Shifter in 1,3,5th "pops" back towards neutral

azndrunk74 · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 07:41:26 AM

I don't know what happened, maybe I've been banging through the gears too hard ever since I've been S/C'd but today I noticed my shifter in 1st, 3rd, and 5th kind of "pops" back 2cm or so towards neutral when I let go of the knob. It shifts fine but annoying because it moves back a few cm. It doesn't do it in 2nd, 4th, and 6th.

Are there common bushings or clips that go bad in the shifter? Would a short shift kit solve my problem? I did a search but couldn't find a thread about the same problems I'm having. Thanks in advance for any insight!

**vmwerks** · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 01:33:26 PM

Sounds like you have some wear in your bushings. This would be a good time to install an SSK along with the bushings since you won't be duplicating work.

Disclaimer: I have never had this happen to me, maybe I just don't pay attention since I am watching the road.

silbul · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 01:49:20 PM

I had something similar, where the gearbox didn't engage a gear (sometimes 2nd, sometimes 3rd). I think it was due to not being sure I had clicked into gear because of the feel I got. I just completed installing the AS SSK (difficult and time-consuming installation). It is much more positive in feel, and I haven't had the problem since (yet?).

azndrunk74 · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 07:49:37 PM

Thanks guys, a SSK might be the way to go for me right now.

I think I have a better way for me to describe it right now - 1st,3rd, and 5th moves a notch farther than it's originally supposed to when I shift into those gears. That's why it pops back into position, because that's where the shifter is supposed to sit (if that makes any sense). Any idea what wore/gave out to allow my shifter to do that?

///NNM · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 07:58:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azndrunk74

Thanks guys, a SSK might be the way to go for me right now.

I think I have a better way for me to describe it right now - 1st,3rd, and 5th moves a notch farther than it's originally supposed to when I shift into those gears. That's why it pops back into position, because that's where the shifter is supposed to sit (if that makes any sense). Any idea what wore/gave out to allow my shifter to do that?

that's EXACTLY what happened to mine few weeks back.
i got UUC short shift kit to replace, here is why:

the OEM bushing is plastic compound, covered by a metal clip.
when the bushing wears out, the clip doe snot hold no more and flies off (permanently lost due to being under the car and wind and stuff)

page 4 - http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/pdf/shifter_install.pdf

temporary: reverse, 1, 3, 5, shift while pressing DOWN on the shifter.
get the UUC kit and install - it solves the problem of the wear on top of the bushing, completely different design.

oh, yeah, the unless you are doing the install yourself, by the book it's 3 hours of labor due to extreme tightness of space... do it yourself per instructions above.
also, if you are doing it yourself, or paying shop to do it, i would go with new kit instead of just a bushing replacement because labor will be EXACTLY same time.
placing metal clip back on will only last until it pops off again, thus completely pointless and involves %80 of labor also...

azndrunk74 · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 08:57:28 PM

Wow very very helpful, thanks! Can you describe what the clip that flew off looks like? I didn't see it on page 4..

Time to shop for a SSK now!

///NNM · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 09:01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azndrunk74

Wow very very helpful, thanks! Can you describe what the clip that flew off looks like? I didn't see it on page 4..

Time to shop for a SSK now!

correction:

i do not think there was a clip, actually, i just assumed there was one and mine just flew off... cuz if i would be a car manufacturer, i would put it there.
either way, the problem is your stock nylon holder for the shifter, which gets destroyed by shifting to fast.
get SSK and you'll be fine, the reason for getting UUC - no nylon bushing!

page 5:
http://www.modbargains.com/images/Pr...fter%20E46.pdf

Eat.Sleep.Race · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 11:38:58 PM

had the same problem where it would pop out of gears, it was the shifter bushings or something along those lines, anyways went with the active autowerks ss kit and has been perfect ever since.

johnhk79 · Mon, Jul-20-2009, 11:45:50 PM

shift slower haha

azndrunk74 · Tue, Jul-21-2009, 01:39:07 AM

John..you asking to shift like a girl? lol

///NM and BottleFed you guys are right, I took a look after work today and the plastic cup/bushing where the shifter sits in was shattered towards the front which allowed the ball joint to pop out of the cup when shifting into 1st,3rd,5th.

Thanks for the help guys!

