Manual transmission issue with reverse/2nd gear

[Funkjaw]

So on the manual version of this car, to go into reverse you press hard to the left from neutral to get over the lockout and into the reverse zone, then move the shifter up. This is standard BMW affair, and was the same way on my E46 M3.

The problem I am having is on aggressive downshifts from 3rd to 2nd, I'll sometimes end up in the reverse lockout zone trying to get into 2nd gear (meaning I'll accidently go TOO far left when moving the shifter diagonally down to the left from 3rd), causing me to miss the shift into 2nd and having to go back into neutral then back down into where I wanted to go. It doesn't happen frequently, but it's happened a couple times while driving the car aggressively on the track while heel toe downshifting approaching a turn and is quite annoying.

See the white line on the shifter for what happens:

Do any other manual owners experience this? I don't recall having this issue on my E46... do I need to just get good? Is there something wrong with my shifter linkage/reverse lockout zone? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated from fellow manual drivers. Thank you.

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[RedMKV]

No issues here, just be more relaxed with shifting. I never had that issue even on track

 

[mdpalmer]

I recall someone else on FB having this issue. I have never experienced it, my favorite shift is from 3rd to 2nd so I make it a point to bang those off as often as I can... No problem so far.

 

[swrdply400mrelay]

Yes, I had that issue. The fix is to get an Autosolutions shift kit, or get used to it by shifting less aggressively. The shift kit gets rid of the vagueness and rubbery feeling, though the trade off is more transmission whine.

https://www.supramkv.com/threads/autosolutions-short-shifter-initial-overview-video.21006/

From the thread:
“A close friend of mine in a E86 Z4 M Coupe was tired of getting gear lockout in 2nd gear. The E86 Z4 M ran a ZF 6 speed instead of the Getrag 420G because the trans tunnel in the Coupe was too narrow.”


If you do want it, I’d recommend contact Ronald to get on the list. He makes them in batches by hand, and took me almost 6 months to get mine.

 

[djf]

Never had it happen in 7k miles

 

[lucky phil]

No issues here and I have the "barely able to find a gear stock rubbery shifter" as well
Not sure why you'd want to be heel and toeing anyway even on the track, it's got rev matching.

Phil

 

[BMWAF]

Sorry, but this seems like a skill issue. ?‍

 

[NicKnack]

I haven't had it happen but I also only drive on the street, maybe track driving where you tend to be more focused/direct with inputs but even then I feel like you could work around it.

The AutoSolutions kit really tightens up the shift lever/gives you a lot more feel and makes it more direct. It's not a traditional short shifter in the sense that your throws get a lot shorter, it just gets rid of a lot of the slop.

Ron is super friendly and if you're interested but have questions he'll answer basically anything you have to ask about it over email

 

[Funkjaw]

No issues here and I have the "barely able to find a gear stock rubbery shifter" as well
Not sure why you'd want to be heel and toeing anyway even on the track, it's got rev matching.

Phil

It's just my principles - I never have and never will use assists such as traction control or rev matching. TBH I'm not sure how anyone could feel accomplished knowing they used technology/automation to help them win or set faster lap times - if anything I would feel kinda gay using assists. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just something I am not

 

[Funkjaw]

Yes, I had that issue. The fix is to get an Autosolutions shift kit, or get used to it by shifting less aggressively. The shift kit gets rid of the vagueness and rubbery feeling, though the trade off is more transmission whine.

https://www.supramkv.com/threads/autosolutions-short-shifter-initial-overview-video.21006/

From the thread:
“A close friend of mine in a E86 Z4 M Coupe was tired of getting gear lockout in 2nd gear. The E86 Z4 M ran a ZF 6 speed instead of the Getrag 420G because the trans tunnel in the Coupe was too narrow.”


If you do want it, I’d recommend contact Ronald to get on the list. He makes them in batches by hand, and took me almost 6 months to get mine.

So one thing I find interesting.. is my shifter feels SUPER TIGHT and not vague at all. I would almost say minus the shifting into lockout zone issue I am having, this is one of the best manual transmissions I have ever felt. And I've driven a LOT of manuals from gated super cars to TR6060 LS swapped cars. I do wish the throw was about 20% shorter, but yeah I honestly really do like the shifter feel in my car.

Anyways thanks for that thread, I will take a look through and see if it's something I would like to invest into!

 

[djf]

It's just my principles - I never have and never will use assists such as traction control or rev matching. TBH I'm not sure how anyone could feel accomplished knowing they used technology/automation to help them win or set faster lap times - if anything I would feel kinda gay using assists. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just something I am not

Improved technology = gay
You learn something new every day on this forum

 

[Denton]

if anything I would feel kinda gay using assists.

 

[lucky phil]

It's just my principles - I never have and never will use assists such as traction control or rev matching. TBH I'm not sure how anyone could feel accomplished knowing they used technology/automation to help them win or set faster lap times - if anything I would feel kinda gay using assists. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just something I am not

Well if you keep missing the second gear gate then I guess you've got a way to go to being "accomplished". Pretty good argument in my mind as to why you should use it.
I guess your argument is that WRC drivers are unaccomplished because they have paddle shifters and throttle blippers for the downshifts.
Phil

 

[Gabe]

It's just my principles - I never have and never will use assists such as traction control or rev matching. TBH I'm not sure how anyone could feel accomplished knowing they used technology/automation to help them win or set faster lap times - if anything I would feel kinda gay using assists. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just something I am not

Eeek. I think we’re taking this The Fast and The Furious manual shifting thing way way too far.

Just kidding!
The “R” on the shifter position is for Really Fast. You are missing out on a lot of speed coming from that gear.

In all seriousness…
Good for you. You are surely a good driver. But, I don’t think using assists in general result in faster lap times. I think the more experienced people actually turn those off as they become more proficient.

 

[Funkjaw]

Eeek. I think we’re taking this The Fast and The Furious manual shifting thing way way too far.

Just kidding!
The “R” on the shifter position is for Really Fast. You are missing out on a lot of speed coming from that gear.

In all seriousness…
Good for you. You are surely a good driver. But, I don’t think using assists in general result in faster lap times. I think the more experienced people actually turn those off as they become more proficient.

This made me laugh! But yeah every 1st place trophy I've won in motorsports was with no assists. Maybe I'm just an old school boomer

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