New M2C manual owner - how strong are gearbox gates?!

[AndyTheGeo]

Happy New Year all!

Long-time member, almost-never poster, and just collected a low-mileage 2019 M2C manual. What a car.

Once I got the car home I found I couldn't select reverse. Onto Google, confirmed no push down/pull up required, just move the lever to the left from neutral, push past some resistance and forward into R.

This took quite a few attempts to get right, and on some of those attempts I was trying to force the gear lever to the left past the 1st-2nd plane when it simply wouldn't go. Always with the clutch fully depressed.

I'm a fairly cautious chap, and also not too powerfully-built (quite the reverse, in fact). But is there any/much chance I could have damaged the gearbox (e.g. the gate) by trying to push the lever to the left when it clearly wasn't going through the 'notch' into the Reverse plane?

The shift feels okay now, though I've not driven the car since. Planning on taking it to my local indy soon to get it generally looked over and I'll ask them, but in the meantime I'm appealing to the forum for some peace of mind

Any views/know-how much appreciated. Cheers all, Andy

[GreenV8S]

It's unlikely you would have damaged anything. It's a little surprising there isn't any reverse lockout and if it's difficult to find reverse I'd suspect the internet is wrong and it does actually have a lockout.

[ian332isport]

AndyTheGeo said:

Onto Google, confirmed no push down/pull up required, just move the lever to the left from neutral, push past some resistance and forward into R.

Assuming I'm correct in my assumption that M2C is a BMW, then you almost certainly need to push the lever down to engage reverse. I've not driven an M2C, but historically, all BMW's have been like this.

[MB140]

Not according to the M2 owners manual. Just push dynamically to the left. (Whatever dynamically means in this context).

[Demelitia]

Try moving with a little more speed over to reverse, rather than with more force.

It’s like a detent rather than any solid resistance. A deft movement to the side is more likely to work than forcing it across deliberately.

[AndyTheGeo]

Thanks all. I'm somewhat reassured, and better educated!

Agree that a quick movement into the right spot, rather than applying more force (quiet at the back), is the way forward. Having now driven the thing a bit more, I'm getting used to it. Fingers crossed I didn't damage anything like the gate with my early clumsy efforts, but I'm not a very strong guy. Can always check with my indy or BMW (it's within warranty).

Hoping for some less cold/slimy roads soon so that the Supersports can get some more grip, but the car is very impressive so far.

Cheers again for the inputs!