Gearchange ... again ...

[SO8]

I know, even in the brief time I have been on this forum, that the subject of the Z4M gearchange has produced many varied posts !

Now, my gear change is just like the other Z4M I test drove - but better and smoother. That's the good bit out of the way - the fact is though that the gear change from 1st to 2nd is hardly ideal.

My cars gear change seems, however, worse when it's warm ! This is not what I have experienced in other cars - they are usually better when the gearbox oil is warmed up. My Z4M seems to shift cleaner when cold :?

It doesn't crunch or grind ... it is just noticeably more obstructive and notchy after, say, half an hours driving as opposed to when first setting off.

Has, or does, anyone else experience this ?

The engine is stunning but the gearbox leaves alot to be desired when stuck in moderate London queues ....

 

[AndyE]

This gearbox has always been horrible, more akin to stirring a bucket of cornflakes with a spade than anything else. Horrible.
In my old E46 M3 I had a similar issue, it was fine when cold but terrible when warmed up - On recommendation I changed the oil for some Redline D4 ATF (whichever one has the Moly additive) and it did make a nice improvement. From the factory the gearbox oil is lifetime fill, but presumably the oil still breaks down over time and miles....

Cheers
andy

 

[Darren M]

I don`t have any problem personally, but found the gearbox in my old 3.0Si more notchy when cold, even though it`s the same gearbox as in the M.
The M is meant to be driving hard, with a firm hand. And no it`s not a car for London traffic. I drove mine around London a few months back and hated every minute of it. The car was fine, London stop-go traffic and fearing someone was going to damage it was not. It`s a car to enjoy on the open road, as are all high performance cars. They`re not designed with stop-go city driving in mind

 

[Kasteel]

It's indeed a bit notchy, I also experienced it. Hopefully de CDV-removing will help .

 

[daz05]

Mine was really notchy so BMW fitted a new clutch on warranty after finding it was sticking. Things are now much better it can be notchy sometimes but I was told 1st is triple syncro'd and 2nd double hence why it feels so bad.

 

[sammyz]

The gearbox isn't one of the best, I wonder how nice it would have been to drive if they had fitted the auto box or even the new DCT box. Pity they wouldn't fit.

 

[James_G]

Drove a 2.5 Si Roadster this morning with a slush box. Suited that application, but I can't see it working for the M.

As for a paddle box, The nice thing about the M is that it "isn't" a technofest, and that for me is its charm. It's a bit brutal and in years to come when our gears change for themselves in a pico second we'll look back on the halcyon days of clutches and illuminated gearknobs and having to make a bit of an effort.

 

[zeddy]

I have removed the cdv but still have an "obstructive" gearbox at times. I used to be able to go from 6th to 4th and have to wait for the revs to drop before I could get it into 4th gear. When I've tried to do it recently, its been behaving. The weather has been warmer, but it may be a coincidence.