e46 m3 - comments on gearchange please

[Pig Skill]

I have searched extensively before posting this question and I'm hoping owners of the manual M3 can give me some feedback

The gear change I find is a bit rubbish. It seems a bit notchy. Theres no crunch but it's not smooth by any means.

It seems there is a lot of people having problems with the drivetrain clunk but my question is more the quality and smoothness of the change


Anyone offer their options please?

Thanks in advance

[KP]

You get used to it. From cold its a tad agricultural.

Try not to rush changes and you will get used to shifting smoothly.

The gearbox itself is designed to take much more power than the M3 produces.

If you can't get along with the change some say that changing the gear knob to an E46 Clubsport example will give a shorter shift and better feel.

Cheers,

KP

[muckymotor]

I've got an m coupe and the gearchange can sometimes feel notchy and heavy. I asked the mechanic about this when I had my car serviced and he said it was perfectly normal.

[mcelliott]

I wouldn't worry Pig Skill, mine's pretty awful from cold, and to be perfectly honest, it's a bit of a disappointment when warm - a little bit spongy even. In fact, I'd say my Porsche SC has a better gear change, and it's got the infamous 915 gearbox!

[mysticm]

as with most things on the m, went cold its notchy, i find it smoothest when giving it the beans

[ant1985]

could try some new gbox oil,

im looking at putting some new stuff in mine something like royal purple

and possibly a shorter throw selector

[nottyash]

Is it difficult to select 1st and reverse when cold?
If it is, press the clutch select 4th then put it in 1st or reverse and release the clutch, it should then select the gear.
Normally ok when warm although a bit knotchy.
Its caused by rust! a common problem, rusting on the shaft going into the clutch make the splines stick.

To fix you can simply clean up and grease it. While your at it best to renew the clutch as its apart anyway. My gearbox is now very smooth and a lot better, lighter clutch too.
My car is a 2003 with 70k miles on. The original clutch is a LUK so no need to pay dealer prices, mine was £230, fitted for £200.
I was going to try changing the gearbox oil, but if your cars had an insp 2 it would of been done then. Mine was only done 12000 miles ago.So save your money as its a specific BMW gbox oil.

[Pig Skill]

Thanks for the replies. No probs selecting gears at all, it's just not a nice shift, which seems at odds with the rest of the car which is well polished. Ive got used to it now and seems better now it is being used daily.

[krisdelta]

You'll get used to it, "they all do that Sir" As others have said "interesting" from cold - but once you've got into the rhythm you can execute fast, smooth changes. I've got an AC Schnitzer short shift which makes it snappier too. Don't let it put you off an awesome car.

Cheers

Kris

[dadofbud]

Owners have been questioning the gear change since 2001, I can assure you will get around it, you can pause for a second as you cross the gate this always worked for me, and as a previous post when you are giving the beans you won't notice it.

Just stick with it, it won't change but you will find ways of overcoming it.

[Laird]

Changing the gearbox oil will help wonders also.

[Pig Skill]

Thanks guys - You are dead right, Ive changed my style to accommodate. I relaxed change smooths things out and when charging on its as smooth as silk.

I did change the fluid for the later LT2 and that made a slight improvement

As long as thats how it is and not that there is something wrong then i can accept it and move on

Thanks again

[rev-erend]

Funny - I noticed this especially when cold and changing from 1st to 2nd.. hard to to find it a bit nottchy .. almost like the clutch is on the way out. Although unlike a work clutch there is no trouble selecting 1st and reverse.

[nottyash]

rev-erend said:

Funny - I noticed this especially when cold and changing from 1st to 2nd.. hard to to find it a bit nottchy .. almost like the clutch is on the way out. Although unlike a work clutch there is no trouble selecting 1st and reverse.

As I said before, its rust on the shaft. If you were to take it apart you may aswell change the cluch when you clean up and grease it.
Mine is great now, its made a massive difference. I was told to live with it, and change the gearbox oil etc etc. Trust me I have just done it.;)

[Laird]

nottyash said:

rev-erend said:

Funny - I noticed this especially when cold and changing from 1st to 2nd.. hard to to find it a bit nottchy .. almost like the clutch is on the way out. Although unlike a work clutch there is no trouble selecting 1st and reverse.

As I said before, its rust on the shaft. If you were to take it apart you may aswell change the cluch when you clean up and grease it.
Mine is great now, its made a massive difference. I was told to live with it, and change the gearbox oil etc etc. Trust me I have just done it.;)

Never heard this before.

Every //M car I've had, bar the CSL (and there have been nine) has felt the same, whether it's an E34,36,39 or 86. And the Z4M had only 900 miles on the clock when I bought it.

IIRC the Getrag 'box has a triple syncro from 1st - 2nd, which is why it feels notchy.

[rev-erend]

Fair point .. just be very sparing on that grease as it attracts dust
from the clutch and then causes sticking issues again.

[nottyash]

Laird said:

Never heard this before.

Every //M car I've had, bar the CSL (and there have been nine) has felt the same, whether it's an E34,36,39 or 86. And the Z4M had only 900 miles on the clock when I bought it.

IIRC the Getrag 'box has a triple syncro from 1st - 2nd, which is why it feels notchy.

Our BMW main dealer told me that was the problem, and a well known BMW specialist in York.
They were correct.

[goldblum]

I had a couple of these cars,both had a slightly 'notchy' gearchange.

[Laird]

nottyash said:

They were correct.

Except they weren't. At least not entirely

There's no way in hell my year old 900 mile Z4M had a rusty shaft and that 'box was the most recalcitrant of the lot.

It's a characteristic and has been since the 6sp was introduced on the E34/E36.

[rev-erend]

It seems to get quite a lot better once the gearbox / car is warm.