612 OTO - Changing the clutch at 70,000 kms…

I am looking for some advice. The clutch has never been changed in my car and I wonder if I should just go ahead and plan a proactive change at 70k kms even if all appears well.

My 2009 612 OTO had 28k kms and a 62% clutch wear when purchased in November of 2021. At 46k kms, the dealer in Paris estimated 68% clutch wear and at 54k kms the dealer in Mulhouse who sold me the car estimated 68% clutch wear. As a result, I am a sceptical of the estimates on wear.

A few weeks ago I had a rejected upshift while accelerating onto the autoroute (5 to 6 failed, dropping the car into neutral) and the “gear unavailable” message. Pulled the paddle again and the car went straight into 6th and there have been no problems since. The shifts are not harsh and I don’t discern any reduction in the performance of the shift mechanism.

We are currently at 66k kms, and should hit 70k within 2 months. My gut tells me to start planning the parts acquisition and work slot with the dealer to minimise downtime, but if the clutch has another 30k in her I don’t want waste that.

Recommendations?

Bill

 

Transmission Failure Warning @68000 kms…reverse, neutral, 1st, 2nd are available,,,can’t shift to third.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login
off to the dealer to see what the problem is….I had to drive her about 600 meters to get her to the transporter and of course in that time the “transmission failure warning” light went away and all was normal. My gut says a worn clutch slipping in the big traffic jam on Sunday overheated…but we will see. Estimate to change the clutch is 7k. Labor rates are up versus last year.

 

Warning occurred about 215 km into a 225 km drive so the battery would have been properly topped up. While no one would say an F1 transmission is a smooth operator in stop and go traffic, the shifts felt a bit “jerky” as compared to normal and the clutch was smelling when we got into the parking at the end of the trip.

On the larger issue of the battery and start up…The car had driven 600km in the previous 48 hours and I never press the start button until the check light goes out. I have a tender but rarely use it as the car is never idle for more than 3-4 days and always has a good 200 km run (at least) every week.

I have just passed 40,000 km of driving in just 16 months.

 

Well the diagnosis is: clutch overheat warning…system says 73% wear…technician says visual inspection shows clutch is done.

We will need to inspect the flywheel, let’s hope it is ok or it’s another 4K part to change.

When I bought the car at 28k kms the clutch was 62% at 46k kms it was 68%, at 54k kms it was 68% again, and at 68k it is showing 73%….not sure the computer readings make much sense.

With the clutch change, an F1 service and normal fluids it’s going to be a big bill.

 

I wonder what makes an OTO flywheel so expensive. You can buy 6 (yes six) 599 gtb flywheels for the cost of the OTO specific flywheel, while the twin disc clutch is the same for both.​

 

Here is the flywheel...needs to be replaced according the the dealer.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yes it is... and 5x a normal 612 flywheel.

But by next Friday she will have new clutch, flywheel and her 70k km service so she will be good to go...

 

When i bought her 18 months ago the service manager said I should expect to change the clutch after 20-25k additional kms and i got just over 40k out of her so i can't say it wasn't expected. The only downside is a flywheel to that costs nearly 5k USD when vat is added.

Next roadtrip is just a few weeks away.