If it hasn't been done it's not a waste of time! Makes a big difference, if you speak to the guys at opieoils.co.uk they'll sort you out with the correct (if not better) stuff and give you a discount if you use ZROAD as well. Still likely the split pins, but if (big if) the change improves things then you may not have to rush in to dropping the gearbox.
Just changed gearbox oil on my 1997 2.8 with Redline D4 ATM from Opie as recommended on this thread. Hoping against hope that it works as the gearchange is extremely notchy - verging on impossible to select - but the clutch is ok. I'd really like to meet up with the folks on the Shropshire cruise this Sunday, seeing as I live so near. Here's hoping for a good test drive tomorrow....Definitely try an oil change first made a huge difference to my gear change, and I wouldn't use oil from BMW, as said ring OPIE
Different gear boxes all together pal, the Getrag box in the 2.8 is renowned for being a bit notchy, mine is not as smooth as my 2.0l was but not bad at all
You were right! After 50 miles or so it has improved - from being so bad that I had to switch the engine off to select first or reverse and pot luck for getting anything else - to 'just' being very notchy and clunky. Changing down from fourth to third is definitely worse, but now have a good feeling that it will improve with use. (Have just got it out of its winter hibernation and think things had seized up from lack of use). Must admit I was pretty despondent beforehand, thinking the clutch or gearbox had gone, so thanks everyone for all the excellent advice. What a great forumIt will take a few miles to improve.
