An interesting clutch story - by a Lambo owner!

[Miyagi]

Hello guys

This clutch debate has been "raging" for months and I'm sure it will continue to, but I have my own little story to add to it!!

About 2 months ago I bought an 05 manual Gallardo with 5900 miles on the clock.

Collected it from Lancashire and drove it back to brum....showed it off to a few mates and 300 miles later clutch has gone. For those of you who are cynics and might question my "driving style" as the service manager at Lamborghini Birmingham calls it. 250 + of those miles were motorway miles!!

Lambo Birmingham have a look at it and tell me the terrible news; "your clutch has gone sir" and that it won't be done under warranty or goodwill - get your cheque book out basically.
Luckily for me I bought the car from a class act (Dion @ Elms Collection) who put his hand in his pockect and stumped up the £3k.

Now I'm happy as Larry; I have a beautiful car and the only thing I could ever worry about has been sorted for at least the next 5k miles. I'm all smiles.

1000 miles later (again 80% motorway driving) and after feeling a little guilty for only taking her out on the weekend I decide to take her on a fairly long trip to Swansea. We get there fine however half way back @ Bristol we brake down. Anyone want to guess what the problem is???

Correct! It's the fg clucth!!

Not to mention it took Lambo recovery over 3Hrs to come and get us (good job I've got a TV in the car lol )....but the guy who came was real cool.... He's driven from UK to Russia on his own! lol! But that's another story......

Anyway back to my story.....I read the Ts & Cs on my clutch receipt and felt assured to read that Lambo Bham will cover any work for 3 months or 3000 miles whichever comes first. :Makes mental check, hmmmmm......I've done 1500 miles in 6 weeks great I'm covered:

However when I ring Lambo this A.M only to be told that does not apply to clutches at all!!

Time to get my cheque book out! Oh well!!

Gallardo = Great car, but perhaps a questionable clutch?!

[Davey S2]

I'd go ape sh1t with them. The replacement was clearly not done corrctly and should be replaced by them foc

[Marki]

Davey S2 said:

I'd go ape sh1t with them. The replacement was clearly not done corrctly and should be replaced by them foc

totally unaceptable

[Miyagi]

Marki said:

Davey S2 said:

I'd go ape sh1t with them. The replacement was clearly not done corrctly and should be replaced by them foc

totally unaceptable

Well that's what I thought.....I guess I may need to visit my solicitor as the person who I spoke to seemed to be very dismissive.

Personally I think Lambo should make some real efforts to resolve this clutch issue as it looks bad.....I've not heard of any other marque have such a big issue with their clutch! :sigh:

[GTHans]

Miyagi,

That "clutches aren't covered" is utter rubbish. under standard sales of good act a item sold (even service consumables) have to be fit for purpose and use. If they charge 3K for a new clutch and it fails within 3 months and 1500 miles its CEEARLY not fit for purpose and use. either the clutch plate was faulty or more likely its been fitted incorrectly, either way Lamborghini birmingham are liable.

Tell them straight a brand new clutch failing within 90 days and 1500 miles is not acceptable, and while the G has clutch issues if they fitted the latest spec clutch even with heavy abuse it should be good for 6K or more miles.

Given lambo brum are a new dealer, i would question if they have fitted it correctly, there is no way on earth you should pay for this!!!

Tell them the goods must either be faulty, or they have fitted incorrectly, if they don't do something about it you will make a complaint to lamborghini and trading standards.

Get the car inspected at Lamborghini Manchester or London (different owners) and have them cehck the clutch was fitted properly, and that the clutch was not faulty in some way.

In either case thats the last Lamborghini Birmingham would see of me, my money or my car.

This is totally unacceptable behaviour for a dealer.

[Miyagi]

GTHans said:

Miyagi,

That "clutches aren't covered" is utter rubbish. under standard sales of good act a item sold (even service consumables) have to be fit for purpose and use. If they charge 3K for a new clutch and it fails within 3 months and 1500 miles its CEEARLY not fit for purpose and use. either the clutch plate was faulty or more likely its been fitted incorrectly, either way Lamborghini birmingham are liable.

Tell them straight a brand new clutch failing within 90 days and 1500 miles is not acceptable, and while the G has clutch issues if they fitted the latest spec clutch even with heavy abuse it should be good for 6K or more miles.

Given lambo brum are a new dealer, i would question if they have fitted it correctly, there is no way on earth you should pay for this!!!

Tell them the goods must either be faulty, or they have fitted incorrectly, if they don't do something about it you will make a complaint to lamborghini and trading standards.

Get the car inspected at Lamborghini Manchester or London (different owners) and have them cehck the clutch was fitted properly, and that the clutch was not faulty in some way.

In either case thats the last Lamborghini Birmingham would see of me, my money or my car.

This is totally unacceptable behaviour for a dealer.

Actually I may well get another dealership to inspect it, good idea! Thanks!!

To be honest I wouldn't recommend Bham to anyone at the moment all the dealings I have had with them have been severely sub par.

And the lady who I deal with sounds like she has no idea about anything let alone a super car!!

Thanks for the advice guys

[Lamboandy]

Sorry to hear about your woes! Having done in excess of 20,000 miles with only one clutch change after the dodgy REV A clutches (even this was only cause the engine was out), I can categorically say there must be something seriously wrong with your car. The clutch is on the Gallardo has been put to bed. Do not accept any Bullshit about you've got the pay for it etc, push them hard untill you get a result. There is something seriously wrong if it only lasted this long. I'm sure others will concur.

Keep us posted of how you get on.

Andy.

