Difficulty Engaging First?

[as400]

Just bought a 1999 2.8 and find it 'difficult' to engage first gear, very notchy. Workaround is to engage second then shift into first.

What is this indicative of?...totally new clutch or something not so financially drastic? (presume a new clutch supplied and fitted would be a £1K?)....

Also the previous owner must have been something of a boy racer as the exhaust is very boom/droney....can anyone recommend a new exhaust for this car with the twin pipes but that is quiet?

 

[Mike Fishwick]

I had a new clutch fitted on my 2.8 as a preventative measure after 130,000 miles, during a visit to the UK, as France does not have the independant specialists which are common in the UK, and long runs over deserted roads are the order of the day. I had mine fitted at BMG in Plymouth, for just under £400 about five years ago. It did not make any difference to gear engagement, but at least it will outlast me!

Your problem sounds like clutch drag, which is not unusual - a quick check is to hold the gear lever against first gear, and while doing so to turn off the engine. If first gear then engages, then suspect the clutch. The cause could be as simple as the splines needing lubrication, stopping the friction plate from sliding freely. However, a lot of people reckon that the flexible hose to the slave cylinder becomes soft with age, and 'ballons,' so reducing the volume of fluid suppilied to the clutch. Mine is just as bad, and I am waiting for a new braided hose from Earles of Silverstone. After 25 years I guess it is entitled to have deteriorated!

I found my Z3 exhaust to be a nasty drone, and tried an Eisenmann replacement, which was just plain noisy! I ended up by having a quiet cat-back system custom built by MIJ of Wallsall in Birmingham for about £400, which is about the same noise level as any other car. The rear silencer has twin pipes, of double-skinned construction.

It is far easier on my ears, even after a 500 mile day with the roof down, and being all stainless will not internally rot as the original will. The new front silencer clears the butt strut nicely, and there are no ground clearance problems.

 

[Lee]

Just bought a 1999 2.8 and find it 'difficult' to engage first gear, very notchy. Workaround is to engage second then shift into first.

What is this indicative of?...totally new clutch or something not so financially drastic? (presume a new clutch supplied and fitted would be a £1K?)....

Also the previous owner must have been something of a boy racer as the exhaust is very boom/droney....can anyone recommend a new exhaust for this car with the twin pipes but that is quiet?

Hi mate, notchy first gear is quite common once these cars age. Most people try a simple oil change or fit a weighted gearknob to lessen the effects.

The most likely reason for the notchyness is the pins in the gearbox have begun to wear but don't panic as its a relatively simple job to have them replaced. Only issue is the gearbox does need to be removed.

If you do venture down this route of removing the gearbox you can buy a pin kit from BMW for circa £55.

 

[Trevor /chedder]

Definitely try the gear box oil change , it's an AT oil on the 1.9. I tried something else first and was still notchy, replaced with dextron 3 AT oil and it's much better,