[pablorosas17]

I've got an e90 328i manual. It has 130k. As I was driving it started to have trouble shifting into another gear. Sometimes it gets stuck only in neutral and won't change unless I turn the car off and put it into a gear with some gas and clutch pressed.

I've maintained it well and changed the clutch/master cylinder/slave cylinder in 2017, so roughly about 7 years ago. No CEL. I'm looking to get this repaired and from what I've gathered it could be a low transmission fluid best-case scenario and a Transmission Control Module worst-case scenario. In between I found there could be shift linkage or cable issues and a bit more the throttle position sensor. I'm happy to share more, please let me know your thoughts. Only thing i haven't ever done yet was change the brake fluid. (planned) Other maintenance has been done.

Our weather is super cold at the moment and I believe this may also be impacting the fluids, I'll check in the morning and see if there's any change after heating the car.

[e90yyc]

Manual doesn’t have a transmission control module—it’s all mechanical. (There is a reverse switch and clutch switch, but these have no bearing on the transmission’s function.)

Start with fluid.

Do you see any leaks?

[Efthreeoh]

Sounds like it needs a clutch.

[pablorosas17]

e90yyc ah, that's true -manual doesn't have the tcu. I'll get the car into the lift and change the fluid, hopefully that fixes it.

[pablorosas17]

Efthreeoh what procedures would you recommend to identify this? the clutch pedal does engage while driving but it's becoming a bit more difficult. I suspect there might be something going on with the hydraulic clutch cylinders. before I throw in a clutch I will do the fluid swap, brake fluid, and hydraulics since it's all in the same area and have a shop look at it. would you recommend doing a clutch line bleed or brake line bleed? (picking the brain for ideas)

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by pablorosas17

Efthreeoh what procedures would you recommend to identify this? the clutch pedal does engage while driving but it's becoming a bit more difficult. I suspect there might be something going on with the hydraulic clutch cylinders. before I throw in a clutch I will do the fluid swap, brake fluid, and hydraulics since it's all in the same area and have a shop look at it. would you recommend doing a clutch line bleed or brake line bleed? (picking the brain for ideas)

The E90 manual transmission is very simple. It has a self-adjusting, single-plate clutch. Hydraulic fluid flows at temperatures well below what humans can tolerate. If there was enough water in the Hydraulic fluid to be affected by very low temperatures you'd have brake issues as well. It could possibly be clutch lever arm or throwout bearing are going bad, but you have to pull the transmission to inspect them. The clutch plate thickness can be inspected through the access port in the bell housing.

Why were the slave and master cylinders replaced 7 years ago?

[ctuna]

Have you ever changed the transmission fluid?
Try redline d4.

Try double clutching when it gets stuck .

[e90yyc]

Forgot to mention: it’s about -20° F right now and my clutch/transmission work fine.

Probably similar down in San Jose hey?