Difficulty Engaging First?

[tiggercoco]

Just bought a 1999 2.8 and find it 'difficult' to engage first gear, very notchy. Workaround is to engage second then shift into first.

What is this indicative of?...totally new clutch or something not so financially drastic? (presume a new clutch supplied and fitted would be a £1K?)....

Also the previous owner must have been something of a boy racer as the exhaust is very boom/droney....can anyone recommend a new exhaust for this car with the twin pipes but that is quiet?

[Tufarlian]

When was the last time the gearbox oil was changed?

[tiggercoco]

Good question!....car was bought with virtually no history....time to search West Sussex for a good BMW indie!

[Tufarlian]

Any competent mechanic can change the gearbox oil. Nothing particularly special about the Z3 gearbox. Just make sure you get the correct oil.
Good idea to change the diff oil at the same time.
There's a good chance they've never been changed.