First Gear Only Engages Below 3-5mph

Post Sat Sep 08, 2018 5:43 pm

First gear seems to act strange on my E30 316i - 64k miles.

If I am coming to a junction that I know I will have to stop at, I try and put the car in first gear as I come to a stop with the clutch press down.

However the gear stick will not slot into the first gear gate unless the car is going slower than 3-5mph. When it does slot in it makes a whining sound.

Is this normal? Are the syncros just trying to stop me over revving the engine?

Post Sat Sep 08, 2018 6:27 pm

Could be that your clutch biting point is too low - how far do you have to lift the pedal off the floor when in gear to get it to move?

Post Sat Sep 08, 2018 8:39 pm

Speedtouch wrote:Could be that your clutch biting point is too low - how far do you have to lift the pedal off the floor when in gear to get it to move?

Clutch seems to bite at about 1/4 pedal travel and first gear usually feels fully engaged by a little past 1/2 way up.

Post Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:19 am

was it o.k before ? sounds like the scynrowmesh on first is wearing out. have you checked / changed the gear oil lately ?

Post Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:14 am

If the syncromesh was wearing out it would engage the gear and cause a crunch. Something is not releasing properly clutch wise. Either pressure plate broke, friction plate binding on the gearbox input shaft, master or slave cylinders breaking down internally. Or an air leak in the hydraulic system. Try to put it in first on a flat surface with engine on and sit with the clutch in if after a few mins you start to creep forward it's the mater/slave cylinder.

Post Mon Sep 10, 2018 5:19 pm

Could also be a worn clutch release bearing - does it make any noise when you have the clutch pedal depressed?

A tip if you have worn (or no) synchromesh on 1st is to briefly select 2nd gear first then flick it into 1st, while at or near to a standstill.

Post Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:58 am

Wow, thanks for all the responses.

@arrisbmw It has always been the same. I changed the gear oil a couple of years ago and the car has done about 2000 miles since.
@Gavt I will give that test a go. It probably is the clutch slave/master starting to fail. Have yet to replace them. More £££

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@Speedtouch I do tend to go through the gears to get down to first. The clutch release bearing has started to make noises recently. I can't make the connection though as to how it would cause this problem? Lack of grease in the bearing causing it to bind up?

Post Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:44 am

If it is a carbon-type release bearing, if it gets worn down too much, the clutch won't fully disengage.

There could also be a dragging issue, if you're hearing noises...I guess if the friction gets too bad, the gearbox input shaft is still turned partially by the engine, hence maybe causing baulking going into gear.

Perhaps as on some cars, there is an inspection hatch on the side of the gearbox bellhousing you could peer through to check the state of things in there...

Post Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:11 pm

Appreciate the explanation @Speedtouch. I will have a look this weekend.

Post Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:34 pm

have to check the fluid in the clutch reservation tube. ?
might just need bleeding

Post Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:38 pm

@arrisbmw I bled the clutch recently. Its full.

Post Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:56 pm

After driving the car more this weekend and a quick inspection I discovered the following:

The car will go in to first gear about 3-5mph, you just have to be a bit more forceful - most likely a worn shifter bushing binding up.

Had a quick look under the car and couldn't see any small gaps in the gearbox to inspect the release bearing. However, the noise has gotten worse in neutral and I think it contributes to the whining noise when selecting first gear at speed.

Probably not worth fixing imminently, until I have to do some other work in the gearbox area.