Stuck in 2nd gear (manual tranny)

adc · 12-17-2009, 05:46 PM

I think I'm probably the first to have this happen.

My wife was driving the M3 while I was taking my new rims to the tire installer, and called me to report that after taking off from a stoplight, it would not come out of 2nd gear anymore. She has never owned an automatic car in her life, knows what she's doing and so I believe that's exactly how it happened.

Anyway, I managed to take it to the dealer (not far away) using mostly 2nd gear. At times I was able to shift in 3rd/4th, but it was always a struggle to put it back in 2nd, and it never went in 1st. I didn't want to force it.

At the dealer, of course it was in one of the "it works" phases, but he definitely believed me and got me a loaner. This morning they were able to experience the same symptoms, so now they're waiting for instructions from BMW.

My gut feeling was that perhaps some part in the shift linkage had come loose, and when it was displaced the shift lever could not move the linkage sufficiently to cover the 1-2 plane. Then driving the car could bump the parts back into proper alignment and it would shift ok.

I think I'll call them tomorrow to ask them to investigate this possibility rather than try to get a new tranny, which would probably take forever.

Of course, it could also be some obscure internal tranny failure, in which case they'll probably replace it.

The only good news is that they gave me a 135i loaner instead of the usual 328 or X3 - the 135i is a little ball of fun. Props to VOB BMW so far, they are taking care of me.

I'll keep you guys posted as to how this unfolds, may be of interest to other owners of manual transmission cars...

MrAdams · 12-17-2009, 05:48 PM

GL probly some linkage stuff

Ben335 · 12-17-2009, 06:38 PM

Andrei,

Keep me updated on what happens. We still need to meet up soon.

Ben

ihyln · 12-17-2009, 06:39 PM

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

JCtx · 12-17-2009, 07:26 PM

Definitely sounds like a linkage issue to me. Stock shifter, I assume?
Whatever it is, it's a rare occurrence, but please keep us posted. Good luck.

M2381 · 12-17-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

Low blow

ha ha jk

Leozap · 12-17-2009, 08:18 PM

Another low blow... I think your wife broke the trans lol

Just kidding. I hope they can take care of it for ya soon.

brava09 · 12-18-2009, 02:11 AM

They should replace the tranny...I have a friend with a similar issue, couldn't shift to third. It seems that BMW policy is to replace the transmission, and not to fix part of it.

Nawaaz · 12-18-2009, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

JIO · 12-18-2009, 04:30 AM

Wow...you let your wife drive the M3? or you used to let your wife drive the M3.

Joking...Sounds like a linkage problem to me.

adc · 12-18-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

Ouch!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben335

Andrei,

Keep me updated on what happens. We still need to meet up soon.

Ben

Will do, Ben.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1989baby

GL probly some linkage stuff

That was my guess too, but as someone else has remarked, they don't seem eager to put it on a lift and investigate. I'll ask them to do that, but there is the possibility that BMW won't pay for that investigation. Weird if you ask me, but I won't force the issue...

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Definitely sounds like a linkage issue to me. Stock shifter, I assume?
Whatever it is, it's a rare occurrence, but please keep us posted. Good luck.

Stock shifter so far. I'll keep you guys posted, thanks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leozap

Another low blow... I think your wife broke the trans lol

She'll hit me in the head with the big frying pan if I suggest that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIO

Wow...you let your wife drive the M3? or you used to let your wife drive the M3.

I'll still let her - she's only had manual trannies so far and has been driving for quite awhile.

But I don't think she'll object to that exhaust now, you know what I'm saying?

adc · 12-18-2009, 03:55 PM

Latest word from BMW is that they will replace the transmission.

While I am not opposed to getting a new one despite my low 6k mileage, in this manner there is a very good chance I'll never find out what was wrong. I confirmed with my SA that they never got authorization to investigate a linkage problem - perhaps when they replace the tranny the tech can poke around the linkage a bit.

Anyway, it's supposed to happen at the beginning of next week, we shall see...

Griz · 12-18-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

how cute... you had to...

ihyln · 12-18-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

Latest word from BMW is that they will replace the transmission.

While I am not opposed to getting a new one despite my low 6k mileage, in this manner there is a very good chance I'll never find out what was wrong. I confirmed with my SA that they never got authorization to investigate a linkage problem - perhaps when they replace the tranny the tech can poke around the linkage a bit.

Anyway, it's supposed to happen at the beginning of next week, we shall see...

Glad that they are taking care of it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griz

how cute... you had to...

get lost

ase2dais · 12-18-2009, 08:18 PM

//M3 first rule of thumb:
1. Dont let your wife/GF drive it

Griz · 12-18-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

Latest word from BMW...

