E30 Zone

Gear linkage has busted on my 320i, stuck in gear and floppy gearstick. Im no mechanic so gonna get local garage to do it. Is it a big/expensive job and are the parts still readily available. Any info would help, cheers.

Parts are avalible, around £60 iirc should supply all new linkage.

I belive you can do it all with the engine in the car by lifting the front of the engine off its mounts so that the gearbox drops down, and disconnect the prop and go from there.

Couple of hours work on the drive.
The hardest part is getting past the prop to do the work, but it is possible.

It depends whether the linkage rod has broken, the bush at the end of the rod has popped off, or the rear rod mount has sheared away from the bodywork. Two are fiddly but cheap fixes, the other will require a welder.

To understand the linkage, have a look at this article:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... conversion

I did mine in the garage with the car on axle stands

I wouldnt want to do another one

Piece of p1$$ if you've got a hydraulic lift though

Most likely thing that has happened is that the engine mounts are shot, and the whole engine and transmission has moved forwards enough to pull the rear part of the fixed linkage out of its home in the bracket just behind the gear lever. If not that, then a circlip has come off of the moving linkage bar and it's detached itself.
Unlikely to be anything 'broken' as such.

Bloody hell lol sounds a awkward fix only just bought mine and haven't done any work on it apart from a service I've got an ax gt with a vts engine in and always did my own work but could see my bmw going to garage for more than just an mot