Having A Problem With My Mint Condition 92 BMW e30 325IC!!?

Question

I really would like some advice from you. I have a 92 e30 325ic in mint condition with 134k on it. its been running like brand new and i never really drive it for long periods at a time. The problem i have is that yesterday i was about to park it on the other side of the street, when i noticed that when i put the car in drive, it only rev!! it respond to Neutral, Park, Reverse, but does not move on drive, 1 ,2 , or 3 gear. I dont understand what could be the problem because i just drove her. Please give me your advice on what could be the problem because i never had any problems with the car and iv had it for about a year and a half now. I would really appreciate it. Thk you kindly.

Answer 1

On the dash you have the lights that come on for each gear you are in.  If the lights for all  D 3 2 or 1 do not come on the transmission computer does not know what gear you want to be in and will not shift to that gear.  The actual shift lever does little more than engage the parking pawl so the car does not roll the trans computer needs the electrical input from the interiors switching network just under the shifters cover..

A second possibility is if the car has the S/E/321 switch by the shifter it maybe bad or dirty.  Try switching it back and forth 10 times or so and then try putting it in gear..

Answer 2

Old man dirt, I wanna blast the doors off of your piece of c**p 90 Mazda Miata with 1 of 2 BMWs, I want to blow the doors off your car using my 1987 535I. Anybody else wanna take me on, I also have a 2008 Alpina B7.

Anyway, to your question, start your BMW and check your trany oil, or your plats may be gone. May need to rebuild your tranny.

Proud owner of a 1987 535I and Alpina B7

Answer 3

Funny, my junk yard kitten (90 Mazda Miata) is doing just fine.

But your BMW is broke down.

Must have been the after dinner mint.

Don't give it any more after dinner mints, and it should be just fine.

Answer 4

I agree, check your transmission fluid level and see if its at level and clean.  If it is, either drive in reverse all the way to a transmission specialist or have it towed, I would recommend the towing.  Normally they will charge you little to nothing to look at it and give you an idea at what you are looking at problem wise and price wise in hopes you will come back to them to have what ever it needs done.  You do not have to go to the dealer ship or anything just find in the yellow pages the closest place that works on mainly transmissions and they will do fine.  If they tell you its shot you can either do a rebuild with them, which is costly sometimes or try to find one on ebay or at www.bmrparts.com.  They are very good on pricing if your budgeted and also back their parts.  And for the guy with the 90' mazda, I have 79' BMW 733i that has over 300k miles on it and I am still on the original engine and transmission ;)  

Answer 5

Definitely check your transmission fluid as a starting point.  And to the guy with the '90 Mazda Miata, even when your car was brand new, it is doubtful you could have driven it on the Munich-Frankfurt autobahn at 130 mph for hours on end without its engine totally self-destructing, sending metal shards all over the place.

Answer 6

Check transmission fluid with car running it is possible the plates inside the transmission is shot..  

Answer 7

Lot's of advice on how to check the transmission fluid on this thread but it's not as easy as all that.  My 318 is an automatic.     No dip stick on these tranny's they are filled from a plug on the side of the transmission and it's full when it comes out the hole.

These cars are not meant to be serviced like most.  You don't regularly change the fluid and replace the filters on them.   They are "supposed to be" lifetime.   Of course that's lifetime according to what the German engineers decided it meant.

Most likely the tranny is shot.   If it just stopped then it was probably going bad for a lot longer time.       If you're lucky it just had a hole punched in a pan or a cooling line came loose just as you parked it and drained the fluid.  If it was a small leak and you've been driving it low on fluid it's more than likely toasted and needs replacement.  A new one or rebuilt one will cost as much as your car is worth right now.  A used on will just be D_MN expensive.

Take it to a tranny shop where they are familiar with BMW's and be prepared for the worst.

Good luck

RoyG

KC