-------------------- 1 --------------------
#1. Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Jim Bassett
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:20:26 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help On Wed, August 17, 2005 10:10 am, Matthew Teel said: > So... No one has any ideas as to what might be happening here? This sounds like the well-known "5th gear detent" problem. You should be able to search the archives for the info. It was also addressed in a Roundel article - I can post a scan of it later tonight (unless someone beats me to it AGAIN! :-)). Basically involved polishing/cleaning a dowel pin in the side of the transmission to allow it to slide easier. It binds when the trans is cold but frees up once the trans is warm. Very easy fix, except for the dropping-the-transmission part :-) Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 - BTDT 1993 325is #44 JP
-------------------- 2 --------------------
#2. Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Bruce H
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:24:40 +0000 From: gobuffs93@comcast.net (Bruce H) Subject: Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help There was a TSB one this problem (actually the spring doesn't center the tranny in neutral between 3rd and 4th, but instead falls toward 5th). Find a competent indep BMW shop or take it to the dealer. I hear it is not a difficult fix- but may be timing consuming as the tranny has to come out I think. HTH, Bruce -------------- Original message -------------- > Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:01:42 -0800 > From: "Matthew Teel" > Subject: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help > > So... No one has any ideas as to what might be happening here? > > Previously I asked: > > I can really use some help here. I am having some sort of shifting problem > that I am not sure what it might be. > > When I start the vehicle and begin driving, everything is normal. The first > time that I go into fifth gear, normal again. But after that, the detent > that you normally feel as you go into fifth gear disappears. In fact, the > shift lever feels as though it is now being pulled to the right with a fair > amount of force. It becomes quite difficult to find third gear. When I am > back in the lower gears, the lever will all at once snap back to the correct > position and all will be normal again. There does not appear to be a rhyme > or reason to why it suddenly corrects. > > At first, I would experience this in cold weather only. It started at about > 52K miles. I put in Redline synthetic, and the problem disappeared for > awhile. Then it progressively began to reoccur until the point where it is > right now (118K miles) and is my new modus operandi. > > Any ideas as to what might be causing this? > > Matthew > 98 M3/4 > > > > > ************************************************* > Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: > > Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com > Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com > Eurosport High Performance http://www.eurosporthighperformance.com > Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com > Treehouse Racing http://www.treehouseracing.com > Elephant Motorsports Inc. http://www.elephantmotorsports.com > > DIGEST INFORMATION: > http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm > ************************************************* > >
-------------------- 3 --------------------
#3. Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:45:37 -0400 From: Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help >This sounds like the well-known "5th gear detent" problem. You should be >able to search the archives for the info. It was also addressed in a >Roundel article - I can post a scan of it later tonight (unless someone >beats me to it AGAIN! :-)). Yup, I asked about this 2-3 weeks ago and received a .pdf file about 3-4 times from different folks. :-) Yes the shifting problem is annoying as can be, I've become used to letting the trans do the centering for me and when I downshift into 3rd I basically slap the lever fwd, works everytime (in every other BMW I've had). Except of course on my car where the shifter goes into "spoon in a bowl of noodles" mode and finding 3rd gear is rather challenging. Hopefully it won't do it on the track (w/the trans warm) because this is the perfect malfunction to cause a missed shift. Kaboom! No thanks. Carlos. 98 M3
-------------------- 4 --------------------
#4. Re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:31:21 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help on 8/17/05 12:20 PM, E36M3 at e36m3@bmw-m.net wrote: > So... No one has any ideas as to what might be happening here? Matthew, You appear to have the known M3 gearbox shift detent problem. Attached (via off-Digest message) is a scan of the Roundel article (thanks Robert Chay) describing the fix. Bad news: You have to drop the transmission for access. Good news: You don't have to replace it. Neil Fort Wayne, IN 96 M3 - Bastard child 03 525iT - Sterling Grey Metallic 77 MGB - Original owner, need to sell 05 Mini - Cooper S with LSD!
