2007-12-06 15:11:27 · 10 answers · asked by john d 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ BMW
Get ready to do a lot of digging online and Fedex-ing to BMW USA.
You are having a transmission failure. A common defect in BMW in your model year. I had it on mine too. Changing of transmission fluid/filter or anything else short of the whole transmission WILL NOT help you at this point.
Without writing in, the dealer would be happy to charge you $6,000 for a remanufactured transmission. You will however still need to go to the dealer to let them see and have it in their record that they've seen it. Then you can proceed...
What you do next will decide if you will end up paying the full $6,000, $3,000 or if you're lucky, $0.
Here's how common it is:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/bmw_trans.html
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2005-16,RNWE:en&q=323i+no+reverse
http://www.noreverse.org/complaints.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/09/lemon_bmw.html
Here's the cause:
http://www.noreverse.org/docs/trannyautopsy.pdf
Here's what I did: (Answer 8)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuJ0POWl63x1WW0iVCjlbk3ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071202141133AAB2yPl&show=7#profile-info-Reibgv1Iaa
So I highly recommend that you write a polite but factual letter, listing all these other examples of other cases to BMW USA after your initial confirmation from your dealer.
This is what your symptoms are exactly.
When you shift to R, the reverse lights will come on as usual, but your car won't move, as if it's on neutral.
Sorry to be the one to give you the bad news....good luck!
PS - while doing this, have your dealer look at this other issue too... you may also have (or eventually have) this problem too...
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=195602&highlight=subframe+failure&page=54
2007-12-06 22:05:04 · answer #1 · answered by Snowie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Snowie hit the nail on the head.
I cannot emphasize enough for people to stay away from 323's with automatic transmissions. Yours occurred rather early. Most people with this tranny usually hit the no R at around 65k-85k miles. Big time bummer, thats for sure. Don't let it discourage you from BMW's, though.. lesson learned, next time if you get one, get a manual.
2007-12-07 10:39:18 · answer #2 · answered by Swell Fellow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check online and make sure its not a dealer defect.....if anything go to a mechanic and check how much it would be to fix it.....you have the right to ask if its a dealer part or a used auto part......never let them fool you!!!
2007-12-06 23:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by imfamousbreaker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So essentially, you can't drive your automobile. Speak to BMW directly.
2007-12-06 23:14:54 · answer #4 · answered by nike767 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This usually means that your transmission's life has come to an end
2007-12-07 07:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by mamoonelsiddik 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What happens when you shift to R?
2007-12-06 23:14:12 · answer #6 · answered by cookware 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tranny messed up,323 is the worse car ever made.
2007-12-08 17:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by JOHNNY C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...take it to the shop. that's obviously a huge problem...
2007-12-06 23:13:48 · answer #8 · answered by Jamiebabyy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
trans problem
2007-12-08 11:50:15 · answer #9 · answered by waleedakhter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a tranny
2007-12-06 23:14:12 · answer #10 · answered by brian d 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