6MT

davidkawai · 04-11-2016, 10:08 PM

I recently notice that I am having trouble to downshift from gear 3 to gear 2 when I am at high RPM. About a week ago, I couldnt get into gear 2 from gear 3, when I was driving pretty fast about 20-30mph and trying downshift before making a turn. Then, it happened about tonight, when a woman got out from a stop sign without looking, i was going pretty fast on local and again, i cannot downshift from gear 3 to gear 2, ended up I have to break harder.

I have no problem to downshift when i am driving slow, and when the car is idle. Anyone has similar issue ?

Jaymax85 · 04-11-2016, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

I recently notice that I am having trouble to downshift from gear 3 to gear 2 when I am at high RPM. About a week ago, I couldnt get into gear 2 from gear 3, when I was driving pretty fast about 20-30mph and trying downshift before making a turn. Then, it happened about tonight, when a woman got out from a stop sign without looking, i was going pretty fast on local and again, i cannot downshift from gear 3 to gear 2, ended up I have to break harder.

I have no problem to downshift when i am driving slow, and when the car is idle. Anyone has similar issue ?

Manual?

RickMonet · 04-11-2016, 10:43 PM

There are a few other threads on this topic - do a search to find more info. But with the 6MT you need to be sure to pull the gearshift directly into 2nd gear and not pull towards the driver (left hand drive cars) or it may get stuck. Things are happening pretty quickly at high rpm so the tendency is to get over excited and pull hard towards the driver and then the action is not smooth and can get caught.

Remain calm and negotiate a smooth shift and it should drop right into 2nd gear.

FC4 · 04-12-2016, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickMonet

There are a few other threads on this topic - do a search to find more info. But with the 6MT you need to be sure to pull the gearshift directly into 2nd gear and not pull towards the driver (left hand drive cars) or it may get stuck. Things are happening pretty quickly at high rpm so the tendency is to get over excited and pull hard towards the driver and then the action is not smooth and can get caught.

Remain calm and negotiate a smooth shift and it should drop right into 2nd gear.

This.

When you pull too hard to the left effectively into the reverse gate, the shifter won't move down into 2nd.

mdemon · 04-12-2016, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

I recently notice that I am having trouble to downshift from gear 3 to gear 2 when I am at high RPM. About a week ago, I couldnt get into gear 2 from gear 3, when I was driving pretty fast about 20-30mph and trying downshift before making a turn. Then, it happened about tonight, when a woman got out from a stop sign without looking, i was going pretty fast on local and again, i cannot downshift from gear 3 to gear 2, ended up I have to break harder.

I have no problem to downshift when i am driving slow, and when the car is idle. Anyone has similar issue ?

Are you in rev matching mode or sport plus when this happened?

davidkawai · 04-12-2016, 09:28 AM

6MT , on sport mode . it happens when I go pretty fast on local street, should be around 20-30 MPH 5000RPM+ on gear 3, and I cant downshift to gear 2 . just cant pull down the stick to gear 2 position -_-...
I don't think it happen all the time , I would say 50% or 30% of the time when I try to accelerate the speed that fast on local street and downshift afterward.

mdemon · 04-12-2016, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

6MT , on sport mode . it happens when I go pretty fast on local street, should be around 20-30 MPH 5000RPM+ on gear 3, and I cant downshift to gear 2 . just cant pull down the stick to gear 2 position -_-...
I don't think it happen all the time , I would say 50% or 30% of the time when I try to accelerate the speed that fast on local street and downshift afterward.

Are you completely letting go off the gas while attempting the shift?

It's stupid question but sometimes due to higher rpms we don't realize what else is going on in background.

That would cause an obstruction

davidkawai · 04-12-2016, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdemon

Are you completely letting go off the gas while attempting the shift?

It's stupid question but sometimes due to higher rpms we don't realize what else is going on in background.

That would cause an obstruction

I think it happened when I am off from gas and start braking, I will need to try again to see what happen if I keep the gas on to downshift to 2nd gear.

Nevertheless , I never have this issue when I am down shifting to 2nd gear in my Evo IX

MonacoMurphy · 04-12-2016, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

should be around 20-30 MPH 5000RPM+ on gear 3

something doesnt sound right- you're at 5000+ rpm in 3rd gear at 20-30 mph??!!!

dinonz · 04-12-2016, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonacoMurphy

something doesnt sound right- you're at 5000+ rpm in 3rd gear at 20-30 mph??!!!

My thoughts exactly. This is not "fast" and just doesn't add up?

mdemon · 04-12-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonacoMurphy

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

should be around 20-30 MPH 5000RPM+ on gear 3

something doesnt sound right- you're at 5000+ rpm in 3rd gear at 20-30 mph??!!!

True that's 70 mph

davidkawai · 04-12-2016, 10:22 AM

hmmm maybe i should put it this way, so it happened when i was driving pretty fast like 40-50MPH on local street . then right before i am making a turn. I applied brake and slow down to about 20-30MPH . not quite sure about the RPM , i am just guessing i got up to around 5000 by hearing the revving sound.

MonacoMurphy · 04-12-2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

hmmm maybe i should put it this way, so it happened when i was driving pretty fast like 40-50MPH on local street . then right before i am making a turn. I applied brake and slow down to about 20-30MPH . not quite sure about the RPM , i am just guessing i got up to around 5000 by hearing the revving sound.

sounds like user error.

mdemon · 04-12-2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

hmmm maybe i should put it this way, so it happened when i was driving pretty fast like 40-50MPH on local street . then right before i am making a turn. I applied brake and slow down to about 20-30MPH . not quite sure about the RPM , i am just guessing i got up to around 5000 by hearing the revving sound.

Now that sounds the rev matched to second gear and you were just not able to shift.

