[ajeffrey]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Really? Really?

I've owned numerous MT cars and this is the first one in which I've ever experienced such a problem.

My 1987 911 still shifts like silk every time....

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by ajeffrey

I've owned numerous MT cars and this is the first one in which I've ever experienced such a problem.

My 1987 911 still shifts like silk every time....

They don't care because DCT is so popular?? Interesting. They have slow synchros in 1-2 shift. I bet they can fix it. I'd NEVER buy another one. That will show them.

[bbarker]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

They don't care because DCT is so popular?? Interesting. They have slow synchros in 1-2 shift. I bet they can fix it. I'd NEVER buy another one. That will show them.

The dealership here in Virginia told me it's very difficult to test drive/find a brand new MT on the lot. DCT/Autos are so popular in the US that BMW ships over very few (if any) MT vehicles to sit on the new lots.

I guess Americans like the autos!

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by bbbeemer

The dealership here in Virginia told me it's very difficult to test drive/find a brand new MT on the lot. DCT/Autos are so popular in the US that BMW ships over very few (if any) MT vehicles to sit on the new lots.

I guess Americans like the autos!

I think you are correct. I was being sarcastic. I find it a little hard to believe that the transmission manufacturers would decide to screw up manual tannys now that DCT is more popular. Zero logic. fyi BMW doesnt make them.

[smallseafishie]

My e30 and e92 both grind into second on the first shift when freezing cold. I just double clutch on my very first shift into second.

[Envuks]

Originally Posted by PKizzle

6MT 335is with 20K miles here.

1 to 2 shifts are sometimes a bit notchy, but have not experienced any grinding. There have been a few times during cold starts that it actually feels so tight to get into 1st gear, that I just engage 2nd move it slightly and shift back to 1st. The notchy shifts are common on my E36 M3 as well, but I feel that the short shifter in the 335is exaggerates the shift effort required a bit.

I have the same experience as listed here. Never any grinding at all, but first is sometimes difficult to engage from a stop after a cold start. I generally give a little gas in neutral, wait for rpms to drop, then re-engage. Works every time.

[asus389]

I don't get grinding but the 1-2 shift is very notchy when I first start out. It's worse when it's cold outside. I also sometimes have trouble getting the car into first gear. Double clutching sometimes helps as does letting the car roll. I have been stuck at a light with people honking at me because I can't get into 1st on occasion.

I have I say, I'm not super impressed with this BMW MT. I had a VW/Audi MT before this and it was very smooth. The clutch grabbed much harder and it was generally easier to start in first gear. I find myself babying the BMW for fear of wrecking the gearbox because I the first gear grab is so subtle.

[Potty_Pants]

same problem for my car...

I didnt want to sell it privately for this very same reason.

I didnt get an opportunity to try a gear oil change... but you may want to consider that.

ppp

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by asus389

I don't get grinding but the 1-2 shift is very notchy when I first start out. It's worse when it's cold outside. I also sometimes have trouble getting the car into first gear. Double clutching sometimes helps as does letting the car roll. I have been stuck at a light with people honking at me because I can't get into 1st on occasion.

I have I say, I'm not super impressed with this BMW MT. I had a VW/Audi MT before this and it was very smooth. The clutch grabbed much harder and it was generally easier to start in first gear. I find myself babying the BMW for fear of wrecking the gearbox because I the first gear grab is so subtle.

When stopped put it in third for a couple of seconds then go to first. Should be smooth.

[romanonj]

Issues described in this thread have nothing to do with quality of transmission, but simple oil viscosity physics. harder/grinding shifts are often experienced in colder temperatures prior to gear oil reaching its optimal operating temperature at which its flowing freely (as it is designed to operate at specific temps). try different gear oil with lower first number such as 75w-X instead of 90w-x, and let your car warm up for 5 min before driving it when it is below freezing. You will be extending the life of not only your transmission, but your engine as well..

[bbarker]

Originally Posted by romanonj

Issues described in this thread have nothing to do with quality of transmission, but simple oil viscosity physics. harder/grinding shifts are often experienced in colder temperatures prior to gear oil reaching its optimal operating temperature at which its flowing freely (as it is designed to operate at specific temps). try different gear oil with lower first number such as 75w-X instead of 90w-x, and let your car warm up for 5 min before driving it when it is below freezing. You will be extending the life of not only your transmission, but your engine as well..

So you're saying I purchased a $XX vehicle that can't handle temperature at or below 35 degrees? Am I asking/expecting too much?!

So for those of us that live in the Mid-Atlantic, or Northeast, or Northwest, etc. where we see these temperatures, your recommendation is to purchase new car and then immediately address the issue by spending money to change the fluids?

[ajeffrey]

Originally Posted by romanonj

Issues described in this thread have nothing to do with quality of transmission, but simple oil viscosity physics. harder/grinding shifts are often experienced in colder temperatures prior to gear oil reaching its optimal operating temperature at which its flowing freely (as it is designed to operate at specific temps). try different gear oil with lower first number such as 75w-X instead of 90w-x, and let your car warm up for 5 min before driving it when it is below freezing. You will be extending the life of not only your transmission, but your engine as well..