[Miyagi]

Lamboandy said:

Sorry to hear about your woes! Having done in excess of 20,000 miles with only one clutch change after the dodgy REV A clutches (even this was only cause the engine was out), I can categorically say there must be something seriously wrong with your car. The clutch is on the Gallardo has been put to bed. Do not accept any Bullshit about you've got the pay for it etc, push them hard untill you get a result. There is something seriously wrong if it only lasted this long. I'm sure others will concur.

Keep us posted of how you get on.

Andy.

Thanks Andy....You're in the midlands have you used Lambo Bham if so what are your thoughts of them??!

[Murcielago_Boy]

Miyagi, with all due respect someone can utterly destroy a brand new Lamborghini clutch in 10 yards LITERALLY. (I've seen it done on a Diablo and I'm not joking).
Not trying to offend so don't take this the wrong way but are you being sufficiently gentle?

[Miyagi]

Murcielago_Boy said:

Miyagi, with all due respect someone can utterly destroy a brand new Lamborghini clutch in 10 yards LITERALLY. (I've seen it done on a Diablo and I'm not joking).
Not trying to offend so don't take this the wrong way but are you being sufficiently gentle?

Lol no offense taken.

But seriously how is that physically possible?? 10 YARDS? I cannot fathom how that could happen??!

As the majority of my mileage has been at a cruising speed on the motorway when the strain on the clutch should be at it's least I would say yes I am being gentle enough.

I have never done any "dump starts" I don't red line it. I tend not even pick up too much speed in first. Other than wrap it in cotton wool I don't know what else to do?

[EL77]

are we talking E-Gear on manual?

we've had 5/6 car though in the last 8 weeks and haven't had any problems with any cars.

i couldn't deal with a clutch that gave up that quickly.....

i've had 4 outings in my race car and i'm still hours of running time away from replacing the clutch!!!

[USS Bozeman]

Murcielago_Boy said:

Miyagi, with all due respect someone can utterly destroy a brand new Lamborghini clutch in 10 yards LITERALLY. (I've seen it done on a Diablo and I'm not joking)

Really? Would have thought that the worst abuse to a clutch would be max revs then slip it, surely even a Lambo can take that once in 10 yds ?

[Mosi]

My late 04 (MY05) Gallardo had had its first (early version) clutch done before I bought the car at 5k miles by the first owner, I ruined that clutch at 9500 miles and Lambo HW got it changed to a Type E clutch under warranty for me - I am pretty sure that I ruined the clutch in the car because when I bought the car I was not informed that when pulling away one should let the car pull itself off and the driver should not dial in revs like you would do in every other car - which in the Gallardo results in the clutch being 'slipped' unnecessarily. 7k miles into the Type E and its still fine (famous last words....I bet it melts down tomorrow just because I got cocky!!)

Am I talking utter bollox above Chaps, or are others on cue with this?

[USS Bozeman]

So how does anyone get a half decent 0-60 time with that method of pulling away ?

[Miyagi]

Mosi said:

My late 04 (MY05) Gallardo had had its first (early version) clutch done before I bought the car at 5k miles by the first owner, I ruined that clutch at 9500 miles and Lambo HW got it changed to a Type E clutch under warranty for me - I am pretty sure that I ruined the clutch in the car because when I bought the car I was not informed that when pulling away one should let the car pull itself off and the driver should not dial in revs like you would do in every other car - which in the Gallardo results in the clutch being 'slipped' unnecessarily. 7k miles into the Type E and its still fine (famous last words....I bet it melts down tomorrow just because I got cocky!!)

Am I talking utter bollox above Chaps, or are others on cue with this?

I agree with you also, however my clutch was the latest version and I have ONLY done 1500 miles. Your clucth was likely to be a weaker clutch and even you got 4500 miles out of it!

Something has got to be wrong!!

[Mustard]

I would take any issues up with Mark Hudson at Lambo/Bentley B'ham

I can honestly say in over 15yrs of working in the Motor trade you will not meet a more honest / fairer / DP/GM and general all round bloke

[Miyagi]

USS Bozeman said:

So how does anyone get a half decent 0-60 time with that method of pulling away ?

The fact is you CAN'T if you drive the car in the way descibed. You can't do that all the time though, for example if you need to pull out quickly at a round about especially in a place like London you have NO chance of using that method.

But basically you need to get into 2nd asap - which again is a little questionable but I put up with it.

Edited by Miyagi on Saturday 2nd June 19:55

[Miyagi]

Mustard said:

I would take any issues up with Mark Hudson at Lambo/Bentley B'ham

I can honestly say in over 15yrs of working in the Motor trade you will not meet a more honest / fairer / DP/GM and general all round bloke

Well the service manager there is SO unhelpful and I don't forsee her changing her attitude now. When the car first went in with the problem and I had read about the clutch issues on here and getting them replaced under warranty. I asked her about that and she didn't even want to send the pictures off to Lambo to try and get it done under warranty.

She reluctantly said she would but to be honest I wouldn't be suprised if she didn't!

My car was still clearly still covered and she just expected me to pay for it, as though I secrete money - to be honest after this I won't use or recommend them to ANYONE.

I'll give that guy a call and see his response.....Thanks

[blot]

USS Bozeman said:

So how does anyone get a half decent 0-60 time with that method of pulling away ?

Leave that one firmly to the saxo/nova club! It's all about the 60-??? time isn't it??

[Mosi]

The journo's can chase the 0-60 times so they can fill up their car mags with loads of pointless stats.

Personally, I have never timed a 0-60 dash in my life...I'm not arsed what the 0-60 time is really.

Its the in gear performance that matters surely

Who gives a toss how quick their car is from the lights...giving it the big one at the lights just makes people look like a bit of a dick IMHO.

Anyway, I digress (and dont want to start a flame war )

This whole clutch thing IS ridiculous - quite unacceptable really. But show me any proper relatively small production supercar that isnt a little bit 'flaky' in some area on another.

Thank god for Porsche, thats all I'm saying!