[lvb125]

My 06 330i had a stiff and notchy shift. I ve replaced the fluid by redline D6ATF, the notchiness is improved by probably 50%.

Still, the shifter is stiff to engage without the engine running. After engine starts, the shifter smooths out immediately. The gearshifts on my friends m3 and frs all seem to engage with little effort, even without engine running.

The notchiness also seems to come back when the car isnt driven. My car was parked for 10 days before today. When i started the car, the first gear stuck midway 3 times till i was able to throw it in. It improved as I drove along. is this expected?

thanks

[hassmaschine]

shifting is always going to be tight when the engine isn't moving, because the synchros can't do their job.

it's also winter, it's not really out of the ordinary that shifting is a little stiffer when it's cold.

[J-Spec Dan]

my E90 330i is the same way but i also have the BMW Performance SSK.

[supergoat]

Am I to understand you put Automatic Transmission Fluid in your Manual Transmission? I'm new to BMWs...is that normal?!

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by supergoat

Am I to understand you put Automatic Transmission Fluid in your Manual Transmission? I'm new to BMWs...is that normal?!

yes it's been done for decades now. some of the transmissions have synchros that do not like the sulfur in standard MTL.

[ladius]

I've got the same car and experience the same thing, sometimes it's hard to even get into first gear. I've also replaced the transmission fluid which helped a little. I've got ~99,500 miles, house about you?