6MT 2nd gear issue...

[DOUT]

I love my new m3 but my only gripe with the car is 2nd gear...

Seriously guys, it's always rubbery and resistant to engage - this thing is less consistent than Shaq at the free throw line. It grinds more than tony hawk!!!

This has been a problem in every 6mt m3 I've driven, some worse than others. (I've driven an 08, 11, and currently have a '13)

My service advisor says all the cars have this issue at some point and I think that's bs.

Fortunately this is my only problem with the car, besides that I love it!!!

Does anyone have any pointers as to what I can do to solve this? Ssk or dssr?

And yes, I know how to drive...

EDIT: Car is a couple months old now with ~5k mi. I drive a lot, and have driven many M3's (among many other high performance cars). If you don't have anything positive/productive to say then please bug off... Everyone else, I really appreciate your input

[Curt2000]

I noticed the same thing with my 6MT in Europe. Some people say it improves a bit with a performance or M5 shift knob.

[iron_man]

yeah it can be a pain in the as* esp on a cold start... i just go with it..

[Rk-d]

Originally Posted by DOUT

I love my new m3 but my only gripe with the car is 2nd gear...

Seriously guys, it's always rubbery and resistant to engage - this thing is less consistent than Shaq at the free throw line. It grinds more than tony hawk!!!

This has been a problem in every 6mt m3 I've driven, some worse than others. (I've driven an 08, 11, and currently have a '13)

My service advisor says all the cars have this issue at some point and I think that's bs.

Fortunately this is my only problem with the car, besides that I love it!!!

Does anyone have any pointers as to what I can do to solve this? Ssk or dssr?

And yes, I know how to drive...

Maybe try the ZHP knob. I bought my car with it installed and I honestly haven't noticed more resistance in 2nd than any other car I've owned. Of course, it always takes time to learn how to finesse any MT - they are all different. Personally, it usually takes me a couple of months to really get an intuitive feel for any new MT - that's part of what makes me love the things.

[G80indy]

Of course, it always takes time to learn how to finesse any MT - they are all different. Personally, it usually takes me a couple of months to really get an intuitive feel for any new MT - that's part of what makes me love the things.

Well said!

[swhat]

Initially I had issues with 2nd gear when redlining with quick shifting, but after 50k miles (finally broken in), that is no longer an issue. I also have the ZHP knob (maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't)

[abehwang]

I see it as my car having character...personality....
Some cars are way too easy to drive... but this one, I know how to drive her

[Ricfutures]

It's one of the toughest gearboxes that I have had to adapt too but once you get used it won't bother you. I drove a buddy's FRS and that gearbox was perfection.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Ricfutures

It's one of the toughest gearboxes that I have had to adapt too but once you get used it won't bother you. I drove a buddy's FRS and that gearbox was perfection.

Agreed. I sold my 11 DCT for a 13 6MT and I almost regretted it until a couple weeks past and I adapted to 2nd gear. Its not silky smooth as I wish it was, but it works just fine now that I know how to work it.

[BPMSport]

Second gear is the worst gear on this transmission.

If you shift really hard it grinds, and the dealer won't do anything about it ;(

[iron_man]

I just resoeted to starting in second at stop lights. seem to be smoother

[swhat]

doesn't starting in second stress the transmission? Just learn to use second correctly. It'll loosen up eventually.

[Rk-d]

Originally Posted by iron_man

I just resoeted to starting in second at stop lights. seem to be smoother

I'm sorry, but that's a little ridiculous. This car is not that hard to drive. My old g37 coupe was way worse.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by swhat

doesn't starting in second stress the transmission? Just learn to use second correctly. It'll loosen up eventually.

would be more of an issue with slipping the clutch some i would think.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Second gear is the worst gear on this transmission.

If you shift really hard it grinds, and the dealer won't do anything about it ;(

Not entirely true. The foreman today acknowledged my second gear has issues and I'm taking the car in for warranty repairs in two weeks. I posted the info in another seeing gear thread, see Second Gear Grind SIB thread

[mosx]

I had problems with my 2nd gear engaging. Dealer replaced the clutch and its much better. When going from 1st to 2nd be sure to pull straight down. Because you're seated to the left of the shifter its all to easy to try and pull it down and towards your body. Go straight down and you'll find its much smoother. I also find shifting below 3k RPMs makes it very difficult to engage.

[mdosu]

love the analogies.

anyways, couldn't agree with you more. I recommend, as others have, that you should change out the knob. The OEM knob has an awkward height, weight, and (for me) structure, where I can't perform the best direct shift everytime.

I swapped mine to the smaller F30 M Performance knob.
Others have swapped to the weighted F10 M5 knob. Both options shorten the throw and provides a counterbalanced weight to help make the shift. The F30 knob gets rid of the "goose neck girth" if you're bothered by the size of the OEM knob, which is still present with the F10 M5 knob.

Also, what RPM are you shifting into 2nd btw? You should try the shift to 2nd higher than 3k. Just saying, you shouldn't be slipping the clutch in 2nd that much, and almost so slip to 3rd. If you are, you're shifting way too low on the revs.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Ricfutures

It's one of the toughest gearboxes that I have had to adapt too but once you get used it won't bother you. I drove a buddy's FRS and that gearbox was perfection.

Really? i thought the M3 was one of the easiest high performance 6MTs I've ever driven. It's very forgiving b/c it appears the flywheel is reasonably large enough where you don't feel like you're driving a racing transmission.


Regarding the FRS, it helps when you have less HP...S2000 comes to mind, slick transmission, but a lot less HP to manage too.

On my old Evo 8, gearbox was erratic, and the small flywheel surface was very unforgiving.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by swhat

doesn't starting in second stress the transmission? Just learn to use second correctly. It'll loosen up eventually.

dont' do that, you'll have plenty of time to "wear out/in your transmission" in the car's life. Use 1st gear for it's intention..simply a gear to start the car.

[nullrouted]

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about -- I just came from an E46 M3 Vert 6MT, that clutch/shift was absolutely horrible until I had the CDV deleted -- After that it was pretty terrible with cold starts as well, wouldn't engage smoothly until everything was up to temp. Got back from ED of a 2013 E92 and all I can say is damn! that's a smooth clutch/shift. I feel like its so smooth (even in 1-2) that it could make a complete novice look good. I will admit that I'm still under the break-in, and haven't done any hard driving on it yet. However the city driving in Munich and on/off the Autobahn was fantastic, best gearbox I've driven in a long time IMO.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Second gear is the worst gear on this transmission.

If you shift really hard it grinds, and the dealer won't do anything about it ;(

In one year of owning the M, I've literally never had that happen. Mine is an 08, got it with 57k miles, now at 69k. So 12k miles and I've never had that happen in second gear. Weird. I will say though, 5th gear (I know I might be the only one haha) can be hard to get in gear sometimes.

Having said that, I lasted less than 20 hours before chopping the stock knob off and throwing my old ZHP one on there. That made the car infinitely more enjoyable.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by W///

In one year of owning the M, I've literally never had that happen. Mine is an 08, got it with 57k miles, now at 69k. So 12k miles and I've never had that happen in second gear. Weird. I will say though, 5th gear (I know I might be the only one haha) can be hard to get in gear sometimes.

Having said that, I lasted less than 20 hours before chopping the stock knob off and throwing my old ZHP one on there. That made the car infinitely more enjoyable.

I've never heard of ppl with issues going into 5th, you must be the only one

when i first got the car, I did have issues going into 6th though, it was my first 6MT (driven 5MTs prior), and the long throw was awkward and I've missed the gear and hit the gate a few times.