Track downshifting issues

Weiser · 04-10-2022, 02:24 PM

Hey all, at the second day of a HPDE even put on by PCA in St. Louis. First time taking the manual G80 on the track. I've had 5-10 instances where the car won't shift down into 2nd from 3rd. It feels like a physical gate won't let me go down. Anyone know what this is? My error? System stopping me due to revs being too high? (I don't think so).

Have searched threads and not found any issues with down shifting so far.

Thanks

Achtung_M3 · 04-12-2022, 05:03 PM

Maybe need to turn off rev matching? I only get that gate if I'm going 2nd to 1st above 10mph.

LuvMyE92 · 04-19-2022, 10:49 AM

I don't think that BMW has any kind of lockout mechanism in the shifter to prevent you from doing something stupid.

More likely you forgot to push that left pedal in all the way, or in the excitement of the activity, didn't have the shifter positioned properly.

Back in my E39 days, I found that if I pulled the shifter hard to the left as I was going into 2nd (a bad habit I developed from another car) it would not go into gear. It was exacerbated by a short-shift kit that the PO had installed.

BMWRacer523 · 04-22-2022, 09:45 PM

are you rev-matching? does bringing it to neutral and then to 2nd help? Which track are you needing to go to 2nd in this car?

Weiser · 05-03-2022, 07:05 AM

Thanks all for the feedback. I guess this is kind of an unknown on if there is some gate of some sort. Sure felt like it. I do have rev matching on. And it was so obvious that it physically wouldn't go down even if I wiggled the stick in neutral all the way left to right and then tried to go down to second. That is why I feel there was some mechanical blocking of going down into second.

Track is World Wide Technology (formerly Gateway) just east of St. Louis in Illinois in its road course configuration. I'll be going back again in mid June so will report back if it happens again. I would only go down to second at one point coming into turns 2A and 2B where there are two switch back 180s and I would get down to about 30-40 MPH.

BMWRacer523 · 05-03-2022, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weiser

Thanks all for the feedback. I guess this is kind of an unknown on if there is some gate of some sort. Sure felt like it. I do have rev matching on. And it was so obvious that it physically wouldn't go down even if I wiggled the stick in neutral all the way left to right and then tried to go down to second. That is why I feel there was some mechanical blocking of going down into second.

Track is World Wide Technology (formerly Gateway) just east of St. Louis in Illinois in its road course configuration. I'll be going back again in mid June so will report back if it happens again. I would only go down to second at one point coming into turns 2A and 2B where there are two switch back 180s and I would get down to about 30-40 MPH.

Took a look at the track map and I can see those 2 switch backs. what's your exit rpm out of those in 3rd gear?

FC4 · 05-14-2022, 07:54 PM

You’re pulling the shifter too hard to the left, effectively going into the reverse detent with nowhere for the lever to go downward.

pinky_chi · 05-15-2022, 12:19 AM

I agree with FC4, I think you're going into the reverse gate lever. Just got back from a track day where there was a hairpin that required second gear. Had no issue getting it into second except once when I moved it too far left and it went into the reverse detent. Was also running with rev matching on.

Weiser · 05-19-2022, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

Took a look at the track map and I can see those 2 switch backs. what's your exit rpm out of those in 3rd gear?

I don't know in 3rd but I have a laptimer recording of when I was taking it in 2nd and I got down to 2900 rpms coming through the hairpin. So I think it 3rd it was more like 2000.

Thanks to last two posters I'm sure that is what it was. Now I know what not to do...

D_SheerDrivingPleasure · 05-19-2022, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC4

You’re pulling the shifter too hard to the left, effectively going into the reverse detent with nowhere for the lever to go downward.

This exactly. I experienced the same when I first got my F80. I thought someone was wrong, but it turned out I was manhanding the gear lever. A light touch is needed.

I've since installed my auto solutions SSK. Best mod, hands down. Someone should contact Ronald about making the kit for the G8x.

04-10-2022, 02:24 PM	#1
Weiser Private 41 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 2022 Brooklyn Grey M3 Manual Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Louis iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Base [0.00]	Track downshifting issues Hey all, at the second day of a HPDE even put on by PCA in St. Louis. First time taking the manual G80 on the track. I've had 5-10 instances where the car won't shift down into 2nd from 3rd. It feels like a physical gate won't let me go down. Anyone know what this is? My error? System stopping me due to revs being too high? (I don't think so). Have searched threads and not found any issues with down shifting so far. Thanks
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04-12-2022, 05:03 PM	#2
Achtung_M3 Enlisted Member 29 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 MT Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Maybe need to turn off rev matching? I only get that gate if I'm going 2nd to 1st above 10mph.
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04-19-2022, 10:49 AM	#3
LuvMyE92 Occasionally frequent poster 3000 Rep 2,744 Posts Drives: CT5V-Blackwing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: RTP NC, USA iTrader: (0)	I don't think that BMW has any kind of lockout mechanism in the shifter to prevent you from doing something stupid. More likely you forgot to push that left pedal in all the way, or in the excitement of the activity, didn't have the shifter positioned properly. Back in my E39 days, I found that if I pulled the shifter hard to the left as I was going into 2nd (a bad habit I developed from another car) it would not go into gear. It was exacerbated by a short-shift kit that the PO had installed. __________________ Current inventory: F22 & G05 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing w/3 pedals Past: E24,E28(3),E34,E36,E37,E38(2),E39(4),E46,E89,E92 (obviously),F01,F06,F10,F30,F87,G12,G30(2),G82(2)
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04-22-2022, 09:45 PM	#4
BMWRacer523 Lieutenant Colonel 2519 Rep 1,773 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Competition xDrive Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	are you rev-matching? does bringing it to neutral and then to 2nd help? Which track are you needing to go to 2nd in this car?
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05-03-2022, 07:05 AM	#5
Weiser Private 41 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 2022 Brooklyn Grey M3 Manual Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Louis iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Base [0.00]	Thanks all for the feedback. I guess this is kind of an unknown on if there is some gate of some sort. Sure felt like it. I do have rev matching on. And it was so obvious that it physically wouldn't go down even if I wiggled the stick in neutral all the way left to right and then tried to go down to second. That is why I feel there was some mechanical blocking of going down into second. Track is World Wide Technology (formerly Gateway) just east of St. Louis in Illinois in its road course configuration. I'll be going back again in mid June so will report back if it happens again. I would only go down to second at one point coming into turns 2A and 2B where there are two switch back 180s and I would get down to about 30-40 MPH.
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05-14-2022, 07:54 PM	#7
FC4 Brigadier General 2678 Rep 3,404 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: May 2014 Location: US iTrader: (0)	You’re pulling the shifter too hard to the left, effectively going into the reverse detent with nowhere for the lever to go downward.
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05-15-2022, 12:19 AM	#8
pinky_chi Private 172 Rep 99 Posts Drives: G80 6mt Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I agree with FC4, I think you're going into the reverse gate lever. Just got back from a track day where there was a hairpin that required second gear. Had no issue getting it into second except once when I moved it too far left and it went into the reverse detent. Was also running with rev matching on.
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