Funky tranny

[Amegahurt]

Hey guys, 15, now driving and hoping to get my mothers car which is a '98 328i sedan. I've noticed that as I'm downshifting, lets say -clutch in and second to first- it resists, you can hear something spin up... and after about a second or two then it's smooth and lets you shift. Any ideas what that is? Because it's just plain old annoying to me. Thanks!


Just not to be plain annoying, I'll say in more detail down here. As I put in the clutch to downshift, (only into first) the car resists me from pushing into first. You can FORCE it into first, as I've done so already, but I'm afraid to do it again as I think I might break something. So once again, shifting from second to first, I go 2-N- and it doesn't wanna go into first. But, while I'm pushing, you can hear something start to spin up, and as I'm guessing it gets to speed, it lowers the resistance and finally lets me shift smoothly. Sometimes I need to shift quick, and it stalls me for 2 seconds or so. Once again, any ideas?

[Avec]

I hope you don't downshift to first while driving. That is the problem, the syncro is waiting for the car to slow. Don't go to first unless sitting still - problem solved

[keeslinger31]

You need to rev match your tranny if you are downshifting to first

[Amegahurt]

I hope you don't downshift to first while driving. That is the problem, the syncro is waiting for the car to slow. Don't go to first unless sitting still - problem solved

Oh, so driving in first gear is bad? And what syncro? It makes absolutely no sense for something to spin up for me to be able to downshift smoothly.

[jagerking]

At first, I was like :shifty and then I :rofl He's 15.
Dude, you can't downshift to first. You're not racing, and the reason your car doesn't let you, is a safety mechanism to avoid overrevving. You should only engauge first gear while stopped/moving VERY slowly (< 3mph).

[Amegahurt]

You need to rev match your tranny if you are downshifting to first

That's not the issue. I know to rev before I engage the clutch, but this happens even with the clutch disengaged.


At first, I was like :shifty and then I :rofl He's 15.
Dude, you can't downshift to first. You're not racing, and the reason your car doesn't let you, is a safety mechanism to avoid overrevving. You should only engauge first gear while stopped/moving VERY slowly (< 3mph).

I know that. And seriously, if you're going to play the age game, don't even reply because it drives me nuts when people say "oh ha! he's only 15, he doesn't know squat." So unless you can backup your statement, "safety mechanism", then don't even try to make fun of me.

[keeslinger31]

when you shove it in first with the clutch pushed in going too fast for first to be engaged unless beating on it the syncro has to speed up to the driveshaft speed and connect the first gear on the mainshaft which since is metal on metal it makes a spinning grinding noise because it's freaking metal.

[Amegahurt]

when you shove it in first with the clutch pushed in going too fast for first to be engaged unless beating on it the syncro has to speed up to the driveshaft speed and connect the first gear on the mainshaft which since is metal on metal it makes a spinning grinding noise because it's freaking metal.

Thank you. That made the most sense to me.

[michal182]

I guess its always good to ask questions even ones that you can find out yourself.

I remember when i was 15 :)

[keeslinger31]

You can get syncros that are carbon fiber even but if you have an aftermarket shifter it will transmit the most noise

[jagerking]

That's not the issue. I know to rev before I engage the clutch, but this happens even with the clutch disengaged.



I know that. And seriously, if you're going to play the age game, don't even reply because it drives me nuts when people say "oh ha! he's only 15, he doesn't know squat." So unless you can backup your statement, "safety mechanism", then don't even try to make fun of me.

You have a piss-poor attitude. Of course we're going to rib you a bit for asking a question like this, but the question was answered in the second post. You ARE only 15, and we all remember being that age, and learning to drive. I'd recommend keeping the peace around here, and taking everything with a grain of salt, or everyone on this forum is going to rub you the wrong way.


when you shove it in first with the clutch pushed in going too fast for first to be engaged unless beating on it the syncro has to speed up to the driveshaft speed and connect the first gear on the mainshaft which since is metal on metal it makes a spinning grinding noise because it's freaking metal.

This is your answer. BTW, this occurs when downshifting to any gear, so that's always something to keep in mind if you're toying with the rev limiter.

