Tranny pops out of first gear when starting out

[Stanley Rockefeller]

My 88 e30 has had all of the wear items replaced in the shifter linkage. The car seems to have a bit of a funny issue with the idle, but I attribute that to sitting on storage for 11.5 months out of the year for the past 5 years.

So when starting out from intersections and traffic lights, my car randomly seems to not seat properly into first gear. As a result, as soon as I start takign off (lifting off the clutch, and depressing the gas) the car will occaisionally pop out of gear and give this grinding sound (obviously it's not in gear). The car has 150k miles and also had redline in the tranny (which worked great in my 325es).

Could this be bad tranny mount(s)? I was going to replace them as well as my motor mounts all at the same time, which brings up another question...is that a relatively easy task with a hoist?

thanks in advance

[Stanley Rockefeller]

Is this an issue with the release bearing? or the synchros going bad (common problem from what I've heard in the past...)

[Vince30]

It will stop doing that as soon as you remember your password.

[Stanley Rockefeller]

It will stop doing that as soon as you remember your password.

LOL nice!

[Vince30]

When it pops out of gear usually means your trans is going.

[Stanley Rockefeller]

"usually" this is true....but my car has never had any track days or much hard driving.

[sonnyqm3]

Is this an issue with the release bearing? or the synchros going bad (common problem from what I've heard in the past...)

you have one of these problems..

[Stanley Rockefeller]

you have one of these problems..

any easy way to narrow it down aside form blindly replacing parts?

[blunttech]

as cheap as 260's are just get a known good unit. Its going to be internal.

[Stanley Rockefeller]

any ideas where to source a good rebuilt one from?
thanks in advance guys

[Danny]

There is a guy on here that rebuilds them, he's in NJ I believe.