BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 17:15
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
I’m sat here stunned!
I posted on here 2 weeks ago about my clutch problems.
I’ve since had the clutch and flywheel replaced 2 weeks ago today.
All was fine, haven’t been far, few motorway trips.

I wait on the small hill where the clutch went, a burning smell ever so slightly wafts through. But all driving fine.
I get home, about to reverse into my space. What’s this? The car won’t go into reverse!
I can just about do it, I need to lift the pedal up and it makes an ungodly grinding sound!
Also notices 5th is a bit sticky also!
I paid £1300 for this job just 2 weeks ago! I’m devastated! Surely the parts are covered?
Car going back in Wednesday
Any pointers greatly appreciated.
Thank you ????

Edited by Alan Goodman on 24/02/2025 at 17:18

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 17:20
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - craig-pd130

Call the mechanic / garage that did the work. It's poor workmanship, do NOT let them try to weasel out of it by saying "the clutch is a wear & tear item" or have them try to blame driving style etc. Loss of gear selection is a clear sign that the clutch was not re-assembled correctly.

The mechanic / garage needs to fix this for you at zero cost to you.

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 17:30
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
I did straightaway.

I’ve not driven it much in 2 weeks. I drove from Blackburn to Manchester and back. That’s it. And normal running around town.

I’ll take legal action if they do that.
I’m not just saying it, but I’m a very cautious driver. I watch the speed limit. I don’t ever change aggressively.
I’m lost for words.
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 17:59
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - mcb100
Things happen. People screw up, new components turn out to be faulty.
All part of the joys of running a 14/15 year old car.
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 18:13
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
True but my God it couldn’t have happened again at a worse time.

I’m reading it could be the Master slave cylinder. Any idea of the cost?
2010 BMW 320D

Thank you
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 19:06
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Adampr

All seems a bit over-dramatic. They did something wrong and it's going in to be fixed. I doubt they would even consider charging you for it. If they do, tell them to stick it, but there's no pojt getting all excited about something before it has even happened.

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 19:18
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
I pray you are right ????
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 19:31
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - elekie&a/c doctor
Do you have an itemised parts list of what has been replaced?
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 20:32
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
Sort of
Clutch Replacement
Vehicle Protection & PPE (whatever that is)
Clutch kit
Dual Mass
Bolts
Brake Fluid
Master Cylinder Pin
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 19:36
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Big John

Something not tightened up I suspect.

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 20:13
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Ethan Edwards

It sounds like the clutch isn't disengaging properly. Suggesting (if its a hydraulic clutch) either the master cylinder or the slave cylinder. Assuming the fluid is full etc.

Don't drive it except to the garage.

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 20:33
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
If it was either master or slave cylinder? Would you know a ball park figure?
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 20:40
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Ethan Edwards

Sorry no. Last 3 series I owned was a 323i E28 many years ago. Take it back, they let it out their workshop as working when it clearly isn't.

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Mon 24 Feb 2025 20:47
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
I’m not going to drive it, I’ll dump it off at the garage tomorrow morning and wait and see.
I think I’m out of AA calls now.
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Mon 24 Feb 2025 23:14
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Andrew-T
If it was either master or slave cylinder? Would you know a ball park figure?

It's a BM, so parts are probably not the cheapest, but whichever cylinder it is I don't think it should be bank-breaking. Depending how accessible those cylinders are, the main cost should be labour.

The gears on my Pug 207 diesel (2008, 92K miles) started acting up recently and my local indy decided to change both master and slave, just in case his first guess was wrong. I hope you haven't changed a clutch when it wasn't actually faulty .... :-(

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 07:41
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
That’s what I was thinking but I’m certain it did go.
Initially the AA said the Thrust bearing had gone as there was a noise when I pushed the pedal down, later it wouldn’t go down.
I was on a small slope and it conked out with a burning smell and had to be towed and wouldn’t start.
If it is as seems the Master cylinder, I don’t get why the garage didn’t pick it up they had the car sitting there for 5 days. Then on the day it was meant to be repaired they didn’t have the right tools! Never trust 100s of 5* ratings I say!
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Tue 25 Feb 2025 09:42
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Andrew-T
.... it conked out with a burning smell and had to be towed and wouldn’t start. If it is as seems the Master cylinder, ...

With your description I would assume the fault was more likely the clutch than a cylinder - but a burning smell is presumably the clutch lining getting overheated by slipping ? If that means it can't disengage because of low hydraulic pressure = leaking cylinder, which one ? Or the release bearing ?

Today's problem does look most like incorrect reassembly though.

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 15:26
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
Turns out it’s the Gearbox.
Garage wanted £1300 to send it away for repair!
I think they are a sham garage!

By sheer chance, I was put in touch with someone who sells sc*** parts, £450 fitted.

I’m gutted.
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Tue 25 Feb 2025 16:00
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Ethan Edwards

Gearbox? How very and I do mean very unusual. And so soon after the clutch was monkeyed about with. What a coincidence.

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 16:24
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Steveieb

Had the clutch changed on my A4 Tdi and the mechanic thought he could get away without changing the flywheel.

Worked fine for a month then suddenly I had to force the gears in. Got rid of the car soon after but it’s still going two years later.

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 17:57
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - corax

They've probably changed since my '98 E36 model, but the Getrag manual gearboxes from that era were known to be strong.

I remember an article in Car Mechanics comparing the size and thickness of the gears inside earlier models of different cars against late models (now suffering more from gearbox failure) and the difference was astounding. Far less robust.

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 18:47
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Adampr

Presuming you paid on a credit card, get the car out of there and to a proper garage to find out what they cocked up. Once you've left, put in a claim on the card.

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Tue 25 Feb 2025 19:12
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
It was a debit card. But I’m certainly considering requesting a charge back and contesting the payment .
The quality of the work was c*** at the end of the day.
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Tue 25 Feb 2025 19:11
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
Yes, I was told these are pretty much bullet proof gear boxes.
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Tue 25 Feb 2025 19:11
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Alan Goodman
I’m in 2 minds what to do, I’ve got this replacement gearbox but not sure if I have any faith. Then there’s the MOT in a month, I know it’ll need a handbrake adjustment, possibly a new cable and the brake pedal is feeling a bit stiff.
Such a shame because it’s a lovely car.
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Fri 28 Feb 2025 21:09
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Bolt
I’m in 2 minds what to do, I’ve got this replacement gearbox but not sure if I have any faith. Then there’s the MOT in a month, I know it’ll need a handbrake adjustment, possibly a new cable and the brake pedal is feeling a bit stiff. Such a shame because it’s a lovely car.

Surprised you've bought a gearbox without finding out whats wrong first.

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Wed 26 Feb 2025 12:03
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Engineer Andy

Best of luck with that. As others have said, looks like poor workmanship.

On the bright side, at least the indicators are working - from my own experience, most BMWs' don't appear to work, or at least in 'ESP mode', because other drivers are expected to know what they are about to do and make way... :-)

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Fri 28 Feb 2025 20:56
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - Bolt

I would be more inclined to believe the Master or slave cylinder has gone, possibly both, it has been known, and more likely than gearbox as they don`t usually go wrong in that space of time, just my thoughts

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Sat 1 Mar 2025 19:25
BMW 3 Series - Car won’t go into Reverse!! Brand new clutch fitte - sajid

Best of luck with that. As others have said, looks like poor workmanship.

On the bright side, at least the indicators are working - from my own experience, most BMWs' don't appear to work, or at least in 'ESP mode', because other drivers are expected to know what they are about to do and make way... :-)

Very important the indicators could be a mot fail if it's not working

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