Reversing problem, almost ram into the poor guy behind me!

xHoon · 01-28-2012, 05:49 PM

Hi guys I just brought a 2010 manual 135i few days ago, I have the problem of trying to put into first gear but some how it go into reverse without me pushing hard to slot into reverse. It happen 3 times randomly without me knowing it, almost ram into the poor guy behind me, just wondering any one had that problem before? Or maybe I'm doing something wrong.

tracer bullet · 01-28-2012, 06:17 PM

You're not the only one.

Normally it's a very deliberate thing to put it in reverse, and if you went out in your driveway or garage right now and did it you'd think "how can anyone accidentally do that, they must be stupid".

But I've had it too, and I've been driving sticks for 20+ years.

It's not a solution but for what it's worth you're not crazy. Occasionally the car seems really eager to accept the gear change to reverse without you having to shove the stick far to the left to do so. I'll go so far as to put it in 2nd and make sure I'm only going forward from there (no pressure to the left at all) and even then it can sometimes repeat the problem.

I always figured it was just me, maybe not.

TimMc · 01-28-2012, 06:22 PM

Welcome to the forum!
I'm on my 4th manual BMW & have never had that issue. Might be worth checking out your technique &/or taking it to a dealer to get the gearbox/linkage mechanism checked.

tritonx · 01-28-2012, 06:24 PM

Yeah it happened 2-3 times to me since I've had my car. Mostly when I wasn't looking at the traffic light then suddenly realize it was green and I had to move. Going too fast to engage the 1st gear got me into R, but at least I realized soon enough I wasn't going in the right direction. But when that happens, I'm always worried about the person behind...

MikeVictor · 01-28-2012, 06:28 PM

Maybe check your car out, the spring gate on mine to shift into reverse isn't easy to get past at all.

Dackelone · 01-28-2012, 06:29 PM

You guys need to order one of these...

DCT...
Name: DCT___securedownload%20(1).jpg
Views: 588
Size: 115.0 KB

Seriously.... I don't know how you can mix up reverse gate with first. Try shifting with your fingers and not your fists. What I mean is use more care when selecting gears. IF the gear lever is fighting you... you are doing it wrong.

Zuzu · 01-28-2012, 06:56 PM

Really..

. Unless you have a faulty shift gate, I can't even fathom that happening.

Regardless , I never shift to 1st without engaging 2nd initially. It just makes the shift into 1st a lot smoother.

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 01-28-2012, 07:21 PM

I've had it happen once or twice, just try and be more careful..

Coupe135 · 01-28-2012, 09:57 PM

Can't remember ever having that problem. Besides my idrive comes up to tell me i am in reverse.

Harlequin · 01-28-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

You guys need to order one of these...

DCT...
Attachment 636955

Seriously.... I don't know how you can mix up reverse gate with first. Try shifting with your fingers and not your fists. What I mean is use more care when selecting gears. IF the gear lever is fighting you... you are doing it wrong.

Dack, the base around that shifter looks different from mine... Shinier ans more rounded. Is it the standard 135i DCT Shifter?

Superdaws · 01-28-2012, 10:35 PM

Once you get used to the car youll know when its not in first just by feel. Never had the problem though. Other six speed manuals ive had always beeped once or twice with the reverse sensors to let you know you were in reverse, the beemers dont do that.

sparoz · 01-28-2012, 11:14 PM

I never had a problem with both my cars. Try to guide the stick into the gate, rather than pushing it - the reverse gate to me is quite deliberate. See if you gently pull the stick to the left if it stops, if it doesn't have it checked out. You should be able to feel if you are in reverse from feeling where the stick is. You should also feel the notch. All manuals are different, so might take a bit of time to learn the subtleties.

flinchy · 01-29-2012, 12:20 AM

impossible with mine, even SLAMMING it in i feel resistance.. not slamming it? hurts my wrist to push past it.

Dackelone · 01-29-2012, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Dack, the base around that shifter looks different from mine... Shinier ans more rounded. Is it the standard 135i DCT Shifter?

I just did a quick google photo search and found it(and cut & pasted it here). I was just trying to be funny.

