Shift Linkage Snap?

NickMav · 09-08-2012, 07:43 PM

Ok so tonight I was out and when I went to shift into 2nd gear im pretty sure my shift linkage snapped or something on it did to the transmission. My car is stuck in first gear now and I hard to drive all the way home like that. I got home and it was pretty dark out and I couldnt really see but I pulled the knob off the cover and then the rubber seal and when I look down everything is intact. However when I grab the metal shift linkage bar from the back it is solid but the front side of the shiter is wear its loose. I can move it around all over the place. The shifter is like its in neutral and when I move it around its like its free and doesnt really have any type of feel to it what so ever. What other problems could this be besides the shift linkage? I really hope it is just that as I already looked up the prices for some parts and its pretty cheap. Now my other thing is will I need to drop the trans to change the shift linkage out or something that is a part of it that is not internal to the trans? Hopefully I can do this with the trans still in. Maybe I can post a video up tomorrow when I jack it up to take a look at it but any help is appreciated. If it helps its a 91 318is, Thanks guys

Mastrcruse · 09-08-2012, 08:00 PM

Several thing could have happened. Bitch clip could have broke, ears off the tranny could have broke, carrier could have broke, shift linkage could have failed, shifter cup could have fatigued.. You need to inspect it from underneath. I doubt the tranny ears broke. The other items are replaceable and are easy to get to if you remove the drive shaft (3 bolts n front, 2 in the middle, 4 in the back.)

jlevie · 09-09-2012, 05:57 AM

The most common failure is a fracture at either end of the selector rod that couples the lever to the transmission selector shaft.

NickMav · 09-09-2012, 06:22 PM

Refer to the link for part numbers and diagram.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E3...hifting_parts/

Alright so I jacked my car up and throw it on some stands and started to look around from the top and bottom, what had happend was that the bearing bolt (25 11 1 221 849) had come unclipped and loose and then slide out of the bearing sleeve (25 11 7 519 669). This then made the shifting arm (25 11 1 220 871) fall out of postion and now I was locked into first gear. Thankfully all the parts were still there and I just made sure the bearing bolt was extra tight so it wont happen again. Thanks for all the help guys.

09-08-2012, 07:43 PM	#1
NickMav Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 75	Shift Linkage Snap? Ok so tonight I was out and when I went to shift into 2nd gear im pretty sure my shift linkage snapped or something on it did to the transmission. My car is stuck in first gear now and I hard to drive all the way home like that. I got home and it was pretty dark out and I couldnt really see but I pulled the knob off the cover and then the rubber seal and when I look down everything is intact. However when I grab the metal shift linkage bar from the back it is solid but the front side of the shiter is wear its loose. I can move it around all over the place. The shifter is like its in neutral and when I move it around its like its free and doesnt really have any type of feel to it what so ever. What other problems could this be besides the shift linkage? I really hope it is just that as I already looked up the prices for some parts and its pretty cheap. Now my other thing is will I need to drop the trans to change the shift linkage out or something that is a part of it that is not internal to the trans? Hopefully I can do this with the trans still in. Maybe I can post a video up tomorrow when I jack it up to take a look at it but any help is appreciated. If it helps its a 91 318is, Thanks guys

09-09-2012, 05:57 AM	#3
jlevie R3V OG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 11,291	The most common failure is a fracture at either end of the selector rod that couples the lever to the transmission selector shaft. __________________ The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen. Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL NASA & BMWCCA Certified Instructor NASA MidSouth Spec E30 Series Director

09-08-2012, 08:00 PM	#2
Mastrcruse R3V Elite Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Roanoke, TX and Toledo, OH Posts: 4,967 Images: 53	Several thing could have happened. Bitch clip could have broke, ears off the tranny could have broke, carrier could have broke, shift linkage could have failed, shifter cup could have fatigued.. You need to inspect it from underneath. I doubt the tranny ears broke. The other items are replaceable and are easy to get to if you remove the drive shaft (3 bolts n front, 2 in the middle, 4 in the back.)

09-09-2012, 06:22 PM	#4
NickMav Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 75	Refer to the link for part numbers and diagram. http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E3...hifting_parts/ Alright so I jacked my car up and throw it on some stands and started to look around from the top and bottom, what had happend was that the bearing bolt (25 11 1 221 849) had come unclipped and loose and then slide out of the bearing sleeve (25 11 7 519 669). This then made the shifting arm (25 11 1 220 871) fall out of postion and now I was locked into first gear. Thankfully all the parts were still there and I just made sure the bearing bolt was extra tight so it wont happen again. Thanks for all the help guys.