Trouble changeing gear 2 to 3 to 4 it seems as if the gears are really close to each other and seems to have gone stiff

what is stiff (add a noun here)
blush.....
clutch pedal stiff
shifter lever stiff.
grinds , a bad clutch will make the lever seem stiff or will grind, if forced.
gears balk? same as stiff.
false neutrals. (slips , gear not engaging)

It sounds like you may have an issue with the clutch, does the pedal fell hard to push or is it lower than usual?

I suspect that it will be in the shift mechanism
If it is a cable shift then replace the cable
If it levers or other linkages check and adjust or lubricate as required
I doubt it is in the clutch as you haven't mentioned difficulty in selecting first gear only shifting from 1 to 2nd.

First check the fluid level and make sure it is correct. If it's good you will then need to go to the dealership to have the codes pulled. I hope the problem is the fluid because it will be expensive otherwise.

I think this is an actual cable which hangs up in cold weather..find the cable ends under the hood near both the transmission and the steering column end.. each end should have a rubber cover on it..take a can of wd40 spray lube put the little red tube into the spray nozzle of the can.. insert the end of the red tube under the rubber boot and spray a few seconds worth of this into the booth coating it really well...then without starting the car(turn the key to the run position to unlock the system) slowly work the shifter up and down between gears and you should feel it work easier as you move it up and down..do this each time it becomes harder to work the shifter..also do the base of the column where it comes to the outside of the car body..road dirt and grit build up here and cause stifness also..

Are you sure you installed clutch plate facing right way? They are either stamped or have a tag says "flywheel side". Or might have wrong clutch kit.

It really sound like you are going to need a new clutch. If the slave or master cylinders were bad they would feel loose, a stiff pedal usually means something came apart in the pressure plate.

fluids/levels should be checked every 1000 miles.you may need to bleed system if you encounter spongey pedal...

hello there

The problem is with the gear oil. To keep ahead of the rest BMW started what they call life time oil for their gear boxes, though that sounds great it doesn't really work in reality, they have now gone back to recommending a gear oil change every 60k miles.

In short you need to change your gear oil and soon, the oil in your gear box is no longer effective and will damage the gear box. You'll need about 5 litres for your car and costs around £15 a litre, expensive stuff!! I had the same problem with my 328i auto, the dealer was clueless and kept quoting the lifetime oil, I changed the oil and the problem has gone and it's so much smoother.

Hope this helps, please don't forget to rate me.

try changeing the detent device ontop of the gear box. it is a 24 nut when u open it there will be a ball and spring attached to the other side. it is located ju8st behind the gear selcator on the very top of the gear box