New Boy on the block from South Africa - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

martinmaltby · 09-29-2009, 07:42 AM

Hi Guys

Had a Smart Four Two for just over a year 60000kms I think the clutch plates have become contaminated from oil, output seal? A new clutch in SA will be in the region of R 10000-00, does anyone know if the plates can be replated or do you have to get a whole new clutch, fly wheel assembly?

Cheers

Mart

sato7 · 09-29-2009, 07:47 AM

I think we are too new to the smarts to know about that kind of issue...

PerryA · 09-29-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sato7

I think we are too new to the smarts to know about that kind of issue...

That said, there are plenty of Canadians and Smart owners from Europe on the board. The bigger issue may be the relative youth of the 451 model vs. the long experience with the 450. You might check UK members/groups and see if it's the same component. If it wasn't changed between the 450 and 451, there should be plenty of experience with about every facet of the mechanical systems to help you get an answer.

Just an aside, there's a branch of my family in South Africa (from about 1780) but some were recently in politics, so we don't talk about that much.

martinmaltby · 09-30-2009, 05:20 AM

Thanks for that, I'll search through some of the UK forums and see if I have any luck that way.

Can't blame you for not wanting to talk politics with the relo's

Cheers from Sunny SA

PerryA · 09-30-2009, 11:08 AM

Good luck with the UK search. Depending on your facility with languages, the other European markets have had Smarts for a decade or more, so that's another option.

As for the family link in SA, the tree branched off in the 1700s. An interesting nature vs. nurture discussion in that the SA branch actually founded the Conservative Party, and some of the views espoused are antithetical to the way I was raised here in the US. The US side of the family was pro-republic, pro-democracy, etc. as the nation was formed but seems to have steered clear of politics since.

SmartDrive · 10-05-2009, 01:28 AM

awesome, my grandpa is from SA!

jefferios · 10-05-2009, 05:39 AM

South Africa is an awesome country, I wish our culture had some traits from that region.

When I was there in May I saw a few smarts around JoBerg.

Carl242 · 10-05-2009, 11:31 AM

Hows it bru? My fam's from just north in Zim. Smarts are lekker