Considering Z4M - few questions *Z4M pics added*

[Great Pretender]

That's true but the OP mentioned notchy changes so I just wanted to clarify that that is normal up to a point.

IMO the shift shouldn't be 'notchy'.

BMW's are renound for having 'knuckly' shifts but if you can feel any sort of crunch or something 'catching' then that doesn't sound right.

Now that my CDV has been removed, I find the gearbox a joy to use; far better than that of the Porker I had before in fact.

 

[dgm]

I think this is about terminology really. Your knuckly seems to be my notchy. :lol:

 

[daz05]

There seems to be a confusion here. Daz05 is stating that all gearboxes are bad for 1st and second, then refers to the CDV which is clutch related and will only assist with the kangerooing of the car (clutch release related), not grinding of gear boxes.

As stated, my gearbox does NOT grind in first / second what so ever.

Mine doesn't grind either but at low revs in town it doesn't always feel good, notchy is the best way to describe it, nothing is being damaged it just not as smooth as the higher gears. Whereas at high revs it's always perfect. I believe this to be normal.

Out of interest has anyone ever crunched 1st to 2nd on a high speed shift, at low or high revs?

 

[SO8]

Thanks for the comments so far

I do not mean grinding at all with the gearbox .... no grinding whatsoever - just very notchy

Thanks for the heads up on the red Z4M but I am looking for something with low miles - I have one near me a a dealer for £25K on a 56 plate but I have already told them I view it as dear as it hasn't any extras ! If they are willing to be a little more realistic with the price, give me something reasonable for mine and I like driving it then I will buy it

 

[Z4coupebeaver]

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I'm still trying to learn what is normal and what isn't, thinking it would be useful for anyone looking to buy a Z4M.

I also get a clatter from the gearbox internals as I turn the engine off. Again BMW have said "the M3 and the Z4M have that as standard".

I realised the gearchange would be notchy and even though I understand the CDV - it's still cr@p.

 

[daz05]

Imo, notchiness and clatter is normal, they all do that.

 

[Scott-Land]

Out of interest has anyone ever crunched 1st to 2nd on a high speed shift, at low or high revs?

Done this a few months back, at high revs. Really difficult to get the perfect 1st to 2nd launch in this car every time. I'll keep trying. As an alternative, I find launching full throttle in 2nd a hoot. Feels a lot quicker. It would be interesting to compare 0-60 using both methods.

 

[SittingBull]

Out of interest has anyone ever crunched 1st to 2nd on a high speed shift, at low or high revs?

Done this a few months back, at high revs. Really difficult to get the perfect 1st to 2nd launch in this car every time. I'll keep trying. As an alternative, I find launching full throttle in 2nd a hoot. Feels a lot quicker. It would be interesting to compare 0-60 using both methods.

Try removing the CDV for nothing if you DIY :lol: !

 

[Great Pretender]

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I'm still trying to learn what is normal and what isn't, thinking it would be useful for anyone looking to buy a Z4M.

I also get a clatter from the gearbox internals as I turn the engine off. Again BMW have said "the M3 and the Z4M have that as standard".

I realised the gearchange would be notchy and even though I understand the CDV - it's still cr@p.

That clatter you hear is the layshaft bearing and is perfectly normal. To avoid it however, switch off the engine with the clutch depressed.

 

[Z4coupebeaver]

Many thanks for that. What I don't understand is why there is so much play. It all sounds like there is excess backlash in the internals. I'm not imagining the grinding - it's really there. Again, I can accept this but would love to know why.

 

[SittingBull]

Many thanks for that. What I don't understand is why there is so much play. It all sounds like there is excess backlash in the internals. I'm not imagining the grinding - it's really there. Again, I can accept this but would love to know why.

My recently departed low mileage (19K) Z4MR had absolutely no gearbox "grinding" noises - but when you turned the engine off it DID sound like a tin of nails. That was the valvetrain. - Very offputting for an expensive car.... I guess that your car is still within the 3 year manufacturers warranty so I would book it in pronto! We all know who the previous owner was & I would be extremely suspicious of how your car has been treated :wink:

 

[daz05]

Many thanks for that. What I don't understand is why there is so much play. It all sounds like there is excess backlash in the internals. I'm not imagining the grinding - it's really there. Again, I can accept this but would love to know why.

Can you describe the grinding a bit more beaver, is it just between gears 1 and 2? Do you hear it or just feel it in your hand?

 

[SittingBull]

Oh dear.... Look at http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13374

 

[gnx]

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I'm still trying to learn what is normal and what isn't, thinking it would be useful for anyone looking to buy a Z4M.

I also get a clatter from the gearbox internals as I turn the engine off. Again BMW have said "the M3 and the Z4M have that as standard".

I realised the gearchange would be notchy and even though I understand the CDV - it's still cr@p.

What is that supposed to mean? The z4M and the e46 M3 do not have the same gearbox.

 

[dgm]

They do have the same gearbox, the ratios are obviously different but otherwise it's the same box. The box is a 6-speed Getrag 217 manual gearbox.

 

[SittingBull]

Oh Dear - sounds expensive to the tune of £6000+ to me......

 

[Z4coupebeaver]

Many thanks for that. What I don't understand is why there is so much play. It all sounds like there is excess backlash in the internals. I'm not imagining the grinding - it's really there. Again, I can accept this but would love to know why.

Can you describe the grinding a bit more beaver, is it just between gears 1 and 2? Do you hear it or just feel it in your hand?

The grinding is there all the time but can only be heard in first and second as road noise hides it at higher speeds. I am convinced that it wasn't there when I collected the car but after about 300 miles it was there.

The difficulty I have is that any noise is easily dismissed by the catch all statement of "well they are all noisy". The problem with that statement is that a knackered box would be noisy too. Just because it's noisy and they are all noisy doesn't mean it's not knackered if you see what I'm getting at.

A notchy box is the norm - I know that. Gear noise is the norm - I know that. What doesn't sound right is the combination of a grinding noise which you can hear up to about 20mph together with the clatter of loose gearbox internals when you turn the engine off. The grinding noise sounds like it is from the layshaft. It is not the normal input shaft noise that you can get sometimes.

I hear the point about valve clatter but it isn't there when you turn off and dip the clutch so it is without a doubt from the box.

My BMW dealer just rang me to say they can't get a Z4M or M3 (without SMG) in a reasonable time but they can arrange for me to go out with the BMW tech guy. I don't think I'm going to be happy until I try another car that I can do a comparative test with.

If there are any Z4M owners near Preston, Bolton or Manchester, I would welcome the opportunity of you listening to mine and me listening to yours to put my mind at rest.

 

[daz05]

They do have the same gearbox, the ratios are obviously different but otherwise it's the same box. The box is a 6-speed Getrag 217 manual gearbox.

Are you sure about that, I read that the M3 box didn't fit into the Z4m. Look up the part numbers to know for sure.

Beaver I hope you get it fixed, I'm going to get mine fully checked over next month at the service.

 

[Shunt]

I can provide you with a comparison, I'm based near Warrington and am currently working most days in Southport. Let me know if I can help you out.

 

[Z4coupebeaver]

Thanks for the offer, I'll send you a pm later today.