Imagine jumping on Amazon and ordering a replacement clutch for your BMW M3 but actually receiving a Formula One-spec racing clutch? For one M3 owner, that’s exactly what happened.
Taking to the M3 Forum, a user said he ordered a ZF Sachs clutch kit for his E46 M3 and was stunned to find something very different in the box. Motor Authority reached out to ZF and got confirmation that the clutch is not sold to the public and some forum members claim it could be worth upwards of $30,000. ZF says it is working to place a value on the item.
The clutch itself is very interesting. It features four discs but is actually tiny in diameter and slightly smaller than a Sharpie marker. Found deep within the clutch is a diaphragm spring which allows it to operate at temperatures of up to 752 degrees Fahrenheit or 400 degrees Celsius for short periods of time. It’s reportedly capable of handling 664 lb-ft of torque.
It’s unclear how the mix-up at Amazon happened but the forum user is now in possession of a part rarely seen outside of racing circles. Of course, it wouldn’t work in his M3 but as far as expensive paperweights come, we can’t imagine many things more impressive than this.
Have you ever had Amazon mess up your order and send the wrong item? Tell us your stories in the comments below!
