How To Fix Notchy Shifting

[Razif]

What is the total number of motor mounts in this car? (both engine and transmission , if it had one) I was thinking its a total of 2 mounts, is this true?

[FazerBoy]

Originally Posted by noneedlessnoise

If you don't mind me asking what did it cost to have this installed?

I really don't know as it was part of a very large service and other work. I guess a couple of hours' labour at most. Well worth it!

[Sculpin]

Where can this AutoSolutions Shift Kit be purchased from?

[nah dude]

Originally Posted by Sculpin

Where can this AutoSolutions Shift Kit be purchased from?

The Internet.

[Sculpin]

Originally Posted by noneedlessnoise

The Internet.

I've heard of that place but I've never been there. Do they have any locations in the DC area?

[FazerBoy]

Originally Posted by Sculpin

Where can this AutoSolutions Shift Kit be purchased from?

Here:

http://autosolutions.net/

It's not much of a website but give Ronald a call and tell him you've seen this thread. He's not really into marketing but his products are amazing.

[MidLifeM3]

Count another very satisfied customer of Ronald's Autosolutions linkage. I chose the 10% reduction ratio as I was not looking for "short" shift. I bought my E92 as 6MT because I enjoy participating in the mechanical symphony. (if I just wanted to go fast and let the car do the driving, I'd have bought a Focus RS and saved a wad of cash compared to my Bavarian Moneypit Workes). But with the stock clutch and shifter I almost regretted my decision. I won't say "notchy" was my issue with teh stock shifter, my complaint was that it felt like shifting a video game instead of a real mechanical device. The only way to tell if I was in gear or not was that I couldn't push the shifter any further, there was no tactile indication of what the shifter was doing. shortening the throws was not my prioity and I didn't want to increase shift effort (it already felt stiff on the stock shifter). My original plan was only to rebuild the stock one and use Delrin or Teflon carrier bushings in place of stock. But after some research, Ronald's linkage construction seemed best-engineered for my goals, using a spherical bearing for the pivot and replacing the bushings at both ends of the selector rod with new bronze bushings. And no "weighted" anything in the Autosolutions kit, I wanted the shifter to be light and accurate not to add extra inertia.

I had it installed and now I love to shift my E92. Highly recommended and I see no downside. Shift effort is a bit lighter but most importantly more tactile and precise - I can tell exactly the gear engagement status through my fingertips. As someone else mentioned, this feel makes it much easier to accurately synchronize the motions for heel-and-toe downshifts.

[CHE///MIST3]

Having trouble with my 6MT..need help with ideas as to what could cause this ?!

..the transmission has a really hard time engaging into 3rd gear (from 2nd) when high up in RPMS (7K+) it barely wants "crunch" into place and sometimes it simply won't enter 3rd. So I just disengage and let off the gas. During regular driving I can engage all gears normally and smoothly. It's as if that looooong jump between 2nd and 3rd is just not agreeing with the sync or there is something very misaligned at those RPMS.

Any thoughts of what I could try first ?

[McSwine]

Have you changed the fluid recently? I changed mine and it helped smooth the shifting enough to notice. But I'm thinking that might not be your problem.

[CHE///MIST3]

I have not, no. I believe it has not been changed since the break-in so there's 50K miles or so on the old fluid. I will start there.

I also found that pushing the shifter forward more slowly makes for an easy entry into 3rd....as if something related to inertia causes a misalignment in the shifter's linkages. I will do oil first and then look at a bushing rebuild kit.

Other than the issue I had mentioned before, the shifter is so smooth I can row through every single gear with a flick of one finger

GM

Originally Posted by McSwine

Have you changed the fluid recently? I changed mine and it helped smooth the shifting enough to notice. But I'm thinking that might not be your problem.

[Stronie]

Looks like my next project.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by McSwine

Have you changed the fluid recently? I changed mine and it helped smooth the shifting enough to notice. But I'm thinking that might not be your problem.

Crunching or failing to engage a gear is not going to get fixed with fluid. That sounds like a mechanical problem (misalignment, worn parts, bent or damaged parts, etc).

[CHE///MIST3]

My local BMW dealer wants $420 for the fluid flush + $91 to replace the filter screen since they say it's not part of the regular flush. Also they added that they normally don't change transmission oils on any car so this is a "special request". Why is this so "special" and does the price seem alright?

[McSwine]

$420 is high, bordering on absurd. I had my engine oil/filter changed, the MT fluid and the rear diff fluid changed by my local indy shop for $315 (I did supply the MT and rear diff fluid, which is pretty expensive, but still). The checked the MT filter and re-used it.

[CHE///MIST3]

Originally Posted by McSwine

$420 is high, bordering on absurd. I had my engine oil/filter changed, the MT fluid and the rear diff fluid changed by my local indy shop for $315 (I did supply the MT and rear diff fluid, which is pretty expensive, but still). The checked the MT filter and re-used it.

Thank you, quite a difference. I will probably have a hard time convincing the dealership to just "rinse out" the metal screen and put it back in with a new washer...but i'll try.

Not much use going to one of my better indies either because they just look at the dealership price, knock off $50-100...basically giving me almost the same price. This is something I would do myself, but currently not set-up in a good garage to do so. It would just be a long day of struggling under a partially raised car and I wouldn't even be able to get all the oil out since I don't have computer program for running the pump motor.

GM

[OlBloo]

You don't necessarily need to circulate the additional oil out of the oil cooler either. Changing the trans oil is very easy(at least for the 6mt) Save some money and find a local on the site who can help out

Leave the shops to do the difficult things if you can help it

[CHE///MIST3]

I was able to receive a discount since they took a little while in getting the plug and filter there to the dealer. Next time i'll do it myself, but at least I know this first time fluid change was done thoroughly, and I have that service record on hand. As for the results.....

The car engages much sooner after selecting the gear and the shifter feels more solid (less rubbery?lol) while rowing back and forth. Not a world of difference but it sure does feel better, i'm very happy with the result. As for shifting into 3rd at high RPM... not a problem if the knob is moved calmly into position instead of a rapid burst of movement forward. Perhaps this is something that could be bettered with a new set of bushings or I just need to shift nice and easy, there's no need to pretend it's a DCT

GM

[e92zero]

^if it's only at high rpm that you have the problem, look into your engine mounts. When you let off the gas to shift from 2 to 3rd, the engine will rock back with significant force which if not controlled well with worn bushings will throw the shifting alignment off. I didn't have as bad a problem as you mentioned but after changing to vibra technics motor mounts, my issue from 2 to 3rd was completely gone and the shift is much more precise. You have an 08 so probably time. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

[CHE///MIST3]

Originally Posted by e92zero

^if it's only at high rpm that you have the problem, look into your engine mounts. When you let off the gas to shift from 2 to 3rd, the engine will rock back with significant force which if not controlled well with worn bushings will throw the shifting alignment off. I didn't have as bad a problem as you mentioned but after changing to vibra technics motor mounts, my issue from 2 to 3rd was completely gone and the shift is much more precise. You have an 08 so probably time. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

Ahhh, point well understood. The motor mounts are definitely on the to-do list this winter...in fact i'll do that before the shifter bushings, hoping to see a more pronounced effect. Thank you!

GM

[McSwine]

Originally Posted by MidLifeM3

I had it installed and now I love to shift my E92. Highly recommended and I see no downside. Shift effort is a bit lighter but most importantly more tactile and precise - I can tell exactly the gear engagement status through my fingertips. As someone else mentioned, this feel makes it much easier to accurately synchronize the motions for heel-and-toe downshifts.

If you don't mind me asking, how many hours of shop time did they charge you for? I'm trying to get a feel for how much it should cost to install.

[Turbmando]

For those that have the autosolutions ssk what's your opinion on 16% reduction? I've seen 7 and 10% in this thread. Ronald recently suggest 16% based on my desire for an enhanced OEM expierence. Would 16% be too much?

[FazerBoy]

Originally Posted by Turbmando

For those that have the autosolutions ssk what's your opinion on 16% reduction? I've seen 7 and 10% in this thread. Ronald recently suggest 16% based on my desire for an enhanced OEM expierence. Would 16% be too much?

Mine is 13.5% reduction I believe and it's perfect in my opinion.

Ask Ronald to make you one the same as Jack in the U.K.

You won't be disappointed. Your gearshift experience will be totally transformed.

Come back and report once you've got it installed.

Jack