First and teverse issues S54 BMW Z3M 2002.

[lisa sinden]

Morning

I have a 2002 BMW Z3M . On Saturday we went for a drive around 100 miles each way. Now after 100 miles it was extremely difficult to get into revrrse gear and first. Once moving the gears were OK.
It's always been a but stiff finding the gears tbh , hence had a stainless steel clutch hose fitted in 2022, new fluid and transmission fluid changed 2021. Both helped a little. Clutch was changed at 41k in 2010, it's now 72k on the clock.

Once home , next day tried gears and was easier to get into reverse and first but still not particularly smooth shall we say.

Any experience greatly appreciated.

 

[Lee]

Quite common with the ZF gearbox, sounds like you need the shift pins and sliders replaced. All items can be bought from BMW.

Gearbox will need to be removed from the car and takes around 30mins to do.

 

[SV8Predator]

Quite common with the ZF gearbox, sounds like you need the shift pins and sliders replaced.

Symptoms don't point to that: " Once moving the gears were OK. "

Lisa is talking about first and reverse gear selection difficulty, which sounds like a dragging clutch to me. I'd be looking at the clutch hydraulics.

 

[Lee]

Symptoms don't point to that: " Once moving the gears were OK. "

Lisa is talking about first and reverse gear selection difficulty, which sounds like a dragging clutch to me. I'd be looking at the clutch hydraulics.

Or it’s the worn 5th gear sleeve that grabs causing these symptoms. Without more info and further diagnosis we’re both guessing.

 

[OjamesB]

@lisa sinden has this been diagnosed/repaired yet Lisa? I’m starting to get this in my 1998 M roadster - a bit stiff getting into first and reverse, but not yet overly difficult. Would be interested to hear about the outcome of yours, especially with my big summer road trip coming up.

 

[Duncodin]

In deciding if it's a clutch or gearbox problem I'd get it in gear and then look at how far I need to lift the clutch oedal before you feel it dragging. If you lift the pedal just half an inch and the car is trying to move then I'd say it's the clutch.

If the biting point is kinda in the middle of the clutch pedal travel then clutch is OK and problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Pingu]

I would say that whoever fitted the stainless steel hose didn't bleed the clutch properly.

The clutch slave cylylider CANNOT be properly bled in situ.

It has to be removed and the pin locked using a clamping tool to prevent it being pushed out of the slave cylinder. The slave cylinder needs to be held in a position so the bleed nipple is uppermost. It can then be bled normally. Then refit the slave cylinder - which isn't easy as the studs are only just long enough to get the first few threads on the nuts, as the pin is fully out and under the hyraulic pressure. Tighten the nuts evenly - DO NOT tighten one nut fully, without pressure from the other nut, or the pin can slip out of the clutch pivot arm inside the bell housing.

 

[lisa sinden]

@lisa sinden has this been diagnosed/repaired yet Lisa? I’m starting to get this in my 1998 M roadster - a bit stiff getting into first and reverse, but not yet overly difficult. Would be interested to hear about the outcome of yours, especially with my big summer road trip coming up.

Hi. No not yet. I've not driven her since, ive changed the fluid and see whether that helps. It's not overly bad just annoying. Ill maybe get it looked at when shes off the road in the winter. Just monitoring for now.

 

[OjamesB]

Hi. No not yet. I've not driven her since, ive changed the fluid and see whether that helps. It's not overly bad just annoying. Ill maybe get it looked at when shes off the road in the winter. Just monitoring for now.

Noted. Keep me posted if you have any updates and I’ll do the same

 

[Nodzed]

Just from experience, after Lee did the shift pins on my M the gearbox went from a truck experience to light as a feather, same issues with 1st and reverse. Tbf he also did a full clutch/fly wheel and ancillaries refurb too, transformed the car, so it could be a combination of general wear and tear.