Hyundai Excel Gearbox & Transmission Problems

EXCELS do have dodgy manual gearboxes, as you've been told. Reverse is hard to select, but there is a way around the problem: select a forward gear first, then select reverse as you would normally, and you'll find it goes in OK. Second-gear synchro is the other problem area with the Excel gearbox. The problem wasn't really fixed until the Accent was released.

Back in the old days when car brakes were dodgy it was advisable downshift through the gearbox to assist the brakes in slowing car, but today's bakes are more than capable of slowing the car without using the gearbox. Every shift wears the clutch a little more; so eliminating shifts will increase the life of the clutch.

Find another mechanic. The X3 Excel is a tough car that is generally reliable. I have seen models that have done more than 200,000km without any trouble. The gearboxes are reliable and parts are readily available to rebuild them. And second-hand units are easy to find if it needs replacing. But before you replace the gearbox check the clutch. I reckon a worn-out clutch is probably causing your problem.

It sounds like a problem with the gearshift itself, and may have been caused by wear. If that's the case it should be a reasonably simple, inexpensive repair.