318is hard to get in gear when the engine is cold

[chrisbmwe30]

Hi
my partner's e30 318is is very hard to get in gear mainly first gear when the engine is cold mostly in the morning pumping the clutch makes no difference it is a 5 spd manual.

the clutch engages just past halfway through the pedal's swing. and the fluid is full.

any advice would be great.

[george graves]

Change your tranny fluid. I'd bet your tranny is dry as a bone. If so, replace the tranny.

[vpilarrt]

Check the label on the trans. Many of the M42 tranny's use ATF instead of gear oil.

[chrisbmwe30]

My local parts store product catalogue recommended a standard gear oil something like a 80w-90 I found the label recommending atf oil on the gearbox as you said and have changed and flushed the gear oil out.

Thanks for your advice guys. I'll find out in the morning if this has resolved the issue. It does explain why the problem goes away once the thicker previous oil has warmed up and become thinner whereas the atf is much thinner when cool.

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[chrisbmwe30]

Yep problem solved thanks guys

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[Dj Buttchug]

Check the label on the trans. ALL of the M42 tranny's use ATF instead of gear oil.

fixed for reference.

Op, glad its fixed.

[Threehz]

fixed for reference.

Op, glad its fixed.

Wait, really, all of them?

[Balleristic31]

Wait, really, all of them?

Yep