new LUK DMF & Clutch in my 335i (a bloody lot bigger than a golf 2.0tdi one) and that was only £207 for the DMF and £186 for the clutch, plus 3 hours to fit it (£150), all +VAT.

LUK make the factory clutch that BMW charge well over a grand for if you want it in a BMW box, i'm sure a similar thing is true for VW.

[MEGA]

Manual cars also have a dual mass flywheel.

27k is exxtremely early for a flywheel to have significant wear. I'd not be accepting of that AT ALL.

My 320d chewed it's flywheel up at 61k and I *ALMOST* managed to get it through on warranty. I believe 60k was the cut off for BMW warrantied flywheel repairs at the time: But this was on the extended warranty. It'd been made pretty clear if my car was sub 3 years old on full manufacturer warranty then even at 60k it'd have been replaced under the terms of premature wear

So again, 27k is nonsense! I know every manufacturer is different but that is taking the piss.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Manual cars also have a dual mass flywheel.

I think ONLY manual cars have DMFs?

Maybe DCT do, but torque conv, slush box, autos wouldn't need one.

Agree, 27K is no way acceptable for a clutch or DMF - inside main warranty too!

[Boz335i]

Thanks for the replies, just had VW on the phone and they've knocked off 20%, 10% from the dealer and 10% from the manufacturer all as a good will gesture.

They reckon it's the mistreatment my wife has given it, I'd better not tell her that otherwise I think she'd go down there and have a word.

I've opened a case with VW customer care and they're referring it to the technicians. I doubt if I'm going to get any more joy.

[Kerr]

No chance.

Get on to trading standards for that one.

Wear and tear has to be reasonable. 27k is not reasonable.

Is she bad for riding the clutch?

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Is she bad for riding the clutch?

She says not.

I think I might give trading standards a try. Won't do any harm.

[phil200tdi]

I thought the impetus was on them to prove that you have caused the failure.

I'd inform them that you plan to get trading standards involved and will have an independent engineers report. Should this conclude that it is not reasonable wear and tear you will take them to court to recover the full cost including legal fees. I'd also mention how disappointed you are with how this has been dealt with and how you are reconsidering your next VW purchase..

Why the dealer won't just fix it is beyond me. They get paid by the dealer for warranty work.

[Boz335i]

Had a bit of a result in the end.

Turned out that the warranty ran out at the end of March. They did mistakenly send me a letter saying I could renew it before it ran out on 21st May, but the V5 does say that the car was 3 years old on the 30th March, so I suppose I didn't really have a case.

Anyway they agreed to pay 60% of the bill leaving me a bill of £372, so it could have been a lot worse.

[phil200tdi]

Good result!

[doughboy]

Power to the people!

[Boz335i]

For the record, I just wanted to say a big thumbs up for VW

Got a call yesterday from their customer service who gave me a full refund for the job.

I had sent them an email saying that I wasn't happy with the flywheel only lasting 27K. I must admit I never expected them to come back to me. Bearing in mind I didn't have a warranty and the job came to £1375 in the end.

Somebody I work with had a 9 month old Vauxhall Safira with 9k on the clock, same happened to them and they had to pay the full amount.

[zltm089]

Good to here something positive for once!