Manual tranny not shifting smooth

[M3TA5IN]

Hey guys, lately the e90 has not been shifting as smooth. It feels more "clunky" in the shifts etc. it's going into gear fine except sometimes on hills I have problems getting into first or second. That is rare though.

I did notice on my way back for
West Virginia, shifting into 4th on the high way you could hear a slight sound of metal clank once real quick... Any ideas? I just hit 70k miles, maintence I should be doing maybe?

[nike001]

Fluids maybe? I think that changing out the fluid would be a good place to start.

[gr330zhp]

Fluids maybe? I think that changing out the fluid would be a good place to start.

This.

I run Redline MTL. Changed at 50k miles, and will most likely do it again before I reach 100k

[M3TA5IN]

Ok, thanks for the input.

And where do you guys get your redline from? Brett recommended redline too so figure it's a good bet.

[danewilson77]

Ok, thanks for the input.

And where do you guys get your redline from? Brett recommended redline too so figure it's a good bet.

ECS is where I usually grab it.

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[ryankokesh]

Is there any way to tell if my transmission has the "green label" without actually lifting up the car and taking off the panels, etc? That doesn't sound like fun to just check for a label... lol.

[danewilson77]

Is there any way to tell if my transmission has the "green label" without actually lifting up the car and taking off the panels, etc? That doesn't sound like fun to just check for a label... lol.

Mmm... If you look at # below, it will help you, I believe.

Nope... The thread I was thinking about is for auto.

Didn't zhp's all get same tranny? Anybody?

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[ryankokesh]

What number...?

Edit: oh, you sneakily edited your post :)

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[danewilson77]

What number...?

Edit: oh, you sneakily edited your post :)

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Hehe.

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[danewilson77]

Mine....which I think means the Pentosin was a perfect choice for it...according to ECS. I realize this only helps, if someone confirms we have same tranny (Cept for SMG)

The Redline MTL or D4F should work for you as well.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Drivetrain/Transmission/ES1893847/

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/IMG_20101205_191503.jpg

[kayger12]

You can usually get Red Line from Amazon via the affiliate link.

[M3TA5IN]

You can usually get Red Line from Amazon via the affiliate link.

Good looking out man

[Newjack]

Mmm... If you look at # below, it will help you, I believe.

Nope... The thread I was thinking about is for auto.

Didn't zhp's all get same tranny? Anybody?

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I don't think they all got the same trans. I have a yellow sticker, MTF-LT2

[danewilson77]

I don't think they all got the same trans. I have a yellow sticker, MTF-LT2

Thats what mine is above bro.

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[ryankokesh]

I'll have to suck it up and check :)

[ryankokesh]

I don't have an '03, but I'm going to guess that I have the Getrag...

From the FAQ section:

Question: What transmissions were available for the BMW 330 ZHP?
Answer: The 2003 model was only available in a 6-speed (Getrag) manual transmission (GS6-37BZ, part number 23007532498). From 2004 to 2006, the ZHP was available in a 6-speed manual transmission and automatic transmission.

[kayger12]

Good looking out man

:thumbup

[danewilson77]

Hehe. I swear. I've read the faq 100 times.

You have yellow then.

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[ryankokesh]

Noice...orderin today! From super-special amazon link obviously! :thumbsup


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[brettbimmer]

Who is this Brett you speak of...and what's with this Redline MTL? :ninja

J/K - Time for a fluid change, IMHO. Start there and see if it helps (after a few miles on fresh fluid). If not, then it is time to dig deeper.

[M3TA5IN]

Who is this Brett you speak of...and what's with this Redline MTL? :ninja

J/K - Time for a fluid change, IMHO. Start there and see if it helps (after a few miles on fresh fluid). If not, then it is time to dig deeper.

You haven't met Brett? He is cool dude, he assaults me via PM and crams tons of knowledge down my throat :p

[brettbimmer]

You haven't met Brett? He is cool dude, he assaults me via PM and crams tons of knowledge down my throat :p

Yea, some say that he is a Bimmerphile, having long ago been bitten by the BMW bug. All we know is that he drives an IR ZHP.

[M3TA5IN]

Ok guys, so changed the tranny diff fluid yesterday with Audi. Tranny still feels the same, just very clunky and not smooth as it use to be.

Any ideas on the next thing to look at?

[Newjack]

Ok guys, so changed the tranny diff fluid yesterday with Audi. Tranny still feels the same, just very clunky and not smooth as it use to be.

Any ideas on the next thing to look at?

Motor mounts and transmission mounts. If your engine and transmission are torquing around too much it can cause some clunkyness when trying to shift. I'm having this problem right now mainly in 1st 2nd and 3rd. Mainly 3rd. Sometimes if I do things just right and take the revs slowly, I can get smooth shifts. But fast gear changing at high RPM's? Forget it.

I'm interested to hear what else it could be. But that is my .02

[webster]

I don't have an '03, but I'm going to guess that I have the Getrag...

From the FAQ section:

don't mean to hijack but i just saw this, and after reading a bunch of articles on the ZHP recently i remember reading that the manny is a ZF Type-H unit, not a Getrag, which the M3 used (and everyone hates lol). the ZF Type H tranny is shared with the Z3 3.0...considered by many to be BMWs best gearbox, at least "from what i've read" lol

[HokieZHP]

What's the lifetime on these ZHP 6mt transmissions? My car is at 135k and after talking to my dad, we're thinking of doing an engine swap on my car here in a year or two and I was wondering if a new transmission is something I'll have to build into the cost of the swap. Most likely going with a S54 or N54

[terraphantm]

I don't have an '03, but I'm going to guess that I have the Getrag...

From the FAQ section:

That FAQ is wrong. The GS6-37BZ is a ZF transmission (that last Z is indicativbe of the manufacturer). Every 6-speed 330 got that transmission.

The Getrag (S6S-420G) in the M3 is rated to handle a lot more torque... but the transmission is a lot rougher too. The ZHP felt like butter compared to this transmission, even after a fluid flush.

[brettbimmer]

What's the lifetime on these ZHP 6mt transmissions? My car is at 135k and after talking to my dad, we're thinking of doing an engine swap on my car here in a year or two and I was wondering if a new transmission is something I'll have to build into the cost of the swap. Most likely going with a S54 or N54

BMW manuals are pretty robust IMHO, provided that they are not abused and have had reasonable fluid change intervals. Had an E30 that I bought non-running with 165k, and the transmission was shot, but my e36 has 237k on the original transmission and is doing great. I say it depends on care and maintenance.

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[Johnmadd]

^Transmissions in general will fail before a well maintained engine.