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 07:41:26 AM	#1
azndrunk74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,709 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	Shifter in 1,3,5th "pops" back towards neutral I don't know what happened, maybe I've been banging through the gears too hard ever since I've been S/C'd but today I noticed my shifter in 1st, 3rd, and 5th kind of "pops" back 2cm or so towards neutral when I let go of the knob. It shifts fine but annoying because it moves back a few cm. It doesn't do it in 2nd, 4th, and 6th. Are there common bushings or clips that go bad in the shifter? Would a short shift kit solve my problem? I did a search but couldn't find a thread about the same problems I'm having. Thanks in advance for any insight! __________________ LSB\|Cinnamon\|VCSL GTS3 Diffuser\|VCSL Bumper\|VCSL Single Sided CF Bootlid\|UUC EVO2\|AVIC Z3\|Bilstein PSS9\|GC RSMs\|SPC Aluminum ARCAs\|Volk LE37\|ZCP Brakes\|Headers\|Euro Cats\|AA Gen3

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 01:33:26 PM	#2
vmwerks Valley Motorwerks Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 914 Reputation: 0 Location: Folsom	Sounds like you have some wear in your bushings. This would be a good time to install an SSK along with the bushings since you won't be duplicating work. Disclaimer: I have never had this happen to me, maybe I just don't pay attention since I am watching the road. __________________ Walter Ford President Valley Motorwerks Pointsix Motorsports ___________________________________________ VF Engineering Stage 2 / Rogue Octane SSK / Rogue El Diablo Muffler / Rogue Section 2 with EVC / Bilstein PSS11's / Vorshlag Camber Plates / Turner Swaybars / Rogue FCAB's / Powerflex RTAB's / Rogue RSM's / MORR VS7 Alloys / Sumitomo HTRZ3's / FT 19x8.5 245/35r19 / RR 19x9.5 275/30r19 / Front Brembo 355mm / Rear Brembo 345mm / SS brake lines / Vorsteiner Lip / CSL trunklid / Black out gills / Black out kidney's / Smoked corners / OEM LED tails / Umnitza LED Halo's / Suede wheel / Suede shift boot / ZHP shift knob / Intravee IPOD / Custom NAV splash

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 07:49:37 PM	#4
azndrunk74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,709 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	Thanks guys, a SSK might be the way to go for me right now. I think I have a better way for me to describe it right now - 1st,3rd, and 5th moves a notch farther than it's originally supposed to when I shift into those gears. That's why it pops back into position, because that's where the shifter is supposed to sit (if that makes any sense). Any idea what wore/gave out to allow my shifter to do that? __________________ LSB\|Cinnamon\|VCSL GTS3 Diffuser\|VCSL Bumper\|VCSL Single Sided CF Bootlid\|UUC EVO2\|AVIC Z3\|Bilstein PSS9\|GC RSMs\|SPC Aluminum ARCAs\|Volk LE37\|ZCP Brakes\|Headers\|Euro Cats\|AA Gen3

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 08:57:28 PM	#6
azndrunk74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,709 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	Wow very very helpful, thanks! Can you describe what the clip that flew off looks like? I didn't see it on page 4.. Time to shop for a SSK now! __________________ LSB\|Cinnamon\|VCSL GTS3 Diffuser\|VCSL Bumper\|VCSL Single Sided CF Bootlid\|UUC EVO2\|AVIC Z3\|Bilstein PSS9\|GC RSMs\|SPC Aluminum ARCAs\|Volk LE37\|ZCP Brakes\|Headers\|Euro Cats\|AA Gen3

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 11:38:58 PM	#8
Eat.Sleep.Race Bottle Fed Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,819 In the garage: '04 BMW M3 '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Northern VA	had the same problem where it would pop out of gears, it was the shifter bushings or something along those lines, anyways went with the active autowerks ss kit and has been perfect ever since. __________________ -03 BMW M3 -04 BMW M3 -05 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 01:49:20 PM	#3
silbul Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 392 In the garage: '88 BMW M3 '02 BMW M3 Reputation: 0	I had something similar, where the gearbox didn't engage a gear (sometimes 2nd, sometimes 3rd). I think it was due to not being sure I had clicked into gear because of the feel I got. I just completed installing the AS SSK (difficult and time-consuming installation). It is much more positive in feel, and I haven't had the problem since (yet?).

Mon, Jul-20-2009, 11:45:50 PM	#9
johnhk79 einpresstiefe Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 12,524 Reputation: 0 Location: northern california	shift slower haha __________________

Tue, Jul-21-2009, 01:39:07 AM	#10
azndrunk74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,709 Reputation: 0 Location: Bay Area	John..you asking to shift like a girl? lol ///NM and BottleFed you guys are right, I took a look after work today and the plastic cup/bushing where the shifter sits in was shattered towards the front which allowed the ball joint to pop out of the cup when shifting into 1st,3rd,5th. Thanks for the help guys! __________________ LSB\|Cinnamon\|VCSL GTS3 Diffuser\|VCSL Bumper\|VCSL Single Sided CF Bootlid\|UUC EVO2\|AVIC Z3\|Bilstein PSS9\|GC RSMs\|SPC Aluminum ARCAs\|Volk LE37\|ZCP Brakes\|Headers\|Euro Cats\|AA Gen3

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