6MT owners, how are your synchros/trans holding up?

[wolfe]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get a baseline for how well the F8x M car manual transmissions hold up over time. Definitely hearing about some synchro issues on the non-M boxes.

If you've got a 6 speed and don't mind sharing, about how many miles on the transmission, how hard do you push it, and how is the shifter feel after some years and miles?

Similar deal, if you've been through transmissions under warranty for failed Synchros or crunchy shifts would definitely appreciate any data points.

Thanks a ton for any information.

[TractionControlDelete]

Originally Posted by wolfe

Hi all,

I'm trying to get a baseline for how well the F8x M car manual transmissions hold up over time. Definitely hearing about some synchro issues on the non-M boxes.

If you've got a 6 speed and don't mind sharing, about how many miles on the transmission, how hard do you push it, and how is the shifter feel after some years and miles?

Similar deal, if you've been through transmissions under warranty for failed Synchros or crunchy shifts would definitely appreciate any data points.

Thanks a ton for any information.

My first 2015 M4 6MT had a 47k and the shifter still felt the same as when I first got it. At around 9k miles second gear was popping out of gear so I took it in for service under warranty and they replaced the transmission. But after that for the next 38k miles the clutch feel was like new and I didn't have any slipping. I kept the car stock until 40k miles then I got a GTS tune for 5k miles then a stage 2 tune for a little over 2k miles.

Now I'm on my 2018 M4 ZCP 6MT with 15k miles so obviously that's perfect.

Truthfully, I've never even heard anyone complain about the longevity of this manual. But I also haven't communicated with anyone who has a car over 100k miles on the 6MT either.

[DocL]

I got my 29018 M3 Comp 6spd with 11k on the odo and I now have 40k. It feels as good as the day I got it. I don't suspect I'll have any problems with it, however I'm not very rough on it. I've been driving a manual for 40 years and I've never had to replace a clutch or transmission. And I've put up to 90k miles on a few of my cars.

[hC1001]

I have 116K miles. 110K+ of it was from the previous owner commuting to work from FL to SC. No issues with the transmission. Feels very smooth and buttery shifting.

[Sephrr]

2016 with 42k on it and everything feels wonderful. Every so often it feels like it doesn't want to go into 4th if you very leisurely put it in gear

[SCS55]

82,500 on 16'. Personally put 40,000 plus on it since 2019. Hard backroad driving, stop and go city traffic, and 2 1/2 hr Highway commute…..Feels like the day I drove it home. Changed gearbox fluid twice with OEM stuff, sent both samples in and Blackstone said everything was perfect.

[Suds]

My 2015 M4 6mt with about 42k total miles and 3500 track miles had third gear transmission/rear differential whine, no problems with shifting. But that bitch got flogged!

Edit: Also had a 93 octane stage 1 tune. It was bullet proof.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Sephrr

2016 with 42k on it and everything feels wonderful. Every so often it feels like it doesn't want to go into 4th if you very leisurely put it in gear

This is mine but 3rd gear.

[Electric]

50K on my 2016 and shifts perfectly. Spirited driving here and there.

[Rbc44]

2016 M4 vert 6mt purchased new in September, 2015 via European Delivery (RIP). 53,687 miles. Never tracked, raced or auto-crossed, etc. Never abused or driven crazily (I am 78 years old). This is my 4th M since 2001, 3 of which have been 6mt. I have never had any problems with the transmissions, synchros, shifting. All have run flawlessly and I kept each one for up to about 58k miles.

[cotmfk]

IIRC, the manual in the F8x is the same manual they've used in a few generations of BMW. So, it's a tried and tested manual transmission, including with people putting big power down in the car. I have not heard of any systemic issues with the manuals in the F8x generation.

[mapster37]

Ive had several m cars, all 6spd manuals. Only problem i have had so far was my 2003 m5 trans was replaced under warranty for grinding 3rd gear, i think it had like 20k miles on it at the time.
They are pretty reliable transmissions..

[QuickRick]

My car I bought used with about 37000 highway miles. I changed the lubricant to Redline GL5 and the differential got Pentosin at 40000 miles just to be nice.
It is a 2018 M3 Comp that is generally driven not abused but is autocrossed. No problems noises or complaints.
QuickRick
p.s. I talked to a BMW factory guy friend about how noisy the car is generally and he said part is due to the heavy duty rear and the way the gears are cut.........can handle lots more power!

[Rahul718]

OP,

I had the same (presumably) apprehension as you before I got my M4. I came from Japanese cars with 5 or 6 speed transmissions and it was commonplace to hear about synchros going out or gears crunching when shifting. I had to replace 2 transmissions because of those issues. With 50k on my m4 I can you tell you that BMW manual transmissions are another breed and very well designed (I think double synchros on some gears if I’m not mistaken - don’t quote me). No issues at all.

[Keca10]

No issues on mine. 2018 M3 comp.

No tunes but driven on the track for 5 days so far.
Around 23,000 miles.

Overall it’s a sweetheart. No issues ever, just performs quietly without complaining. I also wouldn’t worry about the crank hub unless you wanna do silly power with tunes.

[Vegetable]

I currently have just shy of 150,000 miles on my '19 M4 (purchased new in November 2018) and the 6-speed still shifts like new. My car is tuned and I drive it hard with frequent redline shifts when accelerating up onramps. My previous daily was a 2014 435i MT, it did eventually develop synchro issues around the 50K mile mark.

[finagansbmw]

I'm currently at 68 K miles on my M4 , no issues.

Heavy mods and tuned as well for what it's worth. Great manual trans

[wolfe]

This is a huge help guys, thank you all ever so much for the feedback!

[krudmunk]

13k miles on a 2020 M4. So far feel same as new

[bagekko]

knock on wood... I haven't had an issue on any BMW transmission ever, my 6spd M4 had 65k when traded and was perfect, my 6spd M5 has 125k all original, 2000 Z3 5spd all original at 80k when traded, even 1995 530i Auto original at 225k. Never had an SMG thats the only BMW tranny that ever had issues.

[TopJimmy]

I had a '18 F80 MT6 that I used for weekend drag racing on radials in Stock/Street class. The car was stock engine/turbos, but FBO and on Paul's E85 full-race tune. I had over 60 launches on it before I moved on to DCT F82.

The one thing I experienced with the MT6 was when I was doing a very hard dig and the trans was warm there were times when shifting 1->2 that 2 just wasn't there…either the synchros would buzz or the gate didn't line up. This turned out to be trans twist due to the soft stock bushings. When I switched the bottom trans mounts to Rogues then the shift gate maintained alignment better under load.

Since I shift very fast and aggressively, and we kept pushing the tune, there was a point down around 11.5s 1/4mi where I felt I was still beating on the synchros. This was my daily driver and weekend dragster for its 14K through 67K miles, me being the second owner. At this point I realized I needed the DCT to go faster than 11.5 and changed into a F82.

Even after my 53K of very hard use the original trans and clutch were still doing fine.

[Dmytro]

I have a 2015 with 80k miles and if you aren't paying attention, the car will pop out of first and make the most horrendous sensation. I am not sure if this is a Syncro issue or if you have to jam the car in first. Most of the time I get paranoid and while going into first, I'll put it into first, think I didn't do it good enough, I'll take it out, take out the clutch, put back in the clutch to realign everything, and put it back into first. I am not the Original Owner so not sure whats up. I be other M owners do not have my problem but its one of the small issues I have to address in the near future.