Anyone Fix Their "Notchy" E46 M3

[gpoints]

My '03M3 has @ 5k miles and has quite the notchy shifter. I having the car checked next week but I have a feeling the dealer is going to say its normal.n

I had a Camaro with the T-56 6speed and that trany/shifter were worlds better than the one on my M. True, that was the only thing the Camaro had on this car.

Has anyone resolved this problem with an aftermarket shifter or anything else for that matter? ghead

[bmwtech332ti]

This is normal! It has to do with the sincros in the transmission. They're alot stronger but you get the notchy shifting.

[Slvr e39]

Hey bmwtech332ti,
If no one welcomed you to the forums and I hope you stick around!

[Slvr e39]

Just curious, would a short shift kit fix this "notchy" tranny? Or is there any way to fix it?

PS I dont have stick, I have SMG and its perfect :nana


jk

[Lex]

Yeah Power M, unlessl it tears up, then who will be singing the blues, huh huh?

But seriously, I would rather have a straight shift if there was a problem, other than this crabby gear box. It's a little messy feeling going into first, sort of like an old toyota or something, then mine sometimes chunks into 3rd especially bad. When it goes into first downshifting, it's like you feel movement or something in the trans, weird.

I figured that's about what they would say, but please, everyone document what their dealer says here, so we can get an idea about this. We also could collectively be a lot more powerful if enough of us complained.

Lex

[jllphan]

First off to the forums!!

Are you serious? I paid plenty of money to go to a SSK with a very notchy feel. This is something that is generally desired and expected in many high end sports cars. Ever driven a Ferrari or Porsche?

Any GM product Ive ever spent seat time in, the gear box was soft and much more vague. n

[gpoints]

Originally posted by jllphan@Jun 23 2004, 12:48 AM
First off to the forums!!

Are you serious? I paid plenty of money to go to a SSK with a very notchy feel. This is something that is generally desired and expected in many high end sports cars. Ever driven a Ferrari or Porsche?

Any GM product Ive ever spent seat time in, the gear box was soft and much more vague. n

Thanks for the welcome.
I've never driven a Ferrari or Porsche but the feel of MY M3 is too notchy for my taste.
Seriously, it feels like I can bend the shifter when pulling it into 2nd gear sometimes.
And when I say Notchy, I'm saying the car does not go smoothly into a gear, especially 2nd gear. The shifter almost gets stuck just past neutral on its way to 2nd. I like powerm's question about the short throw shifter. Anyone running one? If so, what results.


Also, do not confuse the T56 used in GM cars such as the Camaro and Firebird with the ones used in other GM cars. The T56 is used by the STD Corvette, Z06 and even the Viper. Read reviews on these cars and you'll find the trany is always praised.

I know, I know, I'm being over protective of GM but that was the only thing I liked about my z28

[jllphan]

That sucks. I have yet to drive a Bimmer with a gearbox that is unnatural through each gate. I would have the stealer take a good look at it. While it should take effort (heavy as with everything else clutch, brake feel, etc.), it shouldn't feel wrong

I'm curious did the 01' Z06 have the T56 set up you speak of? That is the best feeling gearbox I've had my hands into as far as GM products go.

[gpoints]

Originally posted by jllphan@Jun 23 2004, 11:50 PM
I'm curious did the 01' Z06 have the T56 set up you speak of? That is the best feeling gearbox I've had my hands into as far as GM products go.

Yup, all Z06s come with the T56. I can't remember if the older, C4 vette had it but all of the C5s had it. I'm almost positive they also put a short-throw, hurst shifter.

We'll see what the dealer says

Anyone out there swap out just their shifter with a short-throw?

[Lex]

Oh, FYI, I had a Z06 for 2 weeks, and it chunked going into 3rd as well. Strange. But it did. It was a pretty solid gearbox otherwise. Only owned for 2 weeks why? Because I was sick once I realized what I'd done, I'm a bimmer dude, that's all man. Vettes are great to look at, but once I got inside, I was just not comfortable or at home. Plus it scraped every time in and out of my drive way. Even drug something hard in the back once. (Uphill driveway)

Lex