[bsp]

Dear all,
I have some slight trouble with my gearbox (or clutch, maybe) and I would like to compare with others experience. Every once in a while, mostly when cold, 1st would not engage or would be difficult to engage, with a "2 gate feeling". I found a way to replicate the sub-standard behavior (see below).
My car is a 2yr old 320d, around 25Kmiles, but any 6MT is probably more or less the same.

So, to cut it short, if some kind souls out there are willing to replicate this and post here their experience, it would mean a lot to me:

1. Start the engine
2. Place it in neutral, release clutch
3. WITHOUT depressing the clutch, try to engage 1st. Not lightly, not heavily, but in a normal and determined way. You may keep it pushed forward for a few seconds. Should not engage, of course Release the pressure.
4. Now push the clutch down fully and try to engage 1st.

My question is : Does it engage smoothly, or it feels like something is in the way? Is it the same 1st you "know"?

In my case it's significantly harder to engage 1st in the last step, and it feels like it has to go past two or three gates before engaging, unlike the normal "1 gate" feeling.

Thank you for any help.

[Shadow_Phantom12]

This has happened to me twice, and my car is only 3 months old. Hasn't bothered me though, just assumed I needed to use my strong hand

[SiKkBaSs]

Put it into 2nd then first, it works for me

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Phantom12

Hasn't bothered me though, just assumed I needed to use my strong hand

Ooooohhh Matron.

[Shadow_Phantom12]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Ooooohhh Matron.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by lightweight

Put it into 2nd then first, it works for me

Exactly, as said before, just put in second to break any clutch drag, then it'll go into first a treat.

Works on any gearbox on any car,

[bsp]

Thank you all for replying.

Well, after 2 yrs in this car and a lot more on many others, I know the "put it in 2nd first" trick. But
a). it does not seem right for a rather "young" BMW to behave like this and to require "the trick" just like a car worth one tenth the price
b). sometimes (only sometimes) neither 1st, nor 2nd would engage, at least not without a really strong hand.

I just wanted to know if I'm picky or there is really something bad building up.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by bsp

Thank you all for replying.

Well, after 2 yrs in this car and a lot more on many others, I know the "put it in 2nd first" trick. But
a). it does not seem right for a rather "young" BMW to behave like this and to require "the trick" just like a car worth one tenth the price
b). sometimes (only sometimes) neither 1st, nor 2nd would engage, at least not without a really strong hand.

I just wanted to know if I'm picky or there is really something bad building up.

Where in Europe are you? Maybe it's the cold weather aggravating the problem?

You need to drive it like you stole it to loosen it up mate.

[bsp]

Yes, willhollin, you are right on the spot. Cold weather makes it worse. In fact it did not bother me until this winter, and even then only in the colder days.

By cold I mean a few degrees under 0 Celsius.

(it's Eastern Europe, in a normally warmer area)