Trans woes

nealf

nealf

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Hi I’ve recently been suffering from a trans issue. My 2800 CS, a 5 speed convert is not going into gear when standing still. I have to fight to get into gear at all when not moving. However, when driving it shifts downshifts and acts perfectly fine. I made it a point to keep in gear while at stop signs and lights. It also looks like ace is in neutral and not gear engaged but when letting the clutch out it’s actually in reverse.
Anyone have any idea what could be the issue? A mechanic friend said to start with checking the fluid level.
Had recently had the driveshaft support bearing replaced but that was all although it started to be an issue after that service.
Thanks.
 
A symptom of not going easily into gear while standing still (especially reverse) generally indicates that the clutch is not releasing all the way. Could need an adjustment of the pushrod from the output cylinder, or a new output or input cylinder.

I'm not sure what you mean by your other symptom..."It also looks like ace is in neutral and not gear engaged"
 
Why would the car shift perfectly when driving? My friend said “2 sets of gears moving when car is moving”
“When at a standstill only one set of gears turning”
 
nealf said:
Why would the car shift perfectly when driving? My friend said “2 sets of gears moving when car is moving”
“When at a standstill only one set of gears turning”
Click to expand...
No gears are moving when at a standstill with the clutch pedal depressed (as long as the clutch fully releases)

Both the main shaft set of gears and the countershaft set of gears are turning...while standing still with the clutch pedal out, and when moving.

If the clutch is not fully releasing, the synchronizers have an easier time matching the speed of the gear being engaged when moving making the shift easier than shifting at a standstill.
nealf said:
Sorry typo
The shifter appears to be in neutral but car is actually in gear (reverse)
Click to expand...
See Chris' Post #2
 
As HB Chris suggests.... in the E24s the clutch master bracket is quite prone to cracking and I had a similar symptom until I could not get it into gear at all. Not sure if E9 is prone to similar issue.
 
Sounds like your tranny support or shifter linkage is loose.
 
Thanks for all the help and information! I hope one of your suggestions works!
nf
'70 2800 CS
'72 Tii
 
Hi all I just had a chance to mess with my car from this earlier thread. I had a 2002 mechanic over here and we tried to figure out what’s wrong with my transmission and why it won’t go into gear and he concluded something internal is bad and the transmission would be needing to be replaced. My question is how do I identify what transmission I have in the car now and what to try to find? It is a five speed conversion it was in the car when I bought it in 2005 where do I identify the numbers?
 
Take pics of it and post here, it's likely a Getrag. Sure the clutch is functioning properly?
 
I haven’t the slightest clue
My friend thought bad trans
He said before I took into a shop and found out that I in fact need a new trans and then had to scramble around a source one, I should try to source one first and be ready to pop it in. He has been wrenching on 2002s and other old BMWs for 30 years. My car shows that the shifter is in neutral but it was actually in reverse which was the last year it was in when I drove it and now it is stuck in reverse. When this problem started happening more frequently it was harder to get the car in gear from a stop but when the car was rolling it would shift perfectly fine. I am perplexed as to what to do I don’t want to spend a fortune trying to diagnose the issue.
 
My question is how do I identify the transmission that is in there now where are the numbers on it my friend said they are likely in the back but my car is so greasy and oily underneath I was hoping to have a rough idea of where it was in order to be able to clean that area
 
another thing to check is the linkage bushings and shift tower mounts, if they are loose then it may not go into gear correctly. Ideally it will have to go on a lift so these can be checked.
 
I'd look at your transmission and engine mounts as well. If things are oily down there the mounts could be sagging, maybe to one side making it harder to shift. As others have said it could also be loose parts in the shift platform or a dragging clutch.

There are two 5 speed Getrag transmission it's likely to be. It's easy to know if you have the close ratio as its shift pattern is different with first gear below reverse.
You probably have the Getrag 265/6 which is the most robust transmission for your car. There is also a 260 5 speed but that was used in E30 and isn't as robust as the 265/6.
 
ok thanks for all the useful information. I don't have the dog leg trans. I most likely have the 265/6 more common one.

I want to remind you all that I have the guibo replaced. After replacement all of these issues began. There was never the slightest hint of an issue before that. I wonder if somehow they are related. If something was loosened and not retightened properly.
 
I have just have one simple question.

May I ask one question?

When your mechanic of 30 years looked underneath your car at the shift platform- did he say that the 2 shift blocks and the tranny support rubber were in good condition?

Thanks!
 
He claimed everything externally was in good condition but I really don’t know. My conundrum is getting it flatbedded into a shop and if in fact it is a transmission replacement issue I don’t have one to just throw in there and I’m not sure if the shop would want my car sitting around. I feel compelled to have someone knowledgeable take a look at it before I just deem it a replacement situation
 
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