It'd be interesting to find out, but I'd expect BMW to just box up the old tranny and send it back to Germany for a rebuild. You'd probably have to go to a transmission shop to get somebody that would want to investigate this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

get lost

And miss out on your clever little quips?

adc · 12-18-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ase2dais

//M3 first rule of thumb:
1. Dont let your wife/GF drive it

Ah, every time my wife took my former E36 M3 to work, she would come back with a story about how some punk raced her - and lost.

I would never give up these stories...

(Besides which, as I've said, there might be compensations).

Koroush · 12-18-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

should have gotten DCT

sorry had to

Yeah because DCT has never had problems before.

ihyln · 12-18-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koroush

Yeah because DCT has never had problems before.

It does?! Because mine has been flawless so I thought it would be the same for everyone else!

MachineDriver · 12-19-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihyln

It does?! Because mine has been flawless so I thought it would be the same for everyone else!

+1 for flawless. I swear that DCT lag is operator error.

adc · 12-23-2009, 05:21 PM

Well I'm back in the car now, with my "mild winter" wheel/tire setup and a brand new tranny. Actually, it may be a remanufactured unit, because my SA inquired about getting a 1200 mile service on it and was told that it comes with the correct (that is, non-break-in oil) in it already.

Not sure about it, I may change the oil anyway in 1200 miles just to be sure.

Everything looks ok, the same as before the problem - well perhaps 1 and 2 are a little snaggy but I'll give it a few hundred miles to break in and report later.

When the technician took the old transmission out, he tried to find any obvious issues - linkage bent or falling apart, missing circlips etc. and could not find anything unusual externally. So the conclusion was that it was some sort of internal failure - I hope BMW gets my transmission and figures it out.

Anyway, the 135i loaner was nice, but I so missed my car...

Almost forgot - my hat's off to VOB and Gint in the Yellow Team, I doubt this could have been handled any faster or smoother! From the loaner that magically appeared at 6PM on a Thursday night, regular (unprompted) status updates and ending with the 3 business days turnaround time (blizzard and all), I could not be happier.

Finnegan · 12-23-2009, 05:31 PM

It's nice to hear that you've got your car back and that the service experience was positive (aside from the fact you needed service at all). There have been too many threads about members who go through hell to get something that obviously needs repair/replacement completed and have nothing but hassles from clueless dealerships. I'm happy to see there are some good ones out there.

And hey, you got it back before Christmas...so that's a plus as well. I hope the new transmission provides a trouble-free life.

