6MT Owners: “Play” in Gears?

SCRPN · 09-23-2017, 08:06 PM

I have noticed ever since I got the car there has been a significant amount of movement/play in each gear. When the car is parked and I row through each gear I can move the shifter a good amount in each gear. It isn?t very confidence inspiring when shifting at heavy acceleration. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this something to be alarmed about? Does a SSK delete this play?

Silenus · 09-23-2017, 08:17 PM

Not abnormal at all.

Have you ever driven a Subaru?

gatorfast · 09-23-2017, 08:45 PM

I can't say I have ever noticed this. Then again I am not trying to move the shifter at all while in gear, except to change gears.

SCRPN · 09-23-2017, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silenus

Not abnormal at all.

Have you ever driven a Subaru?

No I have not, is it worse?

SCRPN · 09-23-2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I can't say I have ever noticed this. Then again I am not trying to move the shifter at all while in gear, except to change gears.

Neither do I but I still notice it when I take it out of gear.

f80er · 09-23-2017, 09:51 PM

Man I would lemon law your car.

SCRPN · 09-23-2017, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f80er

Man I would lemon law your car.

I don?t think its that severe. If it was an actual manufacturing defect, I would expect them to just replace whatever parts were damaged.

Nikolas · 09-23-2017, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRPN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silenus

Not abnormal at all.

Have you ever driven a Subaru?

No I have not, is it worse?

Not an STI.....I'm guessing.

TurboM · 09-23-2017, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRPN

I don?t think its that severe. If it was an actual manufacturing defect, I would expect them to just replace whatever parts were damaged.

It's all relative based on what you're used to. You'll probably need to drive another car with the same transmission to compare or have someone else drive your car to see if they notice anything. My MT feels perfectly fine/solid to me...

SCRPN · 09-23-2017, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRPN

I don?t think its that severe. If it was an actual manufacturing defect, I would expect them to just replace whatever parts were damaged.

It's all relative based on what you're used to. You'll probably need to drive another car with the same transmission to compare or have someone else drive your car to see if they notice anything. My MT feels perfectly fine/solid to me...

Good point, gonna look into driving another M to get a comparison

SakhirM4 · 09-23-2017, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboM

It's all relative based on what you're used to. You'll probably need to drive another car with the same transmission to compare or have someone else drive your car to see if they notice anything. My MT feels perfectly fine/solid to me...

+1 No problems with mine at all - feels solid to me - and I have owned 18 manual BMWs.

xfactor · 09-24-2017, 01:37 PM

No issues with mine at all.

Stealthm4bcm · 09-24-2017, 01:40 PM

Same. Feels solid to me...Driven only MT.

F83 · 09-24-2017, 01:45 PM

+1 on mine feeling solid. Of course as others have said I'm not trying to wiggle the shifter when I'm not shifting - generally that's a bad idea. But the shifts themselves are smooth and firm.

Samfosh0 · 09-25-2017, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCRPN

I have noticed ever since I got the car there has been a significant amount of movement/play in each gear. When the car is parked and I row through each gear I can move the shifter a good amount in each gear. It isn?t very confidence inspiring when shifting at heavy acceleration. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this something to be alarmed about? Does a SSK delete this play?

I never tried to shift around while in gear too

Jim B · 09-26-2017, 03:45 PM

Mine is fine after 20,000 miles.

coolmody · 09-26-2017, 05:48 PM

I notice the sloppiness. I thought this was a BMW thing. Its gotten better over the generations when I compare my F80 against my E28, E30, and E36 shifters.

