pfbz

As mentioned, i've never once seen it. My hunch is that it was a batch of transmission parts or assembly made out of tolerance, of which most have already had the issue and been repaired or are otherwise out of service...

I think it manifests during throttle on/off when in second gear... Leave the car is second for a few minutes and vary the throttle input.

Does anyone on the forum know of a car that *developed* second gear pop-out in the past year or two? I don't....

srop816

ahh okay that makes me feel a bit better. So at this point in the car's life it's probably going to do it or not do it.

tom__w

I was in the EXACT same boat. I fixed the IMS (Solution from LN), AOS, RMS and coolant tank almost as soon as I got my 04 C4S. Then the front end became noisy and the car felt broken.

Fixed the 2 front strut mounts and the car was like new again. But I couldn't get over the bore scoring nightmare. So I got an 04 TT X50 with PCCB. It's a cab / tip so none of those pesky 2nd gear issues for me.

Good luck with your search.

k9turbo

i have fairly extensive experience with the issue in an 02 x50.

only 01 and 02 MY's were affected. so the 02 you're looking at has the potentially incorrect shim specs from the factory. mileage matters but very low mileage 996 02's exhibited this malady.

i have never once heard of any year after 02 become afflicted. i now have an 03. never any issue. the m96 g50 box was built with new specs for MY 03 and beyond.

Skyman911

Some good advice here. I myself upgraded to a 996TT from a 996 Targa at the first of the year. I looked at a lot of cars. Drove quite a few as well. Make sure you drive a few. I drove some real dogs and some real nice rides. I looked for almost 8 months to find the right one. If you look at enough of them you will know the right one when it comes around. Good time to buy now. A lot of the cars I was looking at are still available with large price drops. Good luck with your search.

pancing

Expect water pump to die if it hasnt been replaced recently
Cvboots
rms leaking
Left turbo wg actuator (straight) rod corroding and falling off.
wg seizing
Coolant tank
Leaky boost system
front differential leaking.

Everything can and will break.
the car gives you signs ie coolant dripping from driver side intercooler outlet usually means failing coolant tank.

Honking or kazoo noise is failing diverter valve.
Exhaust tips hanging more than 1 inch means sagging motor mounts or improper tip placement.

Coolant line thing is beat to death in several threads.

2nd gear pop out will make itself evident from high load high rpm pull and engine brake. You either have it or dont most have been fixed some (mine) more than once.

Some cars say "stock" but some have been modded and reverted to stock. Sort of hard to see what was modded.

Push down on the front of the car after a drive when the car is HOT if its bouncy, squeaky and clunky you need new struts, rears stay pretty stiff.

fuel pump can go spectacularly leaving you stranded or your car will just die in your garage. Wont throw any codes and will leave you wondering. Venturi lines can split from age and fuel line on pump assy can split.

You need to keep the car on a tender if you dont drive it alot... Even if you do, put it on a tender anyway.

Tail light tabs will crack and if ur luck theyll fall out when you open your engine latch next.

Window regulators can go more annoying than anything.

Door lock can get jammed in heat, punching door handle will get it to open.

Its a great easily tuneable engine built on a ahem budget frame.

I love my 996tt
In the wise words of my tuner...
" mike, you need to learn how to work on your car. "

My words to you, if you can change brembo calipers on this car, you can pretty much do anything that doesnt require dropping the engine.

Nothing on these cars is a big deal
unless the dme readout is 65555 range 1 and 65555 range 2 on a "bone stock never been raced" car with 22k miles.

k9turbo

great post. possibly the best of yours to date

i'm sure glad i didn't buy your car and the OP is now looking for a low miles m3 lol

pancing

Thanks. Got it for semi cheap.

RennKit-Dave

it is. I had a 4S, went to a turbo. Now I have 4 in the garage.

kamlung

the way i tested it was to get the car into second gear and took it almost all the way to redline... then just let off the pedal and let it engine brake... watch and see if the shifter pops out... the other way you mentioned would be to engine brake down a hill in 2nd but if you can't find any hills on your test drive and engine brake from high revs should be sufficient and you will know quickly if it pops out...

s65e90

Up a hill.

kamlung

well i done messed that up then...

s65e90

I mean I guess either would work, but many have said to just find a small hill go up in 2nd gear and let off and see if the load going uphill will force the trans out of gear.

Vendetta NY

I figured downhill also, assuming the goal is to maximize the strain on the gearbox with engine braking. Going uphill, gravity relieves some of that strain.

-V

s65e90

You bring up the revs and let off. It's that shock which then pops it out of gear. Going up the hill aids in that. Downhill you're already moving. Uphill will be more of a shock as the hill itself kills momentum.

I guess both should work though, I was just taught going up.