Here is where the original photo was posted over on the e90 forum....
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=605971

Dack

Jeef Beef · 01-29-2012, 05:16 AM

That's strange, I find it exceptionally difficult to put it into reverse unintentionally. There is quite a lot of resistance to get past before you get to put it in.

Are you Rafael Nadal?

gazz · 01-29-2012, 08:16 PM

Attention - care - familiarity.

Giveway74 · 02-02-2012, 01:14 AM

I find the same thing with my 130i - Getting better at not doing it now the more i drive it.

I learnt on jap cars with reverse to the right and down which is why i think i have the issue.

tracer bullet · 03-29-2012, 09:19 PM

I remembered this thread, as I had this issue again today - going from neutral towards 1st (pulling the stick to the left) I kept going and into reverse when I pushed forward.

I didn't have anyone behind me, as this was in a parking lot, so I played around with it a little. Going all the way over to reverse was no more or less difficult than going left / right towards any other gear. Not surprising I went too far, it was very easy to get into and stayed that way. No additional resistance or notchiness as you'd expect. Nothing at all.

I drove around the lot a little bit, stopped, and stuck it in neutral exactly as I was just earlier. Tried this all over again, but this time around it was difficult to get it to move far enough to the left to be able to grab reverse. When I say difficult I mean difficult as always, "normal", the kind of thing that keeps you from doing it accidentally - additional resistance, a notchiness you get past.

So this was a rather back to back comparison test, only about 15 seconds in between, and I'm sure it wasn't my imagination. Almost always things are working like they should, but once in a while whatever gate or resistance is supposed to be there to keep you from going over too far - is not there.

I guess I have something to ask about next time I get an oil change or any other service.

