Changing gear 1st to 2nd gear notchy,

F

flybobbie

Elite
 Stourbridge
Well it's only taken me 13 years of ownership to suss out smooth 1st to 2nd gear change.
So when changing to second don't pull straight back and crunch 2nd.
Pull back to neutral and sort of fractionally let go as if stationary then left and select 2nd, goes in smooth.
It's as if on my cars gearbox 1st and second are not inline, going neutral allows it to line up. No more double declutching for me.
The declutching wasn't the cure, but letting gear lever sit neutral for fraction of a second..
Been like it ever since i bought it 13 years ago.
 
if it is still there getting the Clutch Delay Valve removed makes quite an improvement!
 
That's strange then, I've never had an issue with 1st to 2nd in a Z4 although BMW manual gearboxes do seem to be a bit hit or miss.

My current 330i daily has the worst of the 8 I've owned to date, it's often reluctant to go into first and usually notchy from 1st all the way to 4th. :(
 
Lot's of manual cars used to need that little pause on the way through the gears. Happily I learnt to change gear on a lathe. After that anything with a synchromesh is a piece of cake. :driving:
 
When you change up, make sure the revs do not drop further than the current speed in the next year. Try to match the approx engine / road speed as best you can for the next gear.

Keeping a little throttle on when changing from 1st to 2nd really helps on most RWD applications.
 
Yes it was crap when I first got the car and I tried to avoid going from 1st to 2nd until I realised that if I was firm with it rather than dithering it was easier. I think the problem seems to be that neutral to 2nd is slightly off to the left and not in a line with 1st to neutral.
 
Yes i find if you ride the throttle keep revs up it changes easier. Like lots of revs when warmed up.
Also with roof down, full fuel, more weight in the back or carrying a passenger. Perhaps keeps load on the box.
And temperature dependent, 10 C being best outside temp. Around 5 C some times struggles to get into 1st. Pull into 2nd then first when stationary, say at traffic lights.
Like comment above, feels like 1 to 2 is not lined up.
Bought car at 29k miles and no different now at 110k miles.
 
flybobbie said:
Well it's only taken me 13 years of ownership to suss out smooth 1st to 2nd gear change.
So when changing to second don't pull straight back and crunch 2nd.
Pull back to neutral and sort of fractionally let go as if stationary then left and select 2nd, goes in smooth.
It's as if on my cars gearbox 1st and second are not inline, going neutral allows it to line up. No more double declutching for me.
The declutching wasn't the cure, but letting gear lever sit neutral for fraction of a second..
Been like it ever since i bought it 13 years ago.
Click to expand...
I have been playing with this and yes it does help, what I have started doing is similar to you but bringing it back into neutral and then a little move to the right and then to the left and then back into second. I have found this is much smoother and less notchy. :thumbsup:
 
Yes a sort of jiggle, i've done that.
Also at traffic lights try make sure i go 2nd before neutral. Helps to get into first.
 
abar121 said:
When you change up, make sure the revs do not drop further than the current speed in the next year. Try to match the approx engine / road speed as best you can for the next gear.

Keeping a little throttle on when changing from 1st to 2nd really helps on most RWD applications.
Click to expand...
I thinks a few tenth of a second should do it. Waiting a year seems a bit excesive. ;)
 
As first gear is very short anyway I got used to driving off in 2nd gear. Works well when the car is in sports mode.
I also often skip 5th gear so drive 2,3,4,6
The benefit of a smooth 6 cylinder and a flat country 😉
 
My 2003 3.0 is the same, notchy 1-2 and often 3-4 also. Again better when warm. What I did wonder was if worn drive train components would cause this, worn gearbox mounts, guibo and centre bearing? When I discussed my issues with GPT5 is suggested changing mounts would reduce notchy gear changes.

AI has either hallucinated or it's legit from real world threads like this..?

Cheers
 
sars said:
It's a slippery slope that, first you get automatics because that's the only option, then you choose an automatic because you love that they make driving easier and then, your asking someone else to drive for you :poke:
Click to expand...
And….

Sounds great..🙏🏻

Gives me more time to pack my Zimmer frame!
 
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