gearbox re building info..

[tonyppe]

howdy
my gearbox is always wet, never ever drips.
the gear stick doesnt feel how i would want it to, there is a little bit of movement when its in gear. but ive felt worse on another 325.

anyone know what would sort this? its a bit stiff to get in gear when cold but fine once ive been down the motorway. actually feels like brand new once been down there, i suspect wrong oil- too thick or something, but how would i sort the nob out. not me i mean the gear stick haha
cheers people

[Brianmoooore]

ATF oil in the box is supposed to be the cure for the stiff gearchange. Sloppiness is most likely to be the connector to the gear linkage at the rear of the box.

[tonyppe]

so you mean if i mix the oil thats already in there with auto gearbox oil, that will sort that out?

[Brianmoooore]

Not mix it, change it.
Only experience I have is from draining what looked suspisiously like ATF from a gearbox with a pefect change, refilling it with the correct stuff, and than getting a stiff gearshift when cold.

[pnd]

Atf fluid in the gearbox stops the stiffness into second when cold it doesn't feel as nice when driving though and I guess being a thinner grade offers less protection its a solution but not an ideal one which would probably involve rebuilding the box.

[Brianmoooore]

Atf fluid in the gearbox stops the stiffness into second when cold it doesn't feel as nice when driving though and I guess being a thinner grade offers less protection its a solution but not an ideal one which would probably involve rebuilding the box.

Later BMW manual boxes specify ATF as their oil.

[pnd]

Well if they do and Ive got to say I doubt it, you are getting as close to contradicting yourself as me. It would be good if someone who knows clears this up before we all put atf in our manual boxes. Not trying to be argumentative.

[Brianmoooore]

ATF in a manual box will not cause excessive wear. E36 3 series (the one following the E30, and running along side it for three years) specifies Dextron II ATF oil for manual gearboxes, automatic gearboxes and the power steering.
The gearbox in my M50 engined E30 touring uses ATF.

[tonyppe]

this is mad!
its well annoying the stifness tho, i have to really be smooth and gentle to get it in...
but once warm its ok..
if its thinner oil tho it will leak more

[Brianmoooore]

If it leaks, change the relevant seals!