I have also owned many Honda's and Audi/VW over the years and their shifters feel more tight and less sloppy or rubbery compared to BMW. Nothing feels better than shifting gears in an S2000.

boss2k · 09-26-2017, 07:35 PM

There is play for stock shift knobs, get a weighted knob and play will be reduced in addition to better shifting

ArieArie · 09-27-2017, 12:43 AM

I don't find any free play in the shifter. It is tight, precise, and unambiguous..

silvergray545 · 09-28-2017, 01:13 PM

The F80 has the least amount of play out of all my M cars.

pomsaeng · 09-28-2017, 01:30 PM

I never noticed any play in mine

thatjeffsmith · 09-28-2017, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolmody

I have also owned many Honda's and Audi/VW over the years and their shifters feel more tight and less sloppy or rubbery compared to BMW. Nothing feels better than shifting gears in an S2000.

Same experience in my '04 TSX 6spd. Amazing transmission, love winding it out.

Didn't notice anything crazy in the 2 test drives of the M3, but I'll know more once mine gets off the boat. Which can't happen soon enough.

09-23-2017, 08:06 PM	#1
SCRPN Private First Class 8 Rep 145 Posts Drives: '18 MR 340i xDrive 6MT Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Long Island iTrader: (3)	6MT Owners: “Play” in Gears? I have noticed ever since I got the car there has been a significant amount of movement/play in each gear. When the car is parked and I row through each gear I can move the shifter a good amount in each gear. It isn?t very confidence inspiring when shifting at heavy acceleration. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this something to be alarmed about? Does a SSK delete this play?
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09-23-2017, 08:17 PM	#2
Silenus Second Lieutenant 98 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Not abnormal at all. Have you ever driven a Subaru?
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09-23-2017, 08:45 PM	#3
gatorfast Major General 4998 Rep 6,863 Posts Drives: 718 Cayman Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoFla iTrader: (4)	I can't say I have ever noticed this. Then again I am not trying to move the shifter at all while in gear, except to change gears.
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09-23-2017, 09:51 PM	#6
f80er Banned 2056 Rep 1,984 Posts Drives: An M3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: DMV iTrader: (1)	Man I would lemon law your car.
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09-24-2017, 01:37 PM	#12
xfactor First Lieutenant 152 Rep 328 Posts Drives: 18 M4 6MT ZCP (AY) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	No issues with mine at all. __________________ Wife: X6M Mistress: S1000RR
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09-24-2017, 01:40 PM	#13
Stealthm4bcm Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 210 Posts Drives: M4 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: DE iTrader: (0)	Same. Feels solid to me...Driven only MT.
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09-26-2017, 03:45 PM	#16
Jim B Wingman 1895 Rep 1,892 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M4 Manual Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (0)	Mine is fine after 20,000 miles.
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09-26-2017, 05:48 PM	#17
coolmody First Lieutenant 365 Rep 362 Posts Drives: AW/SO F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (0)	I notice the sloppiness. I thought this was a BMW thing. Its gotten better over the generations when I compare my F80 against my E28, E30, and E36 shifters. I have also owned many Honda's and Audi/VW over the years and their shifters feel more tight and less sloppy or rubbery compared to BMW. Nothing feels better than shifting gears in an S2000.
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09-26-2017, 07:35 PM	#18
boss2k Colonel 1090 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2021 M2C Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (2)	There is play for stock shift knobs, get a weighted knob and play will be reduced in addition to better shifting
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09-27-2017, 12:43 AM	#19
ArieArie Old man 322 Rep 349 Posts Drives: '18 F80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Norther California Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I don't find any free play in the shifter. It is tight, precise, and unambiguous.. __________________ ArieArie
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09-28-2017, 01:13 PM	#20
silvergray545 Skittles, OT OG 2337 Rep 649 Posts Drives: Lots of M cars Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2000 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2004 BMW M3 [0.00] 2014 VW GLI [0.00]	The F80 has the least amount of play out of all my M cars.
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09-28-2017, 01:30 PM	#21
pomsaeng Private 109 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 2020 F87 ///M2CS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	I never noticed any play in mine __________________ Current: 2020 F87 ///M2CS Daily: 2022 Subaru WRX Previous: 2018 F80 ///M3CS \| 2016 F82 ///M4 \| 2012 E92 335is \| 2011 E92 328i \| 2001 E46 325ci
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