01-28-2012, 05:49 PM	#1
xHoon Enlisted Member 16 Rep 31 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Newcastle iTrader: (0)	Reversing problem, almost ram into the poor guy behind me! Hi guys I just brought a 2010 manual 135i few days ago, I have the problem of trying to put into first gear but some how it go into reverse without me pushing hard to slot into reverse. It happen 3 times randomly without me knowing it, almost ram into the poor guy behind me, just wondering any one had that problem before? Or maybe I'm doing something wrong.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-28-2012, 06:17 PM	#2
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2409 Rep 3,543 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	You're not the only one. Normally it's a very deliberate thing to put it in reverse, and if you went out in your driveway or garage right now and did it you'd think "how can anyone accidentally do that, they must be stupid". But I've had it too, and I've been driving sticks for 20+ years. It's not a solution but for what it's worth you're not crazy. Occasionally the car seems really eager to accept the gear change to reverse without you having to shove the stick far to the left to do so. I'll go so far as to put it in 2nd and make sure I'm only going forward from there (no pressure to the left at all) and even then it can sometimes repeat the problem. I always figured it was just me, maybe not.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 06:22 PM	#3
TimMc Lieutenant Colonel 44 Rep 1,883 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0)	Welcome to the forum! I'm on my 4th manual BMW & have never had that issue. Might be worth checking out your technique &/or taking it to a dealer to get the gearbox/linkage mechanism checked. __________________ Driving - Manual E90 M3 (Melbourne Red/Black). Riding - BMW R1200RS Sport. Last edited by TimMc; 01-28-2012 at 06:29 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 06:24 PM	#4
tritonx Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 247 Posts Drives: '11 128i, '92 325is Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Quebec, Qc, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 128i [0.00] 1992 325is [0.00] 1994 318is [0.00]	Yeah it happened 2-3 times to me since I've had my car. Mostly when I wasn't looking at the traffic light then suddenly realize it was green and I had to move. Going too fast to engage the 1st gear got me into R, but at least I realized soon enough I wasn't going in the right direction. But when that happens, I'm always worried about the person behind... __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 06:28 PM	#5
MikeVictor Brigadier General 210 Rep 3,288 Posts Drives: anything given a chance Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: .au iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 Mazda ND MX-5 [10.00]	Maybe check your car out, the spring gate on mine to shift into reverse isn't easy to get past at all.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 06:29 PM	#6
Dackelone European Editor 10537 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	You guys need to order one of these... DCT... Seriously.... I don't know how you can mix up reverse gate with first. Try shifting with your fingers and not your fists. What I mean is use more care when selecting gears. IF the gear lever is fighting you... you are doing it wrong.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 06:56 PM	#7
Zuzu Major General 2816 Rep 7,637 Posts Drives: M2C HS 6MT Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sydney Australia iTrader: (0)	Really... Unless you have a faulty shift gate, I can't even fathom that happening. Regardless , I never shift to 1st without engaging 2nd initially. It just makes the shift into 1st a lot smoother. Last edited by Zuzu; 01-29-2012 at 04:19 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 07:21 PM	#8
Stuart@BMRAutowerkes Major General 808 Rep 5,530 Posts Drives: a black car Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sydney iTrader: (3)	I've had it happen once or twice, just try and be more careful..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 09:57 PM	#9
Coupe135 Private 2 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Can't remember ever having that problem. Besides my idrive comes up to tell me i am in reverse. __________________ 2008 BMW 135i. Alpine White.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 10:35 PM	#11
Superdaws Lieutenant 114 Rep 537 Posts Drives: 2020 F87 BSM M2C Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Once you get used to the car youll know when its not in first just by feel. Never had the problem though. Other six speed manuals ive had always beeped once or twice with the reverse sensors to let you know you were in reverse, the beemers dont do that. __________________ 2020 MY21 BMW M2 Competition 6MT \| Black Sapphire OLD 2010 BMW 135i M Sport 6MT \| Le Mans Blue 2016 BMW F15 X5 30D \| Sapphire Black \| Black Leather
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2012, 11:14 PM	#12
sparoz Brigadier General 191 Rep 4,848 Posts Drives: VO 1///M; Macan Turbo Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sunshine Coast iTrader: (0)	I never had a problem with both my cars. Try to guide the stick into the gate, rather than pushing it - the reverse gate to me is quite deliberate. See if you gently pull the stick to the left if it stops, if it doesn't have it checked out. You should be able to feel if you are in reverse from feeling where the stick is. You should also feel the notch. All manuals are different, so might take a bit of time to learn the subtleties. __________________ Macan S Diesel - Carrera White Macan Turbo - White 1///M - Valencia Orange
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2012, 12:20 AM	#13
flinchy Brigadier General 126 Rep 3,099 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: QLD, Australia iTrader: (0)	impossible with mine, even SLAMMING it in i feel resistance.. not slamming it? hurts my wrist to push past it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2012, 05:16 AM	#15
Jeef Beef Lord Captain Commander 110 Rep 3,093 Posts Drives: a sleeper Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	That's strange, I find it exceptionally difficult to put it into reverse unintentionally. There is quite a lot of resistance to get past before you get to put it in. Are you Rafael Nadal? __________________ E82 135i M-sport: SGM/6MT/Black
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2012, 08:16 PM	#16
gazz ///Mbassador 26 Rep 1,069 Posts Drives: The horse I fell off Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Gold Coast Australia iTrader: (0)	Attention - care - familiarity.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-02-2012, 01:14 AM	#17
Giveway74 Private First Class 13 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 130i and MK7 Golf GTI PP Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	I find the same thing with my 130i - Getting better at not doing it now the more i drive it. I learnt on jap cars with reverse to the right and down which is why i think i have the issue.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2012, 09:19 PM	#18
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2409 Rep 3,543 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	I remembered this thread, as I had this issue again today - going from neutral towards 1st (pulling the stick to the left) I kept going and into reverse when I pushed forward. I didn't have anyone behind me, as this was in a parking lot, so I played around with it a little. Going all the way over to reverse was no more or less difficult than going left / right towards any other gear. Not surprising I went too far, it was very easy to get into and stayed that way. No additional resistance or notchiness as you'd expect. Nothing at all. I drove around the lot a little bit, stopped, and stuck it in neutral exactly as I was just earlier. Tried this all over again, but this time around it was difficult to get it to move far enough to the left to be able to grab reverse. When I say difficult I mean difficult as always, "normal", the kind of thing that keeps you from doing it accidentally - additional resistance, a notchiness you get past. So this was a rather back to back comparison test, only about 15 seconds in between, and I'm sure it wasn't my imagination. Almost always things are working like they should, but once in a while whatever gate or resistance is supposed to be there to keep you from going over too far - is not there. I guess I have something to ask about next time I get an oil change or any other service.
	Appreciate 0 Quote