[Romulus]

I've got around 1000 miles on my 06 330i. Since I picked it up, the shifter has been a little tough getting in first gear. If I blip the throttle to 1500rpms, it goes in easier. This is at a complete stop, btw.

Does anyone else's shifter resist going into 1st, without at least a little coersion?

[shimshimhada]

You shouldn't downshift to first. There's always slight resistance, if you try to downshift into first.

[CnoteMD]

I have been having similar problems. What makes it even more unusual is that it seems to be getting worse as the weather gets warmer.

I, too, find that blipping the throttle improves the situation. When I get the time I will have to get this checked out. If you get any further information about this problem be sure to post it.

[shimshimhada]

Oh, I thought you were talking about going into 1st gear to a complete stop. Nevermind then.

[Ghunger]

I dunno about the E90 but in my last 2 cars there was no synchro for first gear so you always had to rev match to get into first unless you were stopped or going very slow. Try double clutching and see if it works better.

[CnoteMD]

Maybe I should clarify my post. I was referring to having difficulty shifting into first at a complete stop. Usually while at a light, I leave the car in neutral with the brake depressed. When the light changes, I pess the clutch and shift into first before driving off.

There have been several instances where the situation goes like this (keep in mind this is at a complete stop):

-press in the clutch
-try to move the shifter to first, but it won't engage.
-try again to move shifter to first, still won't engage
-try once again to shift to first (by this point, the car behind me begins to blow thier horn), still won't engage
-blip the throttle, and shifter finally moves to first
-drive off

I have about 9k miles on my car, so by now it should be well out of any break-in period. I don't run into this problem every time I come to a stop, but it has happened several times since I purchased this car in August 2005.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

Maybe I should clarify my post. I was referring to having difficulty shifting into first at a complete stop. Usually while at a light, I leave the car in neutral with the brake depressed. When the light changes, I pess the clutch and shift into first before driving off.

There have been several instances where the situation goes like this (keep in mind this is at a complete stop):

-press in the clutch
-try to move the shifter to first, but it won't engage.
-try again to move shifter to first, still won't engage
-try once again to shift to first (by this point, the car behind me begins to blow thier horn), still won't engage
-blip the throttle, and shifter finally moves to first
-drive off

I have about 9k miles on my car, so by now it should be well out of any break-in period. I don't run into this problem every time I come to a stop, but it has happened several times since I purchased this car in August 2005.

That is odd, you should get it checked out. Maybe the gears weren't aligned to go into first? Either way, that is not normal at all.

[Chesmu]

It's strange that this is getting worse with warmer weather. Tranny fluid/oil needs time to warm up, so it should get batter as you drive. I've had trouble getting into 4th gear at times... frm 3rd or from 5th. Usually in teh mornings when the car is cold.

[tiga901]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

Maybe I should clarify my post. I was referring to having difficulty shifting into first at a complete stop. Usually while at a light, I leave the car in neutral with the brake depressed. When the light changes, I pess the clutch and shift into first before driving off.

There have been several instances where the situation goes like this (keep in mind this is at a complete stop):

-press in the clutch
-try to move the shifter to first, but it won't engage.
-try again to move shifter to first, still won't engage
-try once again to shift to first (by this point, the car behind me begins to blow thier horn), still won't engage
-blip the throttle, and shifter finally moves to first
-drive off

I have about 9k miles on my car, so by now it should be well out of any break-in period. I don't run into this problem every time I come to a stop, but it has happened several times since I purchased this car in August 2005.

Get a CDV mod...that should fix your problem.

[Snowman811]

Sometimes wen my car is cold, 1st gear is harder to engage. With the clutch in, I shift into 2nd, and then up to 1st. Seems to get it in there. If there's no synchomesh for 1st, the double clutch idea is best.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by tiga901

Get a CDV mod...that should fix your problem.

The CDV mod won't fix a sticky 1st.

[Compos Mentis]

Originally Posted by tiga901

Get a CDV mod...that should fix your problem.

Re: 1st gear
I had several cars that do that. It gets slightly better with time. I bet it's a synchro idiosyncracy ( ).

Try letting off the clutch once, and try again.

It can be annoying, but it's not broken.

[vladinecko]

agree, CDV will definitely NOT solve this problem. you should have that checked out. i find a little resistance in going to 1st but it's merely even noticeable anymore.

[chuckie]

Actually, I am having the same issue. It happens about once or twice per trip. By car only has 300 miles though.

Hopefully it will get better after some more break-in miles.

By the way, I came from a Honda and the clutch/shifter were way smoother than my new e90.

[AskNiko]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

-press in the clutch
-try to move the shifter to first, but it won't engage.
-try again to move shifter to first, still won't engage
-try once again to shift to first (by this point, the car behind me begins to blow thier horn), still won't engage
-blip the throttle, and shifter finally moves to first
-drive off

I had a similar problem a few years ago with my 520i. One technique I used to remedy the situation was...
When it hesitates to go to 1st gear from a complete stop,
I shift to 2nd gear to line up the gears, then it goes smoothly into 1st.

Hope this helps.
Niko

[Lucid4000]

You have to double clutch going into first. Got to rev match and it will go in smooth.

[GTi325]

I've had this problem too. I put the car in reverse and pop it back out and it'll go into first smoothly again.

[CnoteMD]

Originally Posted by tiga901

Get a CDV mod...that should fix your problem.

Wow, this is a very old thread. I doubt a CDV mod would have helped as this was only problem at a complete stop. Even though my dealer couldn't reproduce the problem (only happened once every couple of months...very random), they replaced the entire transmission during my annual oil change service!

Problem solved. Now that I have a new transmission, the shift to 2nd is also improved. I never had a problem with jerky shifts to 2nd, but at high RPM's I used get a very slight grinding sensation. That was also eliminated.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by AskNiko

I had a similar problem a few years ago with my 520i. One technique I used to remedy the situation was...
When it hesitates to go to 1st gear from a complete stop,
I shift to 2nd gear to line up the gears, then it goes smoothly into 1st.

Hope this helps.
Niko

+1 I have had an occasional problem with first. Then I flip it to second and flip it back to first and I am gone before anyone can beep me. I dont think anything is broken, it is just that the synchro is slow or hesitate to move (rarely occured). Hence I do not see a need to take it in for a look since they will not be able to replicate it.

Someone said reverse. I would rather not do that since 1) reverse require some muscle and 2) if car behind you see the reverse light, they might beep you.

[s4iscool]

normal, happened on all my past manuals. Just let the car roll a little, and work the gears up and down before going back into 1st, and it should work. Just dont overforce it in.

[cm3rc]

HAHA i had the same problem. all i do is pump the clutch and then the 1st gear engage's