[chuckles01]

Hi all, I have a 2014 6-speed manual sport line F30. Over the weekend, I was teaching my gf how to drive stick and at one point when she was shifting gears at about 30 mph, she may not have fully released the clutch and revved the engine to about 4~5,000 RPM (but the car didn't accelerate). Soon after there was a really strong burning smell in the car, so I'm guessing she may have burned the clutch a little.

I didn't drive the car for 2 days after that, but when I drove it again, I still noticed a slight burning smell when I got out of the car. It was subtle, and I couldn't smell it in the cabin like when it first happened, but now I'm wondering if my transmission / clutch is ok since it's been a couple days. Seems odd that the smell is still there, but at the same time the car drives normally. I don't notice anything different about the way the clutch engages / disengages or the transmission shifts.

Do I need to be concerned about the smell, or is it just a lingering smell that should go away?

[timmahh]

Probably smells like hot/overheated brakes.. and unless she completely fried it, it should return to normal. Maybe it's glazed a bit and just needs a bit more wear.

[chuckles01]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Probably smells like hot/overheated brakes.. and unless she completely fried it, it should return to normal. Maybe it's glazed a bit and just needs a bit more wear.

What do you mean by it needs a bit more wear?

Forgot to mention, the car is relatively new and only has about 11,000 miles on it.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Yea don't teach people how to drive manual on a nice car.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by chuckles01

What do you mean by it needs a bit more wear?

Forgot to mention, the car is relatively new and only has about 11,000 miles on it.

If she heated it to the point where it put a glaze on the flywheel or the disc itself it just needs some more usage to wear that glaze off is my thought. That may be entirely wrong, but it's my initial hunch. I'm trying to think of some other way to compare this that would make sense. Have you ever run over a plastic bag that stuck to your exhaust and melted to it? It sucks, and it continues to burn for a while but eventually fully burns off and is fine afterwards. My thought is that maybe the same happened here.

[BavarianFanatic]

I agree that there's likely some residual friction material on the flywheel. It'll take a while to burn through it/wear it off. I wouldn't worry about it.

[ft1330]

It's a friction part that is meant to incur wear as it gets used. Like brake pads.

[Fronzdan]

+1 on all that.

If the clutch feels ok to you and doesn't slip, the smell will probably fade after YOU drive it for a bit. Hey, we all had to learn at some point. My wife learned on a new 3-series wagon many years ago. The clutch survived.

[snowghost]

Happened to me with my 530i. Backed up an incline and slipped the clutch more than I intended. Stank for a while but went away eventually.

[chuckles01]

Thanks guys - that makes me feel a lot better that it shouldn't be an issue and the smell will go away.

Originally Posted by timmahh

If she heated it to the point where it put a glaze on the flywheel or the disc itself it just needs some more usage to wear that glaze off is my thought. That may be entirely wrong, but it's my initial hunch. I'm trying to think of some other way to compare this that would make sense. Have you ever run over a plastic bag that stuck to your exhaust and melted to it? It sucks, and it continues to burn for a while but eventually fully burns off and is fine afterwards. My thought is that maybe the same happened here.

Ah got it, thanks for the explanation!

[timmahh]

Somewhat on topic, but long ago had a Subaru Legacy wagon, heavy, awd, NA engine.. aka hideously underpowered. Was going up a VERY steep small road, and the guy coming down didn't stop, so we had to move to the side and stop. Not a good idea - clutch was out, in first gear, yet the car was rolling backwards!

[chuckles01]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Somewhat on topic, but long ago had a Subaru Legacy wagon, heavy, awd, NA engine.. aka hideously underpowered. Was going up a VERY steep small road, and the guy coming down didn't stop, so we had to move to the side and stop. Not a good idea - clutch was out, in first gear, yet the car was rolling backwards!

That's a pretty oh sh*t moment!

[pazzo]

Originally Posted by timmahh

If she heated it to the point where it put a glaze on the flywheel or the disc itself it just needs some more usage to wear that glaze off is my thought. That may be entirely wrong, but it's my initial hunch. I'm trying to think of some other way to compare this that would make sense. Have you ever run over a plastic bag that stuck to your exhaust and melted to it? It sucks, and it continues to burn for a while but eventually fully burns off and is fine afterwards. My thought is that maybe the same happened here.

This - usually it will go away. If it continues to smell or the clutch starts to slip, you'll know it's the problem. It might not slip until it's hot.

[chuckles01]

Originally Posted by pazzo

This - usually it will go away. If it continues to smell or the clutch starts to slip, you'll know it's the problem. It might not slip until it's hot.

Thanks Pazzo - I'll continue to keep an eye out on it, especially after I've driven it for a longer period of time. So far my drives after the incident have been short, 10/15 min drives. Hopefully this will just go away....