2003 325Ci Manual Transmission Problem

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Screamingelvises 325CI

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Hi all,
I want to see if anyone else has had this problem. My 2003 325CI (5 spd) with 18k pops out of 3rd gear occasionally on light load and no load situations. I have complained to the BMW Dealership since 5k. They have not been able to repeat the situation but actually believed I was experiencing it. On Friday, the BMW Regional Service Rep looked at my car (drove it), couldn't repeat the situation but "just decided" to replace my transmission. Apparantly this is a known issue according to my service rep, otherwise they wouldn't just change it. When I took a mechanic for a ride last time, he stated that they can't do anything to the manual transmissions, that if it needs even a syncro they replace the entire transmission.

Any one else experiencing this or has anyone heard about this?

I have a Toyota Camry loaner for an unknown amount of time. They are trying to quickly get a new tranny.

My service rep has been pretty good to me. I don't think I will be keeping this car when the warranty expires.


Thanks,
Mark
 
sherdog

sherdog

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Hey Mark,

this is exactly the kind of thing i am worried about...although i thought BMW had electronics issues for the most part...I am selling my A4 and have decided to go with the 3 series however this is something that seriousley concerns me....just imagine if it was not under warranty what this would run you?...you would think that when spending this kind of money on a car this shit wouldn't happen?...Don't get me wrong the car handles like a dream but I think the Germans need to hang out with the Japaneese for a few weeks if you know what i mean...

Sorry to hear about your tranny, stay on top of your dealer until you feel you are 100% satisfied...the car is a year old and should not be slipping like that...

Hey where in CT are you?


[:(!]
 
Fabp_330Ci

Fabp_330Ci

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sherdog said:
Hey Mark,

this is exactly the kind of thing i am worried about...although i thought BMW had electronics issues for the most part...I am selling my A4 and have decided to go with the 3 series however this is something that seriousley concerns me....just imagine if it was not under warranty what this would run you?...you would think that when spending this kind of money on a car this shit wouldn't happen?...Don't get me wrong the car handles like a dream but I think the Germans need to hang out with the Japaneese for a few weeks if you know what i mean...

Sorry to hear about your tranny, stay on top of your dealer until you feel you are 100% satisfied...the car is a year old and should not be slipping like that...

Hey where in CT are you?


[:(!]
Click to expand...

Don't believe that Japanese cars are immune to these types of problems. I currently drive a 2001 Acura TL(I'm awaiting arrival of my new 330ci which is on a ship somewhere on the Atlantic ocean right now[:D] ). I had the transmission replaced on my TL with about 17,000 miles on it. While my car was getting repaired there were two other TL's at my dealer also having the transmission replaced. My service manager told me that there was a batch of transmissions built for the TL and CL that were defective and they knew about it. I totally agree with you that when you spend $30,000 plus for a car you shouldn't have to worry about replacing major parts like trannies but that just isn't the case. After driving a Japanese car for the last 3 years I'm totally looking forward to driving a German car and I know that as soon as I drive my new bimmer off the lot I'll never look back. Good luck with your BMW when you get it![thumb]
 
MrElussive

MrElussive

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Yeah, don't get bummed about BMW's problems...all car companies have their own problems. BMW's are worth it and the problems should not hold you back. For the most part, they are extremely well-built cars and they last for a long long time. You would think that the more $$$ you spend on a car, the more reliable it is, but it seems to be the other way around. The more expensive the car, the more technology it packs, and that technology is more likely to fail. Japanese usually don't have as many problems with their cars because they are great electricians, whereas the Germans are great engineers.

As for your 3rd gear problem...does it only happen when the engine is cold, or is it just completely random regarding road conditions and status of the car? Because as you probably know, when the car is cold and you start driving it, the gearbox is really finicky until it warms up.
 
sherdog

sherdog

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I hear ya guys,

for the most part japaneese cars do tend to be on the reliable side but cannot touch german engineering in terms of performance...I just wish that with great engineering and performance came reliability as well...i remember when i first drove my A4 i thought it handled like it was on rails...I can only wait to see what the beamer is like....I've had my A4 in the shop for dumb little stuff like the radio, air vent, dash display, blinker, etc....nothing too major just more of a nuesance than anything else...But all in all when it is working german cars are the shit!

[:D]

I have driven my girlfriend to the point of legal insanity since all i talk about is the BMW...when we see one the road i pull up next to it, follow it, analyze, talk to the driver, etc...I am so in love with this car and i haven't even driven it yet...lol

My car should be sold any day now, and it will be Beamer time baby!!!![thumb]
 
S

Screamingelvises 325CI

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I live close to the shore, but work in Hartford, so the car goes to New Country.

It doesn't matter if the car is warm or cold, this problem occurs occassionally, and only when the car is not working that hard (engine speed is 1500rpm to 2500rpm) ---- meaning no load or light load on the tranny. It could be a synchro it could be a detention ring (a co-worker that used to be part owner in a BMW dealer in California suggested this --- He prepped all the M1s in the US for IMSA Racing -- He also did the Alpina conversions). I don't think a fluid change is going to fix things.

This is my second BMW.... This one has had a faulty Xenon (that took a while for them to admit was a problem) and has had a bad emissions secondary pump. Nothing major until now.

I have also owned 2 Acura Integra GS-Rs, 3 GTI VR6 cars, 1 Corrado, 1 Audio 90, and 1 Mazda Protege, and a Subaru, all stick..... I only had to change one clutch on all those cars.

When I got out of college, I worked at a High end dealership that sold BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Infinite, Lexus and Acura. Acura's had plenty of transmission issues. The others also had their own qwuirks.
 
J

johncarson46

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The spring return from 5th got weak and would not recenter the shifter coming out of 5th. Made 5th to 3rd shifts really difficult. They replaced the transmission after lubing the shifter made no difference. Since only the shifter and linkage is outside any other problems requires a transmission replacement under warranty.
 
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