Clunk between 1st and reverse gears

3330ci · 07-03-2007, 11:27 AM

My vehicle is a 2002 5 speed 330ci. She has a loud clunk when moving into 1st or reverse at a stop that got worse a few months back. The clunk is so violent that it can be felt in the seat of your pants easily. The dealership has replaced the rear differential bushing (twice) in hopes that it would solve the problem. No such luck.

I should also mention that 20% of the time, the shifter wont go into 1st when a stop light turns green. I have to try moving it into 2nd or 3rd a few times and sometimes it still wont go into 1st. Very embarrasing at a stop light. Temperature of the tranny oil has no effect on these symptomes. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

So when the car is stopped and the clutch is disengaged (pushed in) there is clunk when you push the tranny into 1 or R?

Or does the clunk happen while engaging the clutch?

3330ci · 07:55 AM

sorry i didnt make that clear. yea, it clunks when the clutch is in (disengaged) and i move the selector from neutral to first or reverse. It will only do it once per stop however (it wont keep clunking as i move between 1st and R). When i engage the clutch to drive away, all is well. I thought that my clutch-stop might be keeping the clutch from being totally disengaged. I removed it completely and the problem is unchanged

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

In that situation there is no movement of the drive shaft so it has to be either the clutch of the tranny.

I'd say its a syncro in the tranny because:
1) it only does it once, not repeatedly
2) moving to 2nd or 3rd before going to first sometimes helps
3) it wasn't the clutch stop which has the same symptoms

If its under warranty get them to put in another tranny.

If you are out of warranty find a re-builder unless you think you can DIY but I think tranny rebuild is tougher than engine rebuild.

Get other opinions I'm not an expert but I'm pretty confident its the tranny.

I assume the oil is the proper type and fill level.

KY944S · 07-07-2007, 02:09 PM

When was the last time you checked your trany. fluid?

3330ci · 07-09-2007, 09:58 AM

Thanks for the replies. I was fearing that something was wrong with a synchro. Ill bring it to an indie mechanic because my dealership says everything is normal of course (im still under warranty). I had them change the tranny and diff. fluid 3000 miles ago. I hope they wouldn't be able to mess that up but, you never know. When im under the car i see no leaks or anything. The difficulty im having shifting into first from a stop has been present since i purchased the vehicle (20k miles ago). The clunks began to worsen about 5000 miles ago (so fluid probably isn't the issue).
The car is 'certified pre-owned' so i am angry that BMW is blowing me off. They couldn't replicate the difficult shift to 1st (did they really drive it? haha) but they confirmed the clunks and said it was normal driveline lash. I know this would not be normal in any vehicle since the clunk worsened over time and is now really violent sometimes. They were too busy to let me drive around with a tech to pinpoint the noises. Im sure the fact that im relatively young has something to do with the way they jerk me around.

3330ci · 07-09-2007, 10:01 AM

I will print out what you said and bring it with me jeron. I dont think they understand that the 'lash' in the drive shaft wouldn't come into play if the car is stopped.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

Good luck. It sounds like you will have to become the squeaky wheel to get the attention you need.