Z3 5th Gear has no resistance to get into when cold

[Nmartin135]

Driving home today I noticed when I went to shift into 5th gear I didn’t have to push over very hard at all… I didn’t feel the click over the wall at all. It was pretty cold out around 50F and this is the first time I have noticed this… Any idea what is going on?

 

[Lee]

Sounds like the shift pins have worn specificly the liner for gear 5 causing the pin to stick, you normally loose all feel when this happens. The job itself is very simple and not very expensive but the gearbox does need removing from the car.

Start simple and go for a gearbox oil change first and go from there.

 

[Nmartin135]

Sounds like the shift pins have worn specificly the liner for gear 5 causing the pin to stick, you normally loose all feel when this happens. The job itself is very simple and not very expensive but the gearbox does need removing from the car.

Start simple and go for a gearbox oil change first and go from there.

That was my first thought, but it only happens when cold and once warmed up it goes away.

 

[Pingu]

That was my first thought, but it only happens when cold and once warmed up it goes away.

There is a pin that slides inside a liner. The pin is spring-loaded and you have to overcome this spring to get into 5th. There is a similar, but stronger spring-loaded pin for REVERSE.

The problem is that the pin becomes stuck in the sleeve.

Your problem could be the beginning of the problem. As the gearbox oil warms, the pin may become more loose in the sleeve.

As @Lee suggests, try changing the gearbox oil. It is the easiest of a list of quite labour intensive solutions.

Here's a video that shows what is needed to cure the fault (this repair can't be done with the gearbox in the car) ...

 

[Nmartin135]

There is a pin that slides inside a liner. The pin is spring-loaded and you have to overcome this spring to get into 5th. There is a similar, but stronger spring-loaded pin for REVERSE.

The problem is that the pin becomes stuck in the sleeve.

Your problem could be the beginning of the problem. As the gearbox oil warms, the pin may become more loose in the sleeve.

As @Lee suggests, try changing the gearbox oil. It is the easiest of a list of quite labour intensive solutions.

Here's a video that shows what is needed to cure the fault (this repair can't be done with the gearbox in the car) ...

Thank you and recommendations on what trans fluid to use in my getrag?

 

[Pingu]

The info that I've given you is for the ZF g/box, but I suspect there will be similar detents and plungers on any g/box.

Re. G/box oil. I always get mine from BMW service department.