Heavy gear change 3.0

B

BarryB

Member
Hi all just a question, as you may know I have just acquired my 3.0 Z4 coupe and just getting used to driving it, I do find that the gears are quite heavy changing from 1st to second and third, can you tell me is this normal, as driving my Mazda 3 hatchback the gears fall in so easily and so slick.
 
The boxes do have a bit of character! A ZHP gear knob will help as it is at least double the weight and shorter - a gearbox oil change helped with mine too.
 
As above, would highly recommend a gearbox oil change if the car is anywhere near/over 60k miles.

A heavier gear knob in conjunction with the above makes a night and day difference :thumbsup:
 
markplant said:
An alternative is the storm werks gear shift again shorter an weighted. A world of difference
Click to expand...

I'm interested in this, where did you buy it and how easy is it to swap out the original gear knob - thanks?
 
My schedule now is to change box and diff fluids at 30k miles. They are certainly not 'lifetime' (100k) fill in my mind.

Swapping gear knob is just a case of pulling it off while making sure you don't give yourself a black eye! As for purchasing, Google should help you out. I have an Illuminated ZHP - cheapest place was Harry Fairburn.
 

Fitted a zhp shifter to my si a while back, you can see how much shorter they are which reduces the throw & the added weight helps to overcome the recalcitrant shift from first-second.
Ps, beware of punching yourself in the face when heaving to remove!
Regards
 
Marlon said:
markplant said:
An alternative is the storm werks gear shift again shorter an weighted. A world of difference
Click to expand...

I'm interested in this, where did you buy it and how easy is it to swap out the original gear knob - thanks?
Click to expand...
http://www.storm-motorwerks.com/interior/bmw/

To change
Put car in 2nd
Sit in passenger seat.
Pull upwards an towards you it will come off, be careful not to hit yourself in the face, some have
Slide new part on it has a couple of o rings inside I think push down firmly
Tighten the 2 grub screws at 10 an 2 with Allen key provide I think
Marval in your smugness then drive
 
markplant said:
Marlon said:
markplant said:
An alternative is the storm werks gear shift again shorter an weighted. A world of difference
Click to expand...

I'm interested in this, where did you buy it and how easy is it to swap out the original gear knob - thanks?
Click to expand...
http://www.storm-motorwerks.com/interior/bmw/

To change
Put car in 2nd
Sit in passenger seat.
Pull upwards an towards you it will come off, be careful not to hit yourself in the face, some have
Slide new part on it has a couple of o rings inside I think push down firmly
Tighten the 2 grub screws at 10 an 2 with Allen key provide I think
Marval in your smugness then drive
Click to expand...

Cheers Mark, I really like the look your stormwerks gear shift :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for all your comments on the gear change, its seems from reading and researching a bit more that it is a quirk of the car and not me or thinking that something was wrong, i shall look into changing the gear box oil and consider a heavier short gear knob.

Thanks a lot guys.
 
Something else you could consider is removing the Clutch Delay Valve (CDV). Search that too - it noticeably improves / smooths the 1-2 change.
 
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