Can't get it in to 2nd gear

GTF62 · 08-30-2010, 09:35 AM

I'm having a problem shifting to 2nd gear on my 2008 E90 328i sedan 6MT (40,000 miles). This has happened 3 times and it doesn't happen all the time. It only happens when I autoX and the course is set up with a right hand turn on the start. I can't get it in to 2nd gear. It just won't go in. It feels as if there was a lock preventing it from shifting from 1st to 2nd or if I had moved the shifter to the left on the way to reveres and trying to move it to 2nd from all the way to the left (I'm sure I'm going straight down from 1st to 2nd). It only happens when I launch the car turning right. I can only get it in to 2nd when the car slows down on a straight line. This doesn't happen under normal driving conditions. I'm launching @ 2500 RPM. Don't know what's causing this and how to fix it. I have never changed the transmission oil. I'm thinking about replacing the factory oil with Red Line MT but wanted to know if anyone has had this problem or have an idea of what might be causing it. I installed a SS and removed the CDV but had the problem before and after making this mods.

Mr. 5 · 08-30-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTF62

I'm having a problem shifting to 2nd gear on my 2008 E90 328i sedan 6MT (40,000 miles). This has happened 3 times and it doesn't happen all the time. It only happens when I autoX and the course is set up with a right hand turn on the start. I can't get it in to 2nd gear. It just won't go in. It feels as if there was a lock preventing it from shifting from 1st to 2nd or if I had moved the shifter to the left on the way to reveres and trying to move it to 2nd from all the way to the left (I'm sure I'm going straight down from 1st to 2nd). It only happens when I launch the car turning right. I can only get it in to 2nd when the car slows down on a straight line. This doesn't happen under normal driving conditions. I'm launching @ 2500 RPM. Don't know what's causing this and how to fix it. I have never changed the transmission oil. I'm thinking about replacing the factory oil with Red Line MT but wanted to know if anyone has had this problem or have an idea of what might be causing it. I installed a SS and removed the CDV but had the problem before and after making this mods.

There are a couple possibilities.
-Your clutch might not be disengaging all the way.
-Your 2nd gear syncro might be worn and is having trouble accepting the 2nd gear shift

You can try another gear oil but remember that our transmissions take ATF. So, if you want Redline, go with D4 or D6. If you go with Royal Purple then go with the Syncromax.

satakal · 08-30-2010, 11:35 AM

You're doing it wrong. The car's mechanicals don't want to do what you're asking it to do. (I've seen this with a few different E90s)

In the same way that the rule of thumb to "get all your braking done in a straight line" is good but not gospel; "get all your shifting done in a straight line" is similarly true.

DJKhan85 · 08-30-2010, 11:44 AM

any recommendations on the type of gear oil? I am going to change to d4 atf next weekend but am not opposed to trying synchromax.

The HACK · 08-30-2010, 12:52 PM

Possibility number 3: Worn engine and transmission mounts allowing the transmission to shift far enough under engine torque AND right turn G forces to prevent the plunger from aligning the gear selector.

GTF62 · 08-30-2010, 01:56 PM

I agree shifting shouldn’t be done in the middle of a turn but when the course is set up with a right turn on the start and a left turn right after I have to shift somewhere during the transition as I exit the right turn. It only happens when course starts with a right turn and not when it starts with a left turn.

GTF62 · 09-27-2010, 01:13 PM

I replaced the transmission fluid with Red Line D4 ATF and the problem went away. Yesterday was my first autocross after changing the fluid and I didn't experienced any problems shifting to 2nd.

08-30-2010, 09:35 AM	#1
GTF62 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 328i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Can't get it in to 2nd gear I'm having a problem shifting to 2nd gear on my 2008 E90 328i sedan 6MT (40,000 miles). This has happened 3 times and it doesn't happen all the time. It only happens when I autoX and the course is set up with a right hand turn on the start. I can't get it in to 2nd gear. It just won't go in. It feels as if there was a lock preventing it from shifting from 1st to 2nd or if I had moved the shifter to the left on the way to reveres and trying to move it to 2nd from all the way to the left (I'm sure I'm going straight down from 1st to 2nd). It only happens when I launch the car turning right. I can only get it in to 2nd when the car slows down on a straight line. This doesn't happen under normal driving conditions. I'm launching @ 2500 RPM. Don't know what's causing this and how to fix it. I have never changed the transmission oil. I'm thinking about replacing the factory oil with Red Line MT but wanted to know if anyone has had this problem or have an idea of what might be causing it. I installed a SS and removed the CDV but had the problem before and after making this mods.
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08-30-2010, 11:35 AM	#3
satakal Major 108 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: e46 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: socal iTrader: (2)	You're doing it wrong. The car's mechanicals don't want to do what you're asking it to do. (I've seen this with a few different E90s) In the same way that the rule of thumb to "get all your braking done in a straight line" is good but not gospel; "get all your shifting done in a straight line" is similarly true.
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08-30-2010, 11:44 AM	#4
DJKhan85 Major 24 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: 2011 4dr 6mt Golf GTI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	any recommendations on the type of gear oil? I am going to change to d4 atf next weekend but am not opposed to trying synchromax. __________________ 2011 VW GTI 4dr-6mt-Sunroof-Nav-Xenons OLD: 08 335i AW/CR/Poplar 6mt-ZSP-ZPP-ZCW-iPod-iDrive-PDC-Style 230s w/FK 452-Dinan LSD
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08-30-2010, 12:52 PM	#5
The HACK Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class 1834 Rep 5,337 Posts Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day iTrader: (1)	Possibility number 3: Worn engine and transmission mounts allowing the transmission to shift far enough under engine torque AND right turn G forces to prevent the plunger from aligning the gear selector.
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08-30-2010, 01:56 PM	#6
GTF62 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 328i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I agree shifting shouldn’t be done in the middle of a turn but when the course is set up with a right turn on the start and a left turn right after I have to shift somewhere during the transition as I exit the right turn. It only happens when course starts with a right turn and not when it starts with a left turn.
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09-27-2010, 01:13 PM	#7
GTF62 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 328i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I replaced the transmission fluid with Red Line D4 ATF and the problem went away. Yesterday was my first autocross after changing the fluid and I didn't experienced any problems shifting to 2nd.
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