Shifter not centering when cold -
 

Hello - I just picked up a 99 M3 convertible - very cool car. One problem I have noticed is that the shifter is not centering to the 3-4 plane when the the car is cold. It tends to stick all the way to the right. After it gets warm it starts to center correctly. Is there a ceterning spring or something that I can attend to to correct this? My E36 Bentley Manual does not cover this that I can see. Thanks.

This is common.

The spring is inside the tranny and not servicable as far as I know. There was a discussion about it here a month or so ago.

Here's the link to the discussion Jeron mentioned.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/101-projects-discussion-forum-bmw-3-series/197064-98-m3-shifting-problems.html

Funny thing, mine has somehow magically gotten better. I didn't change the transmission fluid, so I can't explain it. It does stick occasionally now, but much better than before.

Hey guys - I did a bunch of searching on this and found out that there is apparently a fix. There is a huge thread about it over on bimmerforums.com. Here is the supposed fix:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1108661194.jpg

ZCAT,
Thanks for digging this up! It looks like a Feb 2003 Roundel article, which I should have in my archives somewhere. Unfortunately the tech articles aren't available online from BMWCCA.

If I ever have to drop the transmisssion, I'll be sure to try the fix mentioned.

Yeah, thats one for the archives.

Thanks,

I may try to do this with the tranny in the car. I ordered one of the seals they mention ($8 for just the seal plug) and may take a shot at it. This just started happening with our M3 and does not happen all the time. Is there any way to slightly lower the tranny while it is still attached to the engine and in the car?

I believe the tranny IS the rear support for the engine, and of course the tranny is bolted directly to the engine so lowering the tranny will move the engine too.

I suggest reading the Pelican service article on clutch replacment. It should describe the steps for removing the tranny and you may be able do all of the steps except the actual removal.

Before you remove the existing plug the most important thing is to make sure you have enough room to put the new one back in.

Let us know how it goes, I may follow your lead. :-)