Where's 3rd gear gone?

[Grumps]

Hi all. Took the Zed to work this morning to give it a run after the winter hibernation before Bucks on Sunday. It was serviced on Tuesday Inc gearbox oil change but I'm finding it very difficult to select 3rd gear. Going from 2nd it's wanting to go straight into 5th. If I fiddle about a bit it will go but not as it did before putting it away in October.
I do find this very depressing and stressful as I do quite like having a 3rd gear! Any help much appreciated.

 

[GazHyde]

@Lee, could this be the gear selector springs like on your Dads Z3?

 

[Lee]

Yeah @GazHyde this is the exact same problem. The selector pins have worn. The gearbox itself is ok just the Pins need replacing. About £54 for the parts from BMW. The job is not for the faint hearted as the gearbox needs to be removed from the car. Took me a few hours to remove the old pins and fit the new pins. I found once the car was warm the sticky pins would free up but it did get worse.

This guide is very helpful on how to do the job.

http://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplassma/bmw_diy/shift_pins/shift_pins.html

Hope this helps @Davejue1

 

[Grumps]

Yeah @GazHyde this is the exact same problem. The selector pins have worn. The gearbox itself is ok just the Pins need replacing. About £54 for the parts from BMW. The job is not for the faint hearted as the gearbox needs to be removed from the car. Took me a few hours to remove the old pins and fit the new pins. I found once the car was warm the sticky pins would free up but it did get worse.

This guide is very helpful on how to do the job.

http://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplassma/bmw_diy/shift_pins/shift_pins.html

Hope this helps @Davejue1

THIS would make sense Lee. By the time I'd got to work (10 miles ) it had eased so looks like you could be spot on. I'll see how it fairs on the cruise this Sunday and go from there. Parts arn't to bad price wise then. I don't mind having a go at repairs myself within limitations. The advantage is I don't need the car so I could start and come back to it until the job is done. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Grumps]

Just got in from work and gear change smooth from the off. Could it be because it had been stood over winter and it's back in use?

 

[GazHyde]

Could it be because it had been stood over winter and it's back in use?

Lets hope that's the answer and it just needed to be used

 

[Grumps]

Lets hope that's the answer and it just needed to be used

Fingers crossed Gaz.

 

[Grumps]

Took the Zed again this morning and changed fine from the off. Had one or two moments from 5th to 4th so I think as long as it doesn't get any worse between now and October time I'll run it and take the gearbox off during this year's hibernation.

 

[Lee]

Yeah thats exactly how i tackled it. I only decided to act once it started doing it all the time.

 

[Zeti]

Just got in from work and gear change smooth from the off. Could it be because it had been stood over winter and it's back in use?

I have that symptom every morning, when changing from 2nd to 3rd, but not with the car , with my self!
So for a car ...a bit of understanding, please!

 

[t-tony]

It's not that way with me Dan most mornings, the issue is, sometimes I need jump leads.

Tony.

 

[Lexybhoy]

Dave, Jet2 has this problem. I have to 'hunt' for the pins to get 3rd located. Glad the fix is just the pins and not the complete box. Although, given the box needs to come off, I wouldn't be tackling it myself. I'll wait till it becomes worse and then deal with it. Can any damage be caused to the rest of the box by this ?

 

[t-tony]

I don't want to start up the age old gear oil thread again, but what oil did he use Dave, I have read several times on here that it can affect gear selection depending on the grade used. Mine is an Auto so I haven't had this issue.

Tony.