[Amegahurt]

This is your answer. BTW, this occurs when downshifting to any gear, so that's always something to keep in mind if you're toying with the rev limiter.

Could have written that the first time... But sorry, I'll work on my attitude, but c'mon, don't make fun of me for my age. Alright?

[Avec]

As I said in my first post, don't downshift to first. Only use first to pull away from a stop. Put it first with the car stopped. If you would lose the attitude and reread my post, that is what I said

As you can tell your car does not like it and for good reason. Only bad things can happen If you do happen to jamb it in while the car and therefore drive shaft are moving to fast you can either overrev the motor or break something in the gearbox

[328iFun]

http://imageshack.us/a/img209/7592/sport2z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/209/sport2z.jpg/)

Is this you?

[Eric93se]

You guys are being too tough on the guy (errm, kid) :D

[Amegahurt]

As I said in my first post, don't downshift to first. Only use first to pull away from a stop. Put it first with the car stopped. If you would lose the attitude and reread my post, that is what I said

As you can tell your car does not like it and for good reason. Only bad things can happen If you do happen to jamb it in while the car and therefore drive shaft are moving to fast you can either overrev the motor or break something in the gearbox

Alright, yes I understand this, but I don't understand why it's even implemented. I've driven a newer BMW and it doesn't do it... But I don't shift to first unless slowing down getting ready for a stop light/sign.




Is this you?

Unfortunately not... That'd be my dream right there.

[Avec]

It is not something implemented, it is just how those syncros work compared to newer. I. My E28 I only use first when pulling away from a dead stop, and subsequently only put it in first when at a dead stop

[ChuckDizzle]

when you shove it in first with the clutch pushed in going too fast for first to be engaged unless beating on it the syncro has to speed up to the driveshaft speed and connect the first gear on the mainshaft which since is metal on metal it makes a spinning grinding noise because it's freaking metal.

This ^

The only reason you're being jabbed for your age is because it was one of the first things you mentioned. My assumption is that people are reading into it as the contributing factor for your questions. Wouldn't take it personally.

[slocar]

That's how synchros work ... and I'd say it's working well if you're able to downshift into 1st at all. If you don't want to feel resistance, learn how to double clutch (which I am not going to go into detail on, you can Google it yourslef).

ps. If you think a BMW is hard to downshift, drive a Subaru of the same vintage ... you'll be lucky to get it in 1st moving at 1 mph.

[UnderCoverGuy11]

Alright, yes I understand this, but I don't understand why it's even implemented. I've driven a newer BMW and it doesn't do it... But I don't shift to first unless slowing down getting ready for a stop light/sign.

Unfortunately not... That'd be my dream right there.

You shouldn't be down shifting if you're coming to a stop, that's unnecessary added wear and tear. Coast to a stop in the gear you're in using the brakes as your main stopping method. If you approach the light and it turns green then downshift and take off. You'll save a lot of l clutch wear over the years. Brakes are 80 bucks and 45 minutes to do, a clutch is 400 and takes a few days...

[slocar]

You shouldn't be down shifting if you're coming to a stop, that's unnecessary added wear and tear. Coast to a stop in the gear you're in using the brakes as your main stopping method. If you approach the light and it turns green then downshift and take off. You'll save a lot of l clutch wear over the years. Brakes are 80 bucks and 45 minutes to do, a clutch is 400 and takes a few days...

This. And really if you're rolling at all (even 1 or 2 mph), you can use 2nd with no problem, still no need to downshift to 1st.

1st is only to get you moving ... unless of course you're racing or something and need the full acceleration of it ... but in day to day driving, I seldom go over 2500 rpm in 1st.

[keeslinger31]

If you don't want to feel resistance, learn how to double clutch (which I am not going to go into detail on, you can Google it yourslef).

I was trying to implement this in my first post but it flew right by the op's head

[Amegahurt]

You shouldn't be down shifting if you're coming to a stop, that's unnecessary added wear and tear. Coast to a stop in the gear you're in using the brakes as your main stopping method. If you approach the light and it turns green then downshift and take off.

Alright, thank you all for telling me this and sorry for being inconsiderate even if you tried to help. I've now learned (above quote) and will try it out. Also, any of you removed the CDV? How big of a difference is that?