Car Struggles To Engage 1st Gear

[as400]

BMW Z3 2.8

With the engine off and clutch depressed all gears can be selected smoothly.

With the engine on its difficult to engage 1st gear, sometimes go into 2nd to then get into 1st...all other gears engage without issue.

Is this likely a clutch issue or gearbox?

Car is at 112K...I don't believe the auto transmission fluid has ever been changed.

Edited by as400 on Thursday 3rd August 18:33

Edited by as400 on Thursday 3rd August 18:35

[finlo]

as400 said:

BMW Z3 2.8

With the engine off all gears can be selected smoothly.

With the engine on its difficult to engage 1st gear, sometimes go into 2nd then 1st.

Is this likely a clutch issue or gearbox?

Car is at 112K...I don't believe the auto transmission fluid has ever been changed.

Is it manual or automatic?

[as400]

Manual

[CrgT16]

Could it be a broken engine mount? That when engine running the vibration shifts the linkage alignment?

[as400]

CrgT16 said:

Could it be a broken engine mount? That when engine running the vibration shifts the linkage alignment?

Taking into account "With the engine off and clutch depressed all gears can be selected smoothly."....I don't think it would be an alignment issue?

[stevieturbo]

as400 said:

BMW Z3 2.8

Is this likely a clutch issue or gearbox?

Really it could be either.

Check the clutch is releasing properly and not dragging. If all clear, then it may be the box itself. If you're lucky, an oil change might help....only if you're lucky.
If it's dragging, investigate the clutch

[E-bmw]

as400 said:

CrgT16 said:

Could it be a broken engine mount? That when engine running the vibration shifts the linkage alignment?

Taking into account "With the engine off and clutch depressed all gears can be selected smoothly."....I don't think it would be an alignment issue?

Totally different engine/box combination, I know but my v50 was exactly as described until I did the cable adjustment reset I found online.

I regularly had to go 2-1 to get into gear to pull away.

[as400]

E-bmw said:

Totally different engine/box combination, I know but my v50 was exactly as described until I did the cable adjustment reset I found online.

I regularly had to go 2-1 to get into gear to pull away.

Have you a link to "cable adjustment reset"?...sounds like it would be worth a try....am getting the gearbox oil changed tomorrow...

[E-bmw]

as400 said:

E-bmw said:

Totally different engine/box combination, I know but my v50 was exactly as described until I did the cable adjustment reset I found online.

I regularly had to go 2-1 to get into gear to pull away.

Have you a link to "cable adjustment reset"?...sounds like it would be worth a try....am getting the gearbox oil changed tomorrow...

Google it for your car.

Mine was something like put the car in 3rd, get access to (not simple task in itself, it meant battery & inlet piping removal) end of cables, remove a clip from the end of one of them to allow it to sit at its natural extent, reinsert cable.

After it, it was perfect.

IIRC I googled something like (Volvo v50 gear selector cable adjustment".

[chrisch77]

Clutch drag sounds most likely, so the pedal is not creating enough movement at the clutch release mechanism. Check for obstruction of the pedal and check for cable adjustment capability or air in the hydraulic system (as appropriate)

[stevieturbo]

The chances of a BMW having a cable linkage, are about 100% zero.

It will be a stick in the box, or direct linkage from the box.

[E-bmw]

stevieturbo said:

The chances of a BMW having a cable linkage, are about 100% zero.

It will be a stick in the box, or direct linkage from the box.

Good point, I was missing the obvious.

[richhead]

Sounds like clutch drag to me, does it crunch into reverse?

[as400]

No crunching into reverse.

Had the transmission fluid changed today and it does seem improved, I can live with it, gives the car character I guess!

Thanks for all the recommendations.