Hi all,
Just wondering if anybody could help with a problem my brother is having. Last night he set-off in first, went to change into second, and while letting the clutch up all he heard was a 'thunk' and now second gear is like neutral. All the other gears appear fine.
Anybody have any ideas/suggestions before he takes it into a main dealer (probably in tears)
Regards
Graham
|
Oh, I forgot to mention its a 5 speed manual 'box. Doh!
Regards
Graham
|
Graham,
I can only generalise because I'm not familiar with the BMW gearbox but I wonder if a selector fork has come adrift.
A selector fork slides a gear along a shaft into engagement with another gear but, if the fork is loose, moving the gear lever doesn't move the fork. If this is the case, it is best not to use the other gears because, with a gear 'floating about' it is possible (with some gearboxes) for two gears to engage at once and lock the transmission.
You could try posting to the message board of www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/bmw.html. Lots of good advice can be found there.
|
Thanks for the reply.
Would this mean new gearbox? Any ideas on what kind of £££ he's going to be looking at, inc. fitting?
Regards
Graham
|
Graham,
A loose selector fork would not mean a new gearbox. However, that was just a shot in the dark and, having read the reply to your posting on the John Burns site, I now suspect deeper trouble.
John said that he has come across the 'lost 2nd gear' problem before and it means a new (secondhand) gearbox, so he is obviously thinking of something much more serious than a loose selector fork.
I was surprised that he didn't explain what has actually happened when 2nd gear is lost. Could you ask him this? I could ask him myself but it is probably better coming from you.
I have a lot of respect for John's knowledge of BMWs and he is usually, but not always, correct. If we can learn what he knows about this problem we can make a considered decision as to what the next step should be (which may well be a replacement 'box as he says).
|
|
Graham, you could also ask John why a replacement gearbox is needed rather than a rebuild. You (or your brother) could also ask a BMW dealer to quote for repair -- this should be free of charge so long as they don't strip anything and it would give you a good idea of how serious the fault is.
|
Cheers for your help Dizzy,
My bro has asked a main dealer for a quote on a recon gearbox, and they reckon its gonna cost £1300-£1500 for just the box, then a further £300 for fitting! Scrappie said approx £250 for a second hand one - is this to be recommends though? He has it booked into a local gearbox specialist for them to have a look this week and find out what actually has gone wrong.
I'll ask John to explain further, and update this thread if/when he replys.
King Regards
Graham
|
that was supposed to be 'Kind Regards' however most of you probably qualify for 'King' anyway...
Graham
|
No, 'King' will do fine for me!
If we find out from John Burns how common the problem is, we should have an idea how safe it is to fit a secondhand box. If it is *very* common then it might be safer to go for a recon box.
I would use a good specialist rather than a main dealer. I know of one instance where a replacement BMW automatic box was quoted at £1800 by a BMW dealer and £1200 by a specialist -- this for exactly the same box from the same source.
|
Graham,
A major supplier (known to Dizzy and trusted by myself) of gearboxes located in Cambs want £935+vat for your box exchanged.
12mths unlimited mileage warranty and next day delivery nationwide.
Good luck.
MM
|
|
|
|
GN
I read an article in 'Total BMW' magazine recently which referred to a 'bizarre' fault with 2nd gear on E36 BMW 3 series. It said that these gearboxes were usually reliable but if the transmission 'refuses to go into, or stay in, second gear, even once....budget for a new gearbox'. Not quite the symptoms you report, but unfortunately may be related. Used replacements estimated at about £500 + VAT.
Regards
John S
|
Graham,
I understand that John Burns cannot help further. I imagine that he recalled his information from the 'Total BMW' article that John S refers to.
Unless your brother's car is on its last legs it might be best for him to buy a recon box. That way he doesn't take the risk of fitting a secondhand box that has the same fault, or may soon develop it, and he will have a guarantee that should be reliable.
I see no harm in mentioning the name of the firm that I'm sure Middleman was referring to. It is Ivor Searle of Soham near Ely, website www.ivorsearle.co.uk/. I heard one 'iffy' report about them some time ago but recent experiences by Middleman and another backroomer have shown them in very good light.
|
Thanks for all your replies. Ive passed on your messages and will keep you informed of future developments.
Graham
|
|
|
|
