Hi all

I'm a long time BMW owner, have had a couple of e34s, currently own an e39 M Sport Package and recently purchased a 530i 2004 6MT (Sport + Winter package) with 100k+ miles.
After a few weeks of ownership, I?ve had the opportunity of tracking down a few potential issues; some of these more via side-by-side comparison with my e39 (as I still have it)

1.Manual Transmission

The 6sp gearbox is definitely ?light? on the feeling --which is easy on the daily commute effort-- but I?m starting to think if there is really a lot of ?play? in the shifter linkage vs. what it should be. Is there a way to stiffen it? Will be a good idea to replace parts? I?m not looking for a short shift keit more to go back to that precise gearbox feeling

Also, I?m feeling a bump in the shifter under certain circumstances: If I leave my hand on the shifter and lift my foot from the accelerator, I can feel the shifter moving a bit fwd; if I accelerate again, then I feel a slight bump half a second after the clutch engages. It is specially perceptible in 3rd gear. Note car had clutch replaced @ BMW a few years back.

Any suggestion to what to look for?


2. Rattle ?inside / behind? the instrument cluster

There is a rattle that seems to be coming from inside/behind the instrument cluster. It is a bit annoying as it can be heard at low speeds. It does not change with speed or clutch and is not related to A/C (I?ve tried different combinations or vent setting trying to find a relationship but seem to be independent). I?ve also driven pushing the clear plexiglass in front and press different areas in the dashboard and it made no difference.

What else could be?

So far these are the two first gremlins to appear ?? after owning a few high mileage BMWs I?ve learned that is not a matter of ?if? they will appear; is more ?when? they will show up :-)

Cheers

 

As far as the shifter linkage, the only way to check is to take it all apart. I did this on my 99 E46 as recommended by dealer and the old ones were fine actually. That was at 124K miles.
Bump under the shifter? that is odd if you could explain further. I believe i had the EXACT same issue with the rattle. 99 323i with manual tranny. interesting.

 

On the rattle...

I have a 2006 manual 530xi. I had a mysterious "squeak". I tried everything. Finally narrowed it down to the leather boot around the shifter. The leather needs some TLC every so often to keep it soft enough to not rub and squeak. It was driving me crazy.

 

I have a 2007 530i manual and haven't experienced either issue you describe above. The only thing I noticed with the 530i, is that for me, the optimal shift point is right at 3000 rpm, vice the 2500 rpm optimal shift point when I had a 5 spd 1993 325is.

 

Ive had a rattle driving me crazy..

Turned out to be the volume button on the steering wheel.

 

That is unreal. Shifting at 3k with the inline 6 is like setting a 10PM curfew for yourself in college.

 

If you are doing conservative driving 3 -3.5K sounds about right assuming we're not talking about track. lol