1st gear not popping in at times

Nikosilix

Member
 Latvia, Riga
Hi! I bought a 2.5i facelift 6-speed manual Z4 a week ago. At times when I wish to get off from the traffic light I have issues popping it into first gear, it’s like it doesn’t wanna go inside and gets stuck halfway there. Then I usually get 3rd time lucky. Any idea why that may be? Doesn’t happen all the time, just on occassion, not too frequently, be also not too rare of an occasion.

Thanks!
 
I wish I knew the answer as my 330i with the N52 engine is exactly the same. It has had fresh gearbox fluid and the CDV removed but it still does it.

Sometimes it works better if I select 2nd before going for 1st but it is frustrating.
 
General wear in the gearbox can cause various splines, teeth etc to be slightly out of where they need to be to line up, if you can’t get first then select second and can go straight into first then that’s probably it.
 
I noticed this the other day on my N52 30i E89. I panicked at first as I thought the clutch may be dragging. Definitely wasn’t the case, as I picked another gear and the bite was right where it should be and slid in without effort. Seemed to only happen the once, so assumed things happened to be out of alignment.
 
Could be number of factors but certain gear oils take longer to warm up. I recently switched to Motul and find it to be buttery smooth and first is even easier to engage than before.
 
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