Stiff gearbox?

Generalpain · 03-19-2018, 11:06 AM

I have just bought my first BMW. Its a 3 series f30 efficient dynamics model. I have noticed that even though the gearbox works fine it is stiff when putting it into reverse. Is this normal?

DrifterX · 03-19-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generalpain

I have just bought my first BMW. Its a 3 series f30 efficient dynamics model. I have noticed that even though the gearbox works fine it is stiff when putting it into reverse. Is this normal?

I assume you have a manual transmission? It's normal that you need to add a bit more force to put the gear into reverse vs. other gears... prevents accidental miss shifting into reverse instead of first.

rak299 · 03-19-2018, 01:01 PM

I have a 4-series and mine was VERY stiff into reverse when I first got the car. It was stiff enough that I thought something might be wrong, but after a few hundred miles, it was fine. My guess is that there is a stiff detente spring that softens with use.

kern417 · 03-20-2018, 02:27 PM

I wish it was like subaru or volkswagen where you have a clip to pull to get it into gear. it feels like you're going to break something when shifting over.

oranga · 03-20-2018, 02:50 PM

Yeah, i miss having some sort of lockout that you have to push/pull. i have to be extra careful that I'm actually in reverse and not 1st so i don't drive through my garage into my living room!

otay · 09-06-2018, 02:33 PM

Thread revival...

Have a new (to me) 340i with 6MT, and struggling with reverse. Thought I'd read the owners manual first, but all it says is:
----------------------
Reverse gear

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.

To overcome the resistance push the gearshift lever dynamically to the left and engage reverse gear with a forward shifting movement.
------------------------
Not much help. Car has about 16k miles, so would think it's broken in. Could just be I'm a noob, and will get used to it. Any tips? Push down then left, or something? Is this a common thing?

Korvo · 09-06-2018, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otay

Thread revival...

Have a new (to me) 340i with 6MT, and struggling with reverse. Thought I'd read the owners manual first, but all it says is:
----------------------
Reverse gear

Select only when the vehicle is stationary.

To overcome the resistance push the gearshift lever dynamically to the left and engage reverse gear with a forward shifting movement.
------------------------
Not much help. Car has about 16k miles, so would think it's broken in. Could just be I'm a noob, and will get used to it. Any tips? Push down then left, or something? Is this a common thing?

My 14 335 is hard to get into reverse. Much harder than my Accord was. It's normal.

IAmATeaf · 09-07-2018, 03:38 AM

My friend has a 2018 f30 320i and he also finds reverse hire difficult to engage. His wife who has arthritis in her wrists finds it impossible to put the car into reverse. I told him to take it to the dealer so they could take a look as I also found it very difficult needing a lot of force to engage reverse.

03-19-2018, 11:06 AM	#1
Generalpain Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: F30 EFFICIENT DYNAMICS Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: WAKEFIELD iTrader: (0)	Stiff gearbox? I have just bought my first BMW. Its a 3 series f30 efficient dynamics model. I have noticed that even though the gearbox works fine it is stiff when putting it into reverse. Is this normal?
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03-19-2018, 01:01 PM	#3
rak299 Major 601 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: 2021 M3 6MT Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: san francisco iTrader: (0)	I have a 4-series and mine was VERY stiff into reverse when I first got the car. It was stiff enough that I thought something might be wrong, but after a few hundred miles, it was fine. My guess is that there is a stiff detente spring that softens with use.
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03-20-2018, 02:50 PM	#5
oranga Second Lieutenant 87 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 335 6mt Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Houston iTrader: (4)	Yeah, i miss having some sort of lockout that you have to push/pull. i have to be extra careful that I'm actually in reverse and not 1st so i don't drive through my garage into my living room!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-06-2018, 02:33 PM	#6
otay Major 826 Rep 1,342 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Thread revival... Have a new (to me) 340i with 6MT, and struggling with reverse. Thought I'd read the owners manual first, but all it says is: ---------------------- Reverse gear Select only when the vehicle is stationary. To overcome the resistance push the gearshift lever dynamically to the left and engage reverse gear with a forward shifting movement. ------------------------ Not much help. Car has about 16k miles, so would think it's broken in. Could just be I'm a noob, and will get used to it. Any tips? Push down then left, or something? Is this a common thing?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-07-2018, 03:38 AM	#8
IAmATeaf Captain 238 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 335i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 335i [0.00]	My friend has a 2018 f30 320i and he also finds reverse hire difficult to engage. His wife who has arthritis in her wrists finds it impossible to put the car into reverse. I told him to take it to the dealer so they could take a look as I also found it very difficult needing a lot of force to engage reverse.
	Appreciate 0 Quote