From: Bloch, Bryan <XXXX@XXXXX>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 17:52:39 -0500
Subject: Pictures


Hi Rob,

Here are some pictures of my clutch removed. Is this one of your
clutches? The reason I ask is that it looks to have BMW part numbers and
appears to perhaps be a stock 850 csi clutch. I thought you had said you
used Spec, but they paint their pressure plates blue.

Let me know -- thanks, Bryan


From: Rob Levinson <XXXX@XXXXX>
To: "Bloch, Bryan" <XXXX@XXXXX>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 17:58:34 -0500
Subject: Re: Pictures


Hi Bryan,

We offer five clutches for the M5/V12 conversion:

1) OEM BMW

2) Sachs Power Clutch (very similar in appearance to #1, basic bare
steel pressure plate)

3) SPEC Stage1 organic

4) SPEC Stage2 kevlar

5) SPEC Stage3 6-puck ceramic

#3-5 have the blue pressure plate.

- Rob


From: Bloch, Bryan <XXXX@XXXXX>
To: Rob Levinson <XXXX@XXXXX>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 19:57:28 -0500
Subject: RE: Pictures


Hi Rob,

Thanks for the reply. I still would like to know if the clutch I sent you pictures of isÊone of yours or not?Ê And, if it is one of yours, which one is it -- #1 or #2?Ê Whatever it is, from the looks of the burning, I'd say it was not strong enough for a supercharged M5. I've attached another picture.

Bryan

PS -- I realize that this is not your fault and that this is not the clutch you spec'd out -- I just need to know what it is.

From: Rob Levinson <XXXX@XXXXX>
To: "Bloch, Bryan" <XXXX@XXXXX>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 21:13:57 -0500
Subject: Re: Pictures

I'll be able to tell you tomorrow when I am back in the office...
can't tell from the pics because the BMW parts are marked Sachs, and
the Sachs parts are often marked with the same component (spring
cover) sub-numbers.

Technically, it's not a question of "strong enough". ÊAs your car is
demonstrating, the clutch holds fine when fully engaged... it's
slipping only when being engaged. ÊNevertheless, despite the damage
which I believe could have been one excessive drag-strip slippage, it
still manages to hold.

Excessive slipping in such cases can burn a clutch even in a mild
application - a 323i can toast it's clutch under similar
circumstances.

The ceramic unit will definitely be more tolerant of anything done to it.

Regards,
- Rob


From: Bloch, Bryan <XXXX@XXXXX>
To: Rob Levinson <XXXX@XXXXX>
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2005 08:23:07 -0500
Subject: RE: Pictures
Rob,

I just got off the phone with BMW and the part number (see attached
picture with both number and "BMW" stamped right on the part) is for a
remanufactured BMW 850csi clutch and I'm sure that is why the clutch is
going. No way is a stock 850csi clutch appropriate for a car cranking
out at least 100 lb/ft more torque and an additional 120 some-odd
horsepower and I'm sure you would never recommend that combination.

Again though, none of this is your fault or your problem -- just wanted
to let you know what I found out. As for my new clutch, I'm not sure
what I'm doing yet.

Bryan