hard to get into first gear

Haywan88 · 10-26-2024, 05:59 PM

hi - g87 manual M2, 8,000kms on clock

when ever im at a stop its hard to get the gear into first all the time have to go into second then first. like something is stuck or sticking it. does anyone else have this issue?

Albator_IIII · 10-26-2024, 06:17 PM

It sometimes happens to me as well. I go to put it in 1st and it doesn't engage. The indicator still shown N. I have gotten in the habit to get it ready ahead of light change (making sure 1st engages). On the occasion it does that, I find going to 2nd then up in 1st works. No idea what causes that. I would say it happens once every other time I take the car out.

I will add in case some forks might postulate I rest my hand on the shifter that I never do that. I have been driving 6MTs for 20 years. My 2008 6MT E90 335i is still on original clutch and operating flawlessly.

RockCrusher · 10-27-2024, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haywan88

hi - g87 manual M2, 8,000kms on clock

when ever im at a stop its hard to get the gear into first all the time have to go into second then first. like something is stuck or sticking it. does anyone else have this issue?

Have not had that problem with my 2023 M2 with just over 10K miles.

My '96 Mustang GT though I had to develop the habit of shifting from neutral into 2nd then 1st. I could not get 1st from neutral reliably at all.

Except for that anomaly all other shifting was just fine. Drove the car to over 150K miles like that.

JMcLellan · 10-28-2024, 04:52 PM

Are you pulling the shifter a little too far to the left and possibly engaging the reverse gate?

Albator_IIII · 10-29-2024, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Are you pulling the shifter a little too far to the left and possibly engaging the reverse gate?

Not in my case.

KC87ZB · 11-08-2024, 09:11 AM

Mine can also be a little balky going into first from neutral. From past manuals I have the habit of slipping into 2nd then up to 1st, seems to resolve the issue.

I haven't really noticed a difference whether cold or warm (trans). And I'm definitely not hitting the gate for reverse.

chris719 · 11-08-2024, 03:45 PM

Depending on how often it happens, this is normal behavior for most manual transmissions.

VegasG42 · 11-09-2024, 07:59 PM

Not sure what transmission gear oil BMW allows, but if compatible, consider a fully synthetic transmission fluid change.

Had the exact same issue in a 6MT Infiniti. Mechanically everything was perfect. But it absolutely didn't want to ever go into 1st as I was rolling to a stop. I would have to completely stop, then shift it into first.

Swapped over to Redline Fully Synthetic, and it fixed it 100%.

Just my 2 cents.

Haywan88 · 11-09-2024, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Are you pulling the shifter a little too far to the left and possibly engaging the reverse gate?

this always has pissed me off - i came from a mustang and the R was all the way to the left but u had to pull a lever up for it slot in

Haywan88 · 11-09-2024, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC87ZB

Mine can also be a little balky going into first from neutral. From past manuals I have the habit of slipping into 2nd then up to 1st, seems to resolve the issue.

I haven't really noticed a difference whether cold or warm (trans). And I'm definitely not hitting the gate for reverse.

yeh it just feels like there is something stuck half way through like some stickiness then it will go in with some slight force or going from 2nd - there also is some stickness into 2nd. all other gears seem to be okay….

aerobod · 11-09-2024, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Not sure what transmission gear oil BMW allows, but if compatible, consider a fully synthetic transmission fluid change.

The standard BMW MTF-LT-5 75w80 transmission fluid is already fully synthetic.

VegasG42 · 11-09-2024, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerobod

The standard BMW MTF-LT-5 75w80 transmission fluid is already fully synthetic.

Yeah, figured as much. Mostly fully synthetic fluids for engine / trans used now.

Might not hurt to try a drain and fill with a different compatible brand.

aerobod · 11-09-2024, 09:21 PM

If a CDV delete has been done, first gear engagement issues can be due to slight clutch drag due to air in the system that needs to be bled. I’m not sure on the G87 (don’t have access to the ISTA), but often previous BMW manual transmissions required the clutch slave cylinder to be removed and the bleed nipple held vertically to get all the air out of the system.

10-26-2024, 05:59 PM	#1
Haywan88 New Member 5 Rep 11 Posts Drives: BMW M2 G87 2023 - Manual Join Date: May 2024 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	hard to get into first gear hi - g87 manual M2, 8,000kms on clock when ever im at a stop its hard to get the gear into first all the time have to go into second then first. like something is stuck or sticking it. does anyone else have this issue? Last edited by Haywan88; 10-26-2024 at 05:59 PM..
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10-26-2024, 06:17 PM	#2
Albator_IIII Retired Major 1064 Rep 765 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i 6MT Custom Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (0)	It sometimes happens to me as well. I go to put it in 1st and it doesn't engage. The indicator still shown N. I have gotten in the habit to get it ready ahead of light change (making sure 1st engages). On the occasion it does that, I find going to 2nd then up in 1st works. No idea what causes that. I would say it happens once every other time I take the car out. I will add in case some forks might postulate I rest my hand on the shifter that I never do that. I have been driving 6MTs for 20 years. My 2008 6MT E90 335i is still on original clutch and operating flawlessly. __________________ 2023 G87 ///M2 (production began Jul 4th 2023) 2008 E90 335i \| Silver Grey \| Terra \| Piano Black \| 6MT \| ZSP \| ZKO \| ZAT \| ZKI \| ZPL \| ZKL \|
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10-28-2024, 04:52 PM	#4
JMcLellan Lieutenant Colonel 2742 Rep 1,605 Posts Drives: 2024 M2 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: MN iTrader: (0)	Are you pulling the shifter a little too far to the left and possibly engaging the reverse gate? __________________ 2024 M2 2019 M240i- Sold
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11-08-2024, 09:11 AM	#6
KC87ZB First Lieutenant 446 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2023 M2 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M2 [10.00]	Mine can also be a little balky going into first from neutral. From past manuals I have the habit of slipping into 2nd then up to 1st, seems to resolve the issue. I haven't really noticed a difference whether cold or warm (trans). And I'm definitely not hitting the gate for reverse. __________________ 2023 M2 2014 Triumph Trophy
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11-08-2024, 03:45 PM	#7
chris719 Major General 7603 Rep 7,528 Posts Drives: '08 M Roadster Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Depending on how often it happens, this is normal behavior for most manual transmissions.
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11-09-2024, 07:59 PM	#8
VegasG42 Captain 695 Rep 885 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW M240i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Not sure what transmission gear oil BMW allows, but if compatible, consider a fully synthetic transmission fluid change. Had the exact same issue in a 6MT Infiniti. Mechanically everything was perfect. But it absolutely didn't want to ever go into 1st as I was rolling to a stop. I would have to completely stop, then shift it into first. Swapped over to Redline Fully Synthetic, and it fixed it 100%. Just my 2 cents.
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11-09-2024, 09:21 PM	#13
aerobod Car Geek 4258 Rep 3,905 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	If a CDV delete has been done, first gear engagement issues can be due to slight clutch drag due to air in the system that needs to be bled. I’m not sure on the G87 (don’t have access to the ISTA), but often previous BMW manual transmissions required the clutch slave cylinder to be removed and the bleed nipple held vertically to get all the air out of the system.
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