[e39] Oh Oh, It Jumps Out Of First Gear

[Arjan e28 535i]

Hello all,

My girlfriend just bought a e39 520i (november 1996). The car has only done 110.000 registered kms and looks, smells and drives like a new one, except for on thing: When I drove it through the city, the manual gearbox jumped out of first gear on 3 ocasions (when I wanted to drive away from the green light). After this experence, I tried to cause it again on a parking-lot but I couldn't. Also my girlfriend never has this problem, until now. The clutch and transmission operate precise and smooth.

Does somebody know what is the problem and how it can be fixed?

Thanks,

Arjan

[billB]

Sounds like a synchromesh problem in the transmission. Makes sense tranny pros?

good luck Arjan sorry for the problem and welcome to the forum indeed.

regards
billb

[Arjan e28 535i]

Originally posted by billB@Feb 11 2005, 11:16 PM
Sounds like a synchromesh problem in the transmission. Makes sense tranny pros?

good luck Arjan sorry for the problem and welcome to the forum indeed.

regards
billb

[snapback]290008[/snapback]

Mmmm, I thought the sychromesh only line up the gears during shifting and have nothing to do with it as soon as the gears are in its place?

We have 3 months warranty, that might help . Only I don't how to explain it to the car salesman? If it doesn't happen when he drives it, he'll probably won't do anything with it.

[hullie]

Hi Arjan,

My December 96 520i (115.000 km) has got the same problem. Once in a while it just pops out of the first gear, and I also just can't reproduce is.
But i think it's already there sinds 60.000 km. I never thought of having it repaired, because it doesn't occur that often.

Best Regards,
Jeroen

[billB]

Years ago wear on the first gear synchro teeth caused my shifter to pop out. I also had to change linkage parts, the shifter bracket mounts which had a failing rubber on it. My shifter did move around too freely where the selector rod did not get the chance to travel in full.

[BeelZibub]

E39 Manuals are known for jumping out of gear on occasions, only it is usually 2nd not first - mine however, occasionally jumps out of third (but never any other gear). my fiancee also noticed this but it happens so few times and I often put it down to lazy gear changes on our behalf, so I've not bothered to do anything about it.

I have read a website where a couple of folk stopped this from happening by installing a short shift kit on both their e39's.