Interesting observation. I'm not sure it entirely explains the issue considering that in SF we're talking about temps which are generally in the 50s-60s. That said, perhaps a different tranny fluid makes sense, at least to try it out.

[elinstylez]

My 1-2 shifts are occasionally very notchy but I fairly frequently grind on my 2-3 shifts. I had the dealer drive my car and they said it was normal. They said so long as the dealer has a record of it they can address that issue later if the problem persists.

[romanonj]

Originally Posted by bbbeemer

So you're saying I purchased a $XX vehicle that can't handle temperature at or below 35 degrees? Am I asking/expecting too much?!

So for those of us that live in the Mid-Atlantic, or Northeast, or Northwest, etc. where we see these temperatures, your recommendation is to purchase new car and then immediately address the issue by spending money to change the fluids?

No Einstein, it is 5th grade physics.. Lubrication oil viscosity is affected during temp changes. There is a reason why it is recommended to choose your motor oil based on your ambient temperature.. In winter it is recommended to use lower first number (0w or 5w) where in warmer climates you can use 15w-50 as an example. First number illustrates the rate at which oil is flowing while it is cold at cooler than operating temp (usually tested while oil temps at 100 degrees or less). The lower the number is, the better the flow rate and lube characteristics. So in cold weather, there is a point where your engine is working without any (or little) lubrication due to poor flow rate. So it is important not to strain your engine until proper lubrication is achieved by letting it run without much stress. Same logic applies to transmission oil, things slide in or out better (gears etc) if lubricated . There are plenty of articles on the web where testing and oil classifications are well explained, even 5th grader would understand!!

http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

So my point is if you are annoyed by this issue you can probably remedy it by changing the tranny fluid when seasons change.. Odds are your SA will tell you this is normal. If you look at my signature, I am also in NJ where winter temps can be in 20s.. So buying a 200k car won't solve cold temps and fluid characteristics..

[romanonj]

Originally Posted by ajeffrey

Interesting observation. I'm not sure it entirely explains the issue considering that in SF we're talking about temps which are generally in the 50s-60s. That said, perhaps a different tranny fluid makes sense, at least to try it out.

Tranny fluid is much thicker than motor oil, 50 degree temps make it flow slower than it is warmed up. There is an easy way to prove this theory, try warming your car to normal operating temperature and then driving it to see if the issue persists... I don't have MT, but as a general rule I always warm my cars up a few min in colder months. DCT is def happier once warmed up..

[07lilredwagon]

Originally Posted by itchycow89

I had the same problem... I usually just double clutch the very first shift, works every time.

I was going to suggest the very same....should allow the revs from the motor to better synch with the tranny when going into that second gear...in other words, when you engage the clutch in neutral and give the engine a slight rev, it gets the tranny spinning...then try second gear.....

these cars should not grind gears. this is not normal. If the car has experienced "spirited shifting"...especially "banging" second...there are parts of the transmission that control the shifts that can get bent....if this happens....your gears will not engage fully.

With enough grinding....and it wont take much, you will damage the gear.

Not sure if cold hydraulic fluid could cause this...or slightly low hydraulic fluid....but I would get it checked out.

JP

[psmitty95]

Are all of you sure it's not normal... I was under the impression that our cars just had an issue grinding 1-2 if you shifted too quick. Here's a few examples of why I have thought it was a normal thing...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442111

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=256988

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244898

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97129

[boris]

I too was troubled with this when I first picked up my 335i.

After driving around in a STi with every shift bushing available for it, I thought that shifting the 335i would be cake.

After the first couple cold mornings on the 1-2 grind, I'd get pissed.
Did some reading, did a couple experiments and testing of my own.


The first shift is crucial and is the only shift that will grind.

What I do now, is I shift slow when first getting the car rolling after it being warmed up. Just enough so the rpms don't drop too low when you engage into 2nd gear.

If you try to banzai shift immediately, it's going to grind, and grind REAL bad.

I'm going to do a test of my own by switching the gear oil and my drain plug with Magnetic ones. Perhaps it is just the age of the fluid (no fluid in my opinion is lifetime) or perhaps the temps+viscosity really just fuck with it at first.

[elinstylez]

I have the same issue in my msport n55 predominantly with my 1-2 and occasionally 2-3 shifts. I don't grind very often but when I do it's very annoying. After grinding, the shifter becomes really knotchy. Sometimes I think it's because my arm gets lazy and I don't push the shifter into gear all the way but I'm fairly positive it's a manufacturer's defect, which seems to be confirmed by everyone else here.

I took my car to the dealer and had the tech drive it overnight. Of course he couldn't replicate the problem so he said it was "normal". Indeed, it's become normal for me to expect my gears to randomly grind every once in awhile.

I was trying to get the dealer to cover the mt fluid under the standard maintenance but it refused. It's listed on the maintenance list but the dealer claimed it was meant for m models only.

On a side note, my previous mt was a Evo 9 and I never grinded the gears until I installed some crap aftermarket short shifter.