12-17-2009, 05:46 PM	#1
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	Stuck in 2nd gear (manual tranny) I think I'm probably the first to have this happen. My wife was driving the M3 while I was taking my new rims to the tire installer, and called me to report that after taking off from a stoplight, it would not come out of 2nd gear anymore. She has never owned an automatic car in her life, knows what she's doing and so I believe that's exactly how it happened. Anyway, I managed to take it to the dealer (not far away) using mostly 2nd gear. At times I was able to shift in 3rd/4th, but it was always a struggle to put it back in 2nd, and it never went in 1st. I didn't want to force it. At the dealer, of course it was in one of the "it works" phases, but he definitely believed me and got me a loaner. This morning they were able to experience the same symptoms, so now they're waiting for instructions from BMW. My gut feeling was that perhaps some part in the shift linkage had come loose, and when it was displaced the shift lever could not move the linkage sufficiently to cover the 1-2 plane. Then driving the car could bump the parts back into proper alignment and it would shift ok. I think I'll call them tomorrow to ask them to investigate this possibility rather than try to get a new tranny, which would probably take forever. Of course, it could also be some obscure internal tranny failure, in which case they'll probably replace it. The only good news is that they gave me a 135i loaner instead of the usual 328 or X3 - the 135i is a little ball of fun. Props to VOB BMW so far, they are taking care of me. I'll keep you guys posted as to how this unfolds, may be of interest to other owners of manual transmission cars...
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12-17-2009, 05:48 PM	#2
MrAdams do a wheelie!!! 154 Rep 929 Posts Drives: E46 M3 - '72 2002 - '65 Impala Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 Sedan e90 [0.00]	GL probly some linkage stuff __________________ ~Adam
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12-17-2009, 06:38 PM	#3
Ben335 Captain 46 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 09 M3 Finally here Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Virginia iTrader: (2)	Andrei, Keep me updated on what happens. We still need to meet up soon. Ben __________________ 09 SG E90, Black on Carbon Leather, Tech, Premium, Cold, iPod, Premium Sound, 19s, OEM Alarm, PDC, Moonroof, Sirius Eisenmann Sport / Eibach Springs / 35% F1 Pinnacle Tint / Macht Schnell Air Filter / LUX Angel Eyes / Black Grill / AA Pulley / Powerchip Stage II Tune / Fabspeed X-Pipe & HFC / RAC Monolites RG63
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12-17-2009, 06:39 PM	#4
ihyln Banned 85 Rep 3,384 Posts Drives: M3post sucks Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: M3post sucks iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00] 2002 530i [0.00]	should have gotten DCT sorry had to
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12-17-2009, 07:26 PM	#5
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Definitely sounds like a linkage issue to me. Stock shifter, I assume? Whatever it is, it's a rare occurrence, but please keep us posted. Good luck.
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12-17-2009, 08:18 PM	#7
Leozap Captain 58 Rep 954 Posts Drives: AW E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (5)	Another low blow... I think your wife broke the trans lol Just kidding. I hope they can take care of it for ya soon. __________________ 11 335is, KW1, M3 bits and what not 08 M3 Sedan 6mt, loaded, modded to the bone Old: 04 M3 SMG
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12-18-2009, 02:11 AM	#8
brava09 Lieutenant Colonel 767 Rep 1,683 Posts Drives: M4C xdrive Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	They should replace the tranny...I have a friend with a similar issue, couldn't shift to third. It seems that BMW policy is to replace the transmission, and not to fix part of it. __________________ 22 M4 Competition xdrive 19 M5 Competition sold 16 F-Type S AWD sold 11 Audi RS5 Misano Red--sold 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black 6MT--sold 08 E92 335i 6MT traded in for M3
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12-18-2009, 04:30 AM	#10
JIO Captain 48 Rep 636 Posts Drives: '09 Space Gray E92 M3 w/DCT Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Eugene, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Wow...you let your wife drive the M3? or you used to let your wife drive the M3. Joking...Sounds like a linkage problem to me.
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12-18-2009, 03:55 PM	#12
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	Latest word from BMW is that they will replace the transmission. While I am not opposed to getting a new one despite my low 6k mileage, in this manner there is a very good chance I'll never find out what was wrong. I confirmed with my SA that they never got authorization to investigate a linkage problem - perhaps when they replace the tranny the tech can poke around the linkage a bit. Anyway, it's supposed to happen at the beginning of next week, we shall see...
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12-18-2009, 08:18 PM	#15
ase2dais //Mdicted 347 Rep 9,988 Posts Drives: a Cop Magnet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 495 Ring iTrader: (18) Garage List 2009 e92 M3 DCT CF ... [10.00] 2015 S-Works Roubaix [0.00] 2013 Trek Madone 5.9 [9.50] 2012 Scott - CR1-Pro [10.00] 2008 e92 M3 6MT (Up ... [10.00] 2002 e46 M3 Cabriol ... [7.00] 2006 e90-325i (DD) [7.00] 2002 e39 M5 (retired) [9.50]	//M3 first rule of thumb: 1. Dont let your wife/GF drive it __________________ Oo\(lll)'(lll)/oO : 2009-e92 ///M3 SpaceGry DCT CF Rf/Trim ZTP ZPP ZCW Sat/PrmSd : \_lOOl___lOOl_/<< Clickies
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12-23-2009, 05:21 PM	#21
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	Update Well I'm back in the car now, with my "mild winter" wheel/tire setup and a brand new tranny. Actually, it may be a remanufactured unit, because my SA inquired about getting a 1200 mile service on it and was told that it comes with the correct (that is, non-break-in oil) in it already. Not sure about it, I may change the oil anyway in 1200 miles just to be sure. Everything looks ok, the same as before the problem - well perhaps 1 and 2 are a little snaggy but I'll give it a few hundred miles to break in and report later. When the technician took the old transmission out, he tried to find any obvious issues - linkage bent or falling apart, missing circlips etc. and could not find anything unusual externally. So the conclusion was that it was some sort of internal failure - I hope BMW gets my transmission and figures it out. Anyway, the 135i loaner was nice, but I so missed my car... Almost forgot - my hat's off to VOB and Gint in the Yellow Team, I doubt this could have been handled any faster or smoother! From the loaner that magically appeared at 6PM on a Thursday night, regular (unprompted) status updates and ending with the 3 business days turnaround time (blizzard and all), I could not be happier.
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12-23-2009, 05:31 PM	#22
Finnegan Dog Listener 701 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	It's nice to hear that you've got your car back and that the service experience was positive (aside from the fact you needed service at all). There have been too many threads about members who go through hell to get something that obviously needs repair/replacement completed and have nothing but hassles from clueless dealerships. I'm happy to see there are some good ones out there. And hey, you got it back before Christmas...so that's a plus as well. I hope the new transmission provides a trouble-free life.
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