Trouble with First gear

[brucelee]

Hi, I have a new to me, 1995 318T1 with 5 speed manual. Car has 140K miles on it and is in very nice shape.

The car will pop out of first gear at a standstill if I simply shift from neutral to first. However, if I am downshifting from second to first or the car is moving when I move the lever to first, no issue at all.

BMW says, the trans must go. However, a second mechanic recommends the following before I take the expensive plunge:

Replace trans fluid with synthetic, say Mobil One or Red Line

Replace shift linkage, which is original and way sloppy. I thought I would use the Z3 set up and get a short shift while I am at it.

Any experience or thoughts on how to proceed?

Thanks much

[bimmerboi318]

when i first got my '95 ti it had 54k miles and did the same thing. the dealer replaced the transmission under warranty. supposedly there is an issue with the clutch slave cylinder that also created a problem in the transmission. im not sure exactly, but something about the synchro being worn from the clutch not being fully disengaged. i guess after awhile its hard to get the trans into first and sometimes only goes in partway, which makes it pop out. when going from 2nd to 1st like you said, it should stay in since everything is already spinning. but when you are stopped, a worn synchro will make it hard to shift into first. soo that's my general understanding of the issue. if im wrong or missing something im sure somebody can add to it. so all in all, i believe either the trans has to be rebuilt or replaced. but doing the other small things first cant hurt.
good luck with it :)

[J!m]

Double clutching or dabbbing second before grabbing first usually ensure the gears are fully engaged.

Driving with the gears not fully engaged causes broken gears (particularly on hard launches) as well as 'poping out' problems. Worn linkage will not allow the gears to fully engage either. It seems to need replacement every 30-40K miles...

I almost always dab second before going into first. Just a habit I've picked up from years of driving ****-box cars with blown syncros...

[brucelee]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I piced up the M3 shifter yesterday from BMW and will have it installed next week. Along with Mobil One ATF, I hope we are avoiding transmission land.

[ClubSport]

Don't use Mobil 1 ATF. It's not much better than the stock fluid as far as shift quality. Use Red Line D4 ATF.

I've tried Mobil 1, Red Line MTL, and recently D4 ATF in my 95, and D4 is the best.

[brucelee]

Don't use Mobil 1 ATF. It's not much better than the stock fluid as far as shift quality. Use Red Line D4 ATF.

I've tried Mobil 1, Red Line MTL, and recently D4 ATF in my 95, and D4 is the best.

Thanks, I will give it a go!

[vulteiv1]

hey bruce did u ever solved the problem? i'm having the same problem, please let me know. thanks, viet

[318tibimmer]

I got a short shifter from Zionsville autosport works great - as far as the tranny fluid is concerend I did a service on my tranny just put ATF in there and there was all kinds of gear noise - so I put in just some synth 50WT and it is so much better -- Problem sounds like sync row maybe.

[brucelee]

hey bruce did u ever solved the problem? i'm having the same problem, please let me know. thanks, viet

Due for install on Weds. Will post results.

[brucelee]

Happy to report that I have first gear back! WAY better than a new trans, no????

[brucelee]

PS- also flushed and bled clutch!

[brucelee]

PPS- New M3 shifter is the absolute best! Very very short and precised.

Best $60 I ever spent.

[NickB]

Hey, im having this problem too, where did you guys get your parts?

Thanks

[sKunkman]

I have the same sort of problem for 3rd gear, my shifter will pop out occasionally while rolling (only happened twice, but its startin to be a problem i think). Probably from too many mishifts, it really only happens in third gear, and I grinded the clutch pretty badly on one shift at redline...ouch.

[Panzer_M]

I got a UUC Evo III SSK and it makes 1st gear notchy.

but I put up with it.