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Thread: Shift Resistance into 5th Gear?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    West, USA
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    48
    My Cars
    1997 E36 M3

    Shift Resistance into 5th Gear?

    Hey guys,

    I've been experiencing this weird resistance engaging 5th. At speeds below 60 mph, I can row between gears freely. Each gear slots in with the same notchiness/effort.

    What I've been noticing is that accelerating under load above 60 mph, rowing from 4th to 5th is noticeably more difficult. It feels like I have to row through molasses or quick sand instead of just 'clicking' into gear. For lack of better word, the shifter feels abnormally heavy throwing from 4th to 5th. If I am just shifting into 5th at a steady speed, this rarely happens. This does seem temperature dependent. I've only noticed this symptom when the car was warm.

    I am not sure if this is a detent pin issue. The shifter does not lean at all, and it self centers very well.

    Car currently has:
    125k miles
    RE SSK
    UUC DSSR
    New Selector rod joint
    New Selector shaft seal
    New Tranny Fluid (Redline MTL)

    Any input appreciated! Hope my ZF isn't on its way out

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Parker, Colorado
    Posts
    3,128
    My Cars
    GTS3 E36, 97 M3/4/5
    Check your motor mounts and transmission mounts. If it is an under load condition, there is a good chance that the mounts are worn and are allowing the motor and trans to torque over causing the shifter linkage to bind.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
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    West, USA
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    48
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    1997 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by John in Houston View Post
    Check your motor mounts and transmission mounts. If it is an under load condition, there is a good chance that the mounts are worn and are allowing the motor and trans to torque over causing the shifter linkage to bind.
    Hi John. Forgot to mention that the car has AKG Poly motor and trans mounts. They seem to be in good condition.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    Posts
    4,851
    My Cars
    1997 M3, 2dr/5spd*
    How old is your UUC DSSR? The bushings in mine wore out over time...
    Estoril/Modena '97 M3...sold for the second time.
    ------------------------------------
    You only live once, and I'm running out of time...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    West, USA
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    48
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    1997 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by Gene V View Post
    How old is your UUC DSSR? The bushings in mine wore out over time...
    I've had it on a year since buying it brand new. I did have to machine it to fit the "ball" end of the shifter since it did not directly fit inside the DSSR "fork". So it is a TIGHT fit. It only seems to bind going to 5th under load, otherwise it shifts smoothly.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Indianapolis, USA
    Posts
    307
    My Cars
    1993 318i Touring
    Which part of the shifting does the resistance occur? Is during the side-to-side "horizontal" motion? Or during the forward-and-back "vertical" motion?

    A vertical resistance would suggest a synchronizer, and a horizontal one would suggest a shifter or mount issue.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    562
    My Cars
    '97 BMW M3/2/5
    I also have resistance going into 5th if I am coming off of hard load in 4th gear (ie full throttle 4k RPM or higher). No resistance getting to the gear, just once I push into the gate, it only goes about half way in until I feel resistance, and have to push harder to make sure it's all the way in. I have more or less new motor mounts and tranny mounts, and have been told it may be my 5th gear transmission detent. I'll get around to replacing those sometime in the next 10 years, and if I do I'll let you know if it fixes it :P.

    I just drive with it since I rarely need to go from full throttle high RPMs from 4th to 5th, even at the track. But if you figure out what the issue is and it's not the detent, I would be very interested in knowing!

    Good luck!
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Indianapolis, USA
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    My Cars
    1993 318i Touring
    I'm still having trouble understanding these reports:

    Is the resistance going from the neutral position that is between 4th and 3rd gear that you go through to get to the neutral position that is next to 5th gear? Or is it from the neutral position that is next to 5th gear going in to 5th gear?

    In my 1997 M3, my resistance is going through the gate to get to 5th. Once you start to move up into 5th, it moves smoothly.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    North Potomac, MD
    Posts
    1,054
    My Cars
    2011 E90 328i
    Trans fluid?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Indianapolis, USA
    Posts
    307
    My Cars
    1993 318i Touring
    Mines full of Redline.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    8,884
    My Cars
    Turbo 97 E36 M3, 99 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by Gene V View Post
    How old is your UUC DSSR? The bushings in mine wore out over time...
    I'm not aware of any bushings....are you talking about the spacers?
    1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
    CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)

    1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
    Auto/Convertible and staying stock!

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