hard shifting

[jfertita]

Hey guys, I have an 86 325 and its recently started to get colder out and i notice that when my engine is cold the transmission is very hard to shift, i have a 5 speed manual. It grinds going into second and is especially hard to shift back into first. But after i warm up the car it shifts fine, any ideas?

[Starmavin]

Sounds like your trans fluid needs changing or topped off, you first need to ID what type of fluid you need by looking at the color of the tag on the passenger side of the bell houseing.

[Torque]

That's perfectly normal. Even new cars tend to do that.

You could try changing the fluid in the tranny and the diff to something that will suit the cold better, but don't expect it to help 100 percent.

[german-speed-demon]

Check the bushings as well. I had it with an ole american muscle monster, could be a bind somewhere or low on grease. Just an option anyway...

[Numark318i]

..I was thinking Tenacious D when I saw the Thread Title.

[Rfitz25]

Redline MTL baby !!!
turned my cold hard shifting into like new shifting!!!

Redlinie is the nectar from the Gods for these trannys
particularly the old syncros!!!

I couldnt friggin believe simly using a good synthetic would make such a huge difference. but it did

I thinkI bought two quarts and used 1.75 or something.
9 bucks a quart $$$ +-

They havea thicker one too but Id try the MTL first.

Two BMW shops here say they make there own mix to go in these trannys.

I just bought Redline fro the race shop and bought a hand oil pump at Autozone and its like night and day.

OK I got lazy and had a shop do the drain and fill. LOL

Good Luck

[ldsbeaker]

I've got MTL that I need to put in as well. But E30's are typically hard shifting in the cold until things get warmed up.

[Starmavin]

Do not put MTL into the gearboxs with the green tag. That trans takes special mobile SHC 630 fluid.

[wayneo325IC]

OK you say dont use it if you have a green tag but what if you dont have any tag? I have a 1992 325IC ?

[gotKRAUT]

Redline ATF or Redline MTL, for the summer Redline MT90


Redline for the win

[Rfitz25]

Starman

What does yellow paint on the fill bolt mean?

I cant find a tag either but the MTL seems to work great.

[Starmavin]

No tag takes regular ATF, redline is ok, but any name brand dexron/mercon III will do the job better than orginal 100,000+ mile old fluid. The yellow on the fill bolt is just there to signal that the fluid hasn't been messed with, also put there to signal that the plug is tight. 86 was the year the green tag was mostly found on, but I have found 86 transmissions in other year cars.

[wayneo325IC]

So is it better to use ATF or MTL?

[Starmavin]

ATF, gear lube is a little too thick and in the winter it'll strain your bearings, lowering your transmission life.

[wayneo325IC]

Hey thanks for the INFO!!!!!