6MT: Neutral to 1st Gear clunk, Normal?

[mitch32]

When driving in traffic for extended periods I notice that when I clutch in and move the gear lever from neutral to 1st gear theres a slight clunk noise coming from the diff/transmission. Is this normal? theres no other weird noises coming from the car.

[MikeE92M3]

This happens with me too. I just shrug it off as the nature of the drivetrain/lash.

[M3PO]

I have this also. It sucks but I think it's "normal".

I hate this transmission and I used to own a 350Z. I would have never imagined that there was a worse transmission out there let alone in a $70K BMW.

[m3an]

yes totally normal drivetrain lash. Also if you put the clutch in a wait another milisecond prior to putting it in 1st you can eliminate the clunk.


on another note, you guys all need to drive hondas if you think an M shouldn't make all sorts of noises. Even the manual states that this car makes noise period.

[kchu221]

i occaionally get this noise also, i miss my s2k transmission...

[NYCM3ryder]

i too get that noise. it is normal sound just learn to deal with it. lol.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by M3PO

I have this also. It sucks but I think it's "normal".

I hate this transmission and I used to own a 350Z. I would have never imagined that there was a worse transmission out there let alone in a $70K BMW.

What's wrong with the 6mt? Mine shifts very smoothly and works just like it should

And to the OP, yea the clunk is normal.

[M3PO]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

What's wrong with the 6mt? Mine shifts very smoothly and works just like it should

And to the OP, yea the clunk is normal.

Well, for starters, this clunk. Notchy/crunchy 1-2 shifts. Not wanting to go into first and reverse when cold. Lots of gear, flywheel, and throw out bearing noise.

How many miles you got? I'm at 54K, maybe yours just needs some time/miles.

[gatorfast]

I'm about the same mileage as you. I find the M3 very easy to shift, especially coming from a z4m before.

[Sean05]

yea its normal... its a on and off though ... depends on how you stopped and engaging the clutch... somehow inside the tran.. or diff makes the clunk sound...

[Sean05]

Originally Posted by kchu221

i occaionally get this noise also, i miss my s2k transmission...

yea tell me about it.. miss my s2k too... but hate the notchyness on the 2nd gear on the 2nd gear... even after replacing it with new synchro and fluid with friction modifier.... see my sig... thats how bad i miss mine..

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by Sean05

yea tell me about it.. miss my s2k too... but hate the notchyness on the 2nd gear on the 2nd gear... even after replacing it with new synchro and fluid with friction modifier.... see my sig... thats how bad i miss mine..

is that how your s2k looked? it looks good... im planning on picking one up as a track car and fit it with j's racing wide body... hopefully in a couple monthes!

[Bmw135er]

It is normal. It's a characteristic of the variable M differential lock. You can also hear it in the parking lot rolling in first gear at idle and disengaging the clutch. The rattle at idle when hot is due to the use of a twin disc clutch. It's actually pretty quiet compared to the average aftermarket twin disc set up.

[posershadow]

I just picked up my new E92 6MT and I've got the same issue.

Starting from a stop in neutral, push in the clutch and shift into first and as I do that, you can feel it sort of clunk into gear. Doesn't grind, just sort of drops into it's notch with a clunk.

Then when rolling, the shift into second is the same thing, but a little worse, like a clunk clunk when pushing it into the notch. Probably the most difficult part of the tranny to learn because it sort of freaks you out when you feel that at first and you don't want to push it through the clunks too hard.

At first I thought, I guess I'm just not pushing it into the notch correctly, like at the wrong angle, or maybe I'm just not using the clutch correctly in those gears, but it appears that it's just a normal. I'm sure I'll get better at the shift into 2nd and the break in service will help. I was just mainly worried about the actual shifting into 1st and 2nd and why I was feeling clunks there, not so much about engaging and disengaging the clutch. It's all fine if it just clunks due to the rugged nature of the tranny, I can accept that, it's just interesting when you first learning to drive your new $70k+ car and you want to be as gentle as possible when figuring out the new tranny's behavior.

[Sully1Time]

The best way to eliminate the clunk is to drive the car like you stole it.
Clunk/notch is substantially less apparent when shifting at 4K-4.5K RPMs and up.

Its like the car is complaining your driving like a grandpa. I know its hard to rip around everywhere you go, but it pretty much eliminates the clunk/notch of the driveline/trans.

My car has a ton of driveline noise when putt'n around parking lots or just mellow driving to the store and back.

Hit the M button, right foot to the floor=clunk/notch gone!!!

[fordorobere]

I find the M3 very easy to shift, especially coming from a z4m before.

[heartcolorgrey]

Originally Posted by posershadow

I just picked up my new E92 6MT and I've got the same issue.

Starting from a stop in neutral, push in the clutch and shift into first and as I do that, you can feel it sort of clunk into gear. Doesn't grind, just sort of drops into it's notch with a clunk.

Then when rolling, the shift into second is the same thing, but a little worse, like a clunk clunk when pushing it into the notch. Probably the most difficult part of the tranny to learn because it sort of freaks you out when you feel that at first and you don't want to push it through the clunks too hard.

At first I thought, I guess I'm just not pushing it into the notch correctly, like at the wrong angle, or maybe I'm just not using the clutch correctly in those gears, but it appears that it's just a normal. I'm sure I'll get better at the shift into 2nd and the break in service will help. I was just mainly worried about the actual shifting into 1st and 2nd and why I was feeling clunks there, not so much about engaging and disengaging the clutch. It's all fine if it just clunks due to the rugged nature of the tranny, I can accept that, it's just interesting when you first learning to drive your new $70k+ car and you want to be as gentle as possible when figuring out the new tranny's behavior.

+ 1

Just picked up friday, i was freaked out when shifting back into 1st after a rolling stop with not enough velocity to grab 2nd gear correctly.
I guess I'll just learn to accept the quirks and not freak out like I just abused my tranny/gear selector.

[Superfly_M3]

I have no noises coming from my transmission. I have a ZHP shift knob though, which improved the feel and reduced the notchiness a lot. One out of ~60 shifts I will get a slight notch in the 2nd-3rd shift.

However when coasting in 1st gear at low speeds, and engaging the clutch I can gear noise. Mechanic said it was gear lash

[Bimmr7]

The manual states "you will hear a clicking noise, and it is normal."

[325rider]

Originally Posted by m3an

yes totally normal drivetrain lash. Also if you put the clutch in a wait another milisecond prior to putting it in 1st you can eliminate the clunk.


on another note, you guys all need to drive hondas if you think an M shouldn't make all sorts of noises. Even the manual states that this car makes noise period.

Exactly. I read the manuals thoroughly and it definitely states that the engine while make mechanical noises, cats will ping and sound metallic sometimes (esp. cold idle), and the gearbox/diff will clunk and ring as well

somewhat OT: are the sedan/coupe/vert M3 vehicle weights somewhere in the manuals? I cant seem to find em but found some info on BMWNA...

[thekurgan]

Shift to 3rd quickly before shifting to first and it goes in like buttah.

[Superfly_M3]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Shift to 3rd quickly before shifting to first and it goes in like buttah.

yup, I think its "clearing the syncros" or something like that. 1st, 3rd, and 5th.