Getrag 260 Issues when shifting into 3rd.

[Bnardog]

I have a 87 325IS with the Getrag 260. I recently replaced the motor mounts, transmission mounts, and installed a chassis mount short shifter. When I shift into 3rd it seems the tranny isn't catching the gear and grinds. If I pull it back into neutral and try 3rd again, it still grinds forcing me to go down to 2nd. I played with it in the back roads and found that if I rev 2nd gear high enough then shift slowly, 3rd engages most of the time. But changing gears at low rpms grinds the gears. This happened occasionally before I installed the new munts and the shifter so I knew about this issue.

I researched that this is a sign of the syncro gear wearing out and the usual fix is to replace the whole transmission. Has anyone else dealt with this issue? When buying a new transmission how can you be sure what your buying wont give you the same issue?

Any tips or insight is appreciated.

Thanks,
bnardog

[superj]

You cannot be sure. Ours does the same thing.

We just recently bought a replacement for my other son's trans and the new one was good so we got a good one there. This current one, in my other son's is the next one we have to replace

[Bnardog]

Thank you for your reply! I replaced the transmission fluid and it seems to be running much smoother! Not sure what it was but it works for now at least haha

[superj]

i was thinking of doing that to the one we have left. maybe putting redline or royal purple or whatever in it

[Bnardog]

Yep, I put redline MT-90 into mine.

[E30s50dude]

Yeah the 3rd synchros are failing. Happened to me when I first got my e30 ended up breaking 3rd and 1st gear and ended up installing a zf trans when the g260 finally gave out.