E30 Zone

Hi guys,

My gearbox in 325i has got stuck in reverse.

When I push the clutch down, it works and the car rolls freely.

When I let go of the clutch, the gearstick is not in reverse and can move around to each of the gears but doesn't do anything.

The gearstick is not floppy or anything, feels normal.

Basically would like to know if this can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced? Any ideas for what could be causing this.

Please feel free to ask any other questions that could help with diagnosing this fault.

Well it is over 30 years since I rebuilt a G260 so my memory of the internals is a bit sketchy.

If your gear lever feels normal then I think you may be out of luck. The selector shaft may have come apart and left it in reverse but if that were the case the gear lever will be floppy.

As you say the gear lever is good then I think most likely is the roll pin had broken on the selecor fork allowing it to mobe on the selector shaft, either that of the selector fork is broken. Sometimes happens with 'racing shifts'

Not a difficult fix if you get the box out, split it and have some spares but I think try to find a good used box and keep this for spares.

Before you pull out the transmission, have a friend move the shift lever while you watch from underneath the car. It is possible (and maybe likely?) that some part of the shift lever is disconnected.

twright wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 15, 2022 12:03 am

Before you pull out the transmission, have a friend move the shift lever while you watch from underneath the car. It is possible (and maybe likely?) that some part of the shift lever is disconnected.

Anything is worth a try, but as I said above I can't think of a way the selector could fail or come apart that would still allow him to get other gears. Still worth looking at though