Have my '01 M3 6 wks and love the car except for a disappointing notchy gearbox especially 2nd and 3rd gears.Also the throws are long which I can live with but the notchiness is bugging me.I have made a request to see the area rep when he shows.Anyone else find the shifting notchy or is it me?

I have had my 02' for only a week now and i do have the same problem especially when i shift it into 2nd gear. Almost makes me feel like i cant drive stick. I told myself maybe it's because the car only has 350 miles on it, but i see other's are having the same problems with it. I guess we have to live with it!! But for the long throws i am considering maybe getting a short shift kit for it a little later on. Anyone have any luck with any Short Shift Kit avaliabe. Is it worth it??

Kalik,
I'll give you an update after I see the regional tech about this problem.I am told the best short throw set up is the one by a.c.schnitzer.This however does nothing to solve the notchiness,in fact makes the gearbox more like a ferrari-more "clunky".I will ask about other gearbox oil but I doubt that will make a difference.

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I'm sorry for being a little ignorant when it comes to car terms. What does the gears being "notchy" exactly mean?

Appreciate an explanation.
Thanks.

hi guys, was out of town for awhile so haven't been able to post. anyway, my tranny is the same way...was alittle disappointed. however, the second car feels ALOT better than the first which was a very early build (think march 01). it had the clunking pretty bad. the Second doesn't clunk as bad but the shifter still feels notchy (btw, by "notchy" I mean it doesn't have that satisfying snick into the next gear and in fact, sometimes, I have to let the clutch back out and resynchronize to get it into 2nd gear). All the magazines rave about how great the shifter feels...not sure what they mean. I have to say though, that it feels ALOT better than the Boxster S which also has a 6spd tranny.

Does anyone else have problems just launching the car? it feels like there's a slight hesitation right off throttle with the sport mode off but too much with it on! the sport mode is great for heel and toe though..great response when you "blip" the throttle.

The moral of the story....wish i had the SMG! http://m3forum.com/ubb/smile.gif

suj, i was thinking about your question, and this is how i see it.

when you move from say first to second, a perfect gearbox, IMHO, has a firm but smooth motion into the next gear then finally a nice firm click. the firmness is hard to explain but not too loose not too hard. http://m3forum.com/ubb/wink.gif

when it's notchy, the motion into the next gear is not smooth and/or the "snick" into the next gear doesn't have a satisfying feel to it. in the worst gearboxes, it almost feels like you're hitting the shift gates as you shift gears.

hope you understand it better now. http://m3forum.com/ubb/wink.gif

Thanks for the explanation Frank!

I think I've got a better understanding of the whole "notchy" gearbox aspect now.

-Suj

When I testdrove the manual I didnt notice it really. But I wasnt actually lookin for it either =/.

Scott

To get the feel of a perfect (imho) gearbox try an NSX then go back to the E46 and the difference is dramatic.
Frank-did you get 2 e46's? If so why?
In spt gear I find best launch without leaving 1/2 the rubber on the street to be obtained at 1500 rpm and letting out the clutch quickly and flooring it then.In non-spt there is a hesitation which can be overcome by launching at 3000 rpm but since I always am in spts I never have the hesitation problem.
I too am dumbfounded at the mags extending plaudits to this gearbox.It sucks!
When I bought my 360 modena I had the choice of f1 or 6spd and chose the 6 sp and happy with it but if I had this to do over I would have waited for the sequential.

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Hi mw360,

I only have one E46 now..the Alpine White/Imola Red...originally had Imola Red/Black. Wasnt intending to get two but the first one had some issues which I was very unhappy about and the dealership was very good to replace it. The Dealership GM said he had to jump thru hoops to get another one for me but he did and because it wasn't going to come in for 1 1/2 month, they let me drive the Imola Red until then will a "gentleman's" agreement that I wouldn't put more than 3000 miles on it during that time (i put 2995 miles on it http://m3forum.com/ubb/smile.gif )

overall, it was a very good deal and the dealership was ultimately very good about making things right.

on the gearbox, i can't say it sucks...just not great...i was thinking about this post on my way home and I thought of the NSX when I was thinking about which car has the best gearbox.

so you have the slight hesitation with the sport mode off too. with the sport mode on, it's not that easy to launch at 1500 rpm...have to let the clutch out very quickly and definitely have to know exactly where your clutch engages.

to be honest, since i got the boxster, that's all i have been driving; my first convt so it's a big novelty...would have gotten the M3 cab but didnt' want to give up the half of second in acceleration. http://m3forum.com/ubb/wink.gif

I think i will be switching to SMG in 2003...blew my auto budget for 2002 already.

btw, mw360, you're driving my dream car! ...but I think i would have gotten the F1. http://m3forum.com/ubb/wink.gif

i hear e46m3's are having problems concerning the valves; apparently the valves are bendingin the #5 cyclinder. some m3s are grounded at dealerships in uk. and it seems bmw is being very hush,hush on the situation. anyone hear anything?

I've had the same feeling in my cabrio in regards to the shifting. I have 32,000 miles on my 98 NSX-T and I must say that each one has been with a smile!!!! To me that is the perfect car. As far as the M3is concerned, I have no problems or complaints during a couple of " high speed encounters" with a Cobra and one very high strung S2000.Shifting does leave me wanting more. My issue is with that P.O.S. stereo!!! The rear seal on my ragtop has come loose but will be replaced Monday. Had the recall work done on WEd. Make sure you've all had the oilchange upgrade also.

hms

I've had the same feeling in my cabrio in regards to the shifting. I have 32,000 miles on my 98 NSX-T and I must say that each one has been with a smile!!!! To me that is the perfect car. As far as the M3is concerned, I have no problems or complaints during a couple of " high speed encounters" with a Cobra and one very high strung S2000.Shifting does leave me wanting more. My issue is with that P.O.S. stereo!!! The rear seal on my ragtop has come loose but will be replaced Monday. Had the recall work done on WEd. Make sure you've all had the oilchange upgrade also.

hms