Gear lever buzz

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
FEP
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hackney (of carriage fame) London

Post Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:51 pm

The simple solution would be to ignore it - but I can't!

The gear lever in my M3 buzzes. It used to do it a bit, now it's doing it pretty well all the time. Driving me mad!

With the exception of the gear nob, EVERYTHING from the gearbox selector rod back is new. And yes, that includes the little rubber/sponge bush thing that goes inside the knuckle that attaches to the selector rod.

Oh - and if i take the gear nob off - the lever still buzzes.

I never felt that it was coming from the gear box itself - the noise just sounds to high frequency, but obviously now, I can't think of any other option.

The engine was out only a couple of thousand miles ago, and I do not believe that there is anything wrong with the engine or gearbox mounts.

I don't think that the gearbox oil is old or low, but I suppose either is a possibility - could a rattle in the selector forks be a symptom of low or old gearbox oil?

Could something rattling in the box be transmitted into the gear lever as a buzz?

What else could it be - any ideas?

Many thanks.
capnmchl
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1141
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:00 pm
Location: Exeter, Devon

Post Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:14 pm

Does it go away if you hold the gear stick or push it forward or backwards into the gate?
User avatar
FEP
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hackney (of carriage fame) London

Post Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:25 pm

capnmchl wrote:Does it go away if you hold the gear stick or push it forward or backwards into the gate?
Yes - but then it is such a light buzz, you'd expect any contact with the gear lever to suppress it. I'm getting into the habit of driving with one hand on the gear lever - not good!
User avatar
Nick45
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Leeds

Post Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:31 pm

Might not be your problem mate but when mine did this it turned out to be a broken bit of "stuff" inside the knob. Changed the knob, buzz went away. If you've got a spare it s worth trying.
Carbs 'n Chrome
User avatar
FEP
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hackney (of carriage fame) London

Post Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:13 pm

Nick45 wrote:Might not be your problem mate but when mine did this it turned out to be a broken bit of "stuff" inside the knob. Changed the knob, buzz went away. If you've got a spare it s worth trying.
Yes, I thought it must be the nob, but like I say, when I took the nob off, the lever still buzzed.
Demlotcrew
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 13329
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: East Anglia

Post Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:15 am

It's a broken spring in the gearbox, very common on the M3 box, unfortunately BMW have made this part NLA. It's a box off job to replace, I am looking at getting springs made up as spares, but have yet to find a supplier.

Andrew
User avatar
FEP
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hackney (of carriage fame) London

Post Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:17 am

Demlotcrew wrote:It's a broken spring in the gearbox, very common on the M3 box, unfortunately BMW have made this part NLA. It's a box off job to replace, I am looking at getting springs made up as spares, but have yet to find a supplier.

Andrew
Ah! This is not good news!

You sound very certain. Is a broken spring consistent with my buzz starting out as very occasionaly and then developing to all the time?
User avatar
FEP
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 309
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hackney (of carriage fame) London

Post Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:27 pm

Demlotcrew, as a matter of interest, which part number is it?