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1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:44 pm
by Ibze30
Hi everyone,

Nice to meet you all :)
Bought my E30 around 15 years ago when I was 18, which I converted to a 2.5 engine.

Has spent more time off the road than on it over the years but looking to get her back up and running.

Unfortunately I have an issue with it at the moment as it used to get stuck in reverse when I reversed out of my drive until I switched it off and took it out of gear until one day I decided not switch it off but force it, heard something click and now the gear stick is wobbly and the car is stuck in reverse :(

Any ideas on what I’ve done and if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced?

Re: 1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:24 pm
by BenHar
Welcome.

Manual or auto?

Ben

Re: 1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 7:29 pm
by Ibze30
Sorry that would help, it’s a manual 😊

Re: 1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:11 pm
by Speedtouch
Hopefully, it's just a broken linkage in the remote lever mechanism, rather than in the gearbox itself. I would first inspect the car from underneath, and have someone else operate the lever/clutch while you watch what's going on where the linkage goes into the gearbox.

You may be able to fix it from either below or by removing the gear lever and relevant centre console parts to gain access to it.
https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.p ... er_011.jpg

Re: 1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2025 10:29 am
by Ibze30
Thanks for the advice, will be taking a look at it with my dad this weekend and will drop in an update.

Re: 1989 BMW E30 320 cab converted to 325(stuck in reverse)

Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:42 am
by rix313
Sounds like the linkage has been able to pop out. Perhaps a clip wasn't seated properly. Sure it'll be very quick to fix.