I would get it checked unless the issue is you trying to shift it too hard on the left and drop

davidkawai · 04-12-2016, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdemon

Now that sounds the rev matched to second gear and you were just not able to shift.

I would get it checked unless the issue is you trying to shift it too hard on the left and drop

so I am supposed to be able to downshift to 2nd gear even though the rev match is pushing the RMP high ? or it is normal that it doesn't allow me to downshift with rev match since RMP is already high ?

mdemon · 04-12-2016, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidkawai

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdemon

Now that sounds the rev matched to second gear and you were just not able to shift.

I would get it checked unless the issue is you trying to shift it too hard on the left and drop

so I am supposed to be able to downshift to 2nd gear even though the rev match is pushing the RMP high ? or it is normal that it doesn't allow me to downshift with rev match since RMP is already high ?

You should be able to downshift without hesitation.

What's happening is that rev match got you to 4000-5000 rpm on speed of 30mph to give you a smooth transition from whatever gear to gear 2.(so that you don't jerk, that what rev matching is all about)

Once you heard that, you probably hesitated and that kind of made an artificial lock. If you would have been normal, it would have went smooth

solstice · 04-12-2016, 11:02 AM

Nope, I never had this issue.

davidkawai · 04-12-2016, 11:02 AM

I see , it only happen when I am driving a bit aggressive on local. not really a problem if I am driving slowly with normal traffic. guess I will pay more attention when I am downshifting to gear 2 at high speed.
I will bring it up next time I do service at bmw to see if anything wrong with 2nd gear.

JoeKixxon · 04-12-2016, 11:07 AM

Sammy Hagar had the opposite problem: He couldn't get his car out of 2nd gear.

CrazyT · 04-12-2016, 03:24 PM

I had the same issue. As others pointed out, it was the guy in the drivers seat. Happened when the car was new. First BMW i've had, and previous cars there was nothing to the left of 1st and 2nd, so my muscle memory had me pull hard left, especially in 'spirited' driving. Got used to the car and never comes up.

Deddie · 04-13-2016, 07:25 PM

With a manual, the gears would grind if it was a tranny issue. You are pulling the lever towards you. I did the same thing a couple of times aggressively shifting my E46.

MaynardZed · 04-13-2016, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeKixxon

Sammy Hagar had the opposite problem: He couldn't get his car out of 2nd gear.

That's the solution to OP's problem. Don't drive 55 mph, so you can just stay in 2nd gear.

04-11-2016, 10:08 PM	#1
davidkawai Private 32 Rep 54 Posts Drives: EVO IX, M3 F80 MW/SO 6MT Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	6MT - cant downshift to 2nd gear I recently notice that I am having trouble to downshift from gear 3 to gear 2 when I am at high RPM. About a week ago, I couldnt get into gear 2 from gear 3, when I was driving pretty fast about 20-30mph and trying downshift before making a turn. Then, it happened about tonight, when a woman got out from a stop sign without looking, i was going pretty fast on local and again, i cannot downshift from gear 3 to gear 2, ended up I have to break harder. I have no problem to downshift when i am driving slow, and when the car is idle. Anyone has similar issue ?
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04-11-2016, 10:43 PM	#3
RickMonet Lieutenant 175 Rep 500 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 6MT Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	There are a few other threads on this topic - do a search to find more info. But with the 6MT you need to be sure to pull the gearshift directly into 2nd gear and not pull towards the driver (left hand drive cars) or it may get stuck. Things are happening pretty quickly at high rpm so the tendency is to get over excited and pull hard towards the driver and then the action is not smooth and can get caught. Remain calm and negotiate a smooth shift and it should drop right into 2nd gear.
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04-12-2016, 09:28 AM	#6
davidkawai Private 32 Rep 54 Posts Drives: EVO IX, M3 F80 MW/SO 6MT Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	6MT , on sport mode . it happens when I go pretty fast on local street, should be around 20-30 MPH 5000RPM+ on gear 3, and I cant downshift to gear 2 . just cant pull down the stick to gear 2 position -_-... I don't think it happen all the time , I would say 50% or 30% of the time when I try to accelerate the speed that fast on local street and downshift afterward.
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04-12-2016, 10:22 AM	#12
davidkawai Private 32 Rep 54 Posts Drives: EVO IX, M3 F80 MW/SO 6MT Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	hmmm maybe i should put it this way, so it happened when i was driving pretty fast like 40-50MPH on local street . then right before i am making a turn. I applied brake and slow down to about 20-30MPH . not quite sure about the RPM , i am just guessing i got up to around 5000 by hearing the revving sound.
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04-12-2016, 11:02 AM	#17
solstice Major General 5457 Rep 7,037 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 6MT Join Date: May 2013 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Nope, I never had this issue.
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04-12-2016, 11:07 AM	#19
JoeKixxon Captain 715 Rep 746 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Sakhir Orange on Black Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	Sammy Hagar had the opposite problem: He couldn't get his car *out* of 2nd gear.
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04-12-2016, 03:24 PM	#20
CrazyT Enlisted Member 44 Rep 36 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Over Macho Grande iTrader: (0)	I had the same issue. As others pointed out, it was the guy in the drivers seat. Happened when the car was new. First BMW i've had, and previous cars there was nothing to the left of 1st and 2nd, so my muscle memory had me pull hard left, especially in 'spirited' driving. Got used to the car and never comes up. __________________ 2015 M4 - AW/SO, 6MT, Exec, Lighting, Adaptive M
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04-13-2016, 07:25 PM	#21
Deddie Enlisted Member 31 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: The Woodlands, TX iTrader: (0)	With a manual, the gears would grind if it was a tranny issue. You are pulling the lever towards you. I did the same thing a couple of times aggressively shifting my E46.
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