First and teverse issues S54 BMW Z3M 2002.

[lisa sinden]

Morning

I have a 2002 BMW Z3M . On Saturday we went for a drive around 100 miles each way. Now after 100 miles it was extremely difficult to get into revrrse gear and first. Once moving the gears were OK.
It's always been a but stiff finding the gears tbh , hence had a stainless steel clutch hose fitted in 2022, new fluid and transmission fluid changed 2021. Both helped a little. Clutch was changed at 41k in 2010, it's now 72k on the clock.

Once home , next day tried gears and was easier to get into reverse and first but still not particularly smooth shall we say.

Any experience greatly appreciated.

 

[Lee]

Quite common with the ZF gearbox, sounds like you need the shift pins and sliders replaced. All items can be bought from BMW.

Gearbox will need to be removed from the car and takes around 30mins to do.

 

[SV8Predator]

Quite common with the ZF gearbox, sounds like you need the shift pins and sliders replaced.

Symptoms don't point to that: " Once moving the gears were OK. "

Lisa is talking about first and reverse gear selection difficulty, which sounds like a dragging clutch to me. I'd be looking at the clutch hydraulics.

 

[Lee]

Symptoms don't point to that: " Once moving the gears were OK. "

Lisa is talking about first and reverse gear selection difficulty, which sounds like a dragging clutch to me. I'd be looking at the clutch hydraulics.

Or it’s the worn 5th gear sleeve that grabs causing these symptoms. Without more info and further diagnosis we’re both guessing.