-------------------- 5 --------------------
#5. RE: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Burgess, Kim L
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 11:18:50 -0700 From: "Burgess, Kim L" <kim.l.burgess@boeing.com> Subject: RE: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help Out side chance it is the problem documented in the Roundel in February 2003? http://www.bmw-m.net/Digest/Archive_2004_08_digest_3836-3890/digest3852. htm The tranny has to come out for some minor 'fitting' of the selector shaft. I seem to remember someone offering a pdf file or posting a copy somewhere KLBurgess -------------------- 10 -------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:01:42 -0800 From: "Matthew Teel" <mteel@beluga.com> Subject: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help So... No one has any ideas as to what might be happening here? Previously I asked: I can really use some help here. I am having some sort of shifting problem that I am not sure what it might be. When I start the vehicle and begin driving, everything is normal. The first time that I go into fifth gear, normal again. But after that, the detent that you normally feel as you go into fifth gear disappears. In fact, the shift lever feels as though it is now being pulled to the right with a fair amount of force. It becomes quite difficult to find third gear. When I am back in the lower gears, the lever will all at once snap back to the correct position and all will be normal again. There does not appear to be a rhyme or reason to why it suddenly corrects. At first, I would experience this in cold weather only. It started at about 52K miles. I put in Redline synthetic, and the problem disappeared for awhile. Then it progressively began to reoccur until the point where it is right now (118K miles) and is my new modus operandi. Any ideas as to what might be causing this? Matthew 98 M3/4
-------------------- 6 --------------------
#6. RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Matthew Teel
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:31:27 -0800 From: "Matthew Teel" <mteel@beluga.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help OK! Thanks to everyone who responded on and off the list!!!! I apologize for asking about something that apparently has been hashed over many times before. I did a search in the archives before I asked, but I must have used the wrong key words as I combed through some 300 postings but never found anything that seemed relative. What's amazing to me (or not) is that I had the car in the dealership just last week and they had no idea what might be causing the problem or how to resolve it, short of replacing the tranny. Thanks again to all. At least I know what direction I have to go, as painful as it might be. Matthew 98 M3/4
-------------------- 7 --------------------
#7. RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Jim Bassett
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:05:38 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help On Wed, August 17, 2005 11:40 am, Matthew Teel said: > What's amazing to me (or not) is that I had the car in the dealership just > last week and they had no idea what might be causing the problem or how to > resolve it, short of replacing the tranny. Not amazed whatsoever. <broken record - and the entire list groans :-)> Your car is out of warranty (presumably); find yourself a good independent BMW mechanic in your area. You'll thank me :-) </broken record - a sigh of relief eminates from the list :-)> Jim Bassett - lucky to have 2 veryvery good mechanics nearby
-------------------- 8 --------------------
#8. RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from twisty M3
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:09:34 -0700 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help << What's amazing to me (or not) is that I had the car in the dealership just last week and they had no idea what might be causing the problem or how to resolve it >> That's nothing... I had a mechanic (whom I won't go to again) say that he wouldn't do the fix because it was internet rumor. Yup... that's an internet rumor I feel every day of the week. Okie Dokie! ;) Jonathan L.
-------------------- 9 --------------------
#9. re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Don Eilenberger
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:19:27 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@verizon.net> Subject: re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help I figured someone would'a clued Matt in by now.. >So... No one has any ideas as to what might be happening here? Actually - it's so common I guess no one answered it.. >Previously I asked: > >I can really use some help here. I am having some sort of shifting problem >that I am not sure what it might be. > >When I start the vehicle and begin driving, everything is normal. The first >time that I go into fifth gear, normal again. But after that, the detent >that you normally feel as you go into fifth gear disappears. In fact, the >shift lever feels as though it is now being pulled to the right with a fair >amount of force. It becomes quite difficult to find third gear. When I am >back in the lower gears, the lever will all at once snap back to the correct >position and all will be normal again. There does not appear to be a rhyme >or reason to why it suddenly corrects. > >At first, I would experience this in cold weather only. It started at about >52K miles. I put in Redline synthetic, and the problem disappeared for >awhile. Then it progressively began to reoccur until the point where it is >right now (118K miles) and is my new modus operandi. > >Any ideas as to what might be causing this? > >Matthew >98 M3/4 What's causing it is binding of the 5th gear detent piston. There are little spring loaded pistons that drop into grooves on the internal shift mechanism when the mechanism is where a gear should be selected. The 5th gear one is slightly oversize - or the hole it rides in is slightly undersize.. whatever - it starts to bind. This seems to be much worse with cold, and sometimes gets worse with miles. BMW sells a kit for this now - consisting of a new piston (smaller diameter) and the plastic cap that seals up the hole. Most people just remove the cap, and the piston and use fine sandpaper on their finger to open up the hole a tiny bit. I would imagine a small brake hone would work even better. You'll need a new plastic cap for the hole. Easy fix - once the transmission is out of the car. 5 minute job - once the transmission is out of the car. The hole in question is on the right side of the transmission and up fairly far. I *think* it could be done (no evidence, just think so) without actually pulling the trans by disconnecting the driveshaft (which involved removing the exhaust and the heat shields) at the Guibo and lowering the back end down as if you WERE going to remove it. Chester - since you and Wayne are doing your weekly trans removal could you take a look when Wayne's tranny is at that point? I've gotta remember to do it next time mine is out. Probably should pick up the kit from BMW. Should write myself a note.. Don Eilenberger, AKA SquidBOOF, Spring Lk Hts, NJ JMP#1 FOT2.A deilenberger@verizon.net NJ Shore BMW Riders web page: http://www.njsbmwr.org/ Moderator - BMW E39 Enthusiasts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmwe39 "One should do the stuff that makes you smile" - Ulf Bertilsson Hence: 1998 M3 convertible, 2003 5-touring, 1987 K75S
-------------------- 10 --------------------
#10. Re: [E36M3] re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help - from Chester Wong
Top
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:24:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] re: Shifting woes - 2nd plea for help --- Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@verizon.net> wrote: > Chester - since you and Wayne are doing your weekly > trans removal could you take a look when Wayne's > tranny is at that point? Sorry, we already dropped the tranny and reinstalled it :) 102 degrees in Jersey that day! > I've gotta remember to do it next time mine is out. Probably > should pick up the kit from BMW. Should write myself a note.. I won't be removing your clutch slave cylinder any time soon! =X Chester