[CleanAudi]

Just picked up the car, about 150 miles on it.

The issue happens whenever I shift into second gear. While getting into second, it seems to be a lot more difficult than any other gear, very rough, and no way like shifting into any other gear. It is really ticking me off as its greatly slowing down my shift times both while I'm hard on the gas, and also when driving calmly.

Does anyone know if this has to do with the gearbox being so new and just needing a break in, or is it something to do with a fault in the shift mechanism.


In addition, I noticed two other smaller issues which either have to do with the fact that the car is brand new or just inherently there.

The first is that the shifter vibrates slightly, and increases when the A/C is turned on.

Secondly, driving the car today, I noticed the revs dropping and increasing by about 200-300 RPM's every few minutes during idle at a stoplight. Is this normal?

Thanks

[chbrules]

You may have the issue I had with my 2006 325i. I don't know if it only has to do with if you have the steptronic tranny or if it's the same for manual, but they told me that the idle software was screwed up. Mine idled oddly high sometimes and when I downshifted (auto) into 2nd the car jerked roughly. It was simple software fix they said, so maybe that might be your issue.

[Potty_Pants]

one word.... CDV

please do a search for it. quite a few skilled manual drivers cant switch the gears properly due to the granny valve. when replaced with the cdv they've reported quick clutch engagement and no head jerking unless requested

gl

ppp

[STE92VE]

Like PP said, it may be the CDV. If it's the linkage you are referring to, it does tend to smooth out over time.

[IMJUSS2NASTY]

The Car Will Shift Perfectly Into Second Gear After About 1000 Miles ( For Me Anyway). When I First Got The Car, Boy Was It Rough Getting It Into Second, But It Will All Work Out For You Later. Secondly, Yes The Shift Knob Will Vibrate A Little, It Is Normal. Now The Revs Dropping To 2 Or 3 Hundred At Idle, I Have Never Experienced That Problem, Cant Help Ya With That. But The Car Will Start To Shift Alot Better After About A Thousand Miles.

[eelton]

Originally Posted by Potty_Pants

one word.... CDV

please do a search for it. quite a few skilled manual drivers cant switch the gears properly due to the granny valve. when replaced with the cdv they've reported quick clutch engagement and no head jerking unless requested

gl

ppp

I ordered a modified CDV from Zeckhausen last week. I got a reply saying they're all sold out, mostly because of all the 335i coupe drivers who have ordered them. (They're supposed to have more stock in a week.) So, you're not alone.

[MX20]

Originally Posted by IMJUSS2NASTY

The Car Will Shift Perfectly Into Second Gear After About 1000 Miles ( For Me Anyway). When I First Got The Car, Boy Was It Rough Getting It Into Second, But It Will All Work Out For You Later. Secondly, Yes The Shift Knob Will Vibrate A Little, It Is Normal. Now The Revs Dropping To 2 Or 3 Hundred At Idle, I Have Never Experienced That Problem, Cant Help Ya With That. But The Car Will Start To Shift Alot Better After About A Thousand Miles.

^ true for me.
It's not a 335i but it is 6MT and after 2500 km it really got better.
I even went to the dealer to ask about this (around 300km ~ 200mi ) and that's what he said, too.

[Clem]

At 3200 miles mine has not gotten better.

I regularly miss 2nd gear and getting it into 1st gear while stopped can be a real challenge. Yesterday was the worst. While stopped at a light I went to drop it in gear and it just won't go. Had to go back and forth from 2nd to 1st 3-4 times and then literally force it into 1st. I'm not shortlegging the clutch, it's to the floor. It just shouldn't be that hard. I nailed 3rd every time, usually my toughest shift. I'm only comfortable powershifting to 4th.

I installed the short shift knob thinking that the long throws were the problem. Nope, it just doesn't like to be hurried. I've been driving manuals for over 25 years and I have missed more shifts in this car than all the others combined. In two months! Do I suddenly suck or is it the car? WTF

[epiphone3]

my 1 - 2 shift is a little more notchy then the rest, but every BMW I have ever driven since MY1985 (oldest I have driven) has behaved like this.

Its a BMW thing... 1st gear to 2nd gear is notchy and it has always been that way... it is more notchy prior to break-in and should progressively get better.

Get your idle thing checked out. you should basically zero variability in your idle rpms.

Yes, the stick does to tend to vibrate a bit... I don't notice it really but many people have mentioned this.

[kuthair]

By "getting into second", do you mean (A) it's hard to put the shifter in 2nd gear, or (B) it's hard to modulate the clutch to engage 2nd gear smoothly?

If it's (A), the CDV is not gonna help. The shifter will ease with time. I have > 5000 miles and the shifter is much smoother now than it was when new.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by CleanAudi

Does anyone know if this has to do with the gearbox being so new and just needing a break in, or is it something to do with a fault in the shift mechanism.

BMW gearboxes need to be broken in ... the gear selection can be very tight and notchy from new and may need a few thousand miles to really get to it's best.

This is characterised by some resistance as you engage the gearstick in a particular position.

2nd gear was very difficult to engage in my car for the first 1000 miles, but it's perfect now.

I think this is likely to be your problem, not the clutch dilution valve.

[HyperM3]

I replaced my cdv and while the 1st to 2nd shift is a lot crisper, it still doesnt like to be hurried. 2nd gear is definitely the notchiest of all the gears to get into. I tried shifting(like I do in my M3) and it grinded when going into 2nd and my foot was to the floor on the clutch. Guess you just have to baby this car when shifting.

[scpage]

Agreed, 2nd is notchy in my car as well...and the short knob uncovers this fact even more since you get less leverage.

[pearlwhites]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

I replaced my cdv and while the 1st to 2nd shift is a lot crisper, it still doesnt like to be hurried. 2nd gear is definitely the notchiest of all the gears to get into. I tried shifting(like I do in my M3) and it grinded when going into 2nd and my foot was to the floor on the clutch. Guess you just have to baby this car when shifting.

Yeah the 1-2 shift when cold can grind on you. This car could definately use some beefier synchro's

[iatacs19]

For those that say it got better after x,xxx miles does that mean the CDV wore the clutch down and now you can't feel the engagement point as crisply as before? This would give you the feel of a smoother shift I think...

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

For those that say it got better after x,xxx miles does that mean the CDV wore the clutch down and now you can't feel the engagement point as crisply as before? This would give you the feel of a smoother shift I think...

The cdv wont wear anything down. Its just a little piece of plastic that inhibits the flow of fluid. The wearing of the clutch is your own doing. It should consistantly stay crispy. Clutches, like brakes, need to break in over time. I only have 500 miles on my car now and can see how its gotten better even over the few weeks Ive owned it. No doubt it will get nicer over time.

[GJR]

Mine is very notchy when going into 2nd and I hear a slight "grind." It hasn't gotten much better over time and I have 3800 miles on it.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

The cdv wont wear anything down. Its just a little piece of plastic that inhibits the flow of fluid. The wearing of the clutch is your own doing. It should consistantly stay crispy. Clutches, like brakes, need to break in over time. I only have 500 miles on my car now and can see how its gotten better even over the few weeks Ive owned it. No doubt it will get nicer over time.

Exactly ... all the CDV does is to slow down the re-engagement of the clutch at the very last moment. In simple terms it just stops the clutch plates slapping together which would damage the drivetrain on a powerful car.

The CDV will not burn out the clutch.

The stiffness being talked about here is felt through the gear lever when trying to push past the 'gate' (synchros) into the fully engaged position. This cannot be anything to do with the CDV as the clutch plates are disengaged when this resistance is felt.

My experience is that you need to be quite forceful with the controls on new BMW's until they 'bed in'. This definitely applies to the gearbox, which should feel much better after a few thousand miles of vigourous use.

If you do a lot of highway miles, without regularly moving up and down the gears this will take longer.

2nd gear required reasonable strength to engage in my car from new and it probably took around 6000 miles to really sweeten up.

I can engage all the gears now with minimal fingertip pressure.

[bimmer]

Yup, mine too. I have 6000km on odo and it is getting a little better but it is still notchy. I remember my new passat had hard time with 2nd but after like 30000km got smooth.
However, I have to say that all other gears above 2nd are smooth, very precise and direct. I wish the 1st would've been a little better and 2nd a lot better.
I think bimmer's gear box needs just some more time.

[kuthair]

I remember reading its much better if you replace your tranny fluid with: http://www.redlineoil.com/products_g...8&categoryID=8

[NYBMW335]

yea BMW tranny's tend to be a little notchy between 1st and 2nd. I Have noticed that when you trying to shift fast between 1st and 2nd, it gets a little tricky.

I got a couple of other instructors at PDA driving school to laugh at me when i missed 2nd gear, while showing them what a 335i can do. But as soon as we continue to track my car against their vettes,mustangs and m3's they realize that the 335i was no joke.

[Topaz]

Same here, often hard te get in second gear ...