I'm new to this forum. I need help to clarify an issue in my new 2011 GTS.
When I shifted from 2nd to 3rd, the shiftgear box make a clanging noise, which does not exist in any other gear. I brought it to the dealer to be checked, and I was told that it is "normal" because of the spring that pull the gearshift stalk back to neutral.
I found that very annoying for car at this price level. My other car is a 2003 M5, and it does not have that clanging noise.
Anybody experience that before?
Comments much appreciated.

 

Mine doesn't make any odd noises when shifting any of the gears.

 

sounds fishy

 

No noise when I test drove a GTS a couple of weeks ago.

Time for a professional second opinion.

 

Spot on

Go to another dealer and an independent that u trust

 

My car has always made a slightly metallic sound when going from 2nd to 3rd. Almost as if it were a gated shifter. The shifts are always rock solid and there is absolutely no grinding of gears. Perhaps this is what you hear. I think this is totally common and not a problem. I think you probably agree that the shifiting is much tighter and more accurate than in your M5. Shifting from 2nd to 3rd is like locking rifle bolt...

 

Thanks for the comments. Regarding comments made by RYEM3, the "slightly metallic noise" going from 2nd to 3rd my be what I heard, but it seems to get louder when I shifted faster, and when the engine warmed up. There is no gear grinding by the way.
On my original post, I was going to mention that my 2003 M5, which has 73K miles on, has a much tighter shift feeling and more satisfying, althought the clutch pedal is lighter. The gearbox change in the 2011 GTS is kind of "soft".
I would feel awkward bringing this new car to another dealer to get a second opinion.

 

Also have a 2011 GTS. Butter smooth shifts in every gear....no noise at all.

 

How about a trusted independent?

Also, after spending the kind of money for a GTS, this is just business and should not be personal / emotional.

 

Drive it for 1000 miles and report back.

 

I forgot to ask, did the dealer service tech ever drive it and acknowledge the sound, or just comment to you that it's normal? If they never even took the time to personally check it out, I'd call them on it and ask to go out with you to hear it for themselves, and then at least check the tranny for any issues. Without sufficiently verifying that there isn't any issues, the dealer has no grounds to tell you it's 'normal'.

 

At first, I called and asked to talk to the shopmaster. He came on and told me that the best technician was put to work on the car, since it is brand new, and the report was everything is A-OK. Then the car was driven, nothing wrong. That's when I was first explained about the spring pulling the gear stalk back to neutral. I was advised to just drive the car for a few weeks, and if it still bother me bring it back. Later, when I came to pick up the car, then I asked the shopmaster to sit with me for a test drive. Then a person came out, it turned this is not the one I talked to in the morning. So I test drove the car and point to him the noise. He did acknowledge it, but say that it's OK and there is nothing wrong with that noise. Again I was explained about the spring.
So my question is (for this forum): Is that noise present in other cars, GTS or 997 with the same gearshift? The car drove fine, except that that noise is not compatible with the level of sophistication of the car IMHO. It may be minor, but I do expect excellence at this price level.
Thank you Matt for your input. I did not get your intention: would the noise be louder, disappear, or the transmission would show problems after 1000 miles?

 

Same here.