shift linkage or bad trans?

[AsharC]

My cousin is buying an e30 and the owner said he was driving in 4th on the highway and went to put it into 5th and wouldn't go into 5th and now its just stuck in 4th gear and the shifter just moves around. Is it the linkage or the trans? The car is a 91 325i, so it has the late model shifter, not the early model arm.

Thanks, all help is appreciated

[scottinAZ]

could be either one, best way to find out is to get under the car and take a look

[M-technik-3]

eS so it's most likely still a plate style shifter. Loose one bolt and the thing goes seriously off kilter.

[nrubenstein]

If the shifter just moves around, it's almost certainly the linkage. As I enjoyed the other day when the joint came off the transmission. I guess the fucking retaining clip broke.

[AsharC]

I though it was the linkage also, but ill have to check it out.

[agile30]

Check the bitch clip. Mine popped off somehow while driving one day and I ghetto rigged